When Kaiju No.8 premiered in April, it defiantly subverted expectations that battle anime is only a playground for plucky younger upstarts. The similar could be stated for the total first season, which proved a shonen sequence could be simply as compelling with an grownup solid. What’s extra, it achieved this feat with out having its raucous motion undermine its excellent character writing.
Kaiju No. 8’s first chunk of episodes explores the dynamics of its ensemble solid with nice success whereas teasing out the ability wrestle between them and their towering foes. The predominant character, 32-year-old Kafka Hibino, is basically remodeled into this universe’s equal Spider-Man after an opportunity encounter with a kaiju. This reignites his dream of serving as a member of the group that protects Japan from big monsters, the Kaiju Defence Force; alongside newfound allies Reno Ichikawa and Kikoru Shinomiya, he spends the rest of the season repelling the beasts whereas sustaining his secret skill to show into one among them. But the animation dream group of Production I.G. and Studio Khara actually begins to thrive following the arrival of highly effective humanoid kaiju with a command of the English language and legions of senseless counterparts. It’s right here the place Kaiju No. 8 begins inspecting the psychological influence of dazzling battles fought with big axes, twin samurai blades, and rail weapons that would mow down a complete countryside.
This is by far essentially the most rejuvenating aspect of Season 1. It doesn’t sacrifice the depth and complexity of its characters by overindulging in thrilling motion sequences. Recently, fashionable anime juggernauts like Jujutsu Kaisen have displayed an overreliance on flashy fights that deal with viewers like canine entranced by a set of jingling keys. Kaiju No. 8 sees a return to type the place its battles underscore the drama. This offers ample respiratory room to weave the connective tissue of the character’ backstories and their motivations to maintain combating the great struggle.
The anime’s first stretch, which is paying homage to early-season coaching 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, the place heroes bond over drinks or in a bathhouse, that the present takes its supporting gamers from cardboard cutouts to totally realized heroes with relatable aspirations. Initially grating characters like Kikoru and Soshiro Hoshina acquire contours that rival these of Kafka, that are formed by Kaiju No. 8’s themes of acceptance and redemption. These character-rich moments not solely endear us to characters we’d in any other case write off, however they’re additionally investments that repay in Season 1’s climactic finale.
Kaiju No.8 doesn’t completely forgo the trimmings of different shonen anime. Power ranges and grade rankings for the heroes and villains are nonetheless at play right here, however they’re employed to strengthen an often-forgotten attraction of shonen anime: seeing the hero truly save folks. Kafka’s acts of heroism – be they saving pedestrians trapped below rubble, relaying important details about dismantling kaiju to his squadron, or shielding allies from highly effective foes – exemplify why the shonen style stays extremely beloved by anime followers.
