The highly anticipated anime adaptation of The Summer Hikaru Died will premiere in the summer of 2025, airing on Nippon TV and streaming exclusively on Netflix worldwide and ABEMA in Japan. A teaser visual, trailer, and details about the cast and staff have been unveiled. The series will feature Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka and Shuichiro Umeda as Hikaru, with animation by CygamesPictures.

About The Summer Hikaru Died

Based on the acclaimed manga by Mokumokuren, serialized in Young Ace UP (KADOKAWA), The Summer Hikaru Died is a coming-of-age horror story. It follows high school student Yoshiki as he navigates life with Hikaru, a mysterious being impersonating his childhood friend, amidst a series of eerie and inexplicable incidents.

The series, described as a tale of "something" intertwined with a boy's madness, ranked #1 in the 2023 This Manga is Amazing! (Male Category) by Takarajimasha, earning widespread recognition.

Cast Comments

Chiaki Kobayashi (Yoshiki Tsujinaka)
"I’m honored to voice Yoshiki. From the audition, I was swept up in complex emotions—terrified yet comforted, conflicted but longing for connection. I will pour my heart and soul into capturing Yoshiki's feelings and struggles. In today’s multifaceted world, I hope this work resonates with many viewers. Please look forward to its release."

Shuichiro Umeda (Hikaru)
"Playing Hikaru is both refreshing and eerie—like staring into the void. While many things about Hikaru are uncertain, his desire to stay with Yoshiki is unwavering. I focused on embodying that emotion during the audition. I’m committed to bringing Hikaru to life with all my effort."

Director’s Comment (Ryohei Takeshita)

"When I first read the manga, I wondered how to express its delicate panels in animation. The nuanced emotions of the characters and the innovative, beautiful layout of the manga have inspired our team to faithfully adapt it. We’re working hard to beautifully animate the story of Yoshiki and Hikaru as they strive to understand one another. Please look forward to the broadcast."

Main Cast

Yoshiki Tsujinaka: Chiaki Kobayashi
Hikaru: Shuichiro Umeda

Staff

Original Work: Mokumokuren (Young Ace UP, KADOKAWA)
Director/Series Composition: Ryohei Takeshita
Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Yuichi Takahashi
"Melting" Animator: Masanori Hiraoka
Animation Production: CygamesPictures

Source : ORICON NEWS