Two weeks after its premiere, the anime adaptation of The Summer Hikaru Died has reached the top spot (#1) on both Netflix Japan daily rankings and ABEMA’s anime ranking.
The series began streaming worldwide on Netflix on July 5, 2025. It is also available for free in Japan on ABEMA, where it ranked first in comment volume following the debut of Episode 1. According to the official press release, viewer engagement on social media has also steadily increased, particularly after Episode 2.
The Summer Hikaru Died is adapted from the manga by Mokumokuren. It follows high school student Yoshiki, whose friend Hikaru disappears and later returns under unexplained circumstances. The story develops as Yoshiki realizes his friend is no longer the real Hikaru. The anime is co-produced by CyberAgent and KADOKAWA, with animation by CygamesPictures. You can see the staff and cast below.
Staff:
- Original Story: Based on the manga “The Summer Hikaru Died” by Mokumokuren;
- originally serialized in 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 Ouchi
- Sub Character Design: Mai Watanabe, Hiroko Saigan, Shoko Nagasawa
- Art Setting: Shuhei Tada, Takeyuki Takahashi, Yoshihiro Sono
- Art Director: Kohei Honda
- Color Design: Naomi Nakano（stella）
- Assistant Color Design: Yuko Koshida
- 3D Supervisor: Yoshinori Nakano
- Director of Photography: Tomohiro Maeda
- 2D Design: Yusuke Nagara, Yuri Tsue
- Editing: Kashiko Kimura
- Sound Director: 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
Cast:
- Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka
- Shuichiro Umeda as Hikaru
- Chikahiro Kobayashi as Tanaka
- Wakana Kowaka as Rie Kurebayashi
- Yumiri Hanamori as Asako Yamagishi
- Yoshiki Nakajima as Yuta Maki
- Shion Wakayama as Yuki Tadokoro
The third episode is scheduled for release on Saturday, July 19, on Netflix worldwide and ABEMA in Japan.
The series is also part of the upcoming Otakon 2025 programming, where a panel featuring voice actor Shuichiro Umeda (Hikaru) is scheduled.
Source: Press Release, ABEMA Official X
©Mokumokuren/KADOKAWA/The Summer Hikaru Died Partners
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