Summer Ghost has a simple premise: three online friends seek out to find a ghost girl who only appears in summer by lighting up a firework in a specific place. That’s it.
I wasn’t expecting anything big, or amazing art and the movie didn’t have a strong promising ensemble cast of voice actors either. But, it’s done well. It’s done right. The execution, the connection and the bond it managed to create in under 1 hour just left me bamboozled in the end.
In this post, I will speak in details about Summer Ghost WITHOUT spoiling its content.
Three Friends.
Why three?
Each of them resemble a characteristics, a situation, a perspective where as students, we might have been ourselves or heard of the story through others’ experiences before. One is expected to go down the path of academic success despite his preference in other field, one is bullied relentlessly and became outcast of the class, while one is met with struggles of incurable disease despite a bright future ahead.
One is diligent, one is kind, and the other is optimistic.
Three Online Friends.
Why online?
They’ve never met before. They weren’t in the same school. Not the same age either. Never talked to each other. Or anyone. But they all happened to want to seek the ghost, the urban legend, the story that sounds too good to be true. And so, they began their short journey together. Hiding behind their masks, they bonded.
A Ghost Girl
There’s a rumor that the people who can see the ghost girl are ones that longed for death.
Summer
Perhaps the closest word that could be tied together with summer in Japan is Bon. Bon is a Buddhist festival which is celebrated in August nationwide to honor the spirits of the dead.
Japan Info
Fireworks
Fireworks (hanabi) first became popular during the Edo period as a symbol and celebration of spiritual beauty. They have also been historically used to ward off evil spirits, and in the modern era have become synonymous celebrations, from summer festivals and major sporting & music events, through to bringing in the New Year.
JRPass
Fireworks both symbolises celebration and getting rid of evil spirits, whether it’s the struggles within or the dirty external hindrance lurking in our shadows. But most importantly, it is a light.
It guides.
It clears lingering doubt with a big bang.
It braves you up for things that you were afraid of.
It expresses how short a moment is, in color.
It shines.
A Specific Place
An airport lane.
Departure.
But, it’s abandoned.
It was gave up on.
Summer Ghost
Summer Ghost has a simple premise: three online friends seek out to find a ghost girl who only appears in summer by lighting up a firework in a specific place.
And… that’s it.
That’s exactly it.
Anime as a Cup of Tea 