A dash of light sadness and a gripping time-loop plot – what could be better?
The summer season is coming to an end, and it's time to say goodbye to warm nights. And what's the best way to do that? Of course, by watching a title with the right mood.
Summer Time Rendering is a twisted detective story, where a mysterious island, shadow disease and time travel are intertwined, which received a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. And deservedly so.
What is Summer Time Rendering About?
Shinpei returns from Tokyo to his home island. The reason is sad: his childhood friend, Ushio, has died – she drowned while trying to save a child. The girl survived, but Ushio could not save herself.
It seems to be just an accident, but at the funeral Shinpei hears that strangulation marks were found on the woman's neck. No less suspicious are the rumors of a shadow disease: supposedly, a strange infection causes a person to see his double and die soon after.
Summer Time Rendering is a Hidden Gem with Intricate Plot
Summer Time Rendering passed by unnoticed – and it's a shame. This is an amazing example of how a seemingly familiar topic can be twisted in such a way that it is simply impossible not to be surprised.
The central twist with the shadow disease is already revealed in the first episode, and another plot engine is time travel. Furthermore, unlike All You Need is Kill, where the main character traveled freely into the past, Shinpei has limitations and no plot armor.
The concept of the local time loop itself is unique. The main character does not simply roll back to the starting position, but must fulfill a series of conditions each time in order to win the final battle for his own happiness. Of course, the stakes increase with each new cycle, and at a certain point the final boss seems completely invincible.
And again, you have to pay attention to details: even seemingly insignificant little things turn out to be important for the plot.
An aftertaste with a dash of anxiety is what Summer Time Rendering leaves the viewer with when the credits roll. The musical score, the sudden turn of the entire plot – everything works towards an emotional denouement, seasoned with a pinch of light sadness.
Where to Watch Summer Time Rendering?
All 25 episodes of Summer Time Rendering are available to watch on Hulu.