Netflix's The Summer Hikaru Died exceeds manga fans' expectations; queer horror praised for its 'creepy' cinematography

Time of India

21 hours ago

The Summer Hikaru Died, based on Mokumokuren's hit horror manga, is finally here. Directed by Ryōhei Takeshita, the anime made its debut on Netflix on July 5, 2025, and with just one episode out, it's already got fans hooked and eager for what comes next.
The story follows two teenage boys living in a quiet rural village until one of them disappears and returns… different. It's not a show that throws big twists right away. Instead, it takes its time, letting the silence, strange looks, and offbeat pacing speak for themselves.
What is The Summer Hikaru Died about?
The Summer Hikaru Died centres on Yoshiki and Hikaru, two close teenage friends who've grown up side by side. Their peaceful life is disrupted when Hikaru goes missing during a hike in the mountains and inexplicably returns some time later.
At first glance, Hikaru seems unchanged. He looks the same, talks the same, and remembers everything. But something is undeniably different. Yoshiki begins to sense that the friend who returned is not the one he lost. Instead, it's an unknown entity wearing Hikaru's body, something otherworldly and unsettling.
As this new presence integrates into daily life, strange occurrences begin to affect the village. And through it all, Yoshiki is left to navigate the heartbreak of losing his best friend while being unable to let go of the familiar face still standing beside him.
The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 1 reactions: Fans laud the eerie, emotional debut
Viewers are all praise for the anime, lauding its ability to balance dread with emotional storytelling. Instead of relying on jump scares or gore, the first episode focuses on silence, stillness, and the subtle cracks in everyday life that suggest something isn't right. On the subreddit r/anime, fans dissected the first episode, and while it's rare that an anime adaptation lives up to the manga, Netflix seems to have aced it this time.
One fan wrote, 'I've been waiting for a horror anime that captures the feeling of summer unease the way Higurashi did—cicadas buzzing, long shadows, small-town mysteries only adults seem to understand. The montage of forgotten corners—rusted cars, old fences, empty fields—was so effective. You can feel that something is wrong even if nothing has happened yet. It's already disturbing, and I'm really intrigued.'
Another viewer focused on the emotional stakes behind the horror: 'The first episode creates a strong feeling that something's deeply off. The awkward silences, the pacing, and the tension between characters are all working together. Yoshiki clearly had feelings for the real Hikaru, and now he's stuck interacting with someone—or something—that looks like him but isn't. He knows the truth, but he doesn't want to accept it. That inner conflict feels raw. He'd rather live with a lie than face the finality of death.'
One long-time manga fan praised the adaptation's fidelity to the original tone: 'I've followed the manga since its early chapters, and I think this anime really captured its atmosphere. The directing choices were thoughtful, the voice acting was spot-on, and there's already a heaviness to the story that mirrors the manga's emotional core. This is one of the shows I'm most looking forward to this season.'
Another viewer picked up on a curious timeline detail: 'The vibes are already unsettling, and I love how many questions the first episode sets up. What really surprised me was the timeline—Hikaru went missing in January, but the story picks up again in summer. That delay is chilling. It makes me think the Hikaru we're watching now isn't just different—he's been different for a while. It raises the stakes. I'm excited to see how it all unfolds.'
Rather than using flashy visuals or fast pacing, The Summer Hikaru Died draws its strength from emotional complexity. It's a story about friendship and grief wrapped in the skin of horror, and it wastes no time establishing the emotional and psychological stakes.
New episodes of the anime will drop weekly on Netflix, slowly peeling back the layers of mystery and dread as Yoshiki continues to face the truth behind what or who came back from that mountain.