Summer Time Rendering is essentially one of the most intriguing horror-suspense stories that spawned without a shadow of a doubt a supernatural intrigue: conceptual elements being time loops in which the premise of the story managed to pull off flawlessly.
As of the time of this writing, this well-received adaptation of the popular work by mangaka Yasuki Tanaka had been regrettably gone unnoticed due to an infamous release model. Grievances here and there but it speaks of how captivating the entirety of the series turned out to be.
It's a riveting mystery-thriller that manages to elicit fright and immediate tension. Every single episode there's a degree of anticipation turned anxiety, as the perfectly hidden shockers disparate with deaths and betrayals are concisely set up in dreadful proportions. Tantalizing plot twists concurrently, inducing an all-consuming curiosity to explore the next strange yet mystifying incident that takes place. Sequences of events are connected in irreversible coincidences and necessary intel relayed for the viewer to piece together themselves.
The series can be summed up into 2 distinct parts: the first half dabbles into the full-scale uncertainty the mystery aspect entails, along with bloody gore and sure to excite the viewer. The latter half, while not as enigmatic, the shonen action portion still enhances the show. It still keeps you on the edge of your seat with impressive set pieces: well-choreographed movements and special effects, aided nicely with a chilling OST to accompany for good measure. It speaks of how monumental storytelling is when it showcases so many thrills and emotions.
Time loops are difficult to truly grasp the entirety of in writing and overall story structure. Only a few that bear mentioning, such as Re:ZERO and Higurashi, expertly succeeded on implementing that plot device. Summer Time however, managed to do just that and even more.
Characters were initiated into the proceedings, as every one of them had a role to play. Their engagement factor as appreciative qualities affect how we otherwise might enjoy a story. Thankfully they have endearing traits easy to comprehend, either rooting for or against.
The protagonist Shinpei easily became one of the best characters to grace the screen. His intellectual predilection for mysteries already kept me up to speed with his trained level of thought. He takes ideas and reintegrates them into strategies to more capably turn the tables. His upfront warmth and sympathetic nature for others aligned with an unrelenting fury when paired against the antagonists made him a force to be reckoned with. He's smart and knows exactly what to do when confronted with a situation albeit with some existent flaws at the moment.
Ushio serves as a co-lead and an affectionate person to invest in. Her story strongly revolves around the main plot, herself an important factor in the mysterious happenings. She has an amusing personality and her dynamic with Shin makes them the perfect power couple.
The antagonists serve as a great foil to our main characters. They're very manipulative and cunning, able to orchestrate unrestrained tragedy without a single notice. Their true goal is parsed over time and the emotional drawback to such a revelation pays dividends.
Seeing Shin and the others try and fail, then succeed and flop their chances repeatedly over many loops interests me immensely. Them overcoming these obstacles while obtaining the bonds they've cultivated is what really sells you on the harrowing scenarios prescient within. It's practically a game of cat and mouse: each outsmarting the other in wholly innovative directions and the results pay off immensely. Difficulty level just rises exponentially which makes it even better.
Animation is consistently solid. Characters were surprisingly on model within a limited production at OLM Studios. The staff are nothing to scoff at, as the mostly outsourced episodes proved to be splendid with a steady continuity of well-maintained drawings making it stand out. High-octane movements that were incredibly dynamic as a result. Camera angles sure to please with a deep level of immersion added nicely to expressive character animation, which is used sparingly to better exemplify the supernatural-fantasy elements grounded in realism. The show's narrative structure adds a lot to the betterment of everyone's characterization. Music also, with intense scenes receiving an invading chorus consisting of foreboding. Other parts embellished with a tearful calm and soothing vibes, waves converging upon the surface.
It was a gripping, horrifying, and emotional journey across mere days replayed across what felt like infinite loops (it wasn't). From start to finish the characters freed from this nightmare tinged with Shadows impacted me greatly with a multitude of laconic memories to cherish.
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