あたしだけをみて / Look at Me Only – A Standout Graduation Film from Tomoki Misato

Tomoki Misato’s 2016 graduation film あたしだけをみて (Look at Me Only) is one of those rare student projects that manages to find a life far beyond the walls of its university. Created at Musashino Art University as part of the Visual Communication Design Department’s 2015 graduation program, the short quickly became a festival favorite around the world, earning awards in Japan, Europe, and South America. What stands out most is how confidently it blends handcrafted textures, surreal metaphor, and emotional storytelling into a film that feels both deeply personal and universally recognizable.

The story follows a man who has quietly drifted away from the excitement of his early romantic relationship. Instead of nurturing the bond with his girlfriend, he finds himself increasingly absorbed in caring for his guinea pig—an attachment that becomes both comforting and isolating. His routine is suddenly disrupted when he encounters a mysterious “flower beauty” who appreciates the very thing he cherishes. Her presence rekindles a spark he thought he lost, and he begins gravitating toward her, drawn in by the validation she offers. This budding connection intensifies the jealousy already brewing in his partner, creating a delicate emotional triangle that plays out through expressive puppetry and symbolic visual transitions.

Misato’s handcrafted puppets—felted, delicate, and subtly anime-inspired—bring an unusual softness to the film. The characters’ large, expressive eyes and miniature sets constructed by a dedicated student art team give the narrative an intimate, almost dreamlike atmosphere. Even the guinea pig adds authenticity to the story, with its vocalizations provided by the director’s real-life pet. Combined with an eclectic musical mix featuring original compositions by Tomoya Yomoda alongside selections from Johann Strauss II and Lennie Tristano, the film’s audiovisual language becomes uniquely its own.

What makes Look at Me Only particularly compelling is how its visual metaphors reinforce its emotional themes. Blooming fields, barren landscapes, and shifts in lighting and texture mark the characters’ changing inner worlds. The film carries an undercurrent about emotional neglect—how relationships fade not because of a single dramatic moment, but through small lapses in attention and empathy. Misato communicates this with clarity and restraint, allowing audiences to connect with the characters’ flaws and vulnerabilities.

Following its release, the film embarked on an impressive festival run that spanned several years. It earned top honors at events including the ReAnima Festival in Norway, MONSTRA Lisbon Animation Festival in Portugal, the TOHO Cinemas Students Film Festival, the Tokyo Student Film Festival, and the DigiCon6 Awards in Japan. It also received jury prizes, special mentions, and audience awards across Korea, Poland, and numerous Japanese student film showcases. That level of international recognition is rare for a graduation project, and it signaled early on that Misato was a filmmaker to watch.

Looking back, Look at Me Only feels like a precursor to the sensibilities that would later define Misato’s professional work—his affection for soft-textured puppets, his ability to craft emotionally resonant stories through visual metaphor, and his skill at blending humor, tenderness, and surrealism. The film stands as a testament to the power of student animation and the impact one short can have when it is guided by a clear voice and confident craftsmanship. Even nearly a decade after its creation, it remains a memorable contribution to contemporary stop-motion storytelling.