Summer Days with Coo Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Summer Days with Coo Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 29, 2020

The cover art for the Blu-ray release of 2007’s depicts a loveable moment between a young boy and the Kappa, or water monster, he’s befriended. The actual movie is a bit more sobering than the sunny image suggests, with the picture an adaptation of novels by Masao Kogure, offering a deeper understanding of the central relationship as it’s challenged by cruelty and chaos over one distinctly adventurous season. Yes, there’s cute stuff in here too, but director Keiichi Hara isn’t trying to make another “E.T.” with the story, willing to maintain its heavier violence to deliver a more nuanced exploration of a unique visitation.

“Summer Days with Coo” doesn’t shy away from harshness, opening with a scene of murder as Coo the Kappa watches as his father is sliced open by roving samurai who don’t take kindly to requests from unknown creatures, making the water monster an orphan. It’s a vivid moment (with bursting bloodshed), and one that puts the picture strictly for the 12-and-over crowd, with the physical path of pain soon joined by Ossan, a dog who speaks telepathically with the overwhelmed monster, sharing his past history of abuse, becoming the punching bag for an abused boy who knows no other way to express his anger.

“Summer Days with Coo” isn’t always interested in chilling acts of viciousness, by there’s a distinct melancholy to the effort, which boasts a 138- minute-long run time to work through the story of Coo and his connection to Koichi, his human friend, and the boy’s family, who are endlessly curious about the new addition, revived from a 200-year-old fossil. Laughs are scattered here and there, introduced through mild slapstick with Coo and his displays of strength, with Hara trying to dilute the horrifying aspects of the tale though a few wackier encounters. Lightness is welcome, but doesn’t dominate the viewing experience, and character design adds a little levity, with Coo a strange bird-like creation, helping him to stand out around the humans.

Summer Days with Coo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation showcases the brightness of "Summer Days with Coo," delivering a fine replication of exteriors, which favor blues skies and sun-blasted locations, while greenery is deep and inviting. Primaries are distinct, while more creature-y hues are appreciable. Animation artistry is easy to examine, finding character design detailed in full, while decorative aspects of rooms and urban tours are available for study. Delineation is acceptable. Compression issues are periodic and brief, with banding creeping into view at times.

Summer Days with Coo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix preserves performances, offering a sharp understanding of emotive acting and the mystical elements of "Summer Days with Coo." Scoring is precise, offering an appealing mix of musical styles, finding traditional Japanese strings just as distinct as more Western-flavored steel guitars, and percussion offers some low-end heft. Surrounds are utilized well for atmospherics, dealing with changes in weather and room tones, while a few channel separation effects add flavor to the listening event.

Summer Days with Coo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• T.V. Spots (1:16, SD) include two Japanese commercials for "Summer Day with Coo."

• And a U.S. Home Video Trailer (:37, HD), Japanese Trailer #1 (1:48, SD), Japanese Trailer #2 (1:36, SD), and Japanese Trailer #3 (:33, SD) are included.

Summer Days with Coo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are messages on family, friends, the environment, and Japanese history in "Summer Days with Coo," which is ambitious with its storytelling at times, aiming for something epic despite limited funds for production polish. It's engaging for the most part, and there's genuine surprise here and there, especially when it comes to the harsh realities of human behavior, infusing "Summer Days with Coo" with a slightly more pessimistic view of its characters as some of them fight to protect the titular spirit, while others hope to exploit the creature. The cover art is certainly selling a G-rated good time with a silly-looking critter and a kindly kid, but the actual movie reaches dark places, making it more suited for mature audiences interested in the ways animation can study atypical emotional responses.