The Summer Hikaru Died made its highly anticipated anime debut at Anime Expo 2025 with a powerful premiere that combined a full episode screening and a revealing behind the scenes panel. Hosted in front of an eager crowd of over 2,000 attendees, the event marked the North American premiere of the series, offering fans their first real glimpse into the eerie and emotionally complex world adapted from Mokumokuren’s cult manga. The anime is now officially available to stream globally on Netflix, having launched on July 5.
Episode 1, aptly titled Replacement, immediately pulled the audience into the haunting atmosphere of a quiet rural Japanese town. At the center of the story is Yoshiki Tsujinaka, a high school student whose world is thrown into uncertainty when he begins to suspect that his best friend Hikaru is no longer who he seems to be. The chilling opening line, “You’re not really Hikaru, are you?” is delivered in the early moments of the episode, setting a dark and unsettling tone that subverts traditional slow burn mystery structures. From the very beginning, viewers are thrown into psychological tension and creeping dread.
Following the screening, the panel featured creator Mokumokuren, lead voice actor Chiaki Kobayashi, and producers Chiaki Kurakane from KADOKAWA and Manami Kabashima from CyberAgent. The group gave a rare look into the adaptation process, the creative decisions that shaped the series, and the emotional intensity required to bring these characters to life.
Mokumokuren spoke passionately about maintaining the soul of the original manga while allowing it to evolve in animation. She explained that although she was open to changes during the adaptation process, there were certain narrative elements she felt had to remain untouched. Seeing her own work brought to life in animation was, in her words, like experiencing it anew. She expressed particular admiration for how the director transformed a textual moment from the manga Yoshiki’s emotional state reflected by the blinking of a red police light into a haunting visual metaphor.
Chiaki Kobayashi, the voice behind Yoshiki, shared his personal connection with the story. From the moment he read the audition script, he was hooked. He saw Yoshiki as someone who carried heavy, unspoken emotions, and portraying that restraint required a unique kind of subtle performance. Kobayashi explained how he had to convey a familiar bond between two friends that had started to feel dangerously unfamiliar. His performance brings out the layers of vulnerability and suspicion that define the show’s psychological core.
Producer Chiaki Kurakane highlighted how Kobayashi’s casting came after careful discussions with the director and Mokumokuren. His ability to convey inner shifts in Yoshiki’s personality and show restrained emotion made him a natural fit for the role. She noted that the show’s strength lies in how it uses minimalism and emotional nuance rather than dramatic flair to tell its story.
Manami Kabashima spoke about the anime’s unique approach to horror. Instead of relying on sudden shocks or loud cues, the production team focused on building an atmosphere of constant unease. Through deliberate choices in sound design, color palettes, and pacing, they aimed to make the audience feel like something was always lurking just out of sight. The horror of The Summer Hikaru Died is psychological, rooted in emotion and the uncanny changes in people we think we know.
The panel concluded with each participant offering final thoughts. Kabashima encouraged fans to keep watching beyond episode one, promising that the story deepens and expands in unexpected directions. Kurakane emphasized the blend of genres present in the series, calling it not just a horror story but also a mystery and an emotional exploration of relationships. Kobayashi and Mokumokuren both expressed their hope that the series resonates with global audiences. Despite its Japanese rural setting, the emotional themes of loss, identity, and friendship have universal appeal.
With its mix of subtle horror, emotional storytelling, and faithful adaptation of the manga’s essence, The Summer Hikaru Died promises to be one of this year’s most talked about anime series. The premiere at Anime Expo offered fans a glimpse into a story that refuses to play by the rules of traditional horror, and instead explores what it means to fear someone you once loved.
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