REVIEW: ‘Kaiju No 8’ Season 1 Lands It’s Big Moments

If we’re looking at Kaiju No 8 Season 1 in terms of broad strokes, it’s a definite success. Production I.G. delivers a bombastic, striking series full of action, monsters, and character-fueled drama. And, when the big moments strike, such as in the premiere and a significant sacrifice in Episode 10, there’s no denying the effect these characters and animation have. However, it falls flat in the in-between moments where the tonal whiplash strikes. It’s never bad enough to tank the overall quality, but it demonstrates a series where the focus was clearly on the signature sequences rather than everything that links point A to point B.

It’s like working on a review draft and starting with the closing paragraph because you know where your most concise thoughts will land. The introduction is also vital because it helps define the piece, and there are a few paragraphs along the way where you key in on a specificity of your topic that draws out the passion. Kaiju No 8 clearly loves Kafka Hibino, Hoshina (Kengo Kawanishi,) and their significant fights. Ichikawa (Wataru Kato) and Shinomiya (Fairouz Ai) also get moments to shine. Any other supporting character appears but leaves little impact.

Kaiju No 8 Season 1, based on the manga series written and illustrated by Naoya Matsumoto, follows Kafka (Masaya Fukunishi), a 32-year-old man who has all but given up on his dreams. The series takes place in a version of Japan struck by constant kaiju attacks. To combat them, the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force is created to take down any fortitude level of kaiju. Having failed the entry test multiple times, Kafka is inspired to try one last time after meeting his new, younger friend Ichikawa. Things change even more when a parasitic creature enters Kafka’s body, allowing him to transform into a kaiju.

The rest of the season follows Kafka’s journey to becoming a member of the Defense Force, gaining the respect of his peers, until his final decision to reveal his secret to save his squad. Kafka makes for a lovable lead to follow, notable for his age. Older than most shonen heroes, Kafka being in his early thirties grants the character a different perspective. Yes, he’s still silly and prone to overreaction, but there are smaller moments that suggest his good heart and his humanity, which Mina praises in the finale.

It’s why Kafka’s dynamics with Ichikawa and Shinomiya are such highlights. The former presents a sincere friendship where both look out for each other. Meanwhile, Kafka fills a void for Shinomiya, offering her kindness and warmth where it’s absent in her relationship with her father. We begin to understand the dynamic between Hoshina and Kafka, though there’s a greater promise for future developments. Kafka understands that not everything comes down to the battle, spending his nights studying to keep up, and his knowledge and life experiences as a former kaiju clean-up crew member help inform his team and keep people alive, which Hoshina respects.

But despite the strong character work, Kaiju No 8 Season 1 falters in episodes where there’s no real driving force. While it doesn’t possess the same tonal dissonance of something like Demon Slayer, it utilizes broad, even crude, humor that sometimes goes against the threats they’re facing. At the very least, that humor is usually contained in the base where they train rather than on the battlefield. But those episodes also lack the tension that fuels the series forward.

The difference in tone is also highlighted through the animation and visuals. While the character designs lack some of the sharp lines and contrast of its source material, it comes alive through the fluid motion of the fight scenes. The kaiju designs are distinctive, with Kafka’s kaiju form adopting both an animalistic energy in his reactions and, in the more heightened moments, charges with a striking blue electrical current. The energy of his design and the power he emanates is palpable through the visuals, no more so than in the epic finale fight between him and General Shinomiya.

In these moments, the designs come alive, bursting with barely contained energy as the characters engage in life-or-death combat. The background work is also superb; its warmer tones contrast with the striking vibrancy of Kafka’s kaiju design. The series could spend more time in those exteriors to help further shape the world and give it that monster-infested, apocalyptic edge. This world has adapted to constant kaiju attacks, and it would be good to see more of them than just isolated training bases and battlefields.

Kaiju No 8 Season 1 is a solid start that lands the necessary climatic sequences. With strong central characters and fast-paced plotting, the series never loses interest, even in its less exciting episodes. But its focus could be tighter going forward as the cast expands, so we aren’t just waiting for our favorites to be back on screen.

Kaiju No 8 Season 1 is out now on Crunchyroll.