Fans of the critically acclaimed supernatural anime, ‘The Summer Hikaru Died,’ have a new reason to dive back into its captivating and unsettling world. While anticipation builds for the highly anticipated second season, a special-edit music video for the first season’s unforgettable ending theme song has been released. Performed by TOOBOE, the track ‘Anata wa Kaibutsu’ (meaning ‘You Are My Monster’) now accompanies a visually striking montage of key moments from the series.
This evocative video offers a nostalgic yet chilling look back at Hikaru and Yoshiki’s complex relationship. Viewers should be aware that the video contains significant spoilers for the entirety of the first season, alongside instances of flashing lights and vivid imagery that enhance its intense atmosphere.
The excitement for ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ is only growing, with a second anime season officially announced and currently in production. The series originates from Mokumokuren’s celebrated manga, which began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten’s Young Ace Up web imprint in August 2021 and has since collected seven volumes. Its widespread appeal is evident in its numerous accolades, including topping Kono Manga ga Sugoi!’s list for male readers in 2023, and receiving nominations or rankings for prestigious awards like the Manga Taisho, Tsutaya Comic Awards, an Eisner Award, and the Next Manga Award.
The compelling anime adaptation is brought to life by studio CygamesPictures. Ryohei Takeshita, known for ‘Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night,’ directs the series and serves as its composer, ensuring a cohesive and immersive experience. Yuichi Takahashi, a talent behind ‘Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song-,’ handles character design and serves as chief animation director, while Masanobu Hiraoka, an episode director for ‘Chainsaw Man,’ contributes as the ‘Dorodoro’ animator. The first season was streamed globally by Netflix as it aired, reaching a broad audience.
Beyond the screen, the captivating narrative of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ is also set to grace the stage with an adaptation scheduled to debut in Japan in January 2026. For those unfamiliar with the unsettling premise, Yen Press, which publishes the official English manga, describes the story: ‘It has Hikaru’s face. It has Hikaru’s voice. It even has Hikaru’s memories. But whatever came down from the mountains six months ago isn’t Yoshiki’s best friend. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous. Carrying on at school and hanging out as if nothing has changed—as if Hikaru isn’t gone—would be crazy…but when it looks so very like Hikaru…and acts so very like Hikaru…’ This chilling description perfectly encapsulates the blend of friendship, mystery, and supernatural horror that defines the series.