Natsu no Arashi! Season 2

Natsu no Arashi! Aki no Matsuri, the second season of the anime series, was produced by Studio Shaft and aired in 2009. Serving as a direct continuation of the spring adaptation of Jin Kobayashi’s manga, the series maintains the surreal, melancholic atmosphere centered on a group of students and a ghost caught in a time-traveling mystery. It emerged during a period where Shaft, under the distinct direction of Akiyuki Shinbo, was refining its signature visual language, characterized by erratic cuts, stark color palettes, and unconventional framing.

The series retains the characteristic aesthetic choices of the studio, which were designed to lean into the nostalgic and dreamlike quality of the source material. By balancing slapstick comedy with the darker, more poignant themes of the wartime past, the production team sought to elevate the transition between the mundane school setting and the ethereal nature of its central ghost character. While the series did not reach the widespread mainstream fame of other Shaft projects like the Monogatari series, it is regarded by enthusiasts as a refined example of the studio's mid-2000s experimental period.