You might not have discovered The Summer Hikaru Died yet, but once you catch a glimpse of the first trailer, I’m confident you’ll want to add it to your Netflix queue.
Typically, you wouldn’t expect to see slice of life and horror mixed in the same narrative, but that’s precisely what The Summer Hikaru Died delivers. This manga, which began serialization in 2021 and continues to release new chapters, tells the story of Yoshiki and Hikaru, two friends living in a quaint Japanese town. Their lives take a bizarre turn when Hikaru dies and is replaced by an enigmatic, otherworldly entity, leaving Yoshiki grappling with the unsettling truth about his true friend. The eerie premise sets the stage for a haunting narrative, and the newly released trailer for the anime adaptation captures the exact sense of foreboding you’d hope for.
You can check out the trailer above—it doesn’t give away much, but it definitely sets the mood. Directing the anime adaptation is Ryohei Takeshita, who is known for his work on Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night. Voicing Yoshiki is Chiaki Kobayashi, who you might recognize from his lead roles in Hell’s Paradise and Reynatis, while Shuichiro Umeda, known for his performances in Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, lends his voice to Hikaru.
Takeshita shared his thoughts, saying, “Reading the original work was exhilarating, and adapting its unique frames into animation was something I deeply contemplated. Our team’s focus was on bringing the subtle emotions of Yoshiki and Hikaru to life, alongside the manga’s beautiful and inventive structure. We’re excited for you to see it.”
Unfortunately, there’s no specific release date yet, but it’s expected to premiere in the latter half of 2025, which isn’t too far off.
