The LOOK BACK Manga Challenge, presented by Kinokuniya
Four panels. One story. Your turn.
In LOOK BACK, two girls who couldn’t be more different are brought together by drawing. They spend long afternoons hunched over the same desk, filling page after page, pushing each other to get better. It’s a film about why we make things and who we make them for.
Now we want to see what you make. Pick up a pen and create your own four-panel manga strip inspired by the film. Your entry will be judged by award-winning Australian manga artist Queenie Chan (The Dreaming).
WHAT YOU COULD WIN
First prize: a $500 Kinokuniya voucher, plus a copy of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s LOOK BACK manga and the theatrical poster of Koreeda Hirokazu's LOOK BACK.
Four runners-up: each wins a copy of the LOOK BACK manga and the film's theatrical poster.
HOW TO ENTER
1. Draw. Create an original four-panel manga strip inspired by the themes of LOOK BACK. That could be friendship, rivalry, ambition, loss, or the simple joy of drawing. Use our template or work on your own page.
2. Post it on Instagram (ages 16+)
Post a clear photo or scan of your strip to your Instagram feed. Tag @palacefilms and add #LookBackMangaChallenge to your caption. Your account needs to be public so we can see your entry, and your post must stay up until the winners are announced. Stories and DMs don’t count.
...or send to us by mail (all ages)
Send your original artwork, or a clear printed copy (no larger than A4), to:
Palace Films, 1 Blackfriars St, Chippendale NSW 2008
Don't forget to write your full name, age, postal address and phone number on the back of your entry. If you’re under 18, add your parent or guardian’s name and contact details. To get your artwork back, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Entries close 11:59pm AEDT, Wednesday 13 January 2027. Postal entries must arrive by then, so post early.
Winners will be announced on Instagram @palacefilms and at lookback.com.au by Thursday 28 January 2027.
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Open to Australian residents only. Under 18s need a parent or guardian's consent. Only original work accepted, and no AI generated art - every line should be yours. The number of likes on your entry post, or follower count, plays no role in the result. Every entry, whether posted to Instagram or mailed, is judged on the same criteria: originality and creativity, artistic skill, and how you respond to the film’s themes. Promoted by Palace Entertainment Pty Ltd. We’ll only ever contact winners from our official @palacefilms account, and we’ll never ask for passwords or payment. Read the full Terms & Conditions.
