Summer Wars

Summer Wars (Japanese: サマーウォーズ, Hepburn: Samā Wōzu) is a 2009 Japanese animatedscience fiction film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, produced by Madhouse, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film's voice cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba, Mitsuki Tanimura, Sumiko Fuji and Ayumu Saitō. The film tells the story of Kenji Koiso, a timid eleventh-grade math genius who is taken to Ueda by twelfth-grade student, Natsuki Shinohara to celebrate her great-grandmother's 90th birthday. However, he is falsely implicated in the hacking of a virtual world by a self-aware, sadistic artificial intelligence named Love Machine. Kenji must repair the damage done, and find a way to stop the rogue computer program from causing any further chaos.
== Plot ==
Kenji Koiso is a young student at Kuonji High School with a gift for mathematics and a part-time moderator in the massive computer-simulated virtual reality world OZ along with his friend Takashi Sakuma. OZ itself is a place where people get to interact with others from all over the world and where people can keep all their personal information safe. It also has the use of controlling pipes, medical information as well as other vital needs.
One day, Kenji is invited by fellow Kuonji student Natsuki Shinohara to participate in her great-grandmother Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday. After traveling to Sakae's estate in Ueda, Natsuki introduces Kenji as her fiancé to Sakae, surprising them both. Kenji meets several of Natsuki's relatives and discovers that the Jinnouchis are descendants of a samurai (vassal of the Takeda clan) who challenged the Tokugawa clan in 1615. He also meets Wabisuke Jinnouchi, Natsuki's half-great-uncle and a computer expert who has been living in the United States since stealing the family fortune 10 years ago. While the rest of the family is unhappy to see him Natsuki is overjoyed and later on they play a game of Koi Koi together.
One night while sleeping, Kenji receives an e-mail with a mathematical code and cracks it thinking it was a puzzle. However he learns the next morning that his actions inadvertently cause OZ's Love Machine to use Kenji's avatar and hack the infrastructure with the encryption Kenji had inadvertently cracked, causing widespread damage. Kenji, Sakuma, and Natsuki's cousin Kazuma Ikezawa confront Love Machine. Love Machine defeats Kazuma's avatar King Kazma after some cousins start messing with Kenji. After that defeat Love Machine continues to absorb accounts in the OZ mainframe, which due to many accounts being connected to devices for public infrastructure allows Love Machine to cause catastrophic traffic congestion and the disabling of electrical devices. Two of Sakae's relatives, Rika and Shota Jinnouchi, discover Kenji's involvement and have uncovered who he really is. Shota arrests Kenji, despite the whole incident being an accidental misunderstanding, but the congestion causes Natsuki to return them to the estate.
Sakae calls associates in important positions in Japanese society and relatives who work in emergency services, encouraging them to work their hardest to reduce chaos and damage, comparing the situation to war. With Kenji's help Takahashi is able to return control of the mainframe to the moderators and engineers while he also discovers that Kenji actually misspelled one part of the code so he wasn't entirely to blame. Later tat night while celebrating their victory over Love Machine, Wabisuke smugly reveals that he invented the program and sold it to the United States Armed Forces for a test run and expanding it into a virtual intelligence. The family is furious to hear this as the whole virtual world is in jeopardy because of his creation. Wabisuke tries to tell everyone he never programed it to hack accounts just to learn but they kick him out, despite Natsuki's protests. Sakae later encourages Kenji to take care of Natsuki during a Koi-Koi match.
The next morning, Sakae is discovered dead by Kenji and the Jinnouchis. Her youngest son Mansaku explains that she had Angina pectoris, and that Love Machine had deactivated her heart monitor. Kenji, Sakuma, and most of the Jinnouchis form a plan to defeat Love Machine with a supercomputer using ice blocks as a coolant, while Natsuki and the others prepare a funeral for Sakae.
Kenji, along with Sakuma and the others, capture Love Machine, but Shota carries the ice blocks to Sakae's body, overheating the supercomputer. Love Machine absorbs King Kazma and redirects the Arawashi Asteroid Probe onto a collision course with a nuclear power plant and causes the world clock to countdown. Meanwhile, Natsuki discovers a will left by Sakae and reunites with Kenji and the rest of the group. Natsuki has Wabisuke return home before the family reads Sakae's will, asking them to bring Wabisuke back to their lives. The family has a meal together before deciding what to do next. Realizing that Love Machine sees everything as a game, Kenji has the Jinnouchis confront Love Machine to play Hanafuda Koi-Koi in OZ's casino world, wagering their accounts. Natsuki wins several rounds, but gets distracted and nearly loses her "winnings".
However, OZ users worldwide enter their own accounts into the wager on Natsuki's side, prompting the guardian programs of OZ—the blue and red whales known as John and Yoko—to upgrade Natsuki's account. Natsuki wagers the 150 million avatars given to her in a single hand and critically injures Love Machine, prompting it to redirect the Arawashi towards Sakae's estate. Kenji repeatedly tries breaking into the probe's GPS, while Wabisuke disables Love Machine's defenses. After being revived and assisted by several of the Jinnouchi family's avatars, King Kazma destroys Love Machine. Kenji infiltrates the GPS to redirect the Arawashi away from the estate, destroying the estate's entrance and causing a geyser to erupt. In the aftermath, the Jinnouchi family, celebrating their victory as well as Sakae's birthday, has Natsuki kiss Kenji after they confess their love to each other.
== Cast ==
=== Voice cast ===
Character 	Japanese 	English 	
Kenji Koiso (小磯 健二, Koiso Kenji) 	Ryunosuke Kamiki 	Michael Sinterniklaas 	
A teenager and a moderator of the interactive computer world OZ along with his close friend Takashi Sakuma. Kenji is less skilled in dealing with people. Kenji is invited by his friend Natsuki Shinohara for Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday. After receiving a cryptic code on his cell phone and cracking it, he becomes a primary suspect for hacking into OZ.	A teenager and a moderator of the interactive computer world OZ along with his close friend Takashi Sakuma. Kenji is less skilled in dealing with people. Kenji is invited by his friend Natsuki Shinohara for Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday. After receiving a cryptic code on his cell phone and cracking it, he becomes a primary suspect for hacking into OZ.	A teenager and a moderator of the interactive computer world OZ along with his close friend Takashi Sakuma. Kenji is less skilled in dealing with people. Kenji is invited by his friend Natsuki Shinohara for Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday. After receiving a cryptic code on his cell phone and cracking it, he becomes a primary suspect for hacking into OZ.	A teenager and a moderator of the interactive computer world OZ along with his close friend Takashi Sakuma. Kenji is less skilled in dealing with people. Kenji is invited by his friend Natsuki Shinohara for Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday. After receiving a cryptic code on his cell phone and cracking it, he becomes a primary suspect for hacking into OZ.
Natsuki Shinohara (篠原 夏希, Shinohara Natsuki) 	Nanami Sakuraba 	Brina Palencia 	
A spirited young woman and a close friend of Kenji Koiso. She hires Kenji to meet her large extended family for her great-grandmother Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday. 	A spirited young woman and a close friend of Kenji Koiso. She hires Kenji to meet her large extended family for her great-grandmother Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday. 	A spirited young woman and a close friend of Kenji Koiso. She hires Kenji to meet her large extended family for her great-grandmother Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday. 	A spirited young woman and a close friend of Kenji Koiso. She hires Kenji to meet her large extended family for her great-grandmother Sakae Jinnouchi's 90th birthday.
Kazuma Ikezawa (池沢 佳主馬, Ikezawa Kazuma) 	Mitsuki Tanimura 	Maxey Whitehead 	
A second cousin of Natsuki Shinohara. His avatar is King Kazma, a renowned program in OZ. Kazuma is also a hikikomori who seldom leaves his room and uses his talents to win every game in OZ. When he is not in his room he trains in Shorinji Kempo with his grandfather, Mansuke Jinnouchi. 	A second cousin of Natsuki Shinohara. His avatar is King Kazma, a renowned program in OZ. Kazuma is also a hikikomori who seldom leaves his room and uses his talents to win every game in OZ. When he is not in his room he trains in Shorinji Kempo with his grandfather, Mansuke Jinnouchi. 	A second cousin of Natsuki Shinohara. His avatar is King Kazma, a renowned program in OZ. Kazuma is also a hikikomori who seldom leaves his room and uses his talents to win every game in OZ. When he is not in his room he trains in Shorinji Kempo with his grandfather, Mansuke Jinnouchi. 	A second cousin of Natsuki Shinohara. His avatar is King Kazma, a renowned program in OZ. Kazuma is also a hikikomori who seldom leaves his room and uses his talents to win every game in OZ. When he is not in his room he trains in Shorinji Kempo with his grandfather, Mansuke Jinnouchi.
Sakae Jinnouchi (陣内 栄, Jinnouchi Sakae) 	Sumiko Fuji 	Pam Dougherty 	
The 89-year-old great grandmother of Natsuki Shinohara and indomitable head of the Jinnouchi family. Despite her advanced age she holds the family together. She also has connections in the highest ranks of political and financial circles. 	The 89-year-old great grandmother of Natsuki Shinohara and indomitable head of the Jinnouchi family. Despite her advanced age she holds the family together. She also has connections in the highest ranks of political and financial circles. 	The 89-year-old great grandmother of Natsuki Shinohara and indomitable head of the Jinnouchi family. Despite her advanced age she holds the family together. She also has connections in the highest ranks of political and financial circles. 	The 89-year-old great grandmother of Natsuki Shinohara and indomitable head of the Jinnouchi family. Despite her advanced age she holds the family together. She also has connections in the highest ranks of political and financial circles.
Wabisuke Jinnouchi (陣内 侘助, Jinnouchi Wabisuke) 	Ayumu Saito 	J. Michael Tatum 	
A handsome and sardonic 41-year-old computer expert, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and the half-granduncle of Natsuki Shinohara. Naomi Miwa refers to him as Natsuki's "first love." He is the illegitimate son of Natsuki's great-grandfather, Tokue. He was adopted by Sakae Jinnouchi, whom Wabisuke cares for deeply. 	A handsome and sardonic 41-year-old computer expert, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and the half-granduncle of Natsuki Shinohara. Naomi Miwa refers to him as Natsuki's "first love." He is the illegitimate son of Natsuki's great-grandfather, Tokue. He was adopted by Sakae Jinnouchi, whom Wabisuke cares for deeply. 	A handsome and sardonic 41-year-old computer expert, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and the half-granduncle of Natsuki Shinohara. Naomi Miwa refers to him as Natsuki's "first love." He is the illegitimate son of Natsuki's great-grandfather, Tokue. He was adopted by Sakae Jinnouchi, whom Wabisuke cares for deeply. 	A handsome and sardonic 41-year-old computer expert, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and the half-granduncle of Natsuki Shinohara. Naomi Miwa refers to him as Natsuki's "first love." He is the illegitimate son of Natsuki's great-grandfather, Tokue. He was adopted by Sakae Jinnouchi, whom Wabisuke cares for deeply.
Takashi Sakuma (佐久間 敬, Sakuma Takashi) 	Takahiro Yokokawa 	Todd Haberkorn 	
A 17-year-old fellow moderator of OZ and close friend of Kenji Koiso. 	A 17-year-old fellow moderator of OZ and close friend of Kenji Koiso. 	A 17-year-old fellow moderator of OZ and close friend of Kenji Koiso. 	A 17-year-old fellow moderator of OZ and close friend of Kenji Koiso.
Yukiko Shinohara (篠原 雪子, Shinohara Yukiko) 	Kiyomi Tanigawa 	Anastasia Muñoz 	
The 47-year-old mother of Natsuki Shinohara. 	The 47-year-old mother of Natsuki Shinohara. 	The 47-year-old mother of Natsuki Shinohara. 	The 47-year-old mother of Natsuki Shinohara.
Kazuo Shinohara (篠原 和雄, Shinohara Kazuo) 	Mutsumi Sasaki 	Bill Jenkins 	
The 55-year-old father of Natsuki Shinohara. Kazuo works as a member of Tokyo's water department. 	The 55-year-old father of Natsuki Shinohara. Kazuo works as a member of Tokyo's water department. 	The 55-year-old father of Natsuki Shinohara. Kazuo works as a member of Tokyo's water department. 	The 55-year-old father of Natsuki Shinohara. Kazuo works as a member of Tokyo's water department.
Mariko Jinnouchi (陣内 万理子, Jinnouchi Mariko) 	Mieko Nobusawa 	Shelley Calene-Black 	
The 71-year-old daughter of Sakae Jinnouchi who works as a housewife. 	The 71-year-old daughter of Sakae Jinnouchi who works as a housewife. 	The 71-year-old daughter of Sakae Jinnouchi who works as a housewife. 	The 71-year-old daughter of Sakae Jinnouchi who works as a housewife.
Riichi Jinnouchi (陣内 理一, Jinnouchi Riichi) 	Takuya Kirimoto 	Chuck Huber 	
The 41-year-old son of Mariko Jinnouchi. Riichi is a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and is stationed in Camp Ichigaya. 	The 41-year-old son of Mariko Jinnouchi. Riichi is a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and is stationed in Camp Ichigaya. 	The 41-year-old son of Mariko Jinnouchi. Riichi is a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and is stationed in Camp Ichigaya. 	The 41-year-old son of Mariko Jinnouchi. Riichi is a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and is stationed in Camp Ichigaya.
Rika Jinnouchi (陣内 理香, Jinnouchi Rika) 	Sakiko Tamagawa 	Cynthia Cranz 	
The 42-year-old daughter of Mariko Jinnouchi. She works as an agent of the city's government. 	The 42-year-old daughter of Mariko Jinnouchi. She works as an agent of the city's government. 	The 42-year-old daughter of Mariko Jinnouchi. She works as an agent of the city's government. 	The 42-year-old daughter of Mariko Jinnouchi. She works as an agent of the city's government.
Mansuke Jinnouchi (陣内 万助, Jinnouchi Mansuke) 	Ichirō Nagai 	John Swasey 	
The 70-year-old middle son of Sakae Jinnouchi. Mansuke is an owner of a local fish market. Along with his grandson Kazuma Ikezawa, he trains in Shorinji Kempo. 	The 70-year-old middle son of Sakae Jinnouchi. Mansuke is an owner of a local fish market. Along with his grandson Kazuma Ikezawa, he trains in Shorinji Kempo. 	The 70-year-old middle son of Sakae Jinnouchi. Mansuke is an owner of a local fish market. Along with his grandson Kazuma Ikezawa, he trains in Shorinji Kempo. 	The 70-year-old middle son of Sakae Jinnouchi. Mansuke is an owner of a local fish market. Along with his grandson Kazuma Ikezawa, he trains in Shorinji Kempo.
Tasuke Jinnouchi (陣内 太助, Jinnouchi Tasuke) 	Takashi Kobayashi 	John Burgmeier 	
The 45-year-old son of Mansuke Jinnouchi. Tasuke works as a shopkeeper of an electronics store. 	The 45-year-old son of Mansuke Jinnouchi. Tasuke works as a shopkeeper of an electronics store. 	The 45-year-old son of Mansuke Jinnouchi. Tasuke works as a shopkeeper of an electronics store. 	The 45-year-old son of Mansuke Jinnouchi. Tasuke works as a shopkeeper of an electronics store.
Shota Jinnouchi (陣内 翔太, Jinnouchi Shōta) 	Yutaka Shimizu 	Mike McFarland 	
The 21-year-old son of Tasuke Jinnouchi. Shota is a police officer who is extremely protective of Natsuki Shinohara. 	The 21-year-old son of Tasuke Jinnouchi. Shota is a police officer who is extremely protective of Natsuki Shinohara. 	The 21-year-old son of Tasuke Jinnouchi. Shota is a police officer who is extremely protective of Natsuki Shinohara. 	The 21-year-old son of Tasuke Jinnouchi. Shota is a police officer who is extremely protective of Natsuki Shinohara.
Naomi Miwa (三輪 直美, Miwa Naomi) 	Kaori Yamagata 	Lydia Mackay 	
The 42-year-old eldest daughter of Mansuke Jinnouchi who is divorced. 	The 42-year-old eldest daughter of Mansuke Jinnouchi who is divorced. 	The 42-year-old eldest daughter of Mansuke Jinnouchi who is divorced. 	The 42-year-old eldest daughter of Mansuke Jinnouchi who is divorced.
Kiyomi Ikezawa (池沢 聖美, Ikezawa Kiyomi) 	Tagame Tamura 	Jennifer Seman 	
The 39-year-old youngest daughter of Mansuke Jinnouchi and mother of Kazuma Ikezawa. Kiyomi is a care worker based in Nagoya. Throughout the film, she is pregnant with Kazuma's sister. 	The 39-year-old youngest daughter of Mansuke Jinnouchi and mother of Kazuma Ikezawa. Kiyomi is a care worker based in Nagoya. Throughout the film, she is pregnant with Kazuma's sister. 	The 39-year-old youngest daughter of Mansuke Jinnouchi and mother of Kazuma Ikezawa. Kiyomi is a care worker based in Nagoya. Throughout the film, she is pregnant with Kazuma's sister. 	The 39-year-old youngest daughter of Mansuke Jinnouchi and mother of Kazuma Ikezawa. Kiyomi is a care worker based in Nagoya. Throughout the film, she is pregnant with Kazuma's sister.
Mansaku Jinnouchi (陣内 万作, Jinnouchi Mansaku) 	Tadashi Nakamura 	Barry Yandell 	
The 68-year-old youngest son of Sakae Jinnouchi. Mansaku monitors Sakae's health problems. 	The 68-year-old youngest son of Sakae Jinnouchi. Mansaku monitors Sakae's health problems. 	The 68-year-old youngest son of Sakae Jinnouchi. Mansaku monitors Sakae's health problems. 	The 68-year-old youngest son of Sakae Jinnouchi. Mansaku monitors Sakae's health problems.
Yorihiko Jinnouchi (陣内 頼彦, Jinnouchi Yorihiko) 	Yoji Tanaka 	Robert McCollum 	
The 45-year-old eldest son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Yorihiko works as an EMT in Matsumoto's fire department. 	The 45-year-old eldest son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Yorihiko works as an EMT in Matsumoto's fire department. 	The 45-year-old eldest son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Yorihiko works as an EMT in Matsumoto's fire department. 	The 45-year-old eldest son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Yorihiko works as an EMT in Matsumoto's fire department.
Kunihiko Jinnouchi (陣内 邦彦, Jinnouchi Kunihiko) 	Hashiya Nakamura 	Patrick Seitz 	
The 42-year-old middle son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Kunihiko works as a fire sergeant in Suwa's fire department. 	The 42-year-old middle son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Kunihiko works as a fire sergeant in Suwa's fire department. 	The 42-year-old middle son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Kunihiko works as a fire sergeant in Suwa's fire department. 	The 42-year-old middle son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Kunihiko works as a fire sergeant in Suwa's fire department.
Katsuhiko Jinnouchi (陣内 克彦, Jinnouchi Katsuhiko) 	Mitsutaka Itakura 	Christopher Sabat 	
The 40-year-old youngest son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Katsuhiko is a firefighter who is a member of Ueda's fire department and assists in the department's rescue squad. 	The 40-year-old youngest son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Katsuhiko is a firefighter who is a member of Ueda's fire department and assists in the department's rescue squad. 	The 40-year-old youngest son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Katsuhiko is a firefighter who is a member of Ueda's fire department and assists in the department's rescue squad. 	The 40-year-old youngest son of Mansaku Jinnouchi. Katsuhiko is a firefighter who is a member of Ueda's fire department and assists in the department's rescue squad.
Noriko Jinnouchi (陣内 典子, Jinnouchi Noriko) 	Eiko Kanazawa 	Colleen Clinkenbeard 	
The 37-year-old wife of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 37-year-old wife of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 37-year-old wife of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 37-year-old wife of Yorihiko Jinnouchi.
Nana Jinnouchi (陣内 奈々, Jinnouchi Nana) 	Chigusa Takaku 	Caitlin Glass 	
The 32-year-old wife of Kunihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 32-year-old wife of Kunihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 32-year-old wife of Kunihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 32-year-old wife of Kunihiko Jinnouchi.
Yumi Jinnouchi (陣内 由美, Jinnouchi Yumi) 	Riisa Naka 	Monica Rial 	
The 38-year-old wife of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. She is a fanatic when it comes to watching her son Ryouhei play baseball. 	The 38-year-old wife of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. She is a fanatic when it comes to watching her son Ryouhei play baseball. 	The 38-year-old wife of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. She is a fanatic when it comes to watching her son Ryouhei play baseball. 	The 38-year-old wife of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. She is a fanatic when it comes to watching her son Ryouhei play baseball.
Ryohei Jinnouchi (陣内 了平, Jinnouchi Ryōhei) 	Naoto Adachi 	Jason Liebrecht 	
The 17-year-old eldest son of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. Ryohei plays in his local high school's baseball team. 	The 17-year-old eldest son of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. Ryohei plays in his local high school's baseball team. 	The 17-year-old eldest son of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. Ryohei plays in his local high school's baseball team. 	The 17-year-old eldest son of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. Ryohei plays in his local high school's baseball team.
Yuhei Jinnouchi (陣内 祐平, Jinnouchi Yūhei) 	Rikito Ota 	Brittney Karbowski 	
The 7-year-old middle son of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. 	The 7-year-old middle son of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. 	The 7-year-old middle son of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi. 	The 7-year-old middle son of Katsuhiko Jinnouchi.
Shingo Jinnouchi (陣内 真悟, Jinnouchi Shingo) 	Yuki Imai 	Alison Viktorin 	
The 6-year-old son of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 6-year-old son of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 6-year-old son of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 6-year-old son of Yorihiko Jinnouchi.
Mao Jinnouchi (陣内 真緒, Jinnouchi Mao) 	Sumire Morohoshi 	Cherami Leigh 	
The 9-year-old daughter of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 9-year-old daughter of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 9-year-old daughter of Yorihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 9-year-old daughter of Yorihiko Jinnouchi.
Kana Jinnouchi (陣内 加奈, Jinnouchi Kana) 	Hinano Minagawa 	Tia Ballard 	
The 2-year-old daughter of Kunihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 2-year-old daughter of Kunihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 2-year-old daughter of Kunihiko Jinnouchi. 	The 2-year-old daughter of Kunihiko Jinnouchi.
== Production ==
After the critical and commercial success of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Madhouse was offered to produce another film. Whereas Madhouse based the previous film on a novel, the studio was given the chance to create the next film. Director Mamoru Hosoda selected a story for both people with family and those without having a family. Production of Summer Wars commenced in 2006.
Most of the film is set in the real-life city of Ueda. Ueda was chosen as the primary setting of the film because it is located in a territory formerly governed by the prominent Sanada clan, upon which the Jinnouchi family is based. Ueda is also close to Hosoda's birthplace in Toyama. Hosoda's inspiration for the name of the social network OZ came from a large supermarket that he once visited while still working for Toei Animation at the time. Although noting similarities between OZ and Second Life, Hosoda also cited the Japanese social networkingwebsite mixi as a primary influence because of his experiences. For the color and design of OZ, he cited Nintendo games as inspiration. The design aesthetic was compared by some reviewers to the work of Takashi Murakami. Hosoda said that he admires the artwork of Murakami, but designed the social network as a "clean, uncluttered look." During production, Hosoda visited his then-fiancée's house in Ueda, and experienced the history of her family's life. Hosoda cited his influence of using a family as the basis of the film from his marriage and from attending several film festivals.
In addition to Hosoda, the team included writer Satoko Okudera and character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, who previously worked with Hosoda on The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Hiroyuki Aoyama served as an animation director, while action animation direction was handled by Tatsuzo Nishida. During production, Sadamoto based Wabisuke's design on those of actor Yūsaku Matsuda. Aoyama was responsible for supervising the animation of the real world scenes, while Nishida supervised the animation for the digital world, using both traditional animation and computer animationtechniques. Digital animation studio Digital Frontier was responsible for creating the visuals of OZ and its avatars. Youji Takeshige oversaw the art direction for Summer Wars. While visiting Ueda, Hosoda thought that Takeshige, who has previously worked with Studio Ghibli, should draw traditional Japanese houses for the film. The film also features the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa, whose control center is located in the nearby city of Saku. Hosoda included the spacecraft to support Japan's contribution towards space exploration.
== Citation ==