The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Mokumokuren’s horror manga, The Summer Hikaru Died (光が死んだ夏, Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu), has unveiled a second promotional video, offering fans a deeper look into the series’ eerie atmosphere and the complex relationship at its core. With the premiere date set for July 5, 2025, the latest trailer introduces new cast members and previews the opening theme song, “Saikai” (Reunion), performed by Vaundy.
Premiere Date and Where to Watch
The Summer Hikaru Died is scheduled to premiere on July 5, 2025, at 24:55 JST (effectively July 6 at 0:55 JST) on Nippon TV in Japan. For international viewers, the series will be available for streaming on Netflix.
A Glimpse into the Story
The Summer Hikaru Died tells the story of two boys, Yoshiki and Hikaru, who have been inseparable since childhood. Living in a quiet, rural village, their bond is the center of their world. However, one summer, Hikaru goes missing in the mountains. When he returns a week later, Yoshiki notices something is amiss. Despite looking and sounding like Hikaru, he is different, replaced by an otherworldly entity.
Yoshiki grapples with the horrifying truth that his best friend is gone, replaced by something else entirely. Yet, he continues to spend his days with this imposter, pretending that nothing has changed. As they navigate their altered relationship, strange events begin to plague their village, suggesting that the entity inhabiting Hikaru’s body is not only a personal threat to Yoshiki but also a danger to their community.
New Cast Members
The latest trailer unveils additional cast members who will bring the supporting characters to life:
- Yuta Maki, voiced by Yoshiki Nakajima
- Yuki Tadokoro, voiced by Shion Wakayama
These additions complement the previously announced main cast:
- Yoshiki Tsujinaka, voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi
- Hikaru, voiced by Shuichiro Umeda
- Tanaka, voiced by Chikahiro Kobayashi
- Rie Kurebayashi, voiced by Wakana Kowaka
- Asako Yamagishi, voiced by Yumiri Hanamori
“Saikai”: The Opening Theme by Vaundy
The second promotional video offers the first preview of “Saikai,” the opening theme song performed by Vaundy. This upbeat track adds another layer of intrigue to the anime, contrasting with the dark and suspenseful narrative.
The Creative Team
The anime adaptation is helmed by a talented team:
- Director and Series Composer: Ryohei Takeshita (Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night)
- Character Designer and Chief Animation Director: Yuichi Takahashi (Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-)
- “Dorodoro” Animator: Masanobu Hiraoka (Chainsaw Man)
- Music: Taro Umebayashi
- Original Creator: Mokumokuren
CygamesPictures is producing the animation, ensuring a high level of visual quality and faithful adaptation of Mokumokuren’s original manga.
Manga Origins and Themes
The Summer Hikaru Died began as a manga series written and illustrated by Mokumokuren, serialized on Kadokawa Shoten’s Young Ace Up website in August 2021. The manga has been collected into six tankōbon volumes as of December 2024. Yen Press has licensed the series for English publication.
The manga has received critical acclaim for its story, artwork, and characters, exploring themes of grief, identity, and emotional dependency. The series also touches on LGBTQIA+ themes, portraying a sensitive and nuanced relationship between Yoshiki and Hikaru.
Story and Characters in Detail
Story: The story unfolds in a quiet, remote mountain village where Yoshiki and Hikaru have grown up together. Their close friendship takes a dark turn when Hikaru disappears into a forbidden part of the mountains and returns a week later, seemingly unchanged. However, Yoshiki quickly realizes that the Hikaru who came back is not the same. This “Hikaru” retains the original’s memories and mannerisms but is, in reality, a mysterious entity that has taken his place.
As Yoshiki grapples with this unsettling truth, he must navigate his feelings of fear, confusion, and a desperate longing to hold onto what he has lost. Despite knowing that Hikaru is gone, Yoshiki continues to spend time with the entity, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. However, their village is soon plagued by strange occurrences, suggesting that the entity’s presence is disrupting the natural order.
Characters:
- Yoshiki Tsujinaka: The protagonist, Yoshiki, is a teenage boy who lives in a rural village with his best friend, Hikaru. He is the first to realize that the Hikaru who returned from the mountains is not the same person he once knew. Yoshiki is portrayed as both wary and tender, torn between his fear of the unknown and his affection for Hikaru.
- Hikaru: Hikaru is Yoshiki’s childhood friend, who disappears in the mountains and returns as an otherworldly entity. The new “Hikaru” retains his memories and behaviors but is essentially a different being. This character is equally compelling, acting as a mirror that reflects Yoshiki’s deepest fears and desires.
- Tanaka: A mysterious man with a hamster sidekick, potentially playing a key role in the unfolding story.
- Rie Kurebayashi: A character with the ability to see supernatural occurrences.
- Asako Yamagishi: A character who can hear things that normal people cannot, adding another layer to the supernatural elements of the story.
Production Details
CygamesPictures is producing the anime adaptation, with Ryohei Takeshita (Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night) serving as both director and series composer. Yuichi Takahashi (Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-) is in charge of character design and chief animation direction, while Masanobu Hiraoka (Chainsaw Man) is handling the “Dorodoro” animation.
Themes and Critical Reception
The Summer Hikaru Died has been praised for its ability to blend horror, slice-of-life, and coming-of-age elements into a compelling narrative. The story delves into the complexities of friendship, fear, and the choices that shape us. It also explores themes of identity, loss, and the struggle to come to terms with death.
The manga has been recognized for its nuanced portrayal of relationships and its ability to create a sense of unease and suspense. It topped Kono Manga ga Sugoi!’s list for male readers in 2023 and has been nominated for several other awards.
A Must-Watch Anime
With its intriguing story, well-developed characters, and talented creative team, The Summer Hikaru Died is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated anime releases of 2025. The series promises to be a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of friendship, identity, and the supernatural.
The upcoming anime adaptation of The Summer Hikaru Died promises to be a captivating blend of horror and emotion. With its intriguing premise, talented team, and the addition of Vaundy’s opening theme, “Saikai,” the series is poised to become a standout hit in the Summer 2025 anime season. Be sure to mark your calendars for July 5 and prepare to delve into the eerie world of Yoshiki and the entity that has taken the place of his best friend.
