**Hello, anime fans**. Tonight I want to share with you a japanese horror anime series that is very different from anything you have probably seen before. It is a dark story full of supernatural and psychological elements that may disturb you in more ways than one. Aired last summer, this anime became popular for the wrong reasons. Based on the manga series of the same name written and illustrated by **Mokumokuren**, **The Summer Hikaru Died** is an animated adaptation produced by the studio [**CygamesPictures**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CygamesPictures). Discover an anime that may interest you... or maybe not.
>! [SPANISH VERSION]
>
> **Hola, fanáticos del anime**. Esta noche les quiero compartir una serie animada japonesa de terror muy diferente a cualquiera que seguramente habrán visto hasta ahora. Una historia tétrica y repleta de elementos sobrenaturales y psicológicos que pueden llegar a perturbarte en más de un sentido. Emitida en la pasada temporada de verano, este anime se hizo popular por motivos incorrectos. Basada en la serie de manga homónima escrita e ilustrada por **Mokumokuren**, **The Summer Hikaru Died** es una adaptación animada producida por el estudio **CygamesPictures**. Conoce un anime que tal vez pueda llegar a interesarte… o tal vez no.
*Source:* [*FilmAffinity*](https://m.filmaffinity.com/en/film609577.html)
### Plot
The anime begins with a young man running through the woods with a flashlight on a rainy night, searching for someone who seems to be lost. This young man is **Hikaru Indo**, and he is badly injured on the ground when he sees a red light that gradually turns into something else approaching him. As he cries out for help, what we see approaching Hikaru merges completely with him. Months later, Hikaru returns as if nothing had happened on the night he disappeared. He spends the summer with his childhood best friend, **Yoshiki Tsushinaka**, who one day, out of the blue, asks him who he really is, since he is not the Hikaru he has always known. Suddenly, whatever has taken over Hikaru's body manifests itself and asks Yoshiki to accept it... or else... he will die.
>! [SPANISH VERSION]
>
> #### Trama
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> El anime inicia con un joven corriendo en medio del bosque con una linterna, en una noche lluviosa mientras busca a alguien que parece haberse perdido. Este joven es **Hikaru Indo** y se encuentra muy mal herido en el suelo mientras ve una luz roja que luego se convierte en algo más que se le acerca poco a poco. Mientras pide por ayuda, lo que vemos acercarse a Hikaru se mezcla por completo con él. Meses después, Hikaru vuelve como si nada hubiera pasado esa noche que desapareció. Pasa el verano con su mejor amigo de la infancia, **Yoshiki Tsushinaka**, quien un día y de la nada le pregunta quién es realmente ya que no es el Hikaru que conoce de siempre. De repente, lo que sea que se haya apoderado del cuerpo de Hikaru se manifiesta y le pide a Yoshiki que lo acepte… sino… morirá.
### Trailer & Review
***Next, I'll leave you with the trailer for the anime:***
https://youtu.be/sFaO07LwAVg?si=IXleXnpvtzgNXwBx
*By:* [***Netflix Anime***](https://m.youtube.com/@netflixanime)
Undoubtedly, this has been one of the most underrated surprises and gems of last season. I say this not only because of what many have said about this anime during and after its broadcast, but rather because of how well it is made on an audiovisual level. While I admit that it does not cause the "*horror*" or fear that many surely expected from the beginning, it did manage to make me feel quite uncomfortable in more ways than one. At the same time, it also makes you reflect on certain somewhat dense topics such as existentialism and human identity. In one way or another, its story has managed to generate certain sensations and feelings in the audience like no other anime has done so far.
Personally, I don't think it's as bad as many say. But I also don't consider it a horror anime that causes fear as such. It's true that it has a few scenes that generate that feeling, but for the most part, the anime is more about showing us relatively calm moments. In fact, it could even be classified as a **Slice of Life**, only with supernatural and psychological elements thrown in. That's why, perhaps, it hasn't been entertaining enough for many who have seen it. But personally, I found it quite entertaining to learn about the story and its peculiar characters. It's one of those works that makes you think as you progress through the story.
>! [SPANISH VERSION]
>
> Indudablemente, este ha sido una de las sorpresas y joyas más subestimadas de la temporada pasada. No solo lo afirmo por lo que muchos han dicho de este anime durante y después de su emisión, sino más bien por lo bien hecha que está a nivel audiovisual. Si bien admito desde ya que no causa ese “*terror*” o miedo que seguramente muchos esperaban desde un principio; sí consiguió incomodar bastante en más de un sentido. A su vez, también te pone a reflexionar sobre ciertos temas un tanto densos como lo es el existencialismo y la identidad humana. De alguna u otra manera, su historia ha conseguido generar ciertas sensaciones y sentimientos hacia el público como ningún otro anime lo ha hecho hasta el momento.
>
> En lo personal, no pienso que sea tan mala como muchos dicen. Pero tampoco la considero un anime de terror que cause miedo como tal. Si es cierto que tiene una que otra escena que genera dicha sensación, pero mayormente el anime se rige más en mostrarnos momentos relativamente tranquilos. Es más, se podría clasificar como un **Slice of Life**, inclusive, solo que con elementos sobrenaturales y psicológicos de por medio. Es por eso que, tal vez, no ha sido lo suficientemente entretenido para muchos de los que lo vieron. Pero en lo personal considero que me entretuve bastante conociendo dicha historia, además de sus personajes tan peculiares. Son de esas obras que te ponen a pensar a medida que vas avanzando en su historia.
*Source:* [*Tenor*](https://tenor.com/es/view/hikaru-ga-shinda-natsu-the-summer-hikaru-died-yoshiki-hgsn-tshd-gif-8728088645802492019)
And when we talk about its story, there is no other that has such a disturbing and mind-blowing introduction and premise as **The Summer Hikaru Died**. Seeing what happens in the first five minutes of its first episode, it is almost impossible not to get hooked on its story from that moment on. From the outset, we are shown that what returned from that mountain is not actually his childhood friend, but something very different. **Yoshiki** is right about this theory and asks **Hikaru**, who is sitting next to him, who he really is. The reality is that even he doesn't know, he just wants to enjoy this life he has achieved and doesn't want to kill the person who is supposed to be his best friend.
In return, **Yoshiki** agrees to ignore the fact that he is not the real **Hikaru** and accepts him as he is supposed to be as long as he is by his side. What I have just told you is nothing more than a twisted way of simulating a reality that, in itself, is not real. What is supposed to be an unforgettable and fun summer between two small-town teenagers is a complete nightmare hidden in the dream of a collective and traumatized mind. From then on, we see a couple of young people living their [supposedly] peaceful lives while certain disturbing cases of apparitions, disappearances, and mysterious deaths occur in this disturbing town.
>! [SPANISH VERSION]
>
> Y cuando hablamos de su historia, no hay una que tenga una introducción y premisa tan perturbadora y alucinante como lo tiene **The Summer Hikaru Died**. Al ver lo que sucede en los primeros cinco minutos de su primer episodio es casi imposible no engancharse con su historia desde ese instante. Desde un principio nos muestran que lo que regresó de aquella montaña no es en realidad su amigo de la infancia, sino algo muy distinto. **Yoshiki** acierta con esta teoría y le pregunta al **Hikaru** que está sentado a su lado que quién es realmente. La realidad es que ni él mismo lo sabe, solo que quiere disfrutar de esta vida que ha conseguido y no quiere matar a quien se supone es su mejor amigo.
>
> A cambio, **Yoshiki** acepta ignorar el hecho de que no es el verdadero **Hikaru** y lo acepta tal y como se supone que es mientras tanto esté a su lado. Esto que les acabo de contar no es más que una manera retorcida de simular una realidad que, por sí misma, no lo es. Lo que se supone que sería un verano inolvidable y divertido entre dos adolescentes pueblerinos es una completa pesadilla escondida en el sueño de una mente colectiva y traumada. A partir de ahí en adelante veremos a un par de jóvenes vivir sus vidas [supuestamente] tranquilas mientras ocurren ciertos casos perturbadores de apariciones, desapariciones y muertes misteriosas en este pueblo tan perturbador.
*Source:* [*Tenor*](https://tenor.com/es/view/the-summer-hikaru-died-hikaru-ga-shinda-natsu-%E5%85%89%E3%81%8C%E6%AD%BB%E3%82%93%E3%81%A0%E5%A4%8F-tshd-hgsn-gif-2811195225272430693)
Ignoring what many have said about this anime, I want to mention that what I saw here is a unique story in its own right. The surprising way it mixes what is supposed to be a typical **Slice of Life** story with supernatural elements, tales, and experiences typical of a cursed village is most interesting. I mention this because both the experiences we see **Hikaru** and **Yoshiki** go through after the incident and what is gradually revealed to us about the secrets of this place and its inhabitants make this a perfect combination to relax and disturb you at the same time. Obviously, it's not so scary that it will keep you awake for a week.
But it's not going to leave you completely indifferent either, because if you pay close attention to what is shown and told about the history and origin of this village and the curse that afflicts it, you will discover a story full of deaths, sacrifices, and things that can disturb anyone. Clearly, those who came to see this anime thinking they were going to find a truly terrifying story were left more disappointed than a piece of wooden furniture with termites. Likewise, these supernatural elements almost always take a back seat in this story, as the main focus is the relationship that develops between *Yoshiki* and **Hikaru**, who returned from the mountains.
>! [SPANISH VERSION]
>
> Ignorando lo que muchos han opinado acerca de este anime, quiero mencionarles que lo que ví aquí es una historia única en su estilo. La manera tan sorprendente que tiene de mezclar lo que se supone es un **Slice of Life** cualquiera con elementos sobrenaturales, cuentos y experiencias típicas de un pueblo maldito es de lo más interesante. Lo menciono porque tanto las experiencias que vemos que viven **Hikaru** y **Yoshiki** luego del incidente y lo que se nos revela poco a poco sobre los secretos que hay en este lugar y sus habitantes hacen de esto una combinación perfecta para relajarte y perturbarte al mismo tiempo. Obviamente, no es tan aterrador como para dejarte sin dormir por una semana.
>
> Pero tampoco es para dejarte completamente indiferente, ya que si te fijas tanto en lo que se muestra y cuentan sobre la historia y el origen de este pueblo y de la maldición que tiene; descubrirás una historia repleta de muertes, sacrificios y cosas que pueden perturbar a cualquiera. Claramente, los que llegaron a ver este anime pensando que iban a encontrar una historia verdaderamente aterradora se quedaron más picados que un mueble de madera con termitas. Igualmente, estos elementos sobrenaturales quedan casi siempre en un segundo plano en esta historia ya que lo principal es la relación que desarrollan **Yoshiki** con el **Hikaru** que volvió de las montañas.
*Source:* [*Tenor*](https://tenor.com/es/view/hikaru-ga-shinda-natsu-the-summer-hikaru-died-shujinkou-gif-1893424304913662238)
This **Hikaru**, as I said before, is not the same **Hikaru** who got lost in the mountains. We are talking about an unknown identity, a supernatural being who has been in this cursed place until the moment he came into contact with **Hikaru**. Very little is known about this being, who is even considered to be an ancient deity that has inhabited the mountains for a long time. It is even said to be a being from another world, but it is best not to delve too deeply into that. Whatever it is, what we do know is that this **Hikaru** is not the same as the **Hikaru** we know, no matter how much he imitates him or tries to appear to be him. Even so, there is fear and danger caused by his presence in this village.
Beyond attracting supernatural beings and dangerous spirits, the greatest danger this being brings to the village is the insecurity of the people who live there. Those who discover his true identity may risk losing their lives in a very terrifying way. But all this is nothing compared to the trauma this entity causes **Yoshiki** and his companions who, by interacting with this fake **Hikaru**, gradually become entangled in a cursed aura filled with unpleasant things. This false sense of happiness and tranquility that we see throughout the twelve episodes of this anime is more than a screen covering what is really happening in this place.
>! [SPANISH VERSION]
>
> Este **Hikaru**, como ya dije antes, no es el mismo **Hikaru** que se perdió en la montaña. Estamos hablando de una identidad desconocida, un ser sobrenatural que ha estado en este lugar maldito hasta el momento en el que tuvo contacto con **Hikaru**. Lo que se conoce de este ser es muy poco, considerándolo incluso como una antigua deidad que ha habitado las montañas durante mucho tiempo. Incluso se dice que es un ser de otro mundo, pero mejor es no indagar mucho en eso. Sea lo que sea, lo que sí sabemos es que este **Hikaru** no es igual al **Hikaru** de siempre, aún por mucho que lo imite o intente aparentarlo. Aún así, está el temor y el peligro que causa su presencia en este pueblo.
>
> Más allá de atraer seres sobrenaturales y espíritus peligrosos, el peligro mayor que trae este ser al pueblo es la inseguridad de la misma gente que la habita. Quienes descubran su verdadera identidad pueden correr el riesgo de perder la vida de una manera muy aterradora. Pero todo esto no es nada comparado con el trauma que esta entidad genera a **Yoshiki** y sus compañeros quienes, al relacionarse con este **Hikaru** falso, se mezclan poco a poco en un aura maldita repleta de cosas para nada agradables. Esta sensación falsa de felicidad y tranquilidad que vemos a lo largo de los doce episodios que tiene este anime es más que una pantalla de lo que realmente sucede en este lugar.
*Source:* [*Tenor*](https://tenor.com/es/view/%E5%85%89%E3%81%8C%E6%AD%BB%E3%82%93%E3%81%A0%E5%A4%8F-hikaru-ga-shinda-natsu-the-summer-hikaru-died-tshd-hgsn-gif-7675524202180093056)
Or at least that's true to a certain extent. Another interesting detail about this anime is how we see "*character development*" in what is supposed to be **Hikaru**. That's right, whether it's because he has a human body or simply because he wants to experience everything a human being experiences, this entity experiences everyday life and experiences such as the loss of a loved one, loneliness, or friendship firsthand. This causes his perception of life and death to gradually change and his dark mind to reconsider who or what he really is. Yes, the same supernatural being that possesses Hikaru's body begins to question his own existence at a certain point in the story, something he will do more and more as he spends time with **Yoshiki**.
On the other hand, I don't quite understand **Yoshiki**'s case. I don't know if it's because it feels quite uncomfortable or absurd to think about accepting your childhood friend who is actually a supernatural being possessing his body. The very thought of it is strange and disturbing in itself, but this is nothing compared to everything **Yoshiki** experiences with this Hikaru, whom he will get to know throughout the summer after his disappearance. What sets this being apart from the real Hikaru, what he can actually become, what he is deep down, what he later discovers, and what he proves to be behind Yoshiki's back or in the darkness of the night is what **Yoshiki** will have to consider about this **Hikaru** during all the time they spend together.
>! [SPANISH VERSION]
>
> O al menos lo es así hasta cierto punto. Ya que otro detalle interesante que tiene este anime es cómo vemos un “*desarrollo de personaje*” en lo que se supone que es **Hikaru**. Así es, sea por tener un cuerpo humano o simplemente por querer experimentar todo lo que vive un ser humano, esta entidad experimenta cosas de la v