Searching for Your Next Netflix Anime? Check Out the First Trailer for a Captivating Slice of Life and Horror Manga Adaptation!

You might not have come across The Summer Hikaru Died yet, but trust me, once you see the first trailer, it’s going straight onto your Netflix watchlist.

At first glance, mixing slice of life with horror isn’t the most obvious combination. Yet, that’s exactly what this manga, which began its journey in 2021 and is still going strong, dares to do. It takes us into the lives of Yoshiki and Hikaru, two friends living in a quaint Japanese town. Things take a dark turn when Hikaru is suddenly replaced by an otherworldly entity, leaving Yoshiki grappling with the unsettling truth that his true friend is gone. It’s an eerie, gripping concept, and after much anticipation, the anime adaptation’s first trailer has dropped. Rest assured, it captures the creepy essence perfectly.

If you’re curious, you can find the trailer on YouTube. It doesn’t reveal much, but it sets the tone just right. Ryohei Takeshita, notable for his work on Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night, is at the helm for this anime. Chiaki Kobayashi, whom you might recognize as the protagonist of both Hell’s Paradise and Reynatis, voices Yoshiki, while Shuichiro Umeda, known from Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, takes on the role of Hikaru.

Takeshita shared his thoughts on the adaptation process, saying, "Reading the original work was thrilling. I carefully considered how to translate its pages into animation. Our team is dedicated to reflecting the complex emotions of Yoshiki and Hikaru, alongside the manga’s stunning and unique narrative style. We’re eager to bring this to you."

Sadly, there’s no official release date yet, but it’s slated for the latter half of 2025. Thankfully, that’s not too long to wait.