Virtual Insanity
Title: Summer Wars
Publisher: FUNimation
Studio: Madhouse
Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Romance
Imagine, if you will, a time in the not too distant future where the world stands on the brink of chaos thanks to… Facebook? It may seem kind of wonky, but that’s the plot of award winning film, Summer Wars, in a nutshell. When a mysterious hacker wrecks real world havoc through the virtual network known as Oz, high school math prodigy Kenji Kosio winds up taking the blame. With the help of his classmate, Natsuki Shinohara, and her extended family, Kenji works to clear his name in this sci-fi/romance anime film directed by Mamoru Hosada. Since its release in 2009, Summer Warshas received multiple accolades alongside international critical acclaim. Many worldwide film festivals and conventions have featured the picture as a nominee for awards regarding excellence in animation. North American distributor FUNimation even submitted the film in the Best Animated Feature category of the 83rd Academy Awards of 2010.
But we all know that awards don’t always equal a nerd’s taste in film. So does the movie walk that line of geeky goodness as well as award-worthy cinema? In my opinion: most definitely.
Much like Hosada’s prior, critically acclaimed project, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars shows a fairly deft handling of character. Although you only spend a little less than two hours with the main players of this story, the movie does a remarkably good job making you care about them. Voice actors Michael Sinterniklass, Brina Palencia, and J. Michael Tatum all deliver solid performances in the English dub, filled with charm and personality. The real standout of the cast, however, is Pam Dougherty as Sakae, matriarch of the Jinnouchi clan and Natsuki’s grandmother. Dougherty breathes indomitable life into a character which quickly becomes the heart and soul of the entire film. Also, despite the sheer size of Natsuki’s family, the supporting cast manages to maintain a heartwarming quirkiness which keep them from becoming mere background fodder.
Just as expected, Madhouse studio’s animation in Summer Warsis truly top notch. The real world segments of the movie are rendered with a fluid grace that highlights the beauty of Japan’s rural Ueda region. Once events move into Oz, the film becomes a brilliant treat for the eyes with a hodge-podge of differing visual styles and techniques. Want to see eight bit pixel art share screen time with high end computer graphics? How about a cartoon fire axe with eyes side by side with a medieval Japanese bunny girl? The digital realm blends them all seamlessly together in a world of otherwise minimalist abstract white space.
My only real gripe with the film is the predictability of the romance subplot. Nothing unexpected during the course of Kenji and Natsuki’s relationship, which leaves the inevitable hook up falling just a bit flat. While the major emotional moments are all there, focusing a little more time and attention on just what those two think about each other would have made things more natural.
Aside from that single, admittedly minor complaint, Summer Wars is a fantastically entertaining film. So sit down, boot up, and prepare to have your attention thoroughly enthralled for a few hours. From the hyper kinetic action sequences to the touching human drama, there’s something here for everyone who loves this crazy little medium called anime.
Justin Rose Media Design 