Summer Wars

Summer Wars original poster

The film Summer Wars is an animated movie of science-fiction action, family, and romance. it was directed & original conept by Mamoru Hosoda, who previously directed the successful anime movie The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. The screenplay was written by Satoko Okudera. Music by Akihiko Matsumoto. The Madhouse Studios produced the movie. Distributed by Warner Bros. Japan.

The original project was announced without a title at the 2008 Tokyo International Anime Fair, and the first trailer of the film was released on April 2009. Production lasted over three years, and two manga adaptations were published before the original release date of August 1, 2009 to Japanese theaters.

On the opening week, the film grossed ¥83.6 million ($1 Million USD) and aired in 127 theaters. It reached to number seven at the box office. In the boxoffice it fully grossed over ¥1.5 billion ($18,353,560 USD).

Critical appeal of the movie was so high that is was screens in subtitled forms at film festivals around the world and won many awards for animated films.

At the Otakon 2010 convention, the movie was announced to be licensed for the U.S. Market by the FUNimation Entertainment. FUNimation in association with GKids.tv moved to bring Summer Wars to U.S. theaters in limited release in time to qualify for the 83rd Academy Awards. A recent rule change in the nomination process allowed Summer Wars to qualify for the 2010 Awards, despite the fact it was originally released in Japanese theaters in April 2009. It first opened to U.S. theaters on December 3, 2010 at the Siskel Film Center in Chicago, IL.

The DVD/Blu-ray was released in the U.S. on February 15, 2011.

Story

High school student, Kenji Koiso, a prodigy in mathematics, is immensely immersed in the Cyber World of OZ. At the beginning of summer vacation, he takes on work of maintaining the OZ with his friend, but he gets dragged along by upper-classmen, Natsuki Shinohara, on a part-time job. This lead's him to her Grandmother's estate in Ueda, Nagano and to his surprise is introduced as Natsuki's fiancee. As Kenji tries to play this part he receives a strange e-mail with a number code that he cracks and unknowingly deciphers OZ's security code. This causes his OZ account to be hijacked by a hacking A.I program. This artificial intelligence system, ' Love Machine," thus taking full control of systems worldwide, making OZ a deadzone and reeking havoc onto the real world. Kenji is now framed for the crime. To strike back, Kenji enlists the help of Natsuki's large family and an army of avatar's to take place in this epic Summer War.

DVD Release

Summer Wars DVD Japan

The DVD & Blu-ray of the film was released on March 3, 2010. In the first week the Blu-ray sold 54,000 units to break the record by the previous holder, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone; and the second highest Japanese Blu-ray debut overall (2010). In the first week of the Summer Wars Japanese release the Oricon group tracked sales of 55,375 units.

Outside of Japan, Germany was the first country to have Summer Wars distributed on DVD/Blu-ray. North America followed, then the United Kingdom.

Germany Release

The distribution for the DVD/Blu-ray in Germany was done by Kazé (a French anime distribution company), and was released on November 26, 2010.

U.S. Release

Summer Wars DVD U.S.

The distribution for the DVD/Blu-ray in North America was done by FUNimaton Entertainment. Though they released the movie to theaters in December 2010. They would later release the the DVD/Blu-ray on February 15, 2010.

Sales were so high for Summer Wars in the United States that it was quickly selling out beyond anticipated. It was initially shipped missing the OZ slip cover in favor of pushing back the initial release date. FUNimation did offer to ship the OZ slip cover to buyers buy registering their purchase on their official website.

U.K Release

The distribution for the DVD/Blu-ray in the United Kingdom was done by Manga Entertainment. They announced in January 2010 for a set release date of March 2011.

Original Sound Track

Summer Wars - OST cover

The soundtrack the film, titled Summer Wars Original Soundtrack ( 「サマーウォーズ」 オリジナル・サウンドトラック , Samā Wōzu Orijinaru Saundotorakku), was released by VAP Inc. (a Japanese entertainment company based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.) on July 9, 2009. It remained on the Oricon music charts for four weeks and peaked at rank 112. All the music written and composed by Akihiko Matsumoto.

A music single for Summer Wars was released bearing the name of the films theme song "Our Summer Dream (僕らの夏の夢, Bokura no Natsu no Yume)" which was written and performed by Tatsuro Yamashita. It was released on August 19, 2009 by Warner Music Japan, and included two songs by Yamashita that were unrelated to the movie. The third song, "Atom's Children", reached #8 on the Oricon charts.

(See "Summer Wars" franchise page for full soundtrack details.)

Film Awards

Director Mamoru Hosoda was nominated for an Annie Award in the category of "Directing in a Feature Production". One of the highest honors in animation.

~ Japanese Academy Prize ~

WINNER - Best Animated Feature 2010

~ Mainichi Film Concours ~

WINNER - Best Animated Feature 2010

~ Stiges International Film Festival / Official Fantàstic Panorama ~

WINNER - Gertie Award for Best Animated Feature Film 2010

~ Fantasia International Film Festival ~

WINNER - Best Animated Feature 2010

~ 13th Japan Media Arts Festival ~

WINNER - Animation Division Grand Prize (2010)

~ Anaheim International Film Festival ~

WINNER - Audience Award for Best Animation Feature (2010)

~ ASIAN PACIFIC SCREEN AWARDS ~

NOMINEE - Best Animated Feature (2010)

~ Locarno International Film Festival ~

NOMINEE - Golden Leopard Award (2009)