Kaiju No. 8 Season 1, Episode 1 Review: An Exciting Anime Debut (2024)

The following contains spoilers for Kaiju No. 8 Season 1, Episode 1 "The Man Who Became A Kaiju," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The term "kaiju" is a conjoint of the Chinese words "guai," meaning mysterious and "shou," meaning beast. In modern times, the word has become synonymous with the Godzilla franchise and its array of fantastical monsters, who leave behind death and destruction wherever they go. Kaiju No. 8 builds on the same premise, showing a world where humans have the technological progress to fight back -- but not everyone gets that chance. As the manga makes its much-hyped anime debut, the reality of a kaiju-infested world becomes plain to see.

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Kaiju No. 8 opens with the human side of the man-kaiju conflict, laying the groundwork for a character-centric journey through a world changed by the emergence of monstrous threats. Animated by I.G. Production with assistance from Studio Khara for the kaiju designs, the episode is directed by Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya, as Ichiro Okouchi takes charge of series composition. The Kaiju No. 8 cast features Masaya Fukunishi as the protagonist Kafka Hibino, Wataru Kato as the idealistic Reno Ichikawa and Asami Seto as Mina Ashiro, Kafka's childhood friend and a captain in the Kaiju Defense Force.

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Kaiju No. 8 Season 1, Episode 1, "The Man Who Became a Kaiju," begins ferociously with an intense fight scene. An amphibious kaiju surfaces in Tokyo and an elite military organization known as the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force quickly responds. While it looks like their victorious captain Mina Ashiro will be the hero, the anime subverts expectations and jumps to the aftermath of the battle. This is when the viewer meets the real main character: cleaner Kafka Hibino. The episode shows the world through Kafka's eyes and explains his blue-collar job of disposing of kaiju carcasses from city streets. As the pace slows down, it almost feels like a laid-back story of a man carrying on, despite his ambition to join the defense force. But since Kaiju No. 8 is another of many action-based anime, Kafka gets thrown into a plot-driven final act and has to survive a kaiju onslaught on his own -- giving the debut episode a rush of adrenaline.

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Viewers can find obvious similarities between Kaiju No. 8 and the Pacific Rim movies -- but instead of hulking mecha, Kaiju No. 8 has battle suits and advanced weaponry that give the anime a sci-fi look in a modern-day Japan. The plot, however, revolves around the aftermath of the kaiju battle. The struggle of the clean-up crew as they work on a tight schedule is a common theme; nobody is there to cheer them on like people do for the Defense Force. There are some country-specific cultural references, too. Kaiju No. 8 Episode 1 shows how society has adapted to frequent kaiju sightings, with alerts blaring over the city, akin to the early warning system Japan has for natural disasters. It's one way the anime is steeped in Japanese culture.

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Kaiju No. 8 Episode 1 builds its world through the eyes of Kafka. From his memories showing the past when humanity was defenseless against the kaiju onslaughter, to his present-day finding hope in the Defense Force, his sentiments are those of the common man -- albeit resigned to living his life on the sidelines. The use of its protagonist to show the contrast between normal citizens and kaiju fighters creates an air of hero worship around the elite military organization, but the episode never makes clear if they deserve such attention.

Kaiju No. 8's Characters Are Intentionally Average

The Anime Makes Its Monster Tale More Personal

Kaiju No. 8 Season 1, Episode 1 Review: An Exciting Anime Debut (2)

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At first glance, Kaiju No. 8's characters do not seem remarkable. Mina, who makes a badass entrance and gets a hero's welcome from the crowd, seemingly falls under the stoic female lead archetype that too many anime have. Kafka is as lackluster as they come; he does a menial job, has a mellow outlook on life, and is an all-around good guy. He once had a dream of joining the Defense Force, but repeated failure on the entrance exam put him on his current course. But Kafka is not dejected; he is simply practical. And since he is always on his feet, the episode keeps moving. His past provides context for his motivation. He sees the same fire he once had in his young colleague Reno -- and Reno's selfless reignite the fire in Kafka, which gives Kaiju No. 8's future episodes some hope.

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One of the reasons Mina does not stand out is because Asami Seto gets very few scenes to show off her personality. In contrast, The scene where Reno suddenly has an outburst after hearing Kafka talking about reaching his limit carries a personal weight. Wataru Kato voices Reno with the perfect naivete that youths have. But his hope also echoes in his voice when Reno calls out to his injured senior, urging him to push on. Even though Kafka walks a middling path, the characters around him choose to do something more. Everything that happens in the episode is heartfelt.

Kafka is another anime hero who always puts on a brave face, never saying no to even the most disgusting job, because he sincerely believes he is helping out. But he's more melancholy when he is alone, remembering a goal he set with Mina when they were children. It does not help when he sees her making the most of that promise. Masaya Fukunishi's voice sounds older and jovial, giving Kafka a comical aura when the audience first sees him. The few comedic scenes in Kaiju No. 8 work because of his great timing. But like Wataru Kato, he is also unafraid of providing real emotion.

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Is Kaiju No. 8's Animation Not as Bad as It Seems?

I.G. Production Puts Plenty of Detail Into the Visuals

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Kaiju No. 8 has received criticism for its art, but there's meticulous work done to add small details that create a life-like feel for the anime. From kaiju fins parting green canals, to decimated buildings with blood splatters and hanging innards, there is an enormity to the set pieces. Even scenes of cleaners cutting off kaiju meat are creatively displayed. But among the hullabaloo of the kaiju action scenes, the animation does not forget about the people on the ground. Their emotions and expressions play a big part in Kaiju No. 8's tension and the surprising turn of events at the end of the premise. Studio Khara, who is behind the kaiju art, does a really good job with the creepiness and humongous size of the monsters.

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Kaiju No. 8 Episode 1 also has a rocking soundtrack. Yuta Bandoh's music sways with the emotion, but never overpowers any scene. The soundtrack rhythmically progresses in chase sequences, adding to the pace and stress of the situation. But the real cherry on top is OneRepublic's "Nobody," which plays at the end of the episode. Thanks to vibrant animation, a memorable soundtrack and its cliffhanger ending, Kaiju No. 8 makes a a monster-size splash in the anime world -- even if its characters are still firmly planted on the ground.

Kaiju No. 8 Season 1, Episode 1 Review: An Exciting Anime Debut (5)

8

10

Kaiju No. 8 Episode 1

Kaiju No. 8 makes its anime debut with an intriguing episode that gives a fresh twist to a groundbreaking genre, welcoming both anime and kaiju fans.

Pros

  • The character-centric journey makes it an emotional ride.
  • The episode paces well between action and dialogue scenes.
  • The worldbuilding gives uniqueness to the anime.
  • Animation and soundtrack leave a huge impact on the audience.

Cons

  • Staple characters with run-of-the-mill backstory
Kaiju No. 8 Season 1, Episode 1 Review: An Exciting Anime Debut (2024)
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