After months of waiting, Netflix has unveiled the official release date for the highly anticipated anime adaptation, The Summer Hikaru Died. The anime adaptation of award-winning author Mokumokuren’s hit manga (published by KADOKAWA) is set to premiere on July 5, just in time for the summer anime season. Blending slice-of-life and a particular haunting feeling, this anime explores the world of grief, loss, and how friendships change and evolve, sometimes suddenly.

The Summer Hikaru Died focuses on two best friends living in a rural Japanese village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. Growing up together, they were inseparable… until the day Hikaru came back from the mountains, and was no longer himself. “Something” has taken over Hikaru’s body, memories, feelings… and everything they know begins to unravel.

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To celebrate the release date announcement, Netflix revealed a brand new poster and trailer for The Summer Hikaru Died. Step into the eerie world Yoshiki and Hikaru inhabit when the anime releases only on Netflix on July 5, 2025.

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The Anime Leaves A Strong Impact

The manga has strongly impacted fans, with the story’s core centered around these two teenagers. Unfolding across five volumes, it’s a BL tale deeply rooted in grief, yet it is unafraid to traverse genres. Blurring slice-of-life, romance, horror, sci-fi and more, the series is ambitious and masterful. Of course, this left strong shoes to fill for the cast and crew when taking on The Summer Hikaru Died.

Director Ryohei Takeshita reflected on the adaptation process: “Reading the original work was exciting, and I pondered how to express its frames in animation. Our team was very dedicated to capturing the delicate emotions of Yoshiki and Hikaru, as well as the manga’s beautiful and innovative structure. We look forward to sharing it with you.”

Chiaki Kobayashi expressed his excitement about playing Yoshiki and the complex emotions involved: “I’m thrilled to voice Yoshiki. From the audition, I felt a whirlwind of emotions — fear, comfort, and uncertainty. My goal was to capture all of Yoshiki’s feelings and melancholy.”

Shuichiro Umeda, voicing Hikaru, described the role as a new experience: “Playing Hikaru was like peering into darkness. Despite uncertainties, my desire to stay connected with Yoshiki was clear, and I approached the role with that strong feeling.”

With just over a month until The Summer Hikaru Died drops, fans should mentally prepare themselves for the heartache that is to come. It’ll drop on Netflix before we know it.

Cast & Crew of The Summer Hikaru Died

Cast:

• Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka
• Shuichiro Umeda as Hikaru
• Yumiri Hanamori as Asako Yamagishi
• Wakana Kowaka as Rie Kurebayashi
• Chikahiro Kobayashi as Tanaka
• Yoshiki Nakajima as Yuta Maki
• Shion Wakayama as Yuki Tadokoro

Staff:

• Original story: Based on the comic “The Summer Hikaru Died” by Mokumokuren, originally serialized in the YOUNG ACE UP published by KADOKAWA
• Director/Series Composition: Ryohei Takeshita
• Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Yuichi Takahashi
• DORODORO Animator: Masanobu Hiraoka
• Prop Design: Ryunosuke Oji
• Sub Character Design: Mai Watanabe, Hiroko Seigan, Shoko Nagasawa
• Art Setting: Shuhei Tada, Takeshi Takahashi, Yoshihiro Sono
• Art Director: Kohei Honda
• Color Design: Naomi Nakano
• Assistant Color Design: Yuko Koshida
• 3D Supervisor: Yoshinori Nakano
• Director of Photography: Tomohiro Maeda
• 2D Design: Yusuke Nagara, Yuri Tsue
• Editing: Kashiko Kimura
• Sound Direction: Koji Kasamatsu
• Sound Production: dugout
• Music: Taro Umebayashi
• Opening Theme Song: “saikai” by Vaundy
• Ending Theme Song: “Anata wa Kaibutsu(you are my monster)” by TOOBOE
• Animation Production: CygamesPictures