April 21st, 2025
It’s official – the hit horror manga The Summer Hikaru Died is coming to Netflix as an anime this year! This series caught our attention back in 2023 with its gnarly body horror and twists that were truly shocking. Its Dandadan meets Parasyte meets Jujustu Kaisen in all the best ways, and we’re soooo stoked that we get to see it come to life on the screen soon! You can watch the super sick trailer here!
If you haven’t jumped on the hype train yet, here’s the scoop: Yoshiki and Hikaru are two teen boys from a small town in rural Japan. They’re pretty different in terms of personality and interests but are best friends none the less (think black cat and golden retriever vibes). One winter day, Hikaru tragically gets hurt while hiking alone in the mountains. Just before he dies, a strange, otherworldly creature finds him and takes over his body, becoming “him”. This new “Hikaru” has all of his memories and emotions but is still something entirely different. Yoshiki quickly figures out that something’s off with his friend, and while he still wants to be there for “Hikaru,” the creature’s true nature and the dangers surrounding it might make that impossible.
Sounds SPOOKY and AWESOME, right??? Right! Since we’re sure you want to start reading right away to be ready for the anime, we’ve linked all the currently available volumes right here!
Volume 1: Two boys lived in a village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. The two did everything together…until the day Hikaru was encompassed by a mysterious light. That was when everything changed-Hikaru most of all. Yoshiki still wishes from the bottom of his heart to always stay by his side…but is there even a Hikaru left to be with?
Volume 2: When Yoshiki struggles to accept the new Hikaru, he’s given a glimpse of what’s lurking inside his best friend. But will that be the final straw that drives Yoshiki away for good?
Volume 3: A strange man arrives to investigate the strange occurrences that seem to be happening more and more frequently around the village. Everything seems to be linked to the mountain where Hikaru died and “Hikaru” came from…
Volume 4: Two boys grew up together in a certain village-Yoshiki and Hikaru. One day, Yoshiki became sure that Hikaru was no longer himself. He resolved to accept the new “Hikaru,” whatever happened to his friend. But now he’s decided to research the history of “Nounuki-sama” and Kubitachi to understand what this creature truly is. The situation evolves unpredictably, outside the boys’ control. Who will make the next move, and what will they find?
Volume 5: Yoshiki has resolved to walk alongside the “something” that replaced his friend, Hikaru. But changes begin to appear, not just in the village, but also in the impostor himself! As they sense their current lives moments from crumbling down, the boys continue their investigation into “Hikaru’s” identity. The history of Kubitachi, the truth of “Nounuki-sama,” and the “Indous’ sin”…what will the answers to these mysteries mean for “Hikaru” and Yoshiki?!
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