Summer Wars Film Analysis
Summer Wars is an animation directed by Mamoru Hosoda caught
my attention to the tradition of Japan. The story start from a high school student,
Kenji Koiso get a part time job as his senior, Natsuki boyfriend. They went
back to Ueda for her great-grandmother birthday. Kenji is a gifted talent on
mathematic and also before Natsuki invite him to work with her, he is a part
time moderator in the computer system named OZ. First day of his part time job
as Natsuki boyfriend, on the night, he receive a weird message with codes. He
solve the codes till morning and send back to the sender. The next day big
things happens around the world. OZ system break down, and many more chaos happen
in the country.
Natsuki uncle, Wabisuke actually is the one who break the OZ
system. He used Kanji to solve the codes and use his account to control the
whole system. As the system break down, Natsuki grandmother sickness is unable
to detect and inform the doctor to take consciousness. Therefore, she pass away
on her birthday. On the other hand, the system, Love Machine is getting strong
and strong which Kenji and Kazuma, King Kazma can’t defeat. Later on, the whole
family of Natsuki helps and defeat the Love Machine and succeeded to save the
family and the world.
Obviously, Summer Wars genres was around myth
and fantasy which also shows many technology that people taking for granted to
relay them in life nowadays. Summer Wars also bring awareness for the people
who only see the good side of technology but didn’t not concern on the bad side
of technology. Thus, technology can be scary or harmful towards human and society
need to be more careful on technology.
Tradition of Japan such as games can be seen in Summer Wars.
Koi-Koi which is a traditional games
that popular among the Japanese. Also, their transform the battlefield from
fighting to Koi-Koi games. Natsuki avatar also wearing Kimono during the final
battle.
Out of traditions,
cultural hybridity are also found in Summer Wars. Through OZ system, many foreigner
seem to be involve by give Natsuki their avatars to fight for the battle, many
languages pop up the screen for cheering Natsuki in the battle and show shots
of different people in the foreign country. However, Japan animator still make
this foreign characters “ Japanese-ed” and the languages also translated
immediately to make their Japanese audiences understand.
Last but not least, along
the setting of Summer Wars, future are unpredictable which things that are
unexpected will may happen in our life. Such as the OZ system brings convenience
to the peoples and everyone using the same system to manage the things in life.
In real life, Facebook is kind of a OZ system, however Facebook have not that
much function as OZ, but I believe things can possible happens and technology
will bring us to the stage like how Summer Wars imagined.
