Why The Summer Hikaru Died deserves to be your next queer Netflix obsession

The first episode of The Summer Hikaru Died dropped on Netflix on 5 July, and anime fans have been almost entirely united in praise for the adaptation of the popular Japanese manga series.

“Absolute cinema,” proclaimed one fan, sharing a Martin Scorsese meme. Another person commented: “can we talk how INSANEEEEEEEEEEEEEE the animation is??? this is genuinely one of the prettiest anime I’ve seen lately.”

A third shared a selection of screenshots from the episode, writing: “As a manga reader The Summer Hikaru Died ep could not have been better it perfectly set the tone for what’s to come and it’s gonna be so sick to watch it unfold again animated.”

as a manga reader the summer hikaru died ep could not have been better it perfectly set the tone for what’s to come and it’s gonna be so sick to watch it unfold again animated this is gonna be so wild I’m very excited to say the least pic.twitter.com/ijhUoRGvxV

— nelsy (@nobarevy) July 5, 2025

If you’ve never heard of The Summer Hikaru Died before and you’re not sure what all the hype is about, don’t worry: we’ve got you covered. Just read on to find out more.

What is The Summer Hikaru Died about?

The manga series, written by Mokumokuren, tells the story of a teenage boy, Yoshiki Tsujinaka, who lives in rural Japan. His best friend is Hikaru Indo, but one day, Hikaru is hiking in the mountains alone when he’s fatally injured… and possessed by an otherworldly entity who takes over his identity, inheriting all of his feelings and emotions in the process.

It’s not clear what “Hikaru” is, but it admits he’s using the boy’s body to live as a human for the first time.

Yoshiki still cares about this version of Hikaru, but whether their relationship can survive such a grim, eerie change remains to be seen.

Is The Summer Hikaru Died LGBTQ+?

Basically… yes, though the gay romance element is quite subtle at first. As one reviewer on GoodReads puts it: “Basically it’s a coming of age story, where two boys are coming into terms with the fact that they might have a crush on each other.”

Another reviewer explains that The Summer Hikaru Died is “a horror story with gay themes that are essential to its identity and story telling.” going on to elaborate: “The main character’s sexual orientation ties greatly into the theme of isolation and belonging in a traditional, close minded village. ‘Hikaru’ or the brain snatcher never felt like they belong until they met the main character. “

The first episode of The Summer Hikaru died was a masterpiece. Visuals, sound design, direction, background art, character writing, intrigue, atmosphere, EVERYTHING! I’ll be hooked on this one for sure. pic.twitter.com/UcjXQDVGFw

— AJ (@Aleczandxr) July 6, 2025

Why is The Summer Hikaru Died so popular?

The fact that it’s both a romance and a supernatural horror story ticks multiple boxes, it’s also not scary is an in-your-face, gory or visceral way. Rather, it gradually builds a sense of unease and the gradual revelation of something being deeply wrong: in that respect, it takes the same subtle approach that many of the best ghost stories have followed over the years, building suspense as it goes.

It’s an intelligent, atmospheric series and young LGBTQ+ people in particular will find a lot they can relate to and resonate with, including the supernatural elements and themes of “otherness”.

You can watch The Summer Hikaru Died on Netflix here. It premiered on Saturday, July 5, 2025, and new episodes are expected to drop weekly on Saturdays through late September according to Decider.com.