So I gave this 12-episode anime a shot because Uniqlo had some cool t-shirts for it. Which is not my worst justification for watching a new show…
The first episode introduces us to a world, or at least a Japan where Kaiju (giant monsters) are pretty common. We don’t know where they come from or what they want, but they’re clearly plaguing humanity and it’s up to the skilled soldiers of the Defence Force to take them out.
Enter our protagonist and title character, after a close call with a Kaiju Kafka Hibino gains the ability to transform into a monster, Kaiju No. 8. Maybe now he’ll be able to keep his friends on the Defence Force safe? As long as they don’t discover his secret.
Now some of this may sound a little familiar. Throw in a snarky (vice) captain skilled with dual swords and the fact that kaiju can be defeated by destroying their weak point and it sounds a lot like Attack on Titan, doesn’t it?
So far, that’s not a fair comparison, they’re very different shows. Kaiju No. 8 doesn’t go all in on the trauma and despair and the deep dark twists. I’m not following the manga to say whether the show will head in that direction, and 12 episodes in could just be too early for that kind of thing.
There’s some nice originality here too. Hibino is a 32-year-old kaiju cleanup worker. He spends his days scrubbing kaiju guts and other remains but it feels like he has missed his opportunity to pursue his dream of joining the Defense Force. On one hand, he gets respect for being the elder but he’s also the butt of plenty of “old man” jibes.
Seeing the aftermath of attacks and the disposal of kaiju body parts is fascinating and forms the basis of Hibino’s usefulness to the team. This is particularly important as his physical abilities and “Combat Power” don’t come close to the rest of his squad without transforming and revealing himself to be just the kind of monster they’re sworn to destroy.
The show looks and sounds great, including the odd musical allusion to Godzilla’s theme but it’s the characters that kept me hooked. There are some interesting people and some wholesome bonds are forming between Hibino and his friends and the rest of the Defense Force.
There’s humour in here too, although it can be a bit goofy and slapstick. I guess it’s similar to something like Demon Slayer. The kaiju themselves feel a little generic, although it’s fairer to call them homages. Those kaiju with number designations certainly stand out and the members of Hibino’s team are distinct enough in look and personality that you’ll recognise them pretty quickly.
Action and combat aren’t always too flashy as Kaiju No. 8 handles the basic monsters pretty easily but then we get into some superhuman speed and acrobatics, scaling combat power and creatures bigger than skyscrapers. Plus No.8’s kaiju suit/transformation appears to adapt to situations mid-fight. It’s not mind-blowing battles every episode but what we do get brings the thrills.
Thankfully I enjoyed this first season because I may have jumped the gun and ordered those t-shirts first. Kaiju No. 8 brings the anime nonsense and OTT action and pairs it with likeable characters. It doesn’t have as many memorable moments as I expected, and I can’t call it a must-watch until we see where later seasons take it, but this show, plus its opening and ending, has been on my mind for days since I finished the last episode.
Platform: Available via CrunchyRoll
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