There are anime that grab you with spectacle, and then there are anime that grab you with atmosphere. The Summer Hikaru Died is a masterclass in the latter, weaving a slow-burn horror mystery that has become the undeniable highlight of the Summer 2025 season. After six episodes, it’s not only a contender for top of the season, but a very real possibility for anime of the year.
The Summer Hikaru Died (2025)
The series is built on a foundation of unsettling tranquility. Director Ryōhei Takeshita (working with Cygames Pictures) has taken the manga’s unique blend of boys’ love, psychological horror, and slice-of-life and translated it into a visual and auditory experience that feels both beautiful and deeply wrong. The sound design is a key player, with the constant buzz of cicadas and the hum of everyday life creating a constant, low-level dread. This ordinary world is a perfect canvas for the extraordinary, forcing the viewer to feel the same sense of unease that protagonist Yoshiki experiences every day.
The heart of the show is the relationship between Yoshiki and the “Hikaru” who returned from the mountains. What begins as a simple, painful mystery—is this creature really the best friend he lost?—evolves into a nuanced and heartbreaking exploration of grief, love, and identity. The show doesn’t shy away from the darker implications, but it treats them with a surprising gentleness. We watch as the new Hikaru tries to learn how to be human, and we see Yoshiki’s internal conflict as he grapples with his love for a person who isn’t really a person at all. This dynamic is a masterstroke of storytelling, making the audience question what truly constitutes a “self” and how far we would go to hold on to a loved one.
Episode 6, in particular, solidifies the series’ brilliance. The quiet tension finally breaks in a devastating confrontation with Asako, a close friend who suspects the truth. The scene is a perfect example of the show’s focus on emotional horror over cheap jump scares. The terrifying reality of what “Hikaru” is—and what he is capable of—is laid bare, and Yoshiki is forced to face a difficult choice. This moment of tragic reckoning elevates the series from a simple mystery to a profound drama about how we choose to define and protect the people we love.
The blend of psychological depth, atmospheric horror, and tragic romance makes The Summer Hikaru Died a truly unique and unforgettable viewing experience. It’s a show that trusts its audience to think and feel, and it rewards that trust with some of the most compelling storytelling of the year.
Last Updated on August 10, 2025 by Yu Alexius
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