Kaiju No. 8 might be the most anticipated anime series of the Spring 2024 season – not counting returning giants like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer.
Part of that excitement has come from the pedigree behind the show – with legendary animation house Production I.G. in charge of adapting Naoya Matsumoto's adored manga series from page to screen. Luckily, we have a feeling fans won't be disappointed.
For those stepping into this latest anime adventure with no background knowledge, Kaiju No. 8 is a world where Godzilla-like monsters ravage the streets of Japan. In this world of giant beasts, it's down to the Defence Force to slay the beasts, and the sweepers to clean up their mess.
That's where we find our hero Kafta (Masaya Fukunishi). Having failed at joining the Defence Force, Kafta has settled – uncomfortably and resentfully – into the life of a sweeper. That is until new recruit Ichikawa's (Wataru Kato) dreams of becoming part of the Defence Force stir up something in him.
Without spoiling too much of the story, the central tension of Kaiju No.8 arises when, at the end of its impressive premiere, Kafta becomes linked to a tiny kaiju – gaining the ability to turn into a big monster himself.
Now, that premise might remind you just a little bit of Attack on Titan and the devastating story of Eren Yeager. Both shows set their protagonists up with similar power sets; however, their realities couldn't be more different.
What to Read Next
While both anime deal with similar themes, Attack on Titan tackles devastation and violence in a deeply serious way. Kaiju No. 8 still has the same high stakes and mortal perils, but it balances the morose with injections of fun and laughter, making the whole thing a hell of a lot lighter (although being darker would have taken some doing).
If that sounds a bit cringe though, don't worry. Kaiju No. 8 doesn't chase laughs; rather the comedic beats are more situational or character reactive for a more natural transition as it pivots away from slicing through monster flesh.
The focus on comedy also doesn't mean the world of Kaiju No. 8 isn't a serious or grounded place, something that's reflected in the show's brilliant animation style.
Unlike the art and colour direction in something like Solo Leveling, which is full of rich hues, Kaiju No. 8 uses muted tones that fit the murky world Kafta inhabits.
That's not to say those visuals won't sucker punch you almost instantly. Less than five minutes in and we're treated to some giant kaiju guts bursting like an overfilled water balloon, raining blood down on the streets below.
It's a pretty impressive opening for the debut episode, one that really establishes the varied tone of the show.
Instantly you get a sense of their world through the intricate details. From the organised panic in response to a kaiju attack, denoting this is not a new or unexpected occurrence, to the symbol of a kaiju that's become a part of the traffic lights system: stop, wait, go, monster attack.
At one point, we watch Kafta enthusiastically chowing down on a burger while peering at some kaiju guts, probably still warm from the fresh kill.
These little details also hint at a complacency that suggests that people have gotten just a little too comfortable with Godzilla and friends rampaging around their towns. Perhaps it's time for a shake-up?
The anime also has a good knack at catching the viewer by surprise in the way that the action unfolds – alarmingly unexpected just when you thought things were safe – which keeps things nice and pacey.
That pace kicks into high gear at the end of the episode, with Kafka's life taking a dramatic turn that will no doubt leave viewers with many questions.
At just one episode in it's hard to make a big statement about the direction of the show; but if Kaiju No. 8 can maintain its intriguing blend of big action, interesting worldbuilding and breezy comic relief then we're confident it'll be one of the hits of the spring season.
Kaiju No. 8 premieres on Crunchyroll on April 13, 2024 with new episodes releasing weekly on Saturdays.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
