Multiple Personality Disorder aside, the twist at the end of the last episode was the appearance of Ushio. Summer Time Render Episode 8 expands upon that mystery and many more. Let’s get right into the review!
Summer Time Render Episode 8 Overview
Summer Time Render is the latest anime by the Anime Studio OLM, previously known for producing critically and commercially acclaimed anime like Komi Can’t Communicate and Odd Taxi. Ayumu Watanabe directs the series, a director whose career so far has been intrinsically linked with OLM, having previously directed Komi Can’t Communicate and Space Brothers for the studio. The anime is based on a manga written by Yasunori Tanaka.
The series is also referred to as Summertime Rendering or Summertime Render, making this episode’s name also be Summertime Rendering Episode 8 and Summertime Render Episode 8. You can read our review of the previous episode of this show right here!
– Summer Time Rendering Episode 8 Review does not contain spoilers –
Summer Time Render Episode 8 Review- Rebirth
Every week, a new episode of this series drops with a whole new twist in a plot that is already brimming with them. If a twist every episode is expected, would it be more of a twist not to have one in the first place? If your mind wanders ahead, assuming this happened, I will stop you right here and tell you that it didn’t. Of course, there was a twist in this episode. Why would you even ask, at this point? Something that changed our perspective on how we view things in the show did happen, and while it was a little milder this time around, it was still very fun.
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The plan to capture Mio’s shadow doesn’t work, as Shinpei is interrupted by Ushio. However, just like Shinpei, she is also very different from the bloodthirsty imposter syndrome poster children we’ve faced so far. She has several unique qualities, the most important of them being that she has retained the personality and memories of the original Ushio. In contrast, the rest of them have been left scavenging for flesh and blood. It isn’t surprising that she is very relevant to the plot and carries some vital clues to unlock the island’s secrets and what made everything go this way.
The feeling of permanent paranoia has yet to subside, as no one is to be trusted in this lawless land. Hizuru has shown herself to be extremely capable and no-nonsense, but she retains an aura of caution and a shield that indicates that she’s been keeping a lot to herself. This entire atmosphere gives a tension to the show that makes every episode go by in a jiffy. Every time you look at how much of it has finished, you’re surprised by how much time you spent engrossed in the world of Summer Time Render. There truly is no better praise to give to a show that it makes the time go by faster.
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The animators also attempted wildly different art styles in this episode, including those YouTube-style reaction faces plastered all over the somewhat comedic moments. The show has a rough deal sometimes with mixing up its tones, and it oscillates between serious and humorous from time to time, but the expressions took it a little farther than necessary. They didn’t break the immersion, but they threatened to do it all the same. What compels studios to fix what isn’t broken will always be beyond my understanding, but this isn’t it. The show otherwise looked great and maintained the high quality of its previous episodes.
The direction isn’t as noticeable in anime as it is anywhere else, but one look at Summertime Rendering tells me that it and the people behind it have a vision that they are going to see to the end. The story has slowed down just a little bit as we teeter towards another plot twist, but the setup will most probably lead to much better and more exciting episodes, which can only be a good thing. A little patience here will be rewarded generously, as the showrunners have at least earned that much.
Verdict
Summer Time Render Episode 8 was another fantastic episode that furthered the story and featured a lot of great moments. Every new episode of this show is fast becoming an occasion to watch.
Click here to read the review of the next episode!