Everything you need to know about The Summer Hikaru Died anime

The Summer Hikaru Died, also called Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu, is a beloved new-gen horror manga with an anime adaptation set to release in Summer 2025. The series, created by Mokumokuren, has been serialized in the Young Ace Up magazine by Kadokawa Shoten since August 2021.

The Summer Hikaru Died is an eldritch horror tale following two boys in a secluded village. Yoshiki Tsujinaka and Hikaru Indo are two extremely close friends despite their contrasting personalities. However, their lives take a dark turn when Hikaru goes missing one day and returns as a mysterious entity that perfectly mimics him.

While this alien creature copies Hikaru perfectly in most ways, Yoshiki instantly discovers that his best friend has been replaced. Rather than keeping it secret, however, Yoshiki reveals this truth to the entity. The being representing Hikaru shares how it wishes to continue living in its form, and cares about Yoshiki. This sets off the twisted relationship between the two boys.

In the backdrop, the presence of this creature attracts several otherworldly and mystifying beings to their village. The Summer Hikaru Died engages in several types of horror, right from the supernatural to the psychological.

Along with the atmosphere of suspense surrounding the “new” Hikaru, the series delves into Yoshiki’s mental turmoil and the various surreal events around him. The series is based on an ongoing web manga with over 7 volumes containing 36 chapters at the time of writing.

As mentioned, the story is set to receive its anime adaptation in the Summer anime season, beginning from July 2025. It will be produced by Kadokawa and dugout, while the main studio in charge will be CygamesPictures. This is a relatively newer group that is best known for Princess Connect! Re:Dive and Cinderella Gray.

The Summer Hikaru Died anime adaptation will be directed by Ryouhei Takeshita, who has worked on Gintama, Jujutsu Kaisen, and countless other acclaimed titles. Yuichi Takahashi serves as both character designer and chief animation director, bringing his experience from the Gurren Lagann and Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song.

Masanabu Hiraoka from Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man will be on key animation, while Naomi Nakano, who has worked on Solo Leveling, will be handling color design. Finally, Kouji Kasamatsu and Tarou Umebayashi will be in sound direction and music, respectively.

The trailer featured the ending song of the series, called You are my monster by TOOBOE. The anime will premiere on Nippon TV in Japan and will be available on the streaming service Abema. Global audiences can catch the show on Netflix.

The Summer Hikaru Died anime cast

The anime has a voice cast featuring industry veterans as well as newcomers. These include:

• Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka
• Shuiichirou Umeda as Hikaru Indo
• Wakana Kowaka as Rie Kurebayashi
• Yumiri Hanamori as Asako Yamagishi
• Chikayiro Kobayashi as Tanaka

Should you watch The Summer Hikaru Died anime?

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The horror genre in anime is not one that receives much spotlight. It is generally blended with a variety of other themes, as seen in titles such as Tokyo Ghoul and Parasyte. In contrast, The Summer Hikaru Died is a purer form of horror that relies on creating anxiety and tension among fans.

The manga has earned a dedicated following due to its gorgeous designs, exciting chapters, and the relationship shared between the main characters. The anime, with the cast and team working on it, seems geared to deliver a faithful adaptation. As a result, for those who wish to experience something unique in the saturated landscape of anime, this is one series worth a try.

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