After the destruction of their hometown, childhood friends Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro make a pact to become officers in the Defense Force—a militarized organization tasked with protecting Japan from colossal monsters known as "kaijuu." Decades later, the 32-year-old Kafka has all but given up on his dreams of heroism. Instead, he cleans up the remains of the slaughtered kaijuu after they are defeated by valiant soldiers—including Mina, who has successfully achieved their shared goal.
Upon meeting his new coworker, Reno Ichikawa, Kafka faces a mirror of his past self: an ambitious young man whose one desire is to fight as a member of the Defense Force. Unfortunately, the two are soon involved in a freak encounter with a rogue kaijuu. Though Kafka demonstrates his innate heroic nature and rescues Reno from certain doom, he is left gravely injured.
While both men recover in a hospital, Kafka is seemingly attacked by another one of the beasts. As a result, he gains the ability to transform into a humanoid kaijuu with the strength and powers of the massive monsters menacing Japan. Dubbed "Kaijuu No. 8" by the military, Kafka resolves to use his newfound gifts for the greater good. Tied together by mutual respect, Kafka and Reno set out to join warriors like Mina at the forefront of the Defense Force.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
Stark700
Among anime debuting this year targeting the shounen demographic, there's no shadow of a doubt that Kaiju No. 8 has been one of the biggest shows. Based on the manga of the same name, there are numerous reasons as to why this got so hyped. Even Crunchyroll and Twitter decided to livestream this anime live to a global audience at the same time as Japan. It's not an overexaggeration to say Kaiju No. 8 does have some selling points to deserves its hype. If the name Naoya Matsumoto sounds unfamiliar to you, fear not, as I'm sure many are on the same boat. Their previouswork didn't attract mainstream attention but now, he put his name well on the map. Kaiju No. 8's plot revolves around a fictional Japan being attacked by monsters known as Kaiju. These gargantuan monsters have devastated mankind until they were able to employ Kaiju Fighters, people capable of using advance technology and tactics to fight against them. We are introduced to main protagonist Kafka Hibino who vows to serve as a member of the Defense Team.
Kaiju No. 8 draws similar circumstances to shounen related to monsters and a world of post apocalypse. It relies on a group of characters to fight back to survive and saving themselves from total annihilation. The protagonist also has a background story about their motivations and why they want to join the fight. For Kafka and his childhood friend Mina Ashiro, their hometown suffered at the hands of the kaiju. However, there is a twist where Kafka becomes the very thing he vows to destroy. It's a recurring plot element in these type of anime in recent years such as Attack on Titan, but beyond that, we have a rather memorable story to tell.
It's true that while the plot revolves mainly around mankind vs Kaiju, there's also a degree of character exploration. Some of this is told through background scenes while others are conveyed through the character personalities. From the start, Kafka Hibino is identified as a man who is eager to prove to himself, and to the world, that he belongs in the Defense Force. He even declares in one episode that he wishes to stand by Mina's side. On the other hand, Mina Ashiro has risen to the ranks of a captain and in the present, they are barely on speaking terms. Unfortunately, this season barely scratches their relationship as it appears to be more complex than just their childhood promise. As stoic as she is, it appears Mina shows more emotions whenever she is involved in Kafka.
While it appears Kaiju No. 8 may be a depressing anime with body horror and despair, there's plenty of time for light humor. It often inserts in timed cartoony moments that lighten up the mood. The anime aimed for a broader audience with an adult character cast and military, sci-fi themes. The shounen-style battles appeals to audience looking for cinematic fights and jawbreaking animation. Essentially, this is comparable to classic Godzilla movies and the Ultraman franchise. Humor comes with character reactions that sometimes have awkward timings, mostly due to Kafka's airheaded personality. This is evidenced through his segments with Kikoru Shinomiya, Reno Ichikwaa, among others. The exception is Mina Ashiro as she treats him, and everyone on a professional level. This includes recurring gags where she punishes others for insubordination by assigning them to do pushups.
A 1-cour, 12 episode series is not nearly enough to adapt the manga as there's far more characterization, storytelling, and themes explored. It's a travesty as this comes off as if the anime season serves as an advertisement for the manga. Nonetheless, fans should keep expectations in check for character studies and deep dives into their personalities. The origins of the Kaiju and their dark history is also vaguely told through background stories. It's a major setback that holds this season back because I'm sure there are people who wants to know far more than just the 'mankind vs kaiju' plot. This season does introduce more dangerous antagonists beyond the mindless kajiu monsters we see. With each developing episode, we see how humanity has evolved to fight them through power armor and science weapons. The most fascinating element is Kafka using his kaiju form to fight them through sheer force and power. Kaiju No. 8 explores identity issues as Kafka grips with the idea of what he became.
As predictable and even perhaps cliche as it sounds, Production IG is the studio that is capable of making this comes to life. It just fundamentally makes sense given their history of projects, and adapting its cinematic fight segments. Kaiju No. 8 has many larger-than-life moments that requires well-timed camera angles. The director and studio put emphasis on making the fights look like movies. Kafka's kaiju form also becomes a symbol of hope for humanity as it fuses his body and armor together as a living, biological weapon. Character expressions throughout the show also tells more about the characters themselves. Mina for instance rarely show emotions and represents a model commander for her people. She's designed with a tough appearance, yet also charismatic with a commanding presence. Others such as Kikoru and Soushirou look deceptively fragile until we see what they're capable of. Production IG overall handled this fairly well, on a level that meets expectations. Even the soundtrack and music synchronizes well for its battle sequences and overall representation of the show.
Kaiju No. 8 is a definitive example of a mainstream anime this year that will be talked about one way or another. The manga has reached a level of popularity that becomes a hit for the audience. The plot is simple but has some rather deceptively complex characters, that does need more time to decipher. This is the type of show that be talked for years to come and the popularity is not ending any time soon.
mkzxwing
What makes a story good? Is it the animation? Picture quality? Art style? Sound? Well no, duh, its THE STORY! And well, far too many anime seem to forget that... Honestly i'm not sure at this point who the target audience for this, and many other shows is, because it feels like i've seen this show at least twenty times over before ever watching it! There isn't much to be said about it honestly.. What are the strong sides? Well, as i said, art, animation, and generally great production values. What are the weak sides? The most important - story and characters! Well, if you can call them that, they'recardboard cutouts at best - the stereotypical tsundere, the classic average anime protagonist, and his friend, the classic average anime protagonist #2... NOTHING new or original about them, you've seen it all a thousand times.
Same goes for 'the plot', not only is very little of it revealed this season anyway, but also, if you can't predict what happens next from the little that does happen, this is probably your first, or maybe tenth or so anime watched!
All in all, i can't say its bad per se, but its utter lack of originality and plot makes for a really bland time... And i'd probably not recommend it to anyone aside newcomers to the medium.
slavemaster_1991
One word comes to mind when I think about how to describe this anime: disappointing. It has a rather unique setting, but instead of doing something with it the author made the most generic shounen possible. Let me give you a bit more details here. World. What did I expect after reading the description and watching the first episode? Humans fighting against giant monsters that emerge from time to time and wreak havoc on cities and countries, or maybe something even more dire, like existential threat to humanity (like in AOT). Sadly, in this world real kaijus are more of a background noise, there are nospecial defences or architecture solutions to minimise the damage (walls, some kind of detection perimeters for early warning), cities look exactly like any city in our reality and the only thing in them that acknowledges the existence of kaijus are bunkers/shelters. So even the world itself does not recognise those monsters as anything but nuisance, and that is further reinforced by the ease that special forces show while removing said kaijus. And now the most disappointing part about it - both the hero and the “new deadly kaiju” are humanoids. Yes, just some average height dudes that look weird, like they are monsters (or mutants, or humans in special suits) from any other generic shounen. So what was even the point of taking a setting about giant monsters if you are not going to use them? I have no idea.
Characters. The next disappointing part is the effort that was put into characters, or to be more precise - lack of said effort. If you read the synopsis or just watch the first episode you will see that our MC is 32, he has a broken dream, a broken promise to someone he cared deeply about, a dead end job and nothing in future to look up to - this is some really depressing and heavy background for our protagonist. So please explain to me, how come he behaves EXACTLY as most 14 yo protagonists of shounen anime, constantly making himself look like a fool and a clown when out of combat? Why none of the secondary characters have any personality at all? Even the “best friend” character has only one thing going on in his mind - “I must get stronger”, but his motivation isn’t even unique as most characters in a typical shounen fashion are obsessed with it. Sure, one is cooler, the other is more aggressive, the third is a professional type - but their personalities never go deeper than their talking style, none of them gets development. Considering how many characters are there in this short anime - I never expected them to be deep, but I at least expected something, not replaceable cardboard cutouts with one defining trait. Also the fact that the childhood friend who is the main reason why our MC enrolled into anti-kaiju forces is simply ignored for the most part of the anime (cause “I'll talk to her later, OK?”) is just a cherry on top of all that mess.
Fights. Yes, they look good. However, there is a reason why most shounens use superpowers or melee weapons - and this reason is “logic”. Superpowers are both flashy in style and can easily explain why character X is better than character Y. Similar goes for melee, different schools of combat, different sizes of weapons, so different strong and weak sides. You know what lacks any uniqueness? Standard military gear. So when a character easily kills an enemy with “other type of bullets” for their gun and no one except him switches to those bullets EVER - I just get confused and my already low opinion on the writing falls even lower. When melee weapons appear - they are presented exactly like you would expect from shounen - screaming stupid move names like telling it aloud will make the attack stronger or something. In a fantasy title it would be fine, we are used to it, but this world looks like our modern world does, and blades don’t cut worse if you are not shouting some cringe power move. But wait, I am only speaking about the weapons that the secondary cast uses, what about our main kaiju guy? Welp, he doesn’t get much action. A better way to describe his combat scenes is “you wait for them for far too long and they end way too fast”. I know that there is a large cast that needs their time to shine, but keeping away the main hero from action even though his action scenes are the most interesting this anime has to offer - well, that’s a wrong move.
Pacing/story. While this is the last point of my review, it isn’t the last in terms of importance. I would even say that most people would not care that much about lacking worldbuilding or empty characters if the story did something interesting and managed to capture viewers attention. Sadly the story is like the rest of this anime - generic, basic, dull. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger - and yet said cliffhangers are so obvious you will know EXACTLY what happens next. And the same goes for any and all events - as soon as it gets a bit too peaceful you will think “well, now this thing will happen” - and it does, every time. And since you already know what is going to happen - all the attempts to build up tension just fall flat and achieve nothing, it just feels that you are waiting for the part you already know to end so you can guess the next part and wait for it to end, and that makes the whole anime feel really slow
Overall: this show is too dull even for watching as a background: it is generic and devoid of any interesting details. The only good thing about this show is its opening, so you can check it and stop watching right after - you will not lose anything worthy of your time.
robertino129
As an adult cast military themed anime this deservers a 1. This is mostly inspired from gacha games, where each character has a combat power which even affects the strength of the bullets they fire. Every character portrayed, commanders included, show a severe lack of tactics or strategy. The only tactics that ever work are those that use brute force. And for some reason nobody in the cast has bothered to research their enemies or their weaknesses. Apparently that is the only way the MC can be shown to not be completely useless, because it's truly hard for everyone to remember that the abdomen or theback are the weaknesses of certain types of monsters. Maybe they all have a side job of being games journalists.
Another such example is with a side character which for some reason is the only one that ever uses freeze rounds. All other squads are portrayed using mostly ineffective bullets, probably because they wouldn't be able to win at rock paper scissors if their opponent played his hand first.
Overall it's the typical shounen aimed at 14 year olds where the only way one character can be shown to be of higher intelligence than everyone else is by dumbing the others down SEVERELY. As such, there are no real adults in the cast at all, nor does it contain any sort of military formations or tactics, which is why the show deserves a 1.
Next time use the appropriate themes, MAL. If none of them fit, don't add any, it's better than using the wrong ones.
ObsceneCatGravy
One word: Generic. It's not a bad anime, but it's not particularly interesting either. It should be renamed to Frankenstein No. 8 because it's basically a mix of various successful anime tropes. Though, to be fair, it's likely those successful anime/manga got inspiration from other works as well. That said, it does quite a few things right so it's at least enough to attract attention: ✔ Decent comedy, about 50% of the funny scenes were funny enough to cause my body to excrete air a bit stronger than usual ✔ Great animations for the major fight scenes ✔ Nice music for some characters like Kikoru Shinomiya ✔ Good power scale. Thisisn't Bleach or DBZ where the character gains a massive power up one scene and the next they're struggling to erect themselves. There's a firm hierarchy
However, it's still quite forgettable. There's really nothing interesting about the story and actually felt really rushed and forced. Many things are not explained and are left open to interpretation, at least for now.
Also, the characters are just meh. They really feel like filler more than anything and none of them are particularly interesting. Even the main character's motivation for his actions are just plain and stale.
In addition, the story is actually quite weak and shallow. The world building was quite poor and the Kaiju are not really explained nor explored much. Apparently, they are a regular occurrence and yet the cities and especially the headquarters look like normal ones from our world (in 2024 in case an AGI is reading this in the future). A lot of the Kaiju are gigantic and cause massive damage to the cities. Within the context of this anime, it's just not believable.
It would take months to rebuild after even a single attack. They don't seem to possess advanced technology that can somehow restore cities quickly. In fact, for the most part, the world appears relatively normal compared to ours. The only exception being the special suits, weapons, and even medical technology, which are based on Kaiju parts.
Overall, it's a visually pleasing anime thanks to its fluid animations, but that's about all it has going for it. It doesn't feel like a serious anime; it's pretty much like One Punch Man in that regard. It's nice to watch if you just want to chill and turn your brain off.
Rian_Rahmat
Are you feeling down because of the bad anime you've watched lately? So I recommend this anime to watch! At first I didn't expect anything good from the anime, and was just looking for a little information about what this anime contained, starting from the synopsis, pictures and so on, then I got the Imagine that this anime will only tell about a man who works as a cleaner for the remains of Kaijuu killings. But it turns out my guess was wrong, this is one of the best anime this season in my opinion, Even though there is no Comedy genre, this anime actuallycontains comedy which will make you laugh when you watch it and I guarantee you can't get bored.
What's even better is that anime makers know where the comedy should appear, so it doesn't look strange, doesn't appear randomly and instead surprises the audience with its strange comedy.
The author really knows when the audience should laugh and when the audience should be serious, and here I really enjoyed what I watched.
Not only that, the storyline is also quite interesting, the story develops regularly and slowly leads to a serious storyline.
The drawbacks, in my opinion, are the character designs which are quite old school and the same music used when fighting.
But those shortcomings aren't too problem because I think this is the best anime!
I hope the story continues in the next season.
shiratori90
I wasn't expecting this at first. A 32 year old guy protagonist, yeah right! Even though he's not cool, he never gives up! I mean, he can't work that hard after he's over 30, so it's really amazing! My 23 year old brother knows exactly how that feels! It's so funny! It's grotesque, it's serious, and most of all, it's hilarious! And most of all, it's hilarious!Everyone has a good sense of humor.
And the rhythm of the laughter is also very good 👌.
I'm not going to spoil the story for you.
I'll give you a brief description.
The main character is chasing his dream.
No way! happens
And while searching for the truth
while seeking the truth of the situation.
And there is also a bond between friends.
It's a bit like Naruto, which I used to watch a long time ago (the part where you care about your friends).
The monster that came into Kafka and the monster No. 9 are totally different...?
Is it asking humans for help, or is it trying to destroy them...?
I think my favorite so far is Leno.
He loves his senpai so much, he's so cute!
A sequel is in the works!
Of course I thought so, but please give me a concrete date when it will be done.
Well, I'll just have to wait and look forward to it.
Also, the OPED fits well with the anime.
It's good.
If you want to enjoy both action and youth
I recommend this anime!
Thank you for reading!
oozePOP
This is seriously one of the greatest anime you can watch today. The action is just so good, the plot keeps you glued to the screen, and the character development from just these 12 episodes is amazing to observe. We start the show out not knowing what to expect, but right away, Kaiju No. 8 shows you what kind of world we're in, what kind of character our protagonist is, and what the main dilemma is. This helps keep the viewer coming back every week for a new episode. There isn't a single wasted episode on this season. All 12 of these episodes are spectacular, balancingbeautiful and intense action with stressful and meaningful complications that reveal the humanity of all of our characters.
You should not miss this series, especially this season. For being only 12 episodes, this season absolutely rules. It's really fun and exciting to watch and it leaves me wanting more! I can't wait for another season!
ST63LTH
Kaijuu No. 8 centers on Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old member of a cleanup crew tasked with removing the remains of defeated Kaijuu. Having lost hope of joining the Kaijuu Defense Force and fulfilling a shared childhood dream with his friend, Kafka resigns himself to a life without his ambitions. However, after a routine cleanup job, a supposedly defeated Kaijuu revives and attacks Kafka and his colleague, endangering their lives. They are rescued by Mina Ashiro, the captain of the Kaijuu Defense team. Later, while recovering in the hospital, Kafka discovers a mysterious ability that reignites his aspirations to join the Kaijuu Defense Force one lasttime.
Story & Character: 4/10 & 5/10
Dystopian series typically deal with themes of unprecedented loss and struggle, but this show is held back by its predictable plot and minimal obstacles. The story feels similar to other battle shounen series like Attack on Titan, Fire Force, and My Hero Academia, with the main difference being the protagonist’s age. The narrative follows familiar arcs of recruitment, training, and deployment, which become repetitive and uninspiring as the series progresses. The only interesting part is the mystery behind the Kaijuu, but this too feels very familiar, like the special beings in other modern battle shounen series that stay hidden long enough to become powerful. The story's lack of real loss, due to its effort to stay child-friendly, further weakens its impact.
Kafka, despite being in his early to mid-thirties, acts immaturely, which undermines the idea of having an adult main character. This seems to be an attempt to appeal to the target audience while also addressing shounen elements, but it results in a protagonist who behaves more like an irresponsible man-child. While the characters have their own beliefs and unique relationships with Kafka, they still fit into typical roles and lack depth. Their backstories and struggles are not convincing, making their interactions feel shallow. Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro, in particular, suffer from this lack of development. Kikoru Shinomiya initially shows promise with a unique background, but her character is weakened by her interactions with Kafka.
Art & Sound: 8/10 & 6/10
Kaijuu No. 8 has impressive visuals, which is a refreshing appearance in a modern anime. The series starts with a pilot episode that showcases great cinematography and shot composition, but the quality gradually drops to more standard levels. However, the fight scenes maintain high detail and fluidity, even those not involving Kafka. Character designs, however, are inconsistent, likely due to the challenges of animating them in specific shots or fast-paced sequences.
The sound design is not particularly unique by modern standards. There are moments where thematic soundtracks and impactful sound effects enhance the experience, but the series overall does not make significant efforts in this area. The voice acting is well done, especially in comedic and misunderstanding scenes.
Overall & Enjoyment: 5/10
Kaijuu No. 8 is definitely carried by its animation, which is not a bad thing, especially in modern battle shounen anime. The story and characters are fairly interesting but not particularly special. The series feels like a mix of existing new-gen battle shounen without creating a unique identity of its own. A more mature approach, with complex, intertwined storylines, political and diplomatic tension, and a more nuanced set of characters, could have elevated the series making it a more appealing experience.
Shiro099
Disappointed!I did not find any uniqueness in the story. I thought it would be better and different, but it turns out to be the same as AoT. It's like watching Aot and MHA at the same time with an older protagonist; the show even has its own Levi. Animation and voice acting were extremely good. I at the least dispised that green lighting to the show, it just puts me off though, in any case The blending of characters and background art was really well done that's to be expected since it's done by production IG. Well, I don't know whether I should recommend it or not,but it depends on whether people want to watch a good animated show with a story similar to AoT and MHA.
Aku_Bukan_Wibu
8 for Kaijuu no. 8 .. and I recommend it .. the story reminds me a bit of Attack on Titan, especially the vice captain and also Levi ackerman, the battle strategy is also similar to when fighting titans, what I like here is that there is very little unnecessary killing (human slaughter by enemies), and instead there are more comedy scenes, I like this, for me AoT is too annoying to watch because many people die, stupid authors are those who can only kill characters in the story to make their story, you have to learn to make a good story without sacrificing the charactersin your story.
--> back to this kaijuu story, the story is well detailed, not immediately in a few episodes he immediately becomes a great character, but through the process, I really look forward to the second season, for me the best episode is episode 10 or 11 I forgot, what is certain is when everyone knows the truth that the MC is a kaijuu, it is a pretty epic moment, and very satisfying. this anime would be even better if during the epic battle scenes it was filled with theme songs like Attack on Titan by Hiroyuki Sawano. maybe the vibes will match Solo Leveling, which is also accompanied by songs from him.
ibernard
I guess I'd recommend it, not adamantly, and probably not to anyone who has seen a lot of anime and has a more complex taste. There's nothing really bad about it. It's a solid show but, it does feel a little bland for some reason. I'm really not sure why. It seems like a lot happens relatively quickly, stuff that could've been fleshed out but, I'm sort of glad they didn't, as I feel a lot of shows do too much stuff and it can really drag. My one wish is that the series was a little bit darker. It reminds me of Attack onTitan, except it doesn't go there. AOT sometimes goes overboard, but there's a happy medium waiting to be found. I don't feel this anime has done more than maybe dip it's toe in the water, and I have a feeling it's not going to go much deeper. Still, it's entertaining enough to give it a watch and see where things go.
Kongregate
Explosive. That is one word to describe this show. From the opening, to the fight scenes, to the plot twists, the character's grit. Can not find a single thing I did not like about this show. Appreciated how candid and pure some scenes were , and the mc could not have had a better development along the show. Each character also has a purpose and fit well with the plot. If you enjoyed shows like Attack on Titan, Chainsaw man, give this a try. Although it is not the same level as those shows , it is strong in all aspects of animation/sequence of events/entertainment.
CyberXane
"That's why he's the goat. The goat!!" - Some meme I'm sure most of us have seen. After just three episodes, I found myself running to the manga and got all caught up by episode four. There's something about Shonen Jump anime, and Kaiju No. 8 brings a unique twist to the story of military-like officers who specialize in killing Kaiju. Our main character, Kafka, has always dreamed of becoming one of these officers. Even though he's past his prime, the story follows his journey to rise to the top and join his childhood friend's side. Unexpectedly, Kafka gains the ability to turn into a Kaiju.Despite this, he remains determined to achieve his goal by relying on his own abilities as a human rather than using his Kaiju powers, except in absolute emergencies.
I really like this anime. It presents a compelling and unique story that stands out. The quote above reflects how I felt about season one, but we'll have to see how they animate the later seasons.
Music:The soundtrack features English artists, which was a pleasant surprise. Yungblud sings the opening, and One Republic sings the ending. That was crazy!
Overall: 9/10. I really like this anime, though there is one aspect that can be annoying at times the cliff ...."NOBODY GOT YOU THE WAY I DO!!"
Edenharley
Kaijuu 8-gou was a show I didn't know anything about going into it and man was I blown away! This was so incredibly exciting, definitely a standard anime formula but god they nailed everything from the action to the characters I fell in love with it all. Especially our lead Kafka, what a great dude. So well written, so dependable, so easy to relate to and root for he really did steal the show. The supporting case were great too especially Kikoru and Ichikawa I adored this main three, Mina was great too I love the angle her relationship with Kafka adds to the storyit's really fresh.
The action in this show was amazing, they nailed the hype and the animation was amazing throughout. I love how they handled certain plot points, flashbacks made sense and were used well and they never wasted any time or hit you with the classic anime shenanigans it was quite gritty and really fun. Soundtrack was cool too it's crazy to see mainstream English artists used I think that's really cool and the OSTs added so much hype to the big scenes.
Overall this was such a hype show which pretty much did everything right, I had a great time watching this and certainly recommend! Such a shame it was only 12 episodes I felt like it was just getting started so I cannot wait for season 2!
chaoooonmaaa
*Rating: 10/10* "Kaiju no 8" is an absolute blast! This 12-episode series hits all the right notes, mixing action, character growth, and an awesome story. From the first episode, you're hooked, diving into a fresh twist on the kaiju genre. *Story and Pacing* The plot is super tight, following Kafka Hibino, a guy who turns into a kaiju while working on a monster clean-up crew. The story nails the balance between intense action and heartfelt moments, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Each episode ramps up the excitement, leading to a finale that makes you beg for more. *Characters* The characters are where this show really shines. Kafka’stransformation from a regular dude to a powerful kaiju is gripping, and his bond with his childhood friend Mina adds a lot of heart. The supporting cast is just as cool, each bringing their own unique flair to the team.
*Animation and Sound*
The animation is top-tier, with slick action scenes and detailed character designs. The sound and music are spot on too, perfectly matching the vibe and boosting the overall experience.
*Themes*
"Kaiju no 8" dives into themes like duty, friendship, and the clash between humanity and monsters. These themes are explored with depth, making the show more than just epic battles and giant creatures.
*Conclusion*
In conclusion, "Kaiju no 8" is a must-watch for any anime enthusiast. Its perfect blend of action, character arcs, comedy, and thematic depth makes it a good anime 2024 maybe.
Nivity
One of the best anime I seen in a long time. Animation style is very good, smooth and good artstyle, voice lines during action scenes from Kaiju no.8 sends chills down your spine. The story line is very good, and it follows a good clear path with lots of story behind it, the friendship between Kafka and Reno is superb and everything just fits. The story is nothing new and has been seen with a human getting powers that are seen as a danger to mankind, Jujutsu Kaisen is the best example for this. There was not a dull moment in any episode at any time, nothing felt wastedand everything had its place during progression.
Ending was super as well and obviously built up for another season which I cannot wait for, so excited to see the progression with the story and how everything unfolds.
Everyone's taste is different but this Anime fit my taste and everything around it like a glove. It really was a homerun for me.
robert788
Kaijuu 8-gou (2024) Best show of the season that I watched. An unexpected marvel but as usual it was review was bombed by people who didn't watch. If you want to see a show get straight into a battle and have conclusions in all episodes then go back to watching Pokemon. This like many shows is not for people that want an outcome every episode. Kaiju, people seem to be getting all Pacific Rim at the shows like this now. Kaiju means a strange beast, it doesn't have to be the antagonist or protagonist they could be neutral. The word is about more than just agiant creature, using it improperly just makes you look dumb. This show is absolutely a Kaiju show.
Does Kafka have weird things where he struggles to jog but can run away from giant monsters yes. Does it matter? Not really. Show me your flawless anime. Maybe it is part of the plot by the Kaiju, do you know definitively?
The art for this show is superb, dark and gritty. It looks exactly how I want it to be for this kind of show and it would suit a live adaptation. Combat looks great and gory. Emotions are shown and characters show injury and development that carries.
The sound is pretty great, episode 10 was my best episode at the end and the use of the music was superb.
Characters are likeable, they are developed and they contribute to the story more than just using the power of friendship as seen so many times.
9/10. A great show, and hopefully not ruined in season 2.
JoestarEISH_020
Now, now, settle down, kids. We know there's something new in town. You've probably heard of this one via social media or something - that new show about monsters fighting monsters, humans in the military, and the tragedy of the damage these beasts cause. Yes, you, that kid in the back. I mean you, Kafka, the 30-something-year-old man telling jokes with those fresh-out-of-high-school tweens. "Oh, I don't know, is it perhaps called Kaiju No. 8?" Yes, this is the general characterization of the main lead of this show. One whose selling point is supposed to be an older MC than your typical Shonen anime. Well,guess what? Why don't we make him behave like a teenage goof? That will really get the kids on the relatability scale, defeating the entire point of him being 30-something in the first place, Matsumoto, his editor carefully suggests on analysis of the script.
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I'll begin this review as straightforward and brutal as possible in case you'd like to skip it all and know my actual thoughts...
Still here? Well, here goes nothing:
"Kaiju No. 8 was a big disappointment through and through."
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First of all, let's begin with the writing. I'll keep it short: this show has almost none. I mean none at all. No disrespect to the author, but this just seems like a whole bunch of shows and tropes gargled together to make the next big hit, and best believe it worked and sold so well. There's a plot that seemingly stems from the goal of getting close to a childhood friend - dumb, but one that could yield results if done right. Well, it was executed poorly. Throughout the chronological timeline of the present in the show, their interactions with each other are dead in the water.
There are not many characters to focus on in the first place, but let's say there are for the sake of this argument. Only two female characters seem to benefit or be of any importance to the plot, and guess what? Both have a thing for our MC because he was the knight in shining armor available when no one else was. This underplay of romance seriously annoyed me because it made them seem weak, especially when he put in no real effort. You'd think a show that lacked focus on female characters would prioritize the males, right? Wrong. The few that are seemingly mysterious or have aims end up being revealed as some lackluster excuse for a backstory with no real depth, just the formulaic approach to each character's motives. There are no secrets, no eccentrics, no real team bonding moments with nuance - just straight normal Shounen BS, and that's what annoys me the most.
The dialogue, while not bad, isn't at all inspiring or even worthy of good characterization for the various elements. The arcs just came and went, with no real explanations. It's as though knowledge about these creatures is scarce or something, but meanwhile, they make freaking weapons out of them. The attempt to make the MC special by knowing something others don't fell superbly flat, especially considering that the military, regardless of station, is at least supposed to be tactical in a way. They are not; their plans are half-baked at best and don't draw you into the midst of wonder like other military shows do.
I don't think they did a bad job with the art (if you're anime-only, that is). However, I do think the animation for various normal actions was really bad. One of the salutes in the earlier episodes, as viewed from the side, was really weird and something that anyone with an understanding of how a normal salute is supposed to look would be mad about. Also, besides the intense fight scenes, the show's use of perspectives was really wonky and not well drawn. This made the overall experience feel bad in the long run.
Everything related to visual aesthetics and audio design was actually either really bad or just shy above average outside the intense hype action scenes and battles. I fully give credit to those involved for their elevation in those moments. Those moments of hype were really good, and I would deny that anyone who hated them is just hating to hate. But outside that, this show really has no sauce. I mean that, for real.
The show tried incorporating a whole lot of subtexts from popular shows that had come before it and use experimentation to try to create its own, but ultimately failed. This could just go for these 12 episodes. For all I know, this show might evolve into the nastiest piece of fiction yet - I've seen it happen before, and that would be nothing new. But with the info I've got on this season, I'm duly unimpressed. All the Shounen character archetypes are there, and here's the thing: they are not made charming at all. Besides the Vice Captain, Hoshina, who had a little bit of shine, the rest are basically walking dummies outside the MC, his two crushes, and one of their fathers (the director general).
This show literally has no real creativity, nothing really thematically well-executed enough to contribute to the world, no real mysteries or a convincing enough end goal to keep you invested. The world-building of this supposed advanced society of Kaiju-fighting soldiers is seemingly primarily built on the history of past battles. Casualties are never stated; all that keeps repeating is, "This Kaiju appeared, devastated the world and architecture, but we took it down and are still fighting it." The biggest influences I can think of and noticed to a T are Parasyte, Attack on Titan, and the standard for Kaiju manga everyone else uses as well, Godzilla. The last I don't really fault it because it's basically the blueprint, just had to include it because of that last shot of a Kaiju looking almost identical to the King of Monsters.
"I am not a weapon, I am a member of the Japan Defense Force" -Kafka
This is as philosophical as the show gets, and one that I solemnly believe is made to undermine the audience's intelligence. I don't know the endgame here; maybe all of this is a huge conspiracy plot, well-nuanced but just kind of slow. If so, it would probably be worth it for the show. If not, and whatever conspiracy comes out proves to be predictable just like everything else in this season, then I don't know what to think.
I don't really ever want to hate any piece of media because I believe everything serves a purpose, but to me, this is the first genuine time I feel like one is undeserving of praise, and it pains my heart. I truly believe I'm overreacting, and there's something good along the line for those who continue this one. I kind of dropped the manga after this anime; it didn't seem like something worth following up on, especially considering that one of the show's peaks were the first volumes in the manga.
I'd score this between 3.31 - 3.80/10 based on the aspects of strengths and weaknesses(that's how basically my ratings work because I think there's supposed to be something for everyone at the very least, if it's not for me those it's for should have a blast). The strength carrying more weight, so imagine a score so low, it just makes you lose all hope, doesn't it? I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has seen a lot of Shounen or high-tier actions that actually have crazy depth and raise concerns about society because this show does none of that. Even the one redeeming factor, which is supposed to be the animation, is questionable in non-battle scenes.
Like I said earlier, take this with a grain of salt, as it's most likely that I can tell this show is half-assed because I've seen the inspirations it took from and how they did everything better.
