Name: Summer Ghost
Type: Movie
Duration: 40 mins
Studio: FLAT STUDIO
Director: loundraw
Note: Has a manga adaptation, which is considerably more detailed.

#Alright, Let's start.

Summary:
Three online friends meet up to go on a hunt for a ghost that appears during summertime in an old abandoned airport runway when you burn firecrackers after evening. The ghost is widely known as the Summer Ghost and is rumored to be the ghost of a girl who committed suicide and is seldom seen for it also has a less known requirement.
Our heroes all have different circumstances however the thing that brought them together is the same - death.
Discover the meaning of hope together with three people who have already lost it.

Let's break it down.

Art:
Art is the first thing an impression is made from in any movie/anime.
The art here is quite unique as in that it is different than most other anime movies.
The linework of characters is quite simple at times and not too pronounced, sometimes it is almost invisible. However, most animes tend to have a "visible" linework when it comes to their characters.
The color palette is a tad dull and gives off an old-ish vibe, making it seem "starched". This factor makes the characters really stick out from the background. The background contains normal 3D graphics with a palette that is cleverly blended to make shadows and lighting. It really seems like a normal piece of art.
What especially makes the characters stand out is the lighting. It is sharp and very pronounced at times although it gives a lot of depth to the art. But this also clashes with the soft style used in the background. It gives off a feeling that the characters were drawn onto a picture.
Mind you, this only occurs during some scenes and not all.

It is done as a solo by the director-artist who also owns the studio. Considering that, It really does seem to be amazing.

Animation:
The animation isn't special and can't be compared to that of other movies.
It is smooth when there isn't much variables to move. However when a lot of movement is required, it appears to "break". Considering it came from a solo artist, this can already be considered good.
Another especially amazing thing is the fact that the scenes with serious animation without characters are really amazing. The background art is already really good and somehow the animation for these scenes are also very smooth. It makes for a truly incredible scene.

Story:
Plot - it is very unique. Although the genre matchup is common, the premise is very distinctive. We have seen many stories about people who are pushed to suicide or death, and rarely, may also include a ghost. However, adding a plot twist to it and not making it a mystery is of SSSR level. Not to mention moving the plot well with it as an element but not as something which is meant to change the genre or make it more interesting.

Storytelling - Good. It gives equal importance to the backgrounds of all the characters as well as their circumstances. Although at one point it starts to focus on the relationship between Ayane (the ghost) and Tomoya, it is part of the plot development. The climax

Spoiler, click to view

where Ayane's body was found

and the next scene was a tad anticlimactic even though it is the most important scene in the movie.

End.