The official website and X (formerly Twitter) account of The Summer Hikaru Died anime revealed a new key visual featuring the main characters, Hikaru Indo and Yoshiki Tsujinaka, on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The anime is set to premiere in Summer 2025, with CygamesPictures producing the series. While the exact release date remains undisclosed, the series will be broadcast on Nippon Television and streamed worldwide on Netflix.
The Summer Hikaru Died anime adapts the supernatural horror manga by Mokumokuren, which has been serialized on Kadokawa Shoten’s Young Ace Up site since August 2021. As of now, six tankobon volumes have been published.
Key Visual and Character Descriptions
The Summer Hikaru Died
The newly released key visual shows Hikaru and Yoshiki standing under a bright blue sky in Kubitachi village, the story’s primary setting. The visual conveys an eerie tone, with Hikaru standing behind Yoshiki and watching him ominously. The tagline reads, “My friend who came back, it was something I didn’t know,” hinting at the story’s supernatural element.
In addition to the key visual, character visuals for Hikaru and Yoshiki were also revealed. Hikaru is described as a being that appeared six months ago after Hikaru went missing in the mountains of a forbidden area. While it looks and sounds like Hikaru, it is something else entirely, exhibiting a childlike sense of curiosity and innocence.
Yoshiki is depicted as a high school student from Kubitachi village. Although he knows that his childhood friend Hikaru has been replaced by an unknown entity, he continues to interact with him, grappling with the conflict between fear and loyalty.
Production and Cast Details
The Summer Hikaru Died
Directed and composed by Ryohei Takeshita at CygamesPictures, The Summer Hikaru Died stars Shuichiro Umeda as Hikaru Indo and Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki Tsujinaka. Yuichi Takahashi serves as the chief animation director and character designer, while Masanobu Hiraoka, known for his work on Chainsaw Man, is listed as the key animator. More cast and staff details are expected to be announced closer to the premiere.
The Summer Hikaru Died anime will premiere on Nippon Television in Summer 2025. The series will be available for streaming worldwide on Netflix, with Japanese audiences also able to watch it on ABEMA.
Ahead of the broadcast, a special booth for The Summer Hikaru Died will be held at AnimeJapan 2025 on March 22 and 23, 2025, at the Kadokawa Booth. Original goods will be available for purchase, and the series will have a dedicated session on the event’s Green Stage on March 23, 2025, where the main voice actors will make an appearance.
Plot Overview
帰ってきた親友は、 知らない”ナニカ”だった TVアニメ「 #光が死んだ夏 」 キービジュアル公開 ┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉┉ #AnimeJapan ステージにて 最新情報公開── ▼配信URL▼ 3月22日(土)11:35～12:10 https://t.co/3QObvVD3yn #ひかなつアニメ #AJ2025 pic.twitter.com/3ZTOL9tepz — TVアニメ「光が死んだ夏」公式 (@hikanatsu_anime) March 20, 2025
Based on the original manga, The Summer Hikaru Died follows the story of two childhood friends, Hikaru and Yoshiki, living in the peaceful village of Kubitachi. Their ordinary lives are shattered when Hikaru goes missing in the mountains and later returns as something different. Yoshiki soon realizes that the being resembling Hikaru is no longer the friend he once knew. The story explores Yoshiki’s internal conflict as he navigates the unsettling mystery surrounding his friend.
The Trigun Stargaze anime has been announced for a 2026 release as a sequel to the critically acclaimed Trigun Stampede series. The announcement, made on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, confirmed that Studio Orange, the studio behind Stampede, will return to produce the sequel. Notably, Masako Sato will direct the project, replacing Kenji Muto.
The original Trigun Stampede was known for reimagining Yasuhiro Nightow’s manga, and Trigun Stargaze is expected to continue that reinterpretation. As of now, limited information is available aside from a key visual of Vash the Stampede and the confirmation of the series’ lead voice actor.
Release and Production Details
Trigun (Credits: Crunchyroll)
Trigun Stargaze was officially announced on March 19, 2025, with a scheduled release in 2026. Studio Orange, known for its cutting-edge CGI work on Trigun Stampede, will handle the production, suggesting that the new series will maintain the same high-quality visual style.
The legendary humanoid typhoon returns in an all-new adventure. “TRIGUN STARGAZE” Confirmed for 2026! pic.twitter.com/nwQGGPO5M5 — Johnny Yong Bosch (@johnnyyongbosch) March 19, 2025
Yoshitsugu Matsuoka is confirmed to reprise his role as Vash the Stampede. A new key visual showcasing Vash’s character design was released alongside the announcement. The key visual highlights Vash’s signature red coat and revolver, hinting at the series’ continuation of the character’s journey.
Masako Sato, known for her previous work on My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan, will direct the series, replacing Kenji Muto, who directed Trigun Stampede. The production team has yet to announce further details regarding the cast, staff, or plot developments.
Story and Background
Trigun (Credits: Crunchyroll)
Set in the 32nd century, the Trigun franchise follows Vash the Stampede, a man with a massive bounty on his head due to his alleged involvement in countless deaths. Despite his reputation as a dangerous criminal, Vash is revealed to be a pacifist who avoids violence whenever possible. The mystery behind the bounty and Vash’s true nature forms the foundation of the story.
The original Trigun manga, created by Yasuhiro Nightow, was serialized from 1995 to 2007 in Tokuma Shoten and Shōnen Gahōsha magazines. The story gained significant recognition with the 1998 Trigun anime adaptation by Madhouse, which became a cult classic. The franchise experienced a resurgence in popularity with Trigun Stampede, which Studio Orange released in 2023.
Trigun Stampede modernized the series’ storytelling and visual style with CGI animation, introducing new elements while preserving the heart of the original work. Given Studio Orange’s return, Trigun Stargaze is expected to continue this approach, blending updated animation techniques with the series’ established themes.
