Summertime Render does mystery, thriller, and time travel right

For several years now, the concept of time travel has been an extremely popular fantasy component in anime. It essentially serves as a multi-tool plot device to flesh out character development or, oftentimes, their reactions when faced with disproportionate odds stacked against them.

However, using the concept of travelling back and forth in time isn't always successful as a storytelling element. Recent anime like Bokutachi no Remake and Tokyo Revengers serve as prime examples of series that flew too close to the sun and plummeted back to Earth, courtesy of lazy writing and inconsistent direction.

However, unlike its failed predecessors, Summertime Render, a spring 2022 anime by Studio OLM, blew me away with its fresh reimagination of time loops, horror, and mystery.

Adapted from the manga of the same name, Summertime Render takes place on a coastal island with a small population. The main character, Shinpei, returns to his home island following the mysterious death of his foster sister, Ushio. Upon further investigation of his sister's death, all sorts of strange incidents transpire. 

Soon, Shinpei and his comrades realise that they must fight an entire race of supernatural beings named "Shadows" in order to save their home and loved ones.

While the show succeeds in hooking in viewers from the very first episode by introducing such high stakes, the pace of the story truly starts to pick up when Shinpei is suddenly murdered at the hands of someone who looks identical to his younger sister, causing him to travel back in time two days.

From here onwards, travelling back in time gives Shinpei a fighting chance against the army of Shadows, but not without a set of consequences that come along with it. Without giving out spoilers, the ability to go back in time comes with a massive cost, complicating Shinpei's journey and putting others' lives in danger.

Along with the time travelling aspect, Summertime Render boasts a strong and riveting story that will constantly keep you on the edge of your seat. One could say that the closer you get to the mystery, the blurrier everything becomes. Every plot point in the story has multiple layers, all of which become more and more relevant during the last few episodes.

The show also fosters respect for the overarching antagonists, Haine and Shide. Their cunningness and sheer power allow them to dominate the main cast of characters at every turn. Additionally, their true individual motives are carefully hidden and occasionally hinted at until the final few episodes, making the reveal feel more impactful during the show's emotional climax.

On a production level, Summertime Render is one of the best anime from the spring 2022 season. The vibrant art and kinetic animation set the tone for the extraordinarily high-paced and frantic fight scenes. The eerie and grim aura of Hitogashima island further contributes to the uneasy atmosphere of the show and the world of Summertime Render at large.

Summertime Render is a testament to good writing and solid direction. And while it may not be perfect, it is an ambitious show that will keep viewers on their toes throughout its brief runtime of 25 episodes.

Ayaan spends most of his time formatting spreadsheets. Send him well-formatted emails with bullet points at ayaan.shams@gmail.com