One of the most anticipated games of Spring 2024, Kaiju No. 8 is finally here. With an unprecedented release schedule for overseas fans, this film adaptation promises a lot of hype with high production values. As someone who has never read the manga and only knows the basic summary, I watched the first episode not knowing what to expect and just hoping for the best. Here are some things that stood out to me in the premiere of Kaiju #8.
Welcome to Japan, a place filled with giant monsters – kaiju. Kafka is a cleanup man, tasked with dealing with the aftermath of battles between the Self-Defense Forces and kaiju; a terrible but necessary job. However, this was not his dream. Previously, he tried to become a member of the Self-Defense Forces to keep his childhood promise but unfortunately failed many times. He seems to have accepted his fate but a new member of the cleanup crew reminds him of what he gave up.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the slightly older main characters. Surprised and appreciated that it's not very common, especially in WSJ titles. Kafka had a chance to do something with his life, but couldn't so he had to accept a dead-end job, but he wasn't completely ready to give up on his dream. That late 20s crisis or “what am I doing with my life” is only amplified. It was easy to understand and I quite enjoyed seeing the diverse emotions that filled him. I can't say the supporting cast has any depth. We only get to meet Reno, who really feels like a typical shounen protagonist. Mina is also there and I'm quite curious to see where her story will go.
Plot-wise, Kaiju No. 8 isn't terribly original but it does have a certain freshness in the way it treats the world it's set in. I couldn't wait to learn more about the monsters, especially the monster that “owned” Kafka. Another thing I want to know more about is Mina's pet tiger, it gives off a 90s warlord vibe and I'm here to find out why this happened.
Before the Kaiju No. 8 anime released, there were quite a few complaints about the character design. It's not as “traditional” as one would expect but it works very well with the overall atmosphere and style. One thing I'm not sure I like is the color design – things sometimes look washed out. At first I thought it was an effect that accentuated the amount of dust the kaiju caused but it continued to be present throughout the episode. Other than that, we also have some interesting visual angles that perfectly fit the scenes they're in:
I'm also not sure if I'm a fan of the ending theme song: I know it's One Republic and this is the kind of sound they're known for but somehow it just feels fun. fresh medium too automatically adjusts. The opening (not part of the episode) is quite different so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. the two parts complement each other once the scenes are completed.
Overall, the Kaiju issue #8 premiere was a solid episode that laid a good foundation for what's to come. The characters, action, and somewhat surreal setting will definitely make me want to see more.
The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.
© JAKDF Team 3 © Naoya Matsumoto/SHUEISHA