Uzumaki by Junji Ito is an anime from the horror genre that many fans had high expectations for. However, the anime disappointed viewers and flopped. Now, a new series could fill the gap left behind.
Which new horror anime is worth a recommendation? In the summer of 2025, a new anime titled “The Summer Hikaru Died” will start on Netflix. Appropriately, the storyline takes place during the same season in which the anime is released. However, an exact date is still pending.
“The Summer Hikaru Died” is from the horror genre. For many fans, the series is one of the most anticipated animes in the summer of 2025 (via Reddit). The anime already shows with initial trailers just how scary it really is.
Horror Anime Fills Gap Left by Uzumaki
Why is the anime something for horror fans? Hikaru goes missing for a week in the mountains but then reappears. His best friend Yoshiki notices something is wrong and directly asks if he is really Hikaru.
Meanwhile, Hikaru’s face suddenly distorts. An unknown being has taken Hikaru’s place. It says maniacally that it likes Yoshiki very much and must kill him if he reveals that Hikaru is actually no longer alive.
The threat on one side and the madness of the unknown being on the other make “The Summer Hikaru Died” a good recommendation for fans of horror animes. The series focuses more on emotional horror than on flat jump scares, which is why it could fill a significant gap in the genre.
Which gap is the anime supposed to fill? In contrast to “The Summer Hikaru Died,” “Uzumaki” relies on atmospheric, visual horror. The anime is based on the original work by Junji Ito, a luminary in the field of horror mangas.
However, the anime adaptation turned into a disaster and flopped mercilessly:
- The first signs that the anime could disappoint fans appeared even before the release. The series’ launch was delayed. Viewers had to wait a full 5 years for the anime.
- The first episode could still excite fans. But with episodes 2 and 3, the quality of the animations declined. According to a former animator from One Piece, a Western production was to blame for the failure of the anime.
- Currently, the anime is settling at a rating of 6.5/10 on IMDb. On MyAnimeList, it looks even worse: Here, the series scores a 5.75/10.
In contrast, the accompanying manga of “Uzumaki” holds a score of 8.16/10 (via MAL). Accordingly, the anticipation was even greater that there was going to be an anime adaptation of the story – only to be disappointed by poor animations.
Therefore, “The Summer Hikaru Died” could be exactly what horror fans need right now. In addition, there are several other series that you definitely shouldn’t miss in 2025. Which ones they are, we reveal in a list: If you can only watch 10 animes in 2025, make sure to check these out
