Anime Review: Summer Ghost (2021) movie

I recently watched “Summer Ghost” after a Substack reader suggested it. Even though it is only 40 minutes long, it tells a powerful story that stays with you long after it ends.

Plot

The story follows three high school students—Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo—who meet through the internet to test a local urban legend. The myth says that if you light fireworks at a specific abandoned airfield during the summer, a spirit known as the "Summer Ghost" will appear. However, there is a mysterious condition: the ghost can only be seen by those who are standing on the edge of life and death.

Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo are all very different, but they share a common feeling of being lost. Tomoya feels crushed by his mother’s expectations, Aoi deals with intense bullying, and Ryo is facing a hidden struggle with a serious illness. When they finally succeed in summoning the ghost—a young woman named Ayane —they realize she isn't just a scary story. Instead, she becomes somebody who helps them deal with their internal pain.

As the three students spend more time with the ghost, they discover that she is trapped in this world for a reason. She cannot move on because she doesn't remember exactly where her body is. The teenagers decide to help her solve the mystery of her own death. This search for the truth brings the group closer together. By trying to solve the mystery of her ending, they slowly begin to find a new sense of purpose and must decide if they are ready to face their own future.

What We Can Learn From It

The world is not a fairy tale, and “Summer Ghost” reminds us that everyone faces heavy burdens, even if they are not noticeable from the outside. In this movie, we see all the main characters struggling with their own problems, showing that pain is often hidden behind a normal face.

Through Ayane (Ghost girl), we see the reality that life can end at any moment, so living it to the fullest is critical. Ayane shows the students that death is a sad, permanent end, not an easy way out. This helps them realize they should appreciate the small, beautiful moments in life while they still can. In the end, the movie tells us that life doesn't need to be perfect to be worth it. We just need to be brave enough to face our pain and make the most of the time we have.

My Thoughts

I gave this movie a 9/10. It was definitely an interesting watch, and the animation was great, especially during the flying scenes. It amazed me how much a story can show in just 40 minutes. It almost felt like a 1.5 hour movie because the storytelling was so rich.