You might not be familiar with The Summer Hikaru Died just yet, but trust me, once you see the first trailer, it’s going to jump straight onto your Netflix watchlist.
It’s not often you see slice of life mix with horror, yet this is exactly what The Summer Hikaru Died delivers. Debuting as a manga in 2021 and still going strong with new chapters, it tells the story of Yoshiki and Hikaru in a quaint Japanese town living their everyday lives—until Hikaru tragically dies. What’s unsettling is that Hikaru is replaced by an otherworldly entity, leaving Yoshiki grappling with the reality that his true best friend is gone. It’s an eerie premise, and after much anticipation, the first trailer for the anime is finally here and maintains the unsettling tone fans were hoping for.
Check out the trailer on YouTube. It doesn’t reveal too much, but it certainly sets the right tone. Ryohei Takeshita, known for his work on Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night, is at the helm directing this adaptation. The talented Chiaki Kobayashi, known for roles in Hell’s Paradise and Reynatis, voices Yoshiki, while Shuichiro Umeda, familiar to fans from Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, voices Hikaru.
In a statement, Takeshita shared his thoughts: "Reading the original work was an exciting experience, and I thought hard about how to bring its visuals to life through animation. Our team is committed to portraying the nuanced emotions of Yoshiki and Hikaru, as well as the manga’s unique and captivating structure. We can’t wait for you all to see it."
Sadly, there’s no confirmed release date at the moment, but it’s slated to air in the latter part of 2025. At least the wait isn’t too long!
