The second main promotional video (PV) for the upcoming TV anime The Summer Hikaru Died has been officially released. The PV previews the opening theme song “Saikai” (Reunion) by Vaundy, a track written exclusively for the anime and inspired by the unsettling feelings he experienced while reading the original manga. A portion of the song is featured in the newly released video.

New Characters and Voice Actors Revealed

The PV introduces two new characters:
Yūta Maki, a cheerful and bald-headed classmate of Yoshiki and Hikaru
Yūki Tadokoro, a childhood friend of Asako

The voice cast has been expanded with:
Yoshiki Nakajima as Yūta Maki
Shion Wakayama as Yūki Tadokoro

These characters bring more contrast and texture to the eerie narrative.

About the Series: A Tale of Youth, Identity, and Horror

The Summer Hikaru Died is a youth horror story following Yoshiki, a seemingly ordinary high school boy, as he experiences mysterious and disturbing incidents after his childhood friend Hikaru is replaced by a mysterious doppelgänger. The story explores the unsettling coexistence between the supernatural and the everyday.

Serialized in Young Ace UP, the manga was ranked #1 in the Male Readers’ Category of Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023 (Takarajimasha). Its mix of psychological unease and slow-burning horror has captivated a growing audience.

Voice Actor Comments

🎤 Yoshiki Nakajima (Voice of Yūta Maki)
“I'm Yoshiki Nakajima, and I’ll be voicing Yūta Maki. Maki is the kind of character who disrupts the story’s tense atmosphere—in a good way! Even in the sticky, oppressive summer horror that clings to your skin, characters like Maki and Yūki bring a little breeze of normalcy. Ever since reading the shocking first chapter, I’ve been drawn into this story. I can’t wait to share this feeling with everyone. Please look forward to the broadcast!”

🎤 Shion Wakayama (Voice of Yūki Tadokoro)
“When I first read the manga, I was completely captivated by its unique atmosphere—where the everyday and the abnormal are right next to each other under the summer sun. Despite the characters living precariously like tightrope walkers, ‘normal’ still awaits at school. I absolutely love this work for that. I’ll do my very best to help deliver that delicate atmosphere through my performance.”

Vaundy Shares Thoughts on His Theme Song “Saikai”
🎵 Vaundy (Opening Theme Artist)
“I wrote the opening theme ‘Saikai’ (Reunion) specifically for The Summer Hikaru Died. The uneasy feeling I got while reading the manga—where you never know what will happen when you turn the page—inspired the song directly. I hope it feels like a challenge to conventional anime music. If you could meet someone again... who would it be?”

The Summer Hikaru Died PV

Frequently Asked Questions About The Summer Hikaru Died New PV

What is the opening theme of The Summer Hikaru Died?
The opening theme is “Saikai (Reunion),” an original song by Vaundy, composed specifically for the anime based on his impressions of the manga.

Who are the new characters and cast members?
Two new characters were introduced:
Yūta Maki, voiced by Yoshiki Nakajima
Yūki Tadokoro, voiced by Shion Wakayama

What is The Summer Hikaru Died about?
It is a psychological horror series about Yoshiki, a high school student living alongside a mysterious entity impersonating his best friend Hikaru. The series blends daily life with supernatural horror and has received widespread acclaim.

Where is the manga serialized?
The original manga is serialized in Young Ace UP and ranked #1 in Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023 (Male Readers’ Category).

Source : ORICON NEWS