Netflix’s Newest Anime Feels Like A Feature Film You Can Watch On Your Lunch Break

The Summer Hikaru Died is not a loud, boisterous, level-up-til-infinity, rock ’em sock ’em robots type affair. Honestly, it’s as quiet, sleepy, slow-paced, and understated as the village it’s set in; exactly what you’d expect from an art house or Memories of Murder style film. Of course, it has it’s own sci-fi/fantasy twist, but not in the way you’d expect.

Based on Mokumokuren’s web-based manga, the series follows teenagers Yoshiki and Hikaru in the aftermath of the latter’s mysterious week-long disappearance on a local mountain. When Hikaru claims to have no memory of what occurred, Yoshiki realizes his “friend” can’t be the real Hikaru, and his imposter reveals himself to be a paranormal entity that has possessed his friend’s body.

The faux-Hikaru begs Yoshiki not to reveal the truth to anyone, saying he doesn’t want to have to kill him because he has developed a genuine affection for him. Meanwhile, Yoshiki faces inner turmoil over the discovery, and shamefully admits to preferring having a shell of his former friend to nothing at all.

We get a sense from a series of flash backs, interspersed with scenes of the two boys going about a “normal” day at school, that Yoshiki’s true feelings for Hikaru extend beyond the purely platonic. Knowing that the “entity” has access to all of Hikaru’s original memories, Yoshiki asks if he likes him in an awkward exchanges full of pregnant pauses. When the faux-Hikaru responds, “Yes”, Yoshiki confirms what had seemingly gone unspoken between the two for their entire friendship.

While there are loads of blanks that need to be filled in (Yoshiki’s troubled home life, a woman who seemed shocked to see Hikaru alive, and a “company” that appears to be searching for whatever this faux-Hikaru is), we do know that as the real Hikaru lay injured in the woods, he called out for Yoshiki, even if it was just in a whisper. The “entity” does confirm that he didn’t harm Hikaru, rather he discovered the boy when he was already close to death. How or why he got there, still remains a mystery.

While we won’t get any more meaningful answers until next Saturday’s episode, the pilot did an amazing job of pulling us in with a unique premise, beautiful artistry, cinematic montages and storytelling. This is definitely a go-to series for lunch breaks, subway commutes, or that one last quick show right before bed. It’s an espresso shot of quality television for people who don’t have time to sip a whole cappuccino.

You can watch The Summer Hikaru Died on Netflix, with new episodes premiering Saturdays at 12 a.m. PT/ 3 a.m. ET.