The Summer Hikaru Died manga gets anime adaptation

On May 24, 2024, Mokumokuren, the author of The Summer Hikaru Died manga series, announced through their X account that an anime adaptation was in the works. However, no further information was disclosed about the project, leaving it unclear whether it will be a TV series, OVA series, or a movie.

The manga series, The Summer Hikaru Died, began its serialization in August 2021 and currently has five volumes in print. Over the years, it has received numerous awards and has even been adapted into a light novel by a different author for further inspiration.

The Summer Hikaru Died manga series receives an anime adaptation

The series’ author shared a tweet that included a brief video featuring the main cast of the series sitting around a table. The video starts off in a dull color scheme but transitions into a vibrant display upon announcing the manga’s upcoming anime adaptation. The tweet was titled:

“‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ is being made into an anime. Thank you for your coorporation.”

The anime adaptation is a direct adaptation of a manga series with the same title, authored and illustrated by Mokumokuren. In addition to this series, the author has also created a standalone manga, known as Period.

The manga series’ original author will also serve as the illustrator for the light novel adaptation.

The web manga was first released on Kadokawa’s Young Ace Up website in August 2021. It has since been adapted into physical volumes, with five volumes currently available in Japanese as of the time of writing.

Yen Press has acquired the rights to publish the series and has currently released three volumes in English, with the fourth one scheduled for release on August 20, 2024.

The series was honored with the Traditional Chinese Global Special Prize at the Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Awards 2022, and was also a nominee for the 2023 Manga Taisho Awards.

The first four volumes of the manga series have sold 2.1 million copies. Further updates about the upcoming anime project will be announced in the future.

The Summer Hikaru Died Synopsis

Hikaru as seen in the manga (Image via Kadokawa)

The manga series, The Summer Hikaru Died, is a horror-mystery story that focuses on the close friendship between its two male protagonists, Yoshiki and Hikaru. Set in a small village, the two friends rely on each other for companionship and solace.

Despite their friendship having no limits, many people mistakenly perceive it as insincere.

Regrettably, Yoshiki began to notice a shift in Hikaru’s behavior after a particular incident that occurred one summer in the past.

Following this incident, Hikaru’s character underwent a transformation to the point where his best friend, who was accustomed to his usual self, even noticed a change in his appearance.

Additionally, whenever Yoshiki mentions a different Hikaru, the latter’s demeanor completely transforms and Hikaru threatens to harm Yoshiki unless he accepts the current situation, also insisting that ‘it’ has strong feelings for Yoshiki.

Despite being trapped in the body of his friend, possessed by another entity, Yoshiki spends his life in fear, pretending to still be the closest companion of someone he once saw as a brother.

Is Hikaru truly the boy that Yoshiki considered a friend or is there something sinister beyond Yoshiki’s imagination?