The
long-awaited anime The Summer Hikaru Died (Hikaru ga Shinda
Natsu) continues to generate anticipation a few weeks before its global
premiere on Netflix. This summer, the series will arrive with its
unsettling and emotional atmosphere, and to further elevate the hype, Kadokawa has
posted the uncredited videos of the opening and closing on his
YouTube channel.
Vaundy
and TOOBOE bring anime to life through music
The opening
theme is titled "Saikai" and is performed
by Vaundy, an artist who has gained great recognition in the
Japanese music scene. The song accompanies a somber montage that reinforces the
anime's mysterious air.
On the
other hand, the closing theme is "Anata wa
Kaibutsu", by TOOBOE, and offers a more
nostalgic look, with scenes of a seemingly quiet town but full of secrets.
A story
that goes beyond the human
The series,
based on the manga by Mokumokuren, follows Yoshiki, a
teenager who faces a disturbing truth: his best friend, Hikaru,
disappeared in the mountains six months ago... and although he returned,
something in him is not human. He has Hikaru's face, voice, and memories, but
there's something dark hidden inside.
Acknowledgments
and production equipment
The manga,
which began serialization in August 2021 through Young
Ace Up, has received multiple accolades, including first place in Kono
Manga ga Sugoi! 2023 for male readers, in addition to nominations at
the Manga Taishō, Eisner, and other awards.
The
animated adaptation is directed by Ryohei Takeshita (Jellyfish
Can't Swim in the Night) under the CygamesPictures studio. Yuichi
Takahashi (Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song) is in charge of character
design and animation direction, while Masanobu Hiraoka, recognized
for his work on Chainsaw Man, brings his style as lead animator.
Global
launch on the Netflix platform
Netflix will be the exclusive
distributor of the anime, with a release scheduled for summer 2025 worldwide.
This release reinforces the platform's commitment to the expansion of anime
outside of Japan. Get ready for a story that questions identity, friendship and
humanity... and that will leave you with chills.