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12
TV
Finished Airing
Jul 6, 2025 to Sep 28, 2025
It has been six months since Yoshiki Tsujinaka's best friend, Hikaru Indou, went missing in the mountains and returned a week later with no recollection of what had transpired. Certain that it is not the Hikaru he knows who came back, Yoshiki finally asks Hikaru about it. Suddenly, "Hikaru" reveals his true monstrous form and begs Yoshiki to keep it a secret, as he does not want to kill him. Despite his paranormal nature, "Hikaru" seems almost innocent, full of childlike wonder and eager to experience the summer heat, the countryside, and all kinds of other things in a human body for the first time. And for Yoshiki, it matters little if "Hikaru" is a fake relying on stolen memoriesâas long as he never leaves again. As Yoshiki desperately clings to "Hikaru" in his intense grief, it becomes increasingly clear that something dangerous and supernatural may have descended from the mountains into their village. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
8.8/10
Average Review Score
80%
Recommend It
20
Reviews Worldwide
Thereâs no question in my mind that if not for homophobia, The Summer Hikaru Died wouldâve been much more popular and in anime of the year discussions. The ratings show that for people who did go in with an open mind, this was incredible, but the fact the story is an analogy for repressed homosexuality and conforming to societal norms turned a lot of people off. Sadly, we as a society have began to accept yuri stories much more, but thereâs still a stigma about a love story with two boys, especially one that acts as a social commentary like TSHD does. Itâs a shamebecause if people gave this a fair shake, theyâd see itâs also one of the best horror stories in anime history. Anime is a medium where itâs just difficult to make genuinely scary stuff happen and TSHD does it consistently in nearly every episode thanks to the pervasive feeling of unease and dread established by CyGames. Almost every moment of this show oozes with a supernatural eerie sensation that makes the hair on the back of your neck standup. Thatâs not it though, TSHD features one of the most enthralling and captivating supernatural mystery stories youâll ever encounter. It grips you from the first episode, gradually drip feeds you more information and lore and leaves you hungry for more at the end of each episode. Not only does this show function as a social commentary, itâs a damn good story on its own as well. The 25 minute runtime on these episodes were just not enough, I needed more and certainly need a second season, ASAP. Now, I know some people are going to be upset that Iâm harping on the LGBT stuff so much out the gate, but frankly I donât care. Denying that aspect of the series would be like throwing out the core component of the story and underlying driving force behind most developments. Hikaru and Yoshiki were in love, even if they didnât know it, and how Yoshiki handles the grief and trauma from losing his friend is essential to the story. Thatâs just the tip of the iceberg though, the series is filled with references and analogies for sexual identity and repression, coming out the closet, sex, consent and much more. Some things are more subtle than others, but I like how itâs all done with the backdrop of this conservative out of touch boomer run village in the Japanese countryside. Like everywhere in the world, in Japan thereâs a lot of generational divide and conflict with older people struggling to accept the changing times and young people being, well, young people. TSHD shows us Yoshiki and his family struggling to be accepted by the village, constantly being talked about behind their backs and made to feel like outsiders in their own home all because they donât conform to the ideal standards the older villagers have set forth. While the show doesnât explicitly state everything, you can tell a lot of this has to do with Yoshikiâs implied sexuality, as well as his fatherâs and the fact his sister is homeschooled. I found this to be hard to watch at times because I couldnât imagine living in such a small village and not being allowed to be myself for fear of reproach by some out of touch boomer. Yet it happens, far too often people have to hide who they are to be accepted and I think at its core, this story is about people embracing who they really are. The author just presents it through the lens of a supernatural god coming down from the mountain(homosexuality) and disrupting the village(young people being openly gay) story. Oh and have I mentioned the sexually and romantically charged moments between Hikaru and Yoshiki in this? Just google the chest fisting scene for examples. Their relationship is the engine that drives everything in this story. It walks that fine line giving us both an amazing romantic ship, as well as a great friendship. The way they support each other in times of need and how Yoshiki is willing to throw everything away to help Hikaru fit into the village is awesome, but they also have this bittersweet dynamic as both of them come to terms with how their relationship has changed due to traumatic events. itâs one of those relationships that makes you look back and regret the things you left unsaid, but also motivates you to move forward and grow as a person. Thereâs not too much more I can say without spoiling major details which is why Iâll keep things brief on that front. But just know they are one of the best ships of the year and the only reason you wonât see them listed is because theyâre two guys and while weâve got to a point recently where yuri is deemed acceptable, thereâs a huge stigma about two guys being romantically involved still, in the western anime community at least. âOK, we get it, bro. The showâs gay as hell, is it actually good though?â Yes, yes it is. The LGBT themes are an added bonus, but TSHD is actually a phenomenal supernatural mystery filled with twists and turns, no shortage of brutal and terrifying moments thatâs enjoyably for Fujoshiâs and general anime fans alike. Learning the truth about Hikaru and his family, uncovering the villageâs true origins, the secrets behind whatâs happening to the place and dealing with vengeful spirits all while having to avoid the supernatural bounty hunter(s) sent to town to investigate make every episode a nonstop thriller. It felt like every week Iâd come into this show with 5 questions, theyâd get answered and then Iâd somehow leave out with even more questions. Itâs just a really well thought out and planned story by the author that hooks you. Itâs all taken to the next level thanks to Cygames incredible atmospheric storytelling. I feel like theyâve really established themselves as the best at creating atmosphere in the medium. Apocalypse hotel last season had this unique melancholic vibe that was omnipresent throughout the season and TSHD has this impending sense of doom and dread that follows you. Even when the boys are chilling, it just always feels like something horrible is right around the corner. It ensures youâre never able to relax and thus are always on guard. That makes things way scarier than just relying on jump scares. The best horror films/shows are able to constantly have you feeling scared. Now donât get me wrong, this show does have some jump scares, arguably the best Iâve ever seen in an anime that actually made me jump/flinch btw, but the scariest part is the atmosphere no doubt. This showâs creepy as hell and I love it. Production wise the entire thing is solid as hell. Cygames cooked with the atmosphere, but the voice acting and general direction are incredible as well. Itâs extremely well animated and the art style is gorgeous. It reminds me a lot of the muted look CSM went for, which CSM fans hated, but I think it looks great here. It reflects the eerie atmosphere and depressive vibe of the village as a whole. Thereâs a few episodes here that are contenders for best directed of the year! No doubt in my mind TSHD is a top 10 show this year. Itâs one of the best horror anime of all time and one of the most well done social commentary in the medium. Yes, it very proudly embraces LGBT themes, but thatâs not all it is. Itâs a damn good anime in its own right and a must watch for anyone who likes supernatural mystery and Japanese horror. Iâm glad I got to watch this as it aired and discuss it with other fans! Iâll miss my boys. TSHD gets 9 out of 10
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Summer Hikaru Dies â my rollercoaster of feelings đđ Episodes 1â3 had me thinking this was a solid 10/10 â the start is so haunting and beautiful that I was completely hooked. But as I kept watching⊠my score slowly slipped down to around 7/8. Itâs not bad at all â there are genuinely moving moments that almost make you cry and remind you why you started watching. But then there are stretches that feel a bit draggy and slow. (I kind of expected that after reading reviews of the manga â people did warn it can feel a bit meandering.) Some scenes really hit; others feel likethey just⊠drift. Itâs this mix of âwow thatâs gorgeous and emotionalâ and âhmm okay can we move on now?â Overall, Iâd say about a 7.5/10
"Horror to represent internalized homophobia" It is a hauntingly beautiful blend of horror and emotional depth. The story explores grief, identity, and love in a small-town setting where something isn't quite right.It's a unique show that balances supernatural dread with heartbreaking intimacy. The pacing is perfect-quiet but tense-and each episode leaves you unsettled yet emotionally invested. The way it portrays human emotion, memory, and denial is raw and unforgettable. I liked the use of metaphors too , if you are enough smart and takes interest in psychology /philosphy then , you can catch hidden details easily otherwise it's hard to get in psychological tropes . This is thekind of series that lingers with you long after you finish a episode , making you reflect on connection, identity, and what it truly means to know someone. For anyone who appreciates thoughtful storytelling with an emotional edge, it's an absolute must-watch. Don't let negative comments affect you e.g anti village tropes , bl elements etc .
This is my first time ever writing a review on MAL, and I just had to because this anime was something else, it was a masterpiece from beginning to the end. The combined quality of the animation with the depth represented in this story was what made this anime so outstanding to me. The animation: 10/10 I loved the stylistic choices, the colour contrasts that gives a visual representation of the horror the characters experience. The interpolation with real word scenes work so well in giving both depth and eeriness to the story. Nothing feels out of place, the animators deserve so much credit for boththe fluidity and for their choices that worked so well with the story. The story: 10/10 The story alone deserves a whole essay. This is the midsommar type of situation where horror is used in excellence to explore a broader social theme. Tension is everywhere, the characters sweating in anxiety for both their internal turmoil and the horrors theyâre surrounded by itâs such an interesting way to represent the understanding of itself, your own identity, during your formative years especially when this means getting at odds with what is socially acceptable. And to make it better, the metaphors donât exist just for the sake of it because the story is indeed scary. This is good horror done at its best. Characters: 10/10 All characters have depth, even secondary ones. Their evolution and emotions feel realistic and relatable, quite different from your usual anime dynamic. Music: 10/10 Directly to the point, both opening and ending are great and catchy, specially the opening, Vaundy never disappoints. In short, this was peak. Really looking forward for a second season.
This was such a phenomenal adaption. Cygames proves once again that they don't play. I couldn't be happier with this series as a manga reader and they did it so much justice. The animation on this alone is absolutely gorgeous. The colors, the fluidity of everything, absolutely amazing production overall. And the mix with hyper realistic elements within some episodes was such a brilliant touch on their end. Obviously plot is banging. That's what makes this series so good. The horror element on this is amazing and how they create tension is well thought out and executed great. As well as how everything connects togetheras it gets further into the plot is brilliant. Absolutely no complaints whatsoever. Overall, i think this summer season may be the one season where I have 2 anime of the seasons cause i can't choose lol. i had been waiting for so long to see this animated and I feel so proud with this adaptation. đ©· i love this series đ©·