CyberAgent, Inc. revealed new information during the special stage event for the upcoming TV anime The Summer Hikaru Died at AnimeJapan 2025, including the main trailer and additional cast announcements.
The show is adapted from a hit horror manga series about an ordinary high school boy, Yoshiki, who experiences various mysterious incidents in his life with Hikaru, a mysterious being who imitates his best friend Hikaru Indou. The project was originally announced in May 2024, and the anime will be exclusively streaming worldwide on Netflix.
The Summer Hikaru Died is directed by Ryohei Takeshita, known for Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night, and CygamesPictures is handling the animation production for the series.
“Hikaru and Yoshiki may appear simple at first glance, but the breath and body temperature emanating from inside the characters can be felt thanks to the overwhelming persuasiveness and descriptive power of the original work,” said character designer and chief animation director Yuichi Takahashi. “The heat oozing out of the characters, and the reconstruction of the original character modeling, which seems to depict that as well, was a challenge that had never been attempted before. We hope that we were able to reproduce the body temperature of the characters that we felt from the original work.”
“Dorodoro” animator Masanobu Hiraoka commented, “I am always thinking about how to express the unique and unsettling atmosphere of The Summer Hikaru Died in terms of the artwork. In particular, the depiction of dorodoro with a heterogeneous presence is one of the important elements that accentuate the eeriness of this work.
“The viscosity and weight of the movement, as well as the unpleasantness of the spread of the dorodoro were carefully considered in order to leave a strong impression on the audience. We made sure that the disturbing nature of the original work and the horror that lurks within its beauty could be expressed in the images. I hope you will enjoy the “distorted beauty” that only a film can capture.”
In addition to the previously announced cast members Chiaki Kobayashi (Yoshiki) and Shuichiro Umeda (Hikaru), the new cast members Yumiri Hanamori (Asako), Wakana Kowaka (Rie) and Chikahiro Kobayashi (Tanaka) made a surprise appearance on the Con’s special stage this weekend. Additionally, the main trailer, featuring the ending theme song “Anata wa Kaibutsu (you are my monster)” performed by TOOBOE was unveiled for the first time.
Yumiri Hanamori (Asako Yamagishi)
Asako is a classmate of Yoshiki. Since childhood, she has been able to “hear” things that ordinary people cannot. She is tall, lively, and intelligent.
“I’m Yumiri Hanamori, who will be playing the role of Asako Yamagishi in The Summer Hikaru Died. The first time I read this work, I was greatly shocked that the story begins from the point where it didn’t make it in time. In a place that shouldn’t have existed. What if ‘something’ very close to what didn’t make it appears in front of us? What choice would we choose? What will be awaiting them at the end of their summer? I will do my best to play the role so that you can feel the atmosphere that sticks to your skin. Thank you very much.”
Wakana Kowaka (Rie Kurebayashi)
Rie is a housewife who can “see” things that ordinary people cannot. She worries about Yoshiki, who is with a dangerous and terrifying presence, and warns him to stay away.
“I’m Wakana Kowaka, who will be playing the role of Rie Kurebayashi. I’m looking forward to seeing how this work, which is filled with various emotions, how it will be visualized. And the Mie dialect! We are all working so hard to record it! I want to do my best to play Rie Kurebayashi, who is close to Yoshiki and Hikaru and has kindness in her sternness.”
Chikahiro Kobayashi (Tanaka)
Tanaka is a man who seems to be investigating something for a certain company. He is always carefree and elusive. He has a hamster as his partner.
“When I read the original story, my heart was firmly grasped from the beginning! The scene of ‘Summer’ that everyone feels nostalgic for is mixed with the fear and wonder of not knowing what is happening. It’s really interesting. I’m very happy to be able to mix in with the atmosphere of this work…! Let’s watch it together when summer comes!”
Synopsis: In a certain village … Since their childhood, they have grown up together. Yoshiki and Hikaru, childhood friends. The sun shining down on them. The chirping sound of a crypto tympana facialis. Ice cream on the way home. Laughing over trivial things.
One day in summer, no different from any other day … You’re not Hikaru after all, are you?
Half a year ago, Hikaru went missing in the mountains. A week later, he came back on a whim. The voice, the figure, the thing that looked like Hikaru What was stirring inside…
“Hikaru is no longer with us. …If that’s the case.”
Starting the days with “something” in the form of a friend, The “same as usual” everyday life. But at the same time, Strange incidents begin to plague the village.
Falling into the unknown “something” — The curtain rises on a coming-of-age horror story.
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