You might not be familiar with “The Summer Hikaru Died” yet, but trust me, once you see the first trailer, it’ll likely be heading straight onto your Netflix watchlist.
Typically, you wouldn’t expect slice-of-life and horror to blend together, but that’s precisely what makes “The Summer Hikaru Died” intriguing. This manga, which began its serialization in 2021 and continues to release new chapters, tells the story of Yoshiki and Hikaru, two friends in a small Japanese town. Their mundane existence takes a dark turn when Hikaru dies, only to be replaced by some otherworldly entity. Yoshiki, caught in this bizarre situation, must grapple with the fact that his real best friend is gone. It’s a chilling premise, and the long-anticipated first trailer for its anime adaptation captures that eerie vibe perfectly.
You can watch the trailer above—it doesn’t reveal a whole lot, but it certainly sets the tone. Ryohei Takeshita is at the helm of this project. You might know him from his directing work on “Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night.” Voicing the main characters, Chiaki Kobayashi takes on the role of Yoshiki, while Shuichiro Umeda plays Hikaru. Kobayashi is known for his roles in “Hell’s Paradise” and “Reynatis,” while Umeda has lent his voice to productions like “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead” and “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.”
Reflecting on the project, Takeshita mentioned, “Reading the original work was thrilling, and I contemplated how to bring its essence to animation. Our team has been committed to capturing the nuanced emotions of Yoshiki and Hikaru, alongside the manga’s unique structure. We can’t wait to unveil it to you.”
While we don’t have a specific release date yet, it’s been slated for the latter half of 2025. So, at least the wait won’t feel eternal. Keep it on your radar; this one promises to be worth the anticipation.
