The Creator Mokumokuren and Chiaki Kobayashi (Voice of Yoshiki Tsujinaka) Share Behind-the-Scenes Stories! Anime "The Summer Hikaru Died" AX Stage Report

Passionate Talk About Production Secrets! The Hopes of Creator Mokumokuren and Chiaki Kobayashi for the Work

After the screening, a talk panel began with creator Mokumokuren, Chiaki Kobayashi (voice of main character Yoshiki Tsujinaka), producer Chiaki Kurakane (KADOKAWA), and producer Manami Kabashima (CyberAgent) on stage. A wide range of behind-the-scenes stories were revealed here.

When asked about their feelings when the anime adaptation was confirmed, Mokumokuren reflected, “I was kind of expecting it, so I wasn’t exactly surprised.” They continued, “I was very careful about deciding what could be changed and what absolutely should not be changed from the original. I was deeply involved in the process, making sure my work was in good hands with the production team.”

Kobayashi followed by commenting on how he felt upon being selected to play Yoshiki Tsujinaka: “Even from the audition stage, I found the work really fascinating. I was delighted to be involved,” he said.

Regarding the casting of Chiaki Kobayashi as Yoshiki, producer Kurakane shared some inside stories: “Given Yoshiki’s subtle emotional shifts and the extent of his character growth, Kobayashi’s acting skills were necessary. After consulting with the director and Mokumokuren, we almost unanimously agreed that Kobayashi was the right choice.”

Producer Kabashima also revealed her particular focus in video production: “Rather than startling viewers with loud noises, our director, Mr. Takeshita, and the team at CygamesPictures, have been exploring a quieter form of horror—the kind that makes you sense ‘something might be there’ through sound, color, and direction.” Each panelist shared their own behind-the-scenes stories, drawing thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.

The conversation then turned to the most memorable scenes from Episode 1, screened at the North American Premiere. Mokumokuren remarked, “The scene at the police box, where the red light begins flashing and Yoshiki's inner voice slips out, left an impression on me.” They explained, “In the original manga, this was expressed through text, so I was curious how it would be adapted in the anime. The director managed to portray it visually, and I remember being truly impressed.”

Kobayashi, on the other hand, recalled, “The line 'You’re not really Hikaru, are you?' by Yoshiki stands out.” He elaborated, “Having a line that would normally belong in the last scene brought right to the very beginning of the story is so striking.” He discussed how this scene hints at what’s to come in the story.

In other segments, such as Kobayashi discussing his approach to the role and the highlights to watch for in the future, the crowd responded with huge cheers and calls, and the four guests extensively conveyed the appeal of the work.