Summer Anime “Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” Yoshiki (CV. Kobayashi Chiaki) Accepts a “Nanika” Resembling His Best Friend Hikaru… Episode 1 Sneak Peek Images Revealed
Exciting news for fans of the upcoming summer anime, “Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu”! The synopsis and sneak peek images for the highly anticipated first episode, titled “Daitaihin” (Substitute), have just been unveiled ahead of its broadcast premiere on Saturday, July 5th, 2025.
About “Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu”
Based on the popular manga by Mokumoku Ren serialized in “Young Ace UP,” “Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” is a captivating youth horror series. It plunges us into the eerie life of Tsujinaka Yoshiki, a seemingly ordinary high school boy, after a mysterious entity named Hikaru begins mimicking his childhood friend, Kido Hikaru. As they navigate life together, strange and unsettling incidents start unfolding around them in their secluded village. The original manga has garnered significant attention, even claiming the top spot in the Men’s category of “Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023.”
The TV anime adaptation is helmed by Takeshita Ryohei, known for his work on “Yoru no Kurage wa Oyogenai,” who serves as both director and series composer. Takahashi Yuichi is handling the character design and chief animation direction, while Hiraoka Masanobu is credited as the “Dorodoro Animator.” Animation production is being handled by CygamesPictures.
Episode 1 “Daitaihin” Synopsis
On a sweltering summer day, Yoshiki makes a chilling discovery. His best friend “Hikaru,” laughing right beside him as always, isn’t quite the same Hikaru. Though their voice and appearance are eerily identical, this is “Nanika” else entirely. They grew up together in this stifling, remote village, and Yoshiki desperately doesn’t want to lose the one person he could truly open up to. He makes a painful decision to accept this fake Hikaru and promises not to tell anyone, no matter what…
“Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” Episode 1, “Daitaihin,” is set to begin airing sequentially from 24:55 JST on Saturday, July 5th, on Nippon TV-kei and other networks. It will also be available for worldwide exclusive streaming on Netflix, and free exclusive streaming on ABEMA.
Sneak Peek Images
Staff
| Original Work | Mokumoku Ren (Serialized in KADOKAWA’s “Young Ace UP”) |
| Director / Series Composition | Takeshita Ryohei |
| Character Design / Chief Animation Director | Takahashi Yuichi |
| Dorodoro Animator | Hiraoka Masanobu |
| Prop Design | Oochi Ryunosuke |
| Sub Character Design | Watanabe Mai, Saigan Hiroko, Nagasawa Shoko |
| Art Setting | Tada Shuhei, Takahashi Takeyuki, Sono Yudai |
| Art Director | Honda Kohei |
| Color Design | Nakano Naomi |
| Color Design Assistant | Koshida Yuko |
| 3D Director | Nakano Shonori |
| Director of Photography | Maeda Tomohiro |
| 2D Design | Nagara Yusuke, Tsue Yuri |
| Editing | Kimura Yoshiko |
| Sound Director | Kasamatsu Koji |
| Sound Production | dugout |
| Music | Umebayashi Taro |
| Opening Theme Song | “Saikai” by Vaundy |
| Ending Theme Song | “Anata wa Kaibutsu” by TOOBOE |
| Animation Production | CygamesPictures |
Cast
| Tsujinaka Yoshiki | Kobayashi Chiaki |
| Hikaru | Umeda Shuuichirou |
| Tanaka | Kobayashi Chikahiro |
| Kurebayashi Rie | Kowaka Wakana |
| Yamagishi Asako | Hanamori Yumiri |
| Maki Yuuta | Nakajima Yoshiki |
| Tadokoro Yuuki | Wakayama Shion |
(C)Mokumoku Ren／KADOKAWA・”Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” Production Committee
《Nakase Kootarou》
