10 anime to watch while you wait for The Summer Hikaru Died
The Summer Hikaru Died is scheduled to be released in the Summer 2025 anime season. It is one of the most popular ongoing boys' love manga, which has captivated fans through the tragic dynamics between the leads and the incorporation of mystery and supernatural elements.
Yoshiki struggles with accepting the death of his childhood friend while the supernatural being imitating Hikaru enjoys Yoshiki's company and strives to keep him safe from other supernatural entities. While waiting for The Summer Hikaru Died to air, let's explore 10 anime to watch if you haven't already.
Disclaimer: This list is not ranked and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
Which anime to watch while waiting for The Summer Hikaru Died
1) Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
The bond between six childhood friends falls apart after Menma passes away. Years later, the ghost of Menma appears before Jinta, hoping to fulfill a forgotten wish so that she can move on to the afterlife. Jinta decides to gather their friends to figure out Menma's wish, leading to the confrontation of hidden feelings and coping with grief.
The Summer Hikaru Died has some predominant themes in common with Anohana. Both of these are coming-of-age stories with supernatural elements involving the death of a loved person and the grief and conflicts associated with it. Anohana is a tearjerker and one of the must-watch anime for angst lovers.
2) Devilman: Crybaby
Devilman: Crybaby is one of the most well-directed anime in the recent past. It explores the tragic life of the protagonist, Akira, as he merges with the demon, Amon. Ryo, Akira's childhood friend, is introduced as the deuteragonist, but soon, the bond between the young men is tested when conflicts arise.
While The Summer Hikaru Died explores Yoshiki's grief and the village's mystery and supernatural happenings, Devilman: Crybaby takes more of an epic-level action approach to defeat demons. Furthermore, the titular leads, Hikaru and Akira, are possessed by supernatural entities, though Hikaru has already passed away.
3) Another
Another revolves around the mystery of class 3-3 and the girl named Mei Misaki. In the past, her classmates grieved her death but grew cautious after she appeared in the graduation photograph. In the present time, Sakakibara becomes enchanted with Mei and thus begins a death game.
Another is a must-watch for lovers of mystery anime. Like The Summer Hikaru Died, Another engages its readers/viewers with its supernatural and mystery elements, both of the anime being set in the countryside.
4) Link Click
Link Click is one of the most popular donghua, which was released in 2021. The plot centers around Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang, and Qiao Ling, who run a shop called Time Photo Studio. Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi can enter photographs and grant their clients' wishes. The story dives into the perils of time traveling, engaging viewers as each episode ends with more mysteries to unlock.
Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang share a precious bond like Hikaru and Yoshiki of The Summer Hikaru Died. The second season of Link Click dives further into the dynamics between Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi. The supernatural powers of the characters and the mystery behind them make Link Click a must-watch.
5) The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window
Mikado can see spirits and Hiyakawa possesses the power to exorcise them. While Mikado's enhanced eyesight provides him with endless nightmares, Hiyakawa has supernatural hearing abilities and promises Mikado safety. With mutual benefits, the two uncover mysteries and confront their feelings toward each other.
The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window is one of the boys' love manga that inspired Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen. With exorcisms and barriers, the anime is an interesting watch for fans of BL anime. Like The Summer Hikaru Died, the mystery, supernatural elements, and romance keep viewers engaged.
6) Barakamon
Barakamon is a story of Seishu Handa living in the countryside and reflecting on his temperament as a punishment for attacking a renowned calligrapher. As a city guy, Handa has to adapt to the new environment and neighbors while forming meaningful bonds with them.
Barakamon is a lighthearted anime, set in the countryside like The Summer Hikaru Died. Handa's interactions with Kido, as perceived by Tamako, make it a humorous watch. The coming-of-age aspect of the anime and the bond between the characters are a few of the factors that make Barakamon a great watch.
7) Given
Given is a boys' love anime, focusing on the dynamics between Mafuyu, Ritsuka, Haruki, and Akihiko. Mafuyu is still grieving the loss of his boyfriend, Yuki, when he has a fateful meeting with Ritsuka. With the request to repair a guitar and teach Mafuyu how to play it, Ritsuka soon develops romantic feelings for Mafuyu.
Given is one of the most popular boys' love anime with one TV series, three movies, and an OVA. The heart-wrenching love story between three pairs of boys, along with Mafuyu's guilt over the loss of Yuki, makes Given a must-watch for boys' love fans.
8) No. 6
No. 6 is a mystery and science-fiction anime, centering around Shion and Nezumi, who embark on a journey to reveal the mystery in the city-state of No. 6. Bitten by the deadly parasitic wasp, Shion survives the attack but soon discovers the tragedy about to befall No. 6.
Like Hikaru and Yoshiki from The Summer Hikaru Died, Shion and Nezumi share an intimate bond. Their feelings are never explicitly stated until the end like Hikaru suppressing his feelings for Yoshiki when he was alive. Furthermore, the mystery in No. 6 and The Summer Hikaru Died helps in keeping fans engaged.
9) When Marnie Was There
Released in 2014, When Marnie Was There is one of the most popular Ghibli movies. Anna suffers from asthma attacks and is recommended by her doctor to live in the countryside during the summer. There she discovers an abandoned mansion and meets Marnie with whom she develops a familial bond.
Studio Ghibli has never failed to deliver feel-good as well as sad stories. When Marnie Was There is a heartwarming coming-of-age story of Anna, set in the countryside featuring supernatural elements like The Summer Hikaru Died.
10) Wandering Son
Wandering Son is a coming-of-age story, centering around Shuichi and Yoshino. Shuichi is biologically male and identifies as a girl while Yoshino is biologically female and identifies as a boy. The shared secret between the two allows them to find peace with each other and deal with societal judgments in a new environment.
Like The Summer Hikaru Died, Wandering Son is a coming-of-age story exploring LGBTQIA+ themes. The accurate depiction of the struggles and societal ignorance that come with being transgender makes Wandering Son a must-watch while waiting for The Summer Hikaru Died to air.
Final Thoughts
The Summer Hikaru Died is scheduled to be released in July 2025. While waiting for the much-anticipated anime, fans can explore other boys' love, coming-of-age, mystery, or supernatural anime. Some of the anime mentioned in the article explore the dynamics between the main leads while others explore the grief or mystery surrounding them.
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