Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu

The Summer Hikaru Died

Characters

Yoshiki Tsujinaka

MAIN

Hikaru Indou

MAIN

Satoko Tsujinaka

SUPPORTING

Matsuura-san

SUPPORTING

Yoshihiko Matsushima

SUPPORTING

Yuki Indou

SUPPORTING

Asako Yamagishi

SUPPORTING

Toshinori Tsujinaka

SUPPORTING

Rie Kurebayashi

SUPPORTING

Kaoru Tsujinaka

SUPPORTING

Tanaka

SUPPORTING

Yuuta Maki

SUPPORTING

Hajime Takeda

SUPPORTING

Yuki Tadokoro

SUPPORTING

Tooru Mikasa

SUPPORTING

Hara-sen

BACKGROUND

Kinjo no Obasan

BACKGROUND

Takeda no Jiisan

BACKGROUND

Otokonoko

BACKGROUND

Tsuma

BACKGROUND

Tenin

BACKGROUND

Shuen Danyuu

BACKGROUND

TV Onsei

BACKGROUND

Otousan

BACKGROUND

Ongaku no Sensei

BACKGROUND

The Summer Hikaru Died: Season 1 – A Haunting Masterpiece Redefining Anime Horror

In the sweltering heat of Summer 2025, Netflix unveiled The Summer Hikaru Died, a chilling anime adaptation of Mokumokuren’s Eisner-nominated manga that has redefined the boundaries of horror, coming-of-age storytelling, and queer narrative in anime. Directed by Ryōhei Takeshita and brought to life by CygamesPictures, this 12-episode first season is a visceral, heart-wrenching exploration of grief, identity, and the blurred lines between love and dread. Far from a conventional horror tale, The Summer Hikaru Died Season 1 is a next-level artistic achievement that lingers like a cicada’s hum in the oppressive air of a rural Japanese summer, demanding to be dissected and felt in equal measure.

A Story That Cuts to the Bone

Set in the fictional Kubitachi Village, nestled in the mountainous Tokai region, The Summer Hikaru Died follows Yoshiki Tsujinaka (voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi) and his childhood best friend Hikaru Indo (Shūichirō Umeda). The two are inseparable despite their contrasting personalities—Hikaru’s sunny, carefree demeanor a foil to Yoshiki’s introspective restraint. But six months prior to the story’s start, Hikaru vanishes into the mountains for a week, returning changed. Yoshiki, haunted by subtle discrepancies, confronts his friend in the opening minutes of Episode 1, “Replacement,” only to uncover a horrifying truth: the real Hikaru is dead, and the being wearing his face is an eldritch entity, both alien and achingly familiar.

What sets this series apart is its refusal to lean solely on supernatural horror. Instead, it weaves a tapestry of existential dread, adolescent longing, and queer subtext, using the entity’s presence as an allegory for grief and the fear of change. The show’s central question—what happens when the person you love most is no longer themselves?—is explored with a raw emotional intensity that transcends genre. Yoshiki’s decision to cling to this “Hikaru” despite knowing the truth is both heartbreaking and relatable, a meditation on how far we’ll go to preserve connection, even at the cost of reality.

A Cinematic Triumph of Atmosphere and Emotion

From its opening frames, The Summer Hikaru Died establishes a suffocating, immersive atmosphere that is as much a character as Yoshiki or “Hikaru.” Takeshita’s direction, paired with his own storyboarding and series composition, transforms the rural village into a claustrophobic labyrinth of cicada screeches, humid air, and looming shadows. The sound design—piercing cicada hums that crescendo into silence at pivotal moments—amplifies the unease, while Kohei Honda’s background art captures the eerie beauty of a town frozen in time, its shrines and creaky houses whispering of ancient secrets.

The animation, while not as polished as big-budget shonen spectacles, is deliberately raw and expressive, with modernist flourishes in horror sequences that evoke the surreal terror of The Flowers of Evil. Moments of body horror, like the grotesque melting of “Hikaru’s” face or the unsettling chest scene in Episode 2, are rendered with a psychedelic intensity that feels both intimate and alien. Yet, it’s the quieter moments—a tear tracing Yoshiki’s cheek, a fleeting smile from “Hikaru”—that hit hardest, thanks to Yuichi Takahashi’s character designs and the stellar voice performances. Chiaki Kobayashi’s Yoshiki is a masterclass in restrained anguish, his voice cracking with the weight of unspoken grief, while Shūichirō Umeda imbues “Hikaru” with a childlike sincerity that makes the entity’s affection for Yoshiki feel tragically genuine.

Queer Themes and Emotional Depth

At its core, The Summer Hikaru Died is a story about love—specifically, the messy, unspoken love between two boys in a conservative rural town. Mokumokuren has described the series as a “coming-of-age horror” with queer themes, and the anime leans into this with unflinching honesty. The bond between Yoshiki and “Hikaru” is layered with romantic undertones, from lingering glances to moments of physical closeness that feel both tender and dangerous. The entity’s confession of affection in Episode 1—“I like you, Yoshiki”—is a gut-punch, complicated by the knowledge that these feelings are both Hikaru’s and not, a paradox that mirrors the confusion of queer adolescence in a world that stifles it.

The show’s exploration of grief is equally profound. Yoshiki’s struggle to reconcile his love for the real Hikaru with his attachment to this imposter is a poignant allegory for holding onto someone who’s changed beyond recognition—whether through death, distance, or personal growth. The series doesn’t shy away from the moral ambiguity of Yoshiki’s choice to protect “Hikaru,” even as strange incidents plague the village, from an old woman’s gruesome death to sightings of otherworldly beings. This tension—between selfish love and the greater good—elevates the narrative into a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions.

A Village Steeped in Mystery

While Yoshiki and “Hikaru” anchor the emotional core, the broader narrative hints at a larger conspiracy. The village elders’ whispers of “Nounuki-sama,” a local deity tied to the mountains, and the arrival of Tanaka (Chikahiro Kobayashi), a stoic hunter of otherworldly beings, suggest a hidden history of supernatural occurrences. These elements are introduced subtly, with Episode 1 planting seeds of intrigue that blossom in later episodes, particularly during the summer festival in Episode 4, where the village’s oppressive atmosphere reaches a fever pitch. The pacing is deliberate, balancing slice-of-life moments with escalating dread, ensuring each revelation feels earned.

Why It’s Next-Level

The Summer Hikaru Died Season 1 stands out in a crowded Summer 2025 lineup dominated by action blockbusters like My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 and Dandadan. Its refusal to rely on jump scares or predictable horror tropes, instead building tension through atmosphere and character, makes it a rare gem. The series’ ability to blend genres—horror, drama, romance, and coming-of-age—creates a narrative that feels universal yet deeply personal. Posts on X reflect this fervor, with fans praising the adaptation’s fidelity to the manga’s “eerie vibe” and its “beautifully conflicted emotions,” some even calling it a “masterpiece” after just three episodes.

Critics have echoed this sentiment. Rotten Tomatoes hails it as a “terrifying mystery horror anime that delves into complex questions about friendship with sharp style,” while Anime News Network notes that “the complexities of queer identity lie at the heart of the horror.” The series’ emotional resonance and visual artistry have earned it an 8.1/10 on IMDb, with viewers lauding its “stunning animation” and “haunting subtlety.”

Room for Growth

If there’s a critique, it’s that the animation quality can feel slightly dated in less intense scenes, a point noted by some reviewers. However, this minor flaw is overshadowed by the show’s bold direction and emotional weight. With 12 episodes planned, the season has room to deepen its mysteries and character arcs, particularly regarding Tanaka’s organization and the village’s supernatural history. Fans of the manga, which has sold over 3.5 million copies by July 2025, will appreciate the adaptation’s loyalty while anticipating how it might expand on the source material.

A Summer You Won’t Forget

The Summer Hikaru Died Season 1 is a revelation—a horror anime that dares to be vulnerable, a coming-of-age story that embraces the grotesque, and a love story that defies convention. It’s a series that doesn’t just scare you; it breaks your heart and makes you question what it means to hold onto someone you love. With its unforgettable atmosphere, nuanced performances, and fearless exploration of identity, this is not just one of the best anime of Summer 2025—it’s a timeless work of art that will haunt viewers long after the credits roll. Watch it on Netflix, and prepare to be consumed by a story as beautiful as it is unsettling.

Final Verdict: 9.5/10 – A near-perfect blend of horror, heart, and humanity that sets a new standard for anime storytelling.