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Netflix’s ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Debuts First Three Episodes to Critical Acclaim

Critics praise CygamesPictures’ atmospheric take on Mokumokuren’s manga for blending inventive scares with emotional depth.

Overview

  • The series premiered globally on July 5 with its first three horror-charged episodes and will release new installments weekly.
  • Under Ryohei Takeshita’s direction, CygamesPictures transforms Mokumokuren’s manga into a tense psychological thriller set in a remote summer village.
  • The narrative follows teenager Yoshiki as he grapples with his childhood friend Hikaru’s return in a possessed, otherworldly form.
  • Reviewers highlight the show’s use of everyday scenarios for effective jump scares alongside its emotional exploration of grief and isolation.
  • Industry voices hail the series as a blueprint for future horror anime adaptations, with some calling for Junji Ito to receive a similarly nuanced treatment.