The Summer Hikaru Died

There’s no question in my mind that if not for homophobia, The Summer Hikaru Died would’ve 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 there’s still a stigma about a love story with two boys, especially one that acts as a social commentary like TSHD does. It’s a shamebecause if people gave this a fair shake, they’d see it’s also one of the best horror stories in anime history. Anime is a medium where it’s 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. That’s not it though, TSHD features one of the most enthralling and captivating supernatural mystery stories you’ll 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, it’s 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 I’m harping on the LGBT stuff so much out the gate, but frankly I don’t 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 didn’t know it, and how Yoshiki handles the grief and trauma from losing his friend is essential to the story. That’s 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 it’s 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 there’s 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 don’t conform to the ideal standards the older villagers have set forth. While the show doesn’t explicitly state everything, you can tell a lot of this has to do with Yoshiki’s implied sexuality, as well as his father’s and the fact his sister is homeschooled. I found this to be hard to watch at times because I couldn’t 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. it’s 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. There’s not too much more I can say without spoiling major details which is why I’ll keep things brief on that front. But just know they are one of the best ships of the year and the only reason you won’t see them listed is because they’re two guys and while we’ve got to a point recently where yuri is deemed acceptable, there’s a huge stigma about two guys being romantically involved still, in the western anime community at least. “OK, we get it, bro. The show’s gay as hell, is it actually good though?” 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 that’s enjoyably for Fujoshi’s and general anime fans alike. Learning the truth about Hikaru and his family, uncovering the village’s true origins, the secrets behind what’s 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 I’d come into this show with 5 questions, they’d get answered and then I’d somehow leave out with even more questions. It’s just a really well thought out and planned story by the author that hooks you. It’s all taken to the next level thanks to Cygames incredible atmospheric storytelling. I feel like they’ve 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 you’re 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 don’t get me wrong, this show does have some jump scares, arguably the best I’ve ever seen in an anime that actually made me jump/flinch btw, but the scariest part is the atmosphere no doubt. This show’s 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. It’s 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. There’s 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. It’s 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 that’s not all it is. It’s a damn good anime in its own right and a must watch for anyone who likes supernatural mystery and Japanese horror. I’m glad I got to watch this as it aired and discuss it with other fans! I’ll miss my boys. TSHD gets 9 out of 10