{{Short description|2021 Japanese animated short film by Loundraw}} {{Infobox film | name = Summer Ghost | image = Summer Ghost poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | native_name = {{Infobox Japanese|hide=no|header=none | kanji = サマーゴースト | revhep = ''Samā Gōsuto'' }} | director = {{ill|Loundraw|ja}} | producer = | writer = Hirotaka Adachi | story = Loundraw | starring = {{ubl|Chiaki Kobayashi|Miyuri Shimabukuro|Nobunaga Shimazaki|Rina Kawaei}} | music = {{ubl|{{ill|Akira Kosemura|ja|小瀬村晶}}|Itoko Toma|{{ill|Guiano|ja}}|Hideya Kojima}} | cinematography = | studio = {{ubl|Flat Studio|Flagship Line}} | distributor = Avex Pictures | released = {{Film date|2021|11|12|Japan}} | runtime = 40 minutes<ref name="BBFC">{{cite web|title=''Summer Ghost''|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/summer-ghost-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdawnzqz|publisher=British Board of Film Classification|access-date=January 5, 2026|archive-date=January 5, 2026|archive-url=https://archive.today/20260105021706/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/summer-ghost-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdawnzqz|url-status=live}}</ref> | country = Japan | language = Japanese }} {{nihongo|'''''Summer Ghost'''''|サマーゴースト|Samā Gōsuto|lead=yes}} is a Japanese animated fantasy drama<ref name="BBFC"/> short film produced by Flat Studio and directed by {{ill|Loundraw|ja}}. It was released in Japanese theaters by Avex Pictures on November 12, 2021.
== Plot == High school students Tomoya, Aoi and Ryō, who met via social media, decide to investigate rumors of a "Summer Ghost", which shows up at night on an abandoned airfield when fireworks are set off. As they do so, the ghost does in fact appear - it is a young woman named Ayane. She tells them that she can only be seen by people who have already reached out towards death. In flashbacks, it is revealed how this applies to the students: Tomoya has lost hope for his future because his controlling mother is forcing him to abandon his passion for art in favor of academic studies, Aoi is suicidal because of bullying, and Ryō has a terminal disease with less than a year to live.
Tomoya returns to meet Ayane again, and learns that she died after being hit by a car, whose driver then buried her in a suitcase to evade punishment. Helping Ayane find her body to give closure to her mother becomes an obsession for Tomoya, and when Aoi sees him by coincidence, she and Ryō decide to help, which eventually leads to success.
A year later, it is summer again, and Tomoya, Aoi and Ryō meet on the abandoned airfield. Their friendship has given Tomoya the courage to oppose his mother and pursue his artistic ambitions, and Aoi has found the confidence to confront her bullies. However, Ryō died in a hospital, in the presence of the other two. They have now come to meet him as a ghost.
==Voice cast== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ !rowspan=2|Character !colspan=2|Voice actor |- !Japanese<ref name="ANN1"/><ref name="ANN2"/> !English<ref name="ENDub"/> |- !scope="row"|{{nihongo|Tomoya Sugisaki|杉崎 友也|Sugisaki Tomoya}} |Chiaki Kobayashi |David Errigo Jr. |- !scope="row"|{{nihongo|Aoi Harukawa|春川 あおい|Harukawa Aoi}} |Miyuri Shimabukuro |Kyla Carter |- !scope="row"|{{nihongo|Ryō Kobayashi|小林 涼|Kobayashi Ryō}} |Nobunaga Shimazaki |Clifford Chapin |- !scope="row"|{{nihongo|Ayane Satō|佐藤 絢音|Satō Ayane}} |Rina Kawaei |Megan Harvey |}
==Production== In June 2020, animator and illustrator {{ill|Loundraw|ja}} revealed that he is producing a short theatrical anime film as part of the Project Common multimedia project.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|title=Animator, Illustrator loundraw Produces Anime Film Short for Project Common|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-06-26/animator-illustrator-loundraw-produces-anime-film-short-for-project-common/.161130|website=Anime News Network|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=September 24, 2021|archive-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708074323/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-06-26/animator-illustrator-loundraw-produces-anime-film-short-for-project-common/.161130|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was unveiled in February 2021, with the project serving as Loundraw's directorial debut. It is produced by Loundraw's company Flat Studio, with scripts written by Hirotaka Adachi, and music composed by {{ill|Akira Kosemura|ja|小瀬村晶}}, Itoko Toma, {{ill|Guiano|ja}}, and Hideya Kojima.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Animator, Illustrator loundraw Directs Anime Short Film ''Summer Ghost'' For Debut This Year|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-19/animator-illustrator-loundraw-directs-anime-short-film-summer-ghost-for-debut-this-year/.169696|website=Anime News Network|date=February 19, 2021|access-date=September 24, 2021|archive-date=July 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708074318/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-19/animator-illustrator-loundraw-directs-anime-short-film-summer-ghost-for-debut-this-year/.169696|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ANN2"/>
==Release== ===Theatrical=== ''Summer Ghost'' was released in Japanese theaters on November 12, 2021 by its distributor Avex Pictures.<ref name="ANN1">{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Artist loundraw's ''Summer Ghost'' Anime Short's Trailer Reveals Cast, More Staff, November 12 Debut|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-15/artist-loundraw-summer-ghost-anime-short-trailer-reveals-cast-more-staff-november-12-debut/.175154|website=Anime News Network|date=July 15, 2021|access-date=September 24, 2021|archive-date=September 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918095537/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-15/artist-loundraw-summer-ghost-anime-short-trailer-reveals-cast-more-staff-november-12-debut/.175154|url-status=live}}</ref> It had its international premiere on the same day at the Leeds International Film Festival in England.<ref>{{cite web|last=Osmond |author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist)|first=Andrew|title=International Premiere of ''Summer Ghost'' at Leeds on Friday|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-08/international-premiere-of-summer-ghost-at-leeds-on-friday/.179351|website=Anime News Network|date=November 8, 2021|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129060355/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-08/international-premiere-of-summer-ghost-at-leeds-on-friday/.179351|url-status=live}}</ref>
In North America, GKIDS screened the film in Japanese and English language formats in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=GKIDS Screens ''Summer Ghost'' Anime Short in N. America in Summer|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-04-07/gkids-screens-summer-ghost-anime-short-in-n-america-in-summer/.184445|website=Anime News Network|date=April 7, 2022|access-date=April 8, 2022|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416121103/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-04-07/gkids-screens-summer-ghost-anime-short-in-n-america-in-summer/.184445|url-status=live}}</ref> The film premiered at Anime Expo on July 3, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=Credo|first=Kevin|title=Anime Expo: GKIDS Hosts Premieres for ''Goodbye, Don-Glees'' & ''Summer Ghost''|url=https://gamerant.com/anime-expo-gkids-goodbye-don-glees-summer-ghost-premiere/|website=Game Rant|date=July 6, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823143928/https://gamerant.com/anime-expo-gkids-goodbye-don-glees-summer-ghost-premiere/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Home media=== The film was released on Blu-ray in Japan on March 25, 2022. The limited-edition version includes the original soundtrack, an 80-minute documentary of the film's production, animatics, and a special booklet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/loundraw/95545|script-title=ja:loundraw×乙一によるアニメーション映画『サマーゴースト』特典情報公開|trans-title=loundraw and Otsuichi's Animated Film "''Summer Ghost''" Special Offer Information Revealed|website=CDJournal|publisher={{ill|Ongaku Shuppansha|ja|音楽出版社 (企業)}}|date=February 2, 2022|access-date=November 16, 2023|language=ja|archive-date=May 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526173223/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/loundraw/95545|url-status=live}}</ref> GKIDS and Shout! Factory released the film in North America on November 1, 2022, on Blu-ray and digital platforms.<ref name="ENDub">{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=GKIDS, Shout! Factory to Release ''Summer Ghost'' Anime Short on BD, Digital on November 1|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-08-29/gkids-shout-factory-to-release-summer-ghost-anime-short-on-bd-digital-on-november-1/.189113|website=Anime News Network|date=August 29, 2022|access-date=August 29, 2022|archive-date=August 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829194151/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-08-29/gkids-shout-factory-to-release-summer-ghost-anime-short-on-bd-digital-on-november-1/.189113|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Related media== A manga adaptation by Yoshi Inomi was serialized in Shueisha's ''{{ill|Tonari no Young Jump|ja|となりのヤングジャンプ}}'' website from October 8, 2021,<ref name="ANN2">{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Artist loundraw's ''Summer Ghost'' Anime Short Unveils More Cast & Staff, Manga, Novels|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-09-24/artist-loundraw-summer-ghost-anime-short-unveils-more-cast-and-staff-manga-novels/.177757|website=Anime News Network|date=September 24, 2021|access-date=September 24, 2021|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924084319/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-09-24/artist-loundraw-summer-ghost-anime-short-unveils-more-cast-and-staff-manga-novels/.177757|url-status=live}}</ref> to June 3, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tonarinoyj.jp/episode/3270296674372973066|script-title=ja:[最終話] サマーゴースト|trans-title=[Final Story] ''Summer Ghost''|website=Tonari no Young Jump|publisher=Shueisha|access-date=June 10, 2022|language=ja|archive-date=June 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610103512/https://tonarinoyj.jp/episode/3270296674372973066|url-status=live}}</ref> The chapters were compiled into two {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, released on November 19, 2021,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/453967|script-title=ja:【11月19日付】本日発売の単行本リスト|trans-title=[Dated November 19] List of single publications on sale today|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=November 19, 2021|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-date=January 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119001741/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/453967|url-status=live}}</ref> and June 17, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/481707|script-title=ja:【6月17日付】本日発売の単行本リスト|trans-title=[Dated June 17] List of single publications on sale today|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=June 17, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-date=June 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626225926/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/481707|url-status=live}}</ref>
Two novels were written by the film's scriptwriter Hirotaka Adachi. The first is a novelization that expands on the film's story which was released on October 29, 2021. The second is an original spin-off novel titled ''Ichinose Yūna ga Uiteiru'' (''Yūna Ichinose Is Floating'') which was released on November 26 of the same year.<ref name="ANN2"/>
In February 2023, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they licensed the novel and manga adaptations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Seven Seas Licenses ''365 Days to the Wedding'', ''Summer Ghost'', ''Anyhow, the Rabbit Is Infatuated with the Puppy'' Manga|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-02-08/seven-seas-licenses-365-days-to-the-wedding-summer-ghost-anyhow-the-rabbit-is-infatuated-with-the-/.194657|website=Anime News Network|date=February 8, 2023|access-date=February 9, 2023|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208225602/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-02-08/seven-seas-licenses-365-days-to-the-wedding-summer-ghost-anyhow-the-rabbit-is-infatuated-with-the-/.194657|url-status=live}}</ref> They were both released in digital and print formats on August 8 of the same year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, August 6–12|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-08-08/north-american-anime-manga-releases-august-6-12/.201110|website=Anime News Network|date=August 8, 2023|access-date=February 10, 2024|archive-date=February 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210020937/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-08-08/north-american-anime-manga-releases-august-6-12/.201110|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://summerghost.jp/}} {{in lang|ja}} * {{IMDb title|tt15052770}} * {{Anime News Network|film|24064}}
{{Tonari no Young Jump}}
Category:2020s fantasy drama films Category:2021 films Category:2021 anime films Category:2021 manga Category:Anime short films Category:Japanese fantasy drama films Category:Japanese ghost films Category:Seinen manga Category:Seven Seas Entertainment titles Category:Shueisha manga