Last summer, I recommended When They Cry (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) as a must-watch horror anime for the summer. Seriously, Higurashi is one of the best horror stories I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve been desperately chasing that high ever since. While Higurashi is unfortunately hard to track down, a kind of spiritual successor is available to stream on Hulu. Summer Time Rendering, adapted from Yasuki Tanaka’s manga of the same name, is available in its entirety on Hulu.
Check out a trailer and synopsis below:
Per Hulu: A sci-fi, summer story filled with suspense set on a small island begins with Shinpei Ajiro, whose childhood friend Ushio Kofune died. He returns to his hometown for the first time in two years for the funeral. Sou Hishigata, his best friend, suspects something’s off with Ushio’s death, and that someone else can die next. A sinister omen is heard as an entire family next door suddenly disappears the following day. Furthermore, Mio implicates a “shadow” three days before Ushio’s death.
Okay, I recognize it sounds like a lot, but by the time the first episode ends, I promise you’ll be all in. Summer Time Rendering is adept with its time-travel narrative, irregularly breaking the rules most time-travel stories do. Every episode adds new wrinkles and hints that make perfect sense within the show, even if the mystery is often bookended by shocking acts of graphic violence. Yeah, Summer Time Rendering gets pretty scary.
Luckily, too, the story is self-contained and runs just 25 episodes. That might seem like a lot, but keep in mind One Piece has recently passed more than 1,100 episodes. If you’re looking for something different horror-wise this summer, I’d definitely recommend it.
Check out what fans (and Hideo Kojima) have been saying below:
I’ve received the full set of “Summer Time Rendering” from Yasuki Tanaka and also his new work, “Ghost Fixers” vol.1. Thank you so much ??? pic.twitter.com/WSDMoRPcrc
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) June 14, 2024
Not so daily reminder but do watch Summer Time Rendering if you haven’t already, its beyond beautiful.
When ED gets implemented into episode to lenghten the duration you know things have gotten real. pic.twitter.com/S52dPfWnpR
— Namaryu (CEO of Tanmoshi) (@Namaryuu) June 13, 2022
I love Spy x Family a lot, but sakuga-wise and story-wise, my anime of the season has been decided: it’s Summer Time Rendering.
Damn. The developments are simply amazing. Never felt like this with an anime since I last watched the last two episodes of 86. pic.twitter.com/HRrQTSFdxl
— Violet?translating-a-lot-of-stuff mode (@violetheart08) April 29, 2022
Summer Time Rendering is without a Shadow of a doubt the best show from the entire season. The amount of enjoyment that I get from it is unparalled compare to anything that is airing right now and this is truly a show that needs to have more light shed upon it. Outstanding. pic.twitter.com/0jwNiDNeCf
— Namaryu (CEO of Tanmoshi) (@Namaryuu) April 29, 2022
Every week I’m being reminded just how exceptionally crafted Summer Time Rendering is with all these previous points coming together and becoming weapons for future. There is constant back and forth between forces with a lot of thought put into that. I can’t praise it enough. pic.twitter.com/zKfHY4BpI6
— Namaryu (CEO of Tanmoshi) (@Namaryuu) August 19, 2022
Someone asking me if Summer Time Rendering is good, and to be honest, I can tell you it’s now on my top five (completed) anime, especially if they keep on with the pacing like that.
That list has not been broken in more than five years until now. That’s how good it is. pic.twitter.com/zJ5WCt70NG
— Violet?translating-a-lot-of-stuff mode (@violetheart08) May 5, 2022
Summer Time Rendering was honestly a 10/10 in my book! It did not disappoint at all, and I quickly became emotionally invested in it.
I enjoyed this one a whole lot! ?️ pic.twitter.com/TcZTbIw7TX— Sensei Kev ? at Anime Expo ‘24? (@SenseiKev_) February 6, 2023
You can catch the whole series now on Hulu. When you do, let me know what you think on Twitter @Chadiscollins. While you’re there, let me know what other horror anime I should seek out.
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