You might not be familiar with The Summer Hikaru Died yet, but I have a feeling that once you catch a glimpse of its first trailer, it’ll find its way onto your Netflix watchlist.
Typically, you wouldn’t expect slice of life and horror to go hand in hand, yet that’s exactly the intriguing blend that The Summer Hikaru Died offers. This manga began its journey back in 2021 and continues to release new chapters. It follows the story of Yoshiki and Hikaru in a quaint Japanese town until one day, Hikaru meets a tragic end, only to be replaced by something otherworldly. This leaves Yoshiki grappling with the unsettling truth that his real best friend is gone. The premise is haunting, and the highly anticipated anime adaptation just dropped its first teaser, filled with the foreboding atmosphere fans have been waiting for.
The trailer, which you can check out above, doesn’t reveal much, but the eerie vibe is unmistakable. Ryohei Takeshita takes the director’s chair for the anime adaptation, having previously directed Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night. You’ll hear Chiaki Kobayashi, known for his roles in Hell’s Paradise and Reynatis, voicing Yoshiki, while Shuichiro Umeda, familiar from Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, lends his voice to Hikaru.
In a statement, Takeshita shared, “Reading the original work was a thrilling experience, and I contemplated how best to bring its imagery to life in animation. Our team is deeply committed to conveying the subtle emotions of Yoshiki and Hikaru, alongside the manga’s unique and beautiful structure. We can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
While there’s no official release date just yet, you can take comfort in knowing that it’s slated to premiere in the latter half of 2025, so the wait isn’t too far off.
