The anime adaptation of The Summer Hikaru Died, based on the manga by Mokumokuren, held its North American premiere last Friday at Anime Expo 2025. The event included a screening of the first episode and a panel discussion featuring the creator, voice talent, and production staff. The series is now available for streaming globally on Netflix as of July 5.
Held in front of an audience of approximately 2,000 attendees, the premiere introduced viewers to the story’s rural Japanese setting and its central premise: a high school student, Yoshiki Tsujinaka, suspects his longtime friend Hikaru has been replaced by something that only appears human. Episode 1, titled “Replacement,” was shown in full and was well-received by the audience.
Following the screening, the panel featured manga creator Mokumokuren; Chiaki Kobayashi, the voice of protagonist Yoshiki; and producers Chiaki Kurakane (KADOKAWA) and Manami Kabashima (CyberAgent). The panelists discussed the adaptation process, casting decisions, and the anime’s approach to horror and emotional storytelling.
Mokumokuren described being actively involved in the adaptation process, emphasizing what story elements should or should not be changed. “I had a strong sense of what could be changed and what absolutely shouldn’t be,” she said. “It felt new, even though I wrote it.”
Kobayashi, reflecting on his audition and performance, remarked that he found the material compelling from the get-go.“I thought the story was really fascinating even when I was auditioning for the role, so I was thrilled to become a part of it.” he said. “Yoshiki is someone who bottles up a lot, and conveying that unspoken anxiety took a different kind of focus.” He added that voicing the character challenged him to “capture the weight of a friendship that feels familiar but no longer safe.”
Kurakane noted that Kobayashi was chosen due to his ability to convey subtle emotional shifts in Yoshiki’s character. “Given Yoshiki’s emotional subtlety, the nuance in his shifting feelings, and the growth his character goes through, we knew we needed someone with Kobayashi’s range. After discussions with the director and Mokumokuren, it was nearly unanimous—we all felt Kobayashi was the right choice.”
We previously had the chance to speak with Manami Kabashima at AnimeJapan 2025, where she said something similar, along with a lot more insight on the production. During AX, she added: “As a horror series, we didn’t want to rely on loud sounds or sudden shocks to scare the audience. Instead, Director Takeshita and the team at CygamesPictures have been exploring how to create a more quiet kind of horror—like the constant sense that something might be there—through expertly utilizing sound, color, and direction.”
During the panel, specific scenes from Episode 1 were also discussed. Mokumokuren pointed to the moment where a blinking red police light visually reflects Yoshiki’s inner turmoil, which was originally presented as text in the manga. “I was amazed at how the director turned that into a purely visual expression,” she said.
Kobayashi cited the early line, “You’re not really Hikaru, are you?” as a key tonal marker for the series, which would usually happen at the end of an episode rather than the start. “The fact that it’s said right away signals that this won’t be a typical slow-build mystery,” he said. “It throws you in.”
The panel concluded with brief remarks from each participant. Kabashima encouraged viewers to continue watching beyond the premiere. “The story really takes off after Episode 1, and I hope you’ll stay with us and enjoy every episode to the end.” Kurakane commented on the series’ thematic range, which includes horror, mystery, and human relationships. “Although this series is framed as a youth horror, it’s also a mystery and drama that explores human relationships in complex ways,” she said.
Kobayashi and Mokumokuren both expressed hopes that the series would resonate with international audiences. “While it’s set in a quiet rural town in Japan, it deals with themes that I think are universally relatable,” Kobayashi said. Mokumokuren added, “The TV anime adaptation has stayed true to the core of the original story while evolving into something even more powerful through animation.”
The Summer Hikaru Died is streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Source: Press Release
©Mokumokuren/KADOKAWA/The Summer Hikaru Died Partners
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