The Summer Hikaru Died sparked intense debate about genre classification. Still, Episode 1 makes one thing crystal clear: this anime isn't just horror with queer undertones but an important reimagining of what Boys' Love anime can be.
Unlike horror anime like Dandadan that features ghastly ghouls and cryptid monsters, The Summer Hikaru Died explores queer themes within a supernatural framework that creates something uniquely powerful in LGBTQIA+ storytelling.
The premiere episode establishes an emotional intimacy between Yoshiki and "Hikaru" that transcends typical friendship dynamics. The creator, Mokumokuren, also clarified (via Bluesky) that the series is not a love story, but a coming-of-age horror with queerplatonic themes, emphasizing grief and sexuality.
Beyond Traditional BL Boundaries
The series expands the definition of Boys' Love (BL) beyond its typical romantic confines.
While The Summer Hikaru Died manga was marketed as BL and even classified as such on platforms like Goodreads, it’s best described by a queerplatonic and codependent relationship rather than a simple romance.
The relationship between Yoshiki and the entity inhabiting Hikaru's body operates on a level that's simultaneously more and less than romance, diving into themes of recognition, acceptance, and the desperate need to belong.
These resonate deeply with queer experiences while avoiding the often problematic tropes that plague traditional BL narratives.
Horror as a Vehicle for Queer Truth
Both the manga and anime use body horror to explore melacholia, grief, identity, and societal decay in a way that is deeply unsettling and surprisingly queer.
The rural setting creates an environment where difference breeds isolation. The traditional, close-minded village serves as the perfect backdrop for examining how queer youth navigate spaces where they cannot be their authentic selves.
The main character's sexual orientation ties greatly into the theme of isolation and belonging in a traditional, close-minded village. Yoshiki's fondness for Hikaru might be understated compared to the usual BL anime, but it still creates the emotional stakes that make the horror meaningful.
The series demonstrates how queer experiences can't be separated from the story without fundamentally altering its impact. Remove the romantic undertones and the fear of discovery, and the supernatural elements lose their metaphorical power.
A New Standard for Queer Anime
Amidst a number of popular anime featured on Netflix, The Summer Hikaru Died represents a maturation of BL anime storytelling.
It's a kind of horror that reflects a lot of changes that have come with the rise of queer horror stories. It doesn't rely on traditional romance beats. Instead, the series creates space for complex queer relationships that exist outside conventional structures.
This approach allows for more nuanced exploration of LGBTQIA+ themes. The series can examine isolation, acceptance, and the search for belonging without being constrained by romance genre expectations.
The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 1 is a triumph of the medium because it pushes its audience to understand grief, but also to explore queer themes, which in and of itself caused rifts in the relationship between Hikaru and Yoshiki.
The anime creates a template for how LGBTQIA+ themes can be woven into any genre while maintaining their authenticity and importance. It's not "BL horror with gay characters" but a queer horror story where the characters' identities are integral to the narrative's emotional and thematic core.
This makes it Boys' Love in the truest sense: a story about the complex, sometimes monstrous nature of loving someone while navigating a world that may not accept that love.
Whether it fits traditional BL categories matters less than its success in creating authentic, meaningful queer storytelling that horror anime desperately needed.
Viewers can also check out other popular anime hitting Netflix this summer!
