The highly anticipated supernatural horror anime, “The Summer Hikaru Died” (Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu), has released its official English-dubbed trailer, further exciting international fans. The series, which premiered on July 5, 2025, is now available on Netflix with English and several other dubbed language options.
A Glimpse into the Eerie World of “The Summer Hikaru Died”
The newly released English-dubbed trailer offers a chilling preview of the anime’s unique blend of slice-of-life and supernatural horror. The anime, adapted from Mokumokuren’s acclaimed manga, centers on the unsettling mystery surrounding Hikaru Indo, who returns to his rural village seemingly unchanged after a week-long disappearance in the mountains, but is no longer quite himself. His childhood best friend, Yoshiki Tsujinaka, quickly realizes that “something” has replaced Hikaru, taking over his body, memories, and feelings.
Despite the horrifying truth, Yoshiki chooses to keep this secret, unwilling to let go of the person he loved, even if it’s an imposter. This decision sets the stage for a tense narrative exploring themes of identity, loss, grief, and the blurring lines between friendship and fear, all while strange incidents begin to plague their quiet village.
Key Details: Release, Streaming, and Production
Streaming Availability and Dubbed Languages
“The Summer Hikaru Died” is exclusively streaming on Netflix worldwide. Alongside the English dub, Netflix has made the series available in 10 other dubbed languages, including Spanish (Latin America and Spain), Thai, Portuguese (Brazil), French, German, Italian, Hindi, and Indonesian, expanding its global reach.
Anime Premiere and Season Information
The first season of “The Summer Hikaru Died” premiered on July 5, 2025, and ran for 12 episodes until September 2025. Due to its popularity, a second season was announced at the end of September, shortly after the conclusion of the first season.
The Creative Team Behind the Adaptation
The anime adaptation is produced by CygamesPictures and directed by Ryohei Takeshita, known for his work on Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night. Yuichi Takahashi serves as the character designer and chief animation director. The opening theme song, “Saikai (Reunion),” is performed by Vaundy, while TOOBOE performs the ending theme song, “you are my monster.”
The English Dub Voice Cast
The English dub features a talented cast bringing the characters to life:
- Yoshiki Tsujinaka: Kyle McCarley
- Hikaru Indo: Paul Castro Jr.
- Tanaka: Daman Mills
- Yuta Maki: Jacob Hopkins
This strong cast aims to immerse English-speaking audiences further into the psychological and supernatural drama of the series.
A Highly Anticipated Horror Story
The original manga by Mokumokuren has garnered a cult following for its unique horror tone, blending sci-fi, teen drama, and emotional depth. The anime has been lauded for successfully capturing the manga’s essence, highlighting both the physical and existential horror elements. Fans and critics alike have praised its direction and animation for amplifying the underlying dread and the “disgusting” portrayal of Hikaru’s monstrous form. “The Summer Hikaru Died” continues to be a compelling watch for those who enjoy dark, psychological narratives with a strong emotional core.
