If the name Naoya Matsumoto sounds unfamiliar to you, fear not, as I'm sure many are on the same boat. Their previous work 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.
