Kara Dennison
April 22, 2024 
When something gets a huge amount of hype, it’s natural to wonder if all that hype is really warranted. Take Kaiju No. 8. Based on the hit manga by Naoya Matsumoto, the new anime from Production I.G and Studio khara has been one of the season’s most anticipated new titles. But is it worth it? Absolutely.
Here are just a few of the many reasons this hot new series absolutely owns its hotness, even in its early episodes.
A Unique Protagonist
Let’s face it, fellow anime geezers: older anime protagonists aren’t as common as we’d like. Being in your mid-20s is already considered pushing it. So Kaiju No. 8 starring a guy in his 30s is pretty great—as is the fact that his age ceases to be a barrier to entry when it comes to pursuing his dream job. (There are lots of other barriers to entry, though… like transforming into a kaiju.)
As the series begins, Kafka Hibino is doing honest (but smelly) work cleaning up after the very monsters he was hoping to be fighting. Meanwhile, childhood friend Mina Ashiro is the golden child bringing down giant monsters left and right. Fortunately for our 32-year-old star, the maximum age for applicants has just been raised. Now he’ll have to convince the Defense Force that he’s an asset, rather than an obvious threat.
Gorgeous Animation
Headed up by Production I.G under the supervision of Studio khara, Kaiju No. 8 was destined to look glorious. And it absolutely does. Matsumoto’s freaky monsters, at least the ones we’ve seen, are already making the jump to anime in fine form. And that’s not just counting Kafka’s own kaiju form. The big beasties themselves look great, and the fight scenes are stunning.
One of the biggest issues with manga-to-anime adaptations is, of course, the animation itself. A design that looks great in still images won’t always convey exactly to movement—hence the necessity for character designers and model sheets. Getting the team behind Rebuild of Evangelion behind these massive monster fights was a no-brainer, and it’s already yielding results.
It’s Still Funny
If you’ve read the original Kaiju No. 8 manga, you know it can get pretty dark. We see this in the first episode, as the true danger of a kaiju-filled world hits home. But as the manga goes on, there’s loss of life, personal drama, and no small amount of psychological trauma. That doesn’t stop the series from having downright silly moments, though—and already, the anime is showing that it will be preserving these.
From intestine duty to the over-the-top reaction to Kafka’s first transformation, the first episode alone is full of silliness. And we can’t wait to see that side of humor in the anime, counterbalancing the combat and seriousness to come.
Learn more about Kafka and his fellow monstrous anime heroes!
