CyberAgent released three new behind-the-scenes videos for the TV anime of Mokumokuren’s The Summer Hikaru Died manga. “The Voice-Over” features exclusive interviews with The Summer Hikaru Died voice actors Chiaki Kobayashi and Shuichiro Umeda and director Ryohei Takeshita.
Moreover, the “Hikaru and Yoshiki” video includes a conversation between Kobayashi and Umeda with behind-the-scenes anime footage from the recording of The Summer Hikaru Died episode 7’s insert song. The third video goes into Chiaki Kobayashi’s trip to Los Angeles for Anime Expo 2025.
The Making of The Summer Hikaru Died: The Voice-Over (Part 2)
The Making of The Summer Hikaru Died: Hikaru and Yoshiki (Part 3)
Behind The Scenes: Chiaki Kobayashi
What’s more, The Summer Hikaru Died Exhibition will be held inside Sunshine 60’s Tenbou-Park Observatory in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan from November 14. The event will feature displays with memorable scenes from the anime, along with photo spots. Attendees can also view exclusive production materials and reproductions of key animations. At the exhibition’s store, a range of original goods featuring newly drawn illustrations will be available for purchase. Tickets will go on sale near the end of September 2025, and a special giveaway is being held on the exhibition’s official X (formerly Twitter) account featuring prizes like posters signed by the cast.
The Summer Hikaru Died premiered on July 5 on Netflix. Vaundy performs the opening theme song “Saikai (Reunion),” and TOOBOE performs the ending theme song “you are my monster.”
The anime’s cast includes:
- Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka
- Shuichiro Umeda as Hikaru Indou
- Yumiri Hanamori as Asako Yamagishi
- Wakana Kowaka as Rie Kurebayashi
- Chikahiro Kobayashi as Tanaka
- Yoshiki Nakajima as Yūta Maki
- Shion Wakayama as Yūki Tadokoro
Ryohei Takeshita directs the anime. Yuichi Takahashi is the character designer and chief animation director, and Masanobu Hiraoka is the DORODORO animator. In addition, the anime will be produced by Cygames Pictures and published by Kadokawa.
Lastly, here’s a story synopsis for the anime:
In a certain village
Since their childhood, they have grown up together.
Yoshiki and Hikaru, childhood friends.
the sun shining down on them
the chirping sound of a crypto tympana facialis
Ice cream on the way home
Laughing over trivial things
One day in summer, no different from any other day
…… You’re not Hikaru after all, are you?
Half a year ago, Hikaru went missing in the mountains.
A week later, he came back on a whim.
The voice, the figure, the thing that looked like Hikaru
What was stirring inside…
“Hikaru is no longer with us. …… if that’s the case.”
Starting the days with “something” in the form of a friend,
The “same as usual” everyday life.
But at the same time…
Strange incidents begin to plague the village.
Falling into the unknown “something”
