You probably haven’t stumbled upon “The Summer Hikaru Died” yet, but after catching a glimpse of its first trailer, you’ll likely be queuing it up in your Netflix list. It’s not every day you come across a blend of slice-of-life charm with spine-tingling horror, but that’s precisely the intriguing mix this series offers. Since 2021, readers have been captivated by its ongoing manga series, which follows two friends, Yoshiki and Hikaru, living in a quaint Japanese town. The twist? One day, Hikaru dies and is replaced by a mysterious otherworldly entity, leaving Yoshiki to grapple with the unsettling truth about his friend’s fate. The eerie premise has now taken the leap to an anime adaptation, and the first trailer delivers the suspense and mystery fans have been eagerly anticipating.
The trailer, which you can check out above, might not reveal much, but it definitely sets the right mood. At the helm of this adaptation is Ryohei Takeshita, renowned for his previous work directing “Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night.” The series features Chiaki Kobayashi, who you might recognize as the lead in “Hell’s Paradise” and “Reynatis,” lending his voice to Yoshiki. Opposite him is Shuichiro Umeda, known for roles in “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead” and “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth,” taking on the role of Hikaru.
Speaking about the adaptation, Takeshita mentioned, “Reading the original work was thrilling, and I contemplated how to bring its pages to life in animation. Our team poured effort into portraying the nuanced emotions of Yoshiki and Hikaru, as well as capturing the manga’s unique structure. We’re eager to share it with everyone.”
While a specific release date hasn’t been announced, the series is slated to premiere in the latter part of 2025. So, mark your calendars—there’s only a bit of a wait until you can dive into this intriguing tale.
