When Kaiju No.8 premiered in April, it defiantly subverted expectations that battle anime is just a playground for plucky young upstarts. The same can be said for the full first season, which proved a shonen series can be just as compelling with an adult cast. What’s more, it achieved this feat without having its raucous action undermine its superb character writing.
Kaiju No. 8’s first chunk of episodes explores the dynamics of its ensemble cast with great success while teasing out the power struggle between them and their towering foes. The main character, 32-year-old Kafka Hibino, is essentially transformed into this universe’s equivalent Spider-Man after a chance encounter with a kaiju. This reignites his dream of serving as a member of the team that protects Japan from giant monsters, the Kaiju Defence Force; alongside newfound allies Reno Ichikawa and Kikoru Shinomiya, he spends the remainder of the season repelling the beasts while maintaining his secret ability to turn into one of them. But the animation dream team of Production I.G. and Studio Khara really begins to thrive following the arrival of powerful humanoid kaiju with a command of the English language and legions of mindless counterparts. It’s here where Kaiju No. 8 begins examining the psychological impact of dazzling battles fought with giant axes, dual samurai blades, and rail guns that could mow down an entire countryside.
This is by far the most rejuvenating facet of Season 1. It doesn’t sacrifice the depth and complexity of its characters by overindulging in thrilling action sequences. Recently, modern anime juggernauts like Jujutsu Kaisen have displayed an overreliance on flashy fights that treat viewers like dogs entranced by a set of jingling keys. Kaiju No. 8 sees a return to form where its battles underscore the drama. This gives ample breathing room to weave the connective tissue of the character’ backstories and their motivations to keep fighting the good fight.
The anime’s first stretch, which is reminiscent of early-season training arcs in Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia, is spent strengthening the relationships between Kafka and his colleagues. It's in these quieter moments, where heroes bond over drinks or in a bathhouse, that the show takes its supporting players from cardboard cutouts to fully realized heroes with relatable aspirations. Initially grating characters like Kikoru and Soshiro Hoshina gain contours that rival those of Kafka, which are shaped by Kaiju No. 8’s themes of acceptance and redemption. These character-rich moments not only endear us to characters we might otherwise write off, but they’re also investments that pay off in Season 1’s climactic finale.
Kaiju No.8 doesn’t entirely forgo the trappings of other shonen anime. Power levels and grade rankings for the heroes and villains are still at play here, but they’re employed to reinforce an often-forgotten charm of shonen anime: seeing the hero actually save people. Kafka’s acts of heroism – be they saving pedestrians trapped under rubble, relaying vital information about dismantling kaiju to his squadron, or shielding allies from powerful foes – exemplify why the shonen genre remains highly beloved by anime fans.
