Netflix is setting the stage for one of its most anticipated anime debuts of the summer with a haunting new trailer for The Summer Hikaru Died. Based on Mokumoku Ren’s popular boys’ love horror manga, the series premieres July 5, 2025, and brings a chilling blend of rural mystery, emotional tension, and supernatural horror. The latest trailer offers a gripping first look at the psychological unraveling that begins when a close friendship is shattered by the unexplainable.

Animated by Cygames Pictures and featuring a moody, atmospheric opening theme titled “saikai” by Vaundy, The Summer Hikaru Died is already turning heads. The trailer from @NetflixAnime on X hints at a surreal and emotionally charged story in which small-town quiet is disturbed by the terrifying truth that Hikaru is not really Hikaru anymore. As the lines blur between grief, fear, and devotion, this series promises a unique horror experience with plenty of emotion and genre-defying thrills.

Supernatural Horror Meets Small-Town Stillness in The Summer Hikaru Died

Something Is Wearing Hikaru’s Face in Netflix's New Anime Hit

The story revolves around Yoshiki and Hikaru, two boys growing up together in a quiet rural village. Their friendship appears ordinary until Hikaru dies and is inexplicably “replaced” by something inhuman. The new trailer leans into this unsettling transformation, hinting at the dread creeping into Yoshiki’s life as he struggles to accept that the person wearing Hikaru’s face is no longer the one he knew. The rural setting adds to the oppressive atmosphere, enhancing the isolation and inevitability of the supernatural threat.

Rather than having traditional jump scares, the anime will focus on slow-building psychological terror and emotional horror. The horror is not only about what the “new Hikaru” is, but also about Yoshiki’s reaction to it with his fear, denial, and the lingering question of whether love can survive in the face of the unexplainable. It is a chilling premise that sets The Summer Hikaru Died apart from more formulaic genre offerings.

Boys’ Love Meets Existential Horror in The Summer Hikaru Died

Blurring the Line Between Romance and Fear in Netflix's New Anime

While the horror element drives much of the plot, the emotional core of The Summer Hikaru Died is unmistakably shaped by the complex relationship between Yoshiki and Hikaru. The series blends boys’ love with horror in a way that feels fresh and unnerving. Yoshiki’s bond with Hikaru, or whatever has taken his place, is filled with longing, confusion, and dread. It is not just about surviving a supernatural ordeal; it is about the emotional cost of loving something that should not exist.

The trailer suggests that The Summer Hikaru Died will explore how grief and memory can be manipulated by the unknown. With its moody visuals, eerie soundtrack, and emotionally raw performances, this adaptation is poised to become one of the standout anime of 2025. As Netflix continues to push into more emotionally complex and stylistically bold anime territory, The Summer Hikaru Died might be its most daring summer premiere yet.