The Summer Hikaru Died Anime Drops Intense 2nd Trailer: Cast Revealed, Vaundy Opening, July 5 Premiere
Catch the North American premiere at Anime Expo on July 4—don’t miss this exclusive anime screening event!
North American Premiere of The Summer Hikaru Died Anime at Anime Expo
The highly anticipated anime adaptation of the manga The Summer Hikaru Died (Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu) is set to make its North American debut at Anime Expo on July 4.
Exciting Updates and Teasers
The staff revealed the second promotional video on Monday, unveiling a new look at the series. The clip features the opening theme song, "Saikai" (Reunion), performed by Vaundy. It also teases two cast members and confirms the worldwide debut scheduled for July 5 on Netflix.
Update: Netflix has released the trailer with English subtitles. You can watch it below:
New Cast Announced
- Yūta Maki, voiced by Yoshiki Nakajima, is a classmate of Yoshiki.
- Yūki Tadokoro, voiced by Shion Wakayama, is Asako's childhood friend and also a classmate.
Images courtesy of Kadokawa:
Special Event and Premiere Details
- A screening of the first episode will be held at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku with cast and staff in attendance.
- The event will also be live streamed on ABEMA with participation from the main cast.
- The North American premiere will take place at Anime Expo on July 4 at 7:00 p.m., featuring guests:
- Chiaki Kobayashi (Yoshiki)
- Original creator Mokumokuren
- Producers Chiaki Kurakane and Manami Kabashima
Series Release Details
- The anime premieres on July 5 on NTV.
- It will stream exclusively worldwide on Netflix and in Japan on ABEMA.
Main Voice Cast
- Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka
- Shūichirō Umeda as Hikaru Indou
- Yumiri Hanamori as Asako Yamagishi
- Wakana Kowaka as Rie Kurebayashi
- Chikahiro Kobayashi as Tanaka
Additional Staff:
- Ryohei Takeshita (Director), known for Eromanga Sensei and Pokémon: Paldean Winds, oversees production at Cygames Pictures.
- Yūichi Takahashi (Character Designer & Chief Animation Director), known for Stars Align and Macross Frontier.
- Masanobu Hiraoka as the dedicated animator.
Ending theme performed by TOOBOE — "Anata wa Kaibutsu" (You Are My Monster).
Manga and Its Achievements
- Licensed by Yen Press for English publication.
- Synopsis: Two boys, Yoshiki and Hikaru, live in a village. Everything changes one day when Hikaru is enveloped by a mysterious light. Yoshiki’s wish to stay close is challenged—does Hikaru even remain?*
- The manga launched on Kadokawa’s Young Ace Up website in August 2021.
- Six volumes released, with the latest on July 4; the series has surpassed 3 million copies in circulation.
- It inspired a light novel adaptation by Mio Nukaga in December 2023.
- Nominated for the 16th Manga Taisho Awards and included in the NY Public Library’s Best Books for Teens 2023.
- Recognized by the YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2024.
- Both the manga and creator Mokumokuren received nominations for the Will Eisner Awards.
Source: Email correspondence
Disclaimer: Kadokawa World Entertainment, a Kadokawa subsidiary, owns a stake in Anime News Network. Some companies mentioned are part of the Kadokawa Group.