Summer Ghost
Summary: It is said that fireworks can calm the souls of the dead. For Tomoya Sugisaki, Aoi Harukawa, and Ryou Kobayashi, fireworks are what allowed them to meet the Summer Ghost. Believed to be the spirit of a young woman who committed suicide, the Summer Ghost only appears in a specific area and can only be seen by those who are within arm's reach of death.
Tomoya is a creative soul being crushed by his academic obligation to get into a good university. Aoi is a meek girl who is relentlessly bullied by her classmates. Ryou is a former basketball star who had to forfeit his passion following a grim diagnosis. The only thing these three have in common is their ability to see the Summer Ghost. The Summer Ghost is said to be able to answer any and all questions pertaining to death—something the three teenagers desperately want to know more about.
Dissatisfied with their initial meeting, Tomoya sets out to find the Summer Ghost once again. But the more time he spends with the ghost, the more the mystery surrounding her existence unravels.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
It is said that fireworks can calm the souls of the dead. For Tomoya Sugisaki, Aoi Harukawa, and Ryou Kobayashi, fireworks are what allowed them to meet the Summer Ghost. Believed to be the spirit of a young woman who committed suicide, the Summer Ghost only appears in a specific area and can only be seen by those who are within arm's reach of death.
Tomoya is a creative soul being crushed by his academic obligation to get into a good university. Aoi is a meek girl who is relentlessly bullied by her classmates. Ryou is a former basketball star who had to forfeit his passion following a grim diagnosis. The only thing these three have in common is their ability to see the Summer Ghost. The Summer Ghost is said to be able to answer any and all questions pertaining to death—something the three teenagers desperately want to know more about.
Dissatisfied with their initial meeting, Tomoya sets out to find the Summer Ghost once again. But the more time he spends with the ghost, the more the mystery surrounding her existence unravels.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Summer Ghost Trailers
Summer Ghost Pictures
Summer Ghost Review
Summer Ghost — It is said that fireworks can calm the souls of the dead. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Drama, Supernatural conventions as a Movie work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 7.91). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Summer Ghost offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Drama, Supernatural, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Harukawa, Aoi
Main
Shimabukuro, Miyuri
Japanese
Harukawa, Aoi
Main
Carter, Kyla
English
Harukawa, Aoi
Main
Pegliasco, Lara
French
Kobayashi, Ryou
Main
Shimazaki, Nobunaga
Japanese
Kobayashi, Ryou
Main
Chapin, Clifford
English
Kobayashi, Ryou
Main
Coadour, Alexandre
French
Kobayashi, Ryou
Main
John von Freyend, Tobias
German
Satou, Ayane
Main
Kawaei, Rina
Japanese
Satou, Ayane
Main
Harvey, Megan Taylor
English
Satou, Ayane
Main
Rochet, Bérangère
French
Sugisaki, Tomoya
Main
Kobayashi, Chiaki
Japanese
Sugisaki, Tomoya
Main
Errigo Jr., David
English
Sugisaki, Tomoya
Main
Prunel, Pierre-Henri
French
Ayane's Mother
Supporting
Yatco, Anne
English
Ayane's Mother
Supporting
Sahaku, Miyuki
Japanese
Sugisaki, Reiko
Supporting
Manautines, Julie
French
Sugisaki, Reiko
Supporting
Honda, Takako
Japanese
Sugisaki, Reiko
Supporting
Yatco, Anne
English
Teacher
Supporting
Nakamura, Kazumasa
Japanese
Staff
Katsumata, Hideo
Producer
loundraw
Director, Original Creator, Original Character Design
Ami, Keinosuke
Key Animation
Arima, Ryouta
Key Animation
Corcoran, Mark Boyd Kenta
Key Animation
Gotou, Yuuki
Animation Director, Key Animation
Hyein
Key Animation
Irako, Shinobu
Animation Director
Irei, Eri
Chief Animation Director, Animation Director
Isoko, Shinobu
Animation Director
Key-kun
Key Animation
Kosemura, Akira
Music
Leblan, Jean-Pierre
ADR Director
Lee, Dong-hoon
Key Animation
Murakami, Ryuunosuke
Animation Director
Nakano, Katsuhiro
Sound Effects
Naruse, Ran
Key Animation, Animation Director
Ooyama, Ryou
Planning Producer
Otsuichi
Screenplay
Sakurai, Konomi
Key Animation