The Summer Hikaru Died horror TV anime revealed a new key visual, along with character visuals for the main duo. Studio CygamesPictures (Princess Connect! Re:Dive) will handle the animation, while Netflix will exclusively stream the anime worldwide in 2025. You can see the new key visual below.
The main voice cast for the anime includes:
- Shuichiro Umeda as Hikaru Indo
- Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka
You can see the character visuals for the two below.
Hikaru, who went missing in the mountains of the forbidden area six months ago, is replaced by a “something” who looks and sounds identical to Hikaru but is not actually Hikaru. They appear innocent and curious.
A high school student living in Kubitachi Village. After his childhood friend Hikaru is replaced by a “something,” he struggles with the conflict, but continues to spend his days alongside this new version.
The Summer Hikaru Died will appear at a special booth at the AnimeJapan 2025, which will take place through March 22-23 and feature the latest information on the anime. The booth will be held at the KADOKAWA booth titled “KADOKAWA ANIME CARNIVAL,” where visitors will also be able to buy original goods. The anime will also appear on the GREEN STAGE on March 23, which will feature the main voice cast of Chiaki Kobayashi (Yoshiki Tsujinaka) and Shuichiro Umeda (Hikaru Indo).
The Summer Hikaru Died anime staff:
- Director and Series Composition: Ryohei Takeshita
- Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Yuichi Takahashi
- DORODORO Animator: Masanobu Hiraoka
- Studio: CygamesPictures
The Summer Hikaru Died (Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mokumokuren. It began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten’s Young Ace Up website in August 2021 and has been compiled into 6 volumes as of December 4, 2024. The manga topped the 2023 edition of Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga for male readers, and it was also nominated for the 16th Manga Taisho.
Yen Press licensed the manga in English, and they describe the story:
It has Hikaru’s face. It has Hikaru’s voice. It even has Hikaru’s memories. But whatever came down from the mountains six months ago isn’t Yoshiki’s best friend. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous. Carrying on at school and hanging out as if nothing has changed—as if Hikaru isn’t gone—would be crazy…but when it looks so very like Hikaru…and acts so very like Hikaru…
https://animecorner.me/acwp-direct/youtube-iframe-handler.html?yt_embed=fAfcm5Cydvs?feature=oembedThe Summer Hikaru Died – Anime Trailer
Source: The Summer Hikaru Died Official Website and Official X, Netflix Official X
©Mokumokuren/KADOKAWA/The Summer Hikaru Died Partners
