TheSummerofDioxin Is a dramatic and emotional anime that brings to life one of the worst industrial disasters in history: the 1976 chemical spill in Seveso Italy. This movie opts for a documentarylike approach blending historical accuracy with gripping storytelling. Synopsis The main characters of the story are Giulia Maria Enrico Lucio and Angelo. Their lives dramatically change when one of the reactors at the chemical plant collapses and a massive white cloud appears spreading an irritating white powder. People continue living as if nothing happened however animals are dying andpanicbeginstospread among the residents. Giulia and her friends supported by a Japanese journalistbegintheir investigation.Theydiscover a terrible truth: the cloud released over the town was partly made of dioxin which can cause kidney failure liver failure and cancer. To make matters worse it is said that dioxin canleadto mental diseases in fetuses.Inresponse the Italian government gave temporary authorization for abortion illegal in Italy at the time to spare parents from possibly having a malformed or demented child. Characters Giulia Along with her friends she investigates the truth behind the white cloud eventually uncovering the horrifying reality of dioxin. She pushes against both governmental coverups and public denial. She is particularly affected by the revelation that dioxin exposure could harm unborn children Enrico Is the son of the mayor of Seveso His father initially downplays the severity of the chemical spill to maintain order and avoid panic. However Enrico is worried something may happen to the people of the town and asks his father to investigate it Ando Ando is a Japanese journalist who arrives in Seveso to investigate the chemical disaster bringing an outsiders perspective to the unfolding crisis. Ando quickly becomes a mentor to Giulia and her friends encouraging them to keep searching for answers. He helps them connect the dots between the strange white cloud the dying animals and the longterm health risks. Ando not only provides critical knowledge but also serves as a moral compass reminding the young investigators of the importance of speaking out no matter the risks. Strengths Ibelieve the bestaspectofthis movie is the storytellingas it pulls you in anddescribesthe tragedy of theSevesodisaster. As someone whoenjoyshistory and hadnt heard about this disaster I was intrigued to learn about it. Afterwatchingthemovie Iresearchedthe disaster and the anime got its facts rightnotfabricatinganyelementsexcept for the characters. I also think the animation style fits the movie really well using muted colors and a realistic art style that enhances the bleakness of the disaster. Weaknesses Most of the characters areprettybland as only three were properlydevelopedif youremovedthe rest of the charactersfromthe story I believe itwouldremain unchanged. Additionallythemoviewaspretty short and felt like it was missing somedetailstowardthe endsuchashow the towndisposedof the toxins and the aftermath of the incident. MyOpinion A great watch for those interested in realworld tragedies but it could have beenimprovedwith better character development and a more complete conclusion.