Summer Ghost
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Summer Ghost
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Summer Ghost is a 2022 anime in which three teens search for the ghost of a teen girl rumored to have committed suicide. Suicide is a dominant theme of this short anime, and in one scene, a character attempts suicide by jumping off of a building. What's later revealed is that the teen girl didn't commit suicide, but was hit and killed by a car and the driver of the vehicle buried her alive in a suitcase. Bullying in one scene -- bullies dump water on a teen girl. Talk of being bullied at school. Infrequent mild language such as "damn" and "hell."
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What's the Story?
In SUMMER GHOST, Tomoya (David Errigo Jr.), Aoi (Kyla Carter), and Ryo (Clifford Chapin) are three teens getting out of school for summer vacation. At a diner, they agree to search for a "summer ghost" named Ayane Sato, a teen girl who is believed to have committed suicide after being bullied in school. The three go off to a field, and through spells and fireworks, they manage to reach Ayane, and as they talk with her over the course of the summer, they see the similarities between her problems and their problems. Their quest to meet Ayane takes a startling turn after Ayane reveals the way in which she really died, and now the three must find a way to reveal the truth.
Is It Any Good?
This is a moving short anime that uses magical realism to explore difficult topics. Summer Ghost tells the story of three teens on a quest during summer vacation to track down the ghost of a teen girl rumored to have committed suicide after being bullied in school. It's a sad movie that takes an even darker twist later in the movie, and while it will most certainly be a difficult watch for those who are traumatized by the topics the movie addresses, it remains a powerful coming-of-age movie.
The fact that it's only 40 minutes helps to keep the movie focused and consistent. Whereas other anime would be likely to pad a story like this with an extra hour (at least) of endless side stories, back stories, and world creation, this story is told economically, and is therefore one not easily forgotten, and not only because of the story and its themes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about anime movies like Summer Ghost. How is this similar to and different from other anime movies you've seen?
This movie addresses topics like bullying and suicide. While it's a story rooted in magical realism, does the movie effectively address these difficult topics?
How is this similar to and different from other coming-of-age stories you have read or seen?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 1, 2022
- Cast: Kyla Carter, Clifford Chapin, David Errigo Jr.
- Director: Loundraw
- Studio: GKIDS
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: High School, Middle School, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 40 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: January 18, 2023
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Fun coming of age time-traveling anime with some romance.
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Historical Japanese character study has mature content.
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Lovable movie about loving movies has some mature content.
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