Summer Wars! (サマーウォーズ)

UPDATED: WINS JAPANESE GOVERNMENT PRIZE

When timid eleventh-grader and math genius Koiso Kenji  is asked by older student and secret crush Natsuki to come with her to her family's Nagano home for a summer job, he agrees without hesitation. Natsuki's family, the Jinnouchi clan, dates back to the Muromachi era (1336 to 1573), and they've all come together to celebrate the 90th birthday of the spunky matriarch of the family, Sakae.

That’s when Kenji discovers his "summer job" is to pretend to be Natsuki's fiance and dance with her at the birthday celebration. As Kenji attempts to keep up with Natsuki's act around her family, he receives a strange math problem on his cell phone which, being a math genius, he can't resist solving.

As it turns out, the solution to the mysterious equation causes a bizarre parallel world to collide with Earth, and it's up to Kenji and his new fake family to put reality back in order.

Honestly, I had no idea what this show was about. No clue at all.

Until the results of the Tokyo Anime Fair 2010 Animation Awards was presented, with Summer Wars weeping a total of 6 awards!

• Animation of the Year
• Domestic Theatical Category Excellence Award
• Director Award
• Original Work Award
• Screenplay Award
• Fine Arts Award
  
  
  
  
  

Despite only airing in Japan (and Korea for some reason), it has claimed 6 Awards?!
I HAD to find out what this movie was about..

 The story line is just A.W.E.S.O.M.E.! 

I love how they blend the concepts of virtual and reality in both worlds. Very original indeed with a math-prodigy protagonist which saves the world in the end (or maybe just the family and house).

The concept of the virtual world, OZ is akin to Second Life (even though I've never played SL myself), but it's a joke to compare this movie to SL at all (really biased here).

A very touching show as well. This is one of those shows you can be proud to be human as it shows the true limits humans can reach, as well as displaying the kindness of mankind. A total win in my heart. At times, I just stare in awe with tears rolling down...

Well, not all parts are tear jerking as most of my tears were thanks to the hilarious comedy played out, especially by the Jinnouchi family. Haha. I don't remember having that much laughs in a show since Baka to Test, which is btw, really funny too!

After watching it had I realised it was the same director who did "Toki o Kakeru Shoujo" when I took a look back at the director. If you missed "Kakeru Shoujo", you're missing out a very essential part of the anime culture, including this movie!

It's like.....like......argh! F@#* my explanation!
Just go watch it!

Words cannot describe my feelings for this show at all... maybe just 1. It starts with "A" and rhymes with "foursome" ^^

Truly, if you're ever in the mood for a feel good movie, this is one of them.

Showing the true slices-of-life reality mixed with action and excitement, topped with a large serving of AWESOMEness at the end. 

Update (14/3/2010)

Recently, the Agency of Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Government awarded Hosoda Mamoru, director of Summer Wars and Toki o Kakeru Shoujo, the MEXT Art Encouragement Shinjin Prize of the Media Arts Category. 

Pretty big deal when you have the acknowledgment of the government, patting your back.

Here's to Hosoda-san and future works! KAMPAIIIII~!