Caveat! This review about Summer Time Rendering may contain spoilers. If you haven’t seen the series yet, I recommend you go check it out and then come back to read the review.
Summer Time Renderingalso known as “the island of shadows” for its recent inclusion in the platform of Star+, is an animated adaptation of the eponymous manga written and illustrated by Yasuki Tanaka. While the manga had 13 compiled volumes, the animated adaptation had 25 episodes, which came to light thanks to the study OLM. Although the story began its transmission in April of last year, its recent premiere in Latin America was what prompted me to write about it.
The genres under which this series is listed are: Mystery, Supernatural and Suspense. Genres that are perfectly portrayed throughout the entire plot, and although there is a considerable amount of romance, it never overshadows the main genres, which justifies that it was not also listed as Romance. This is another story that uses time travel, but very different from other works, there is no scientific means and the paranormal construction is one of the most solid to date.
What is Summer Time Rendering about?
After learning of the death of Ushio, his childhood friend, Shinpei returns to his home island, Wakayama in Hitogashima. There he meets with the family of her friend and attends her funeral, but something strange begins to take place under this whole situation. A mysterious legend begins to come true when she finds out that Ushio saw someone similar to her before he died, and now another Mio has appeared. The legend of the shadows says that she will kill her original and then her entire family to occupy her places. And that’s what this new Mio does. However, something happens and Shinpei goes back in time to the moment before he arrived on the island.
After the initial shock, Shinpei soon realizes that he has fallen into a strange loop, which may be what he needs to save his friends from this strange legend. But what he doesn’t know is that the shadows have permeated more than he could imagine within the island. In the midst of all this, a peerless ally appears before him, Ushio, the one he thought had died. But will she really be her friend, or is she another shadow enemy?
The good: Well-constructed supernatural suspense
A few lines above I commented that this story has a time travel premise, but very different from other works, here we have a supernatural background that provides a solid explanation for this. It is a fact that time travel can be very complex narrative elements to use, since the existence of paradoxes and the lack of explanations for this phenomenon can alienate the reader. In case of Summer Time Rendering It is very special, since time travel is not just any narrative resource, it is the cornerstone of the whole story. And although it has a supernatural origin, it is solidified throughout the entire plot, which gives it a plus so that the viewer does not find it hackneyed.
The most important element we have is that this ability is not the protagonist’s own, it is a power from a superior entity, and it is not free, there is a reason for such an ability to fall on a human. In addition to this, this power has rules and consequently there are a number of consequences to take into account for its use. It is this construction of power, rules and consequences that makes this fiction one of a kind. I will not deny that there are possibly stories with a better script and use of this resource. But what builds Summer Time Rendering He is quite superior to several of his contemporaries, which leaves him at a considerable advantage.
Another element to take into account is their construction of characters, because using their genre of suspense and mystery, they make each character give us a successful twist at the ideal moment. Although there is no overwhelming character growth, that is well justified in the use of time, and in that each character has a built-in personality. The latter is something incredible because not many works can afford to use so many characters with such solid personalities. Factor that is present even in the antagonists, gray characters that can take a thousand shades throughout the story, while remaining faithful to their own convictions.
The bad: the love subplot
It’s hard to talk about anything wrong with this story, after all it has a very complete construction of its own world. The script is dynamic enough not to tire the viewer, the change of scenery and the use of time could hardly confuse the viewer. The powers and abilities have a mystical origin, so they don’t require a lot of explanation, which they offer you, however. The details are well taken care of throughout the story, and so far we still do not see a truly catastrophic failure for this story.
So the fault must be in the characters. Yes and no, it is true that the characters are solid from the beginning, and each one has its own mystery to season the plot. Although at a certain point that works against them and they steal prominence in an empty way. That’s where the only flaw in this story is, the romance is a waste. Apart from the love between Shinpei and Ushio, honestly the feelings of the rest don’t matter much or nothing to us. I’m lying, Ryunosuke’s brotherly love does matter to us. But sincerely unrequited love subplots are so irrelevant that they might as well have been left out.
Let me clarify that, since romance was never the main thing, the fact that it is so poorly represented does not detract from the experience of this story.
Final comment
Summer Time Rendering he has that something that makes it extremely difficult to talk about something bad in his story. It is evident that I greatly enjoyed what I saw. It takes a very careful critic to find all the flaws that exist in the plot, because there are. However, in the general aspect, giving ourselves only to the experience, this is a very interesting story that builds solidly on its supernatural aspect. Of course, the visual is exquisite and immerses you in the story without much problem, the same as its soundtrack.
Continuing with the force of habit, and to close with this, we only have to give it a note. It scores a solid 95/100 in my opinion, it’s a well-constructed story, with beautiful art that goes along perfectly with it. Its constant tension script and constant plot twists are undoubtedly the best experience of this anime. The chemistry between the characters, as well as the fight against the antagonists make this story unmissable.
Anyway, these have been some of my thoughts about this anime, but tell me: what do you think of this story? What is your opinion about the script? Did you like the ending or did you expect something different? And for those who have not yet seen it, I strongly invite you to give it a try because it is a jewel of its kind.
The Entry Review | Summer Time Rendering was first published on Kudasai.
