Kaijuu 8-gou

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]

Hoshina, Soushirou Main

Kawanishi, Kengo Japanese

Hibino, Kafka Main

Fukunishi, Masaya Japanese

Shinomiya, Kikoru Main

Fairouz Ai Japanese

Ichikawa, Reno Main

Katou, Wataru Japanese

Ashiro, Mina Supporting

Seto, Asami Japanese

Narumi, Gen Supporting

Uchiyama, Kouki Japanese

Okonogi, Konomi Supporting

Senbongi, Sayaka Japanese

Furuhashi, Iharu Supporting

Shin, Yuuki Japanese

Shinomiya, Isao Supporting

Genda, Tesshou Japanese

Kaijuu No. 9 Supporting

Yoshino, Hiroyuki Japanese

Morihiro, Fumi Producer

Takei, Katsuhiro Producer, Planning

Hashimoto, Ryuu Producer

Arita, Takemasa Producer

Reviews

Aug 6, 2024

Will2miNB

Recommended

This anime may not possess a unique and distinguishable core, but it’s still definitely worth watching!

We’re not talking about a show that sets itself apart by trying to be different from other products. Instead, it takes familiar elements and presents them in a lighter, more entertaining way—though it does have moments that are serious and thought-provoking, all balanced with great skill.

As mentioned, it doesn't shine for its originality. The supporting characters are quite stereotypical, the kind you’ve seen in other series. However, they’re still enjoyable and engaging throughout their screen time, even making you care about the development of some of them.

The story follows a ... very classic structure but is well-crafted, with a few enjoyable twists and unexpected epic moments. The protagonist’s character development is fairly straightforward in this first season, but by the end, you’ll see their determination and inner strength come to the forefront.

Despite everything, the scenes are well-executed, unexpected, and engaging. The music and animation perfectly complement the pacing of the narrative, which never feels boring or repetitive. Though it may be an underrated show, I recommend it for its overall enjoyability and the way it leaves you eager to finish each episode to see what happens next—a quality that’s not to be taken for granted!

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Aug 3, 2024

phantom346

Mixed Feelings

A Less Serious Version Of The Power Rangers

Kaiju No. 8 comes across as another mediocre attempt to replicate the success of Attack on Titan. Despite its popularity, likely bolstered by heavy promotion from Crunchyroll, the series fails to deliver anything new or exciting in the kaiju genre.

The comedy in the first half of the season detracts significantly from the show's quality. Given that Kafka is a 30-year-old protagonist, I expected a more mature character. Instead, the constant gags and interruptions of serious moments made it difficult to take the story seriously, and I nearly dropped the show because of it. Fortunately, the second half of ... the season tones down the humor and focuses more on the plot, which was a welcome change. Consistency is key, and it seems the creators finally realized that even younger shounen fans don’t appreciate forced comedy in a serious context. Overall, the story feels like a poor man's mix of "Attack on Titan" and "Parasyte," with little originality or creativity.

The animation, produced by the reputable Production I.G., is stellar. With Kamiya Tomomi at the helm, an animation and storyboard expert who has worked on Shingeki no Kyojin, Fate/Zero, Chainsaw Man, and Mob Psycho, the direction is commendable. The art style, while crisp and realistic, lacks uniqueness, and the backgrounds in many scenes could use more detail. It's serviceable for the show but not particularly memorable.

The opening theme is underwhelming, with neither the music nor the animation standing out. However, the ending theme, featuring OneRepublic, was a pleasant surprise. While I usually prefer not to mix Western music with anime, it worked well enough here. The background music is adequate but not impactful, and the sound effects during action sequences sometimes fail to convey the intended intensity.

Kafka is likable but too goofy for his age. His poor comedic timing and lack of combat sense are frustrating, though he compensates with his kaiju knowledge. At 32 years old, Kafka’s journey is marked by a sense of regret and unfulfilled potential. His transformation into Kaiju No. 8 offers him a second chance at his dreams, creating an interesting dynamic between his human and kaiju forms. While his goofiness and lack of maturity can be off-putting, they also make him relatable as someone who hasn't fully come to terms with his failures.
Ichikawa is a solid supporting character with potential for growth, driven by a desire to help Kafka live without regrets. Ichikawa's motivations remain somewhat mysterious, suggesting there’s more to his character that could be explored in future episodes. His unwavering support and belief in Kafka’s potential provide a strong emotional anchor for the series, balancing Kafka's more erratic personality with his calm and composed demeanor.
Shinomiya Kikoru pleasantly surprised me; initially appearing as a typical tsundere, she turns out to be hardworking and compassionate, adding depth to the cast. Unlike other tsundere characters who often remain one-dimensional, Shinomiya displays a wide range of emotions and reactions that make her feel more real and relatable. Her skills as a fighter and her dedication to protecting others are impressive, and her growth into a team player adds significant value to the narrative.
Hoshina, although listed as a main character, feels more like a supporting role, providing tension and conflict while managing the pacing effectively.

The show’s themes of unity and teamwork are thinly developed. The story doesn't explore its themes deeply, leaving them feeling superficial. The concept of an alien invasion and a monster-hunter protagonist who can transform into a monster himself is nothing new and lacks the originality needed to stand out in a crowded genre.

Kaiju No. 8 is a disappointing attempt to capitalize on the popularity of kaiju and monster-hunting anime. Its inconsistent tone, lack of originality, and reliance on forced humor undermine its potential. While the animation and some character development are highlights, they aren’t enough to elevate the series.

Art: 6/10
Animation: 8/10
Story: 5/10
Characters: 8/10
Pacing: 8/10
Comedy: 3/10
Enjoyment: 7/10

Overall, Kaiju No. 8 may appeal to some for its action and occasional humor, but it falls short of being a standout series in the genre.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Aug 8, 2024

andiabrudan

Not Recommended

I had great expectations going in, seeing all the buzz about this show on social media, but it does not live up to the hype.

The greatest flaw of Kaijuu No.8 is that it does not do anything original apart from the premise. You've seen it a million times already, and you'll see it here: manufactured drama, bad characterizations and poor dynamics between protagonists.

The story holds up to an ~8 until half-way through, but does a dive after that.
I think the writer wants you to like Mina, Hoshina and the other supporting characters, but, as said, they all have poor relations with the protagonist and a ... lot of manufactured drama ensues because everybody stonewalls each other.

And, just like other cookie cutter stories, Hibino has to keep proving himself over and over again like a monkey at a circus. The bond he forms with his fellows is completely useless. A great storyteller would weave all of this personal debt that Hibino gathers throughout the show into a powerful moment where everyone has his back... but no; he still has to dig himself out of the hole others dug him in.

And what's up with Hibino being comic relief? He's literally the only character in the entire show that doesn't take things seriously. And it just doesn't work. For the most part, he's not even a fellow comrade; he's just the class pet. And it's even worse since nobody laughs.
Like, imagine if RBF Mina was all tsundere and everything, but Hibino the clown walks in, and she laughs at every joke situation. That might work. But all the comedy here is meant for the audience, not in-universe.

What about the story? Eh, it's fine. A bit JJK-esque even. But the villains get little screen time. They're evil for the sake of evil, they don't communicate between themselves. Don't build any plans or team up.
I really liked the bad guys in JJK. They have a great dynamic together, and you can see them building towards something. But there's nothing of the sort in Kaijuu No.8.

In conclusion, a very mid-range meh anime that you can skip without feeling like you've missed anything.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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	what's with the hate? ( 1 2 ) FruitPunchBaka - May 18	73 replies	by Tsubaki5386 »» 50 seconds ago
	Poll: Kaijuu 8-gou Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) IzanaSolos - Jun 29	262 replies	by kizeroch »» Yesterday, 6:45 AM
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	Poll: Kaijuu 8-gou Episode 10 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) IzanaSolos - Jun 15	257 replies	by nickehhhhhh »» Aug 8, 8:28 AM