Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » News » The Summer Hikaru Died Gets Release Date And New Trailer

The Summer Hikaru Died Gets Release Date And New Trailer

Sarah MusnickyBy Sarah Musnicky06/02/20253 Mins Read
Still from The Summer Hikaru Died
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

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.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

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.

The Summer Hikaru Died | Official Trailer 2 | Netflix

“The Summer Hikaru Died” is coming to Netflix on July 5, 2025. https://www.netflix.com/title/81948057 Yoshiki and Hikaru live in a rural village and have been close friends since they were young. The blazing sun… The constant buzzing of cicadas… Ice cream on the way home…

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

The Summer Hikaru Died poster

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

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleGet a First Look of New Black Phone 2 Trailer
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Spray Paint Simulator’ Is Easy To Flow State With
Sarah Musnicky

Sarah is a writer and editor for BWT. When she's not busy writing about KDramas, she's likely talking to her cat. She's also a Rotten Tomatoes Certified critic and a published author of both fiction and non-fiction.

Related Posts

Physical 100 Italy promotional key art from Netflix

Netflix Expands ‘Physical: 100’ Franchise To Italy

08/03/2025
Kim Young-kwang and Chae Soo-bin in promo image for Take Charge of My Heart from Netflix

‘Take Charge of My Heart’ Starring Kim Young-kwang Coming To Netflix

08/03/2025
New Crunchyroll Anime - The Invisible Man and His Soon To Be Wife

Romance Gets Supernatural In ‘The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife’

08/03/2025
New Crunchyroll Anime But Why Tho 10

‘This Monster Wants to Eat Me’ Is The Yuri You’ve Been Waiting For

08/03/2025
New Crunchyroll Anime Acquisitions

Crunchyroll Announces New Acquisitions During Germany’s AnimagiC 2025

08/03/2025
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero on Switch - Vegeta

The Most Explosive Dragon Ball Fighter Comes To Nintendo Switch 2

08/03/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

World of Warcraft The War Within Ghosts of Karesh But Why Tho Interviews

‘The War Within’ Patch 11.2 Addresses Raid Trash, Magic-Focused Comps, And More

By Mick Abrahamson07/31/2025Updated:07/31/2025

WoW Sr. Producer and Asst. Lead Quest Designer address The War Within 11.2’s Manaforge Omega, Reshii Wrap rewards, and Mythic+ balancing.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here