Summary
Withlast year’sHeavenly Delusion, Production I.G, the studio behindGhost in the Shell, reminded audiences - quite dramatically - why they are one of the kings of science fiction anime. This year, they’re continuing strong with an adaptation ofKaiju No. 8, a military sci-fi series about giant monsters, specially-trained monster hunters, and a transforming hero at the center of it all.
Based on the manga by Naoya Matsumoto,Kaiju No. 8sees a partnership between I.G, who is handling the animation production, and Studio Khara, who is designing the monsters. After decades of designing such iconic, freakish, and hauntingly beautiful monsters/mecha in theEvangelionseries, Khara’s involvement is a huge boon to a story like this.
The Man Who Became a Kaiju
Ever since Kafka Hibino was a kid, he dreamed of joining Japan’s Defense Force to kill the Kaiju. It wasa dream he shared with his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro, but only one of them actually achieved it. Whereas Ashiro became a captain, Hibino ended up as a “sweeper,” cleaning up the messes left behind after the Kaiju battles. He finds himself unsatisfied with life, reminded of what could have been each time he sees his former friend save the day.
Then, upon an encounter with a small kaiju that forces its way into his body, Hibino finds that he’s gained the power to transform into a kaiju himself, much to his initial shock. With this new strength, he sees a second chance to make his dream a reality, but between getting the hang of his powers and hiding them from his peers in the defense force, it’s much easier said than done.
A Refreshing Kind of Shōnen Protagonist
What makesKaiju No. 8an appealing premise- apart from its sci-fi military aesthetics, that is - is its protagonist, if nothing else, because of how his age lends the story some nuance. So many anime protagonists, and especially shōnen ones, are often young, mostly in their late teens and occasionally their early twenties, but Hibino is 32, lending him a world-weary quality.
It’s as if a more conventional shōnen protagonist missed their chance to become the hero and the story meets up with them years later. Not only is it a funny premise, but such an aspirational protagonist makes for a nice change of pace.It can resonate with older readers/viewersbecause it speaks to how rarely adulthood matches one’s expectations as a child.
The Staff Behind Kaiju No. 8
The series is being co-directed by Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya, and the former has a fascinating resume. Not only did they direct 2013’sBlood LadandAoi Bungaku’s adaptation ofKokoroby Natsume Souseki, but he also directed the 2011 anime adaptation of CW’sSupernatural. Kamiya, on the other hand, while not a frequent director, has worked as an artist on various projects such asChainsaw Man,Mob Psycho, andAttack on Titan.
The series is being penned by Ichirou Okouchi, the prolific screenwriter behindCode Geass,Devilman Crybaby,Sk8 the Infinity, andMobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. Excitingly, Shinji Kimura serves as the art director, and,as any fan of 2015’sKekkai Sensencan attest, few cities in anime look quite as gorgeous and alive as Hellsalem’s Lot did. Kimura was also the art director forDorohedoro,Tekkon Kinkreet, and a background artist on classics likeAkira.
Why Are Some Fans Skeptical?
There’s plenty that looks promising with this series. It looks visceral and exciting, and Fumiyuki Go’s sound direction adds a great punch to every blast or impact. However, fansaren’t too happy with the designs for the anime, which were done by Tetsuya Nishio, the character designer most popularly known forNaruto,Boruto, andGhost in the Shell: Arise.
Nishio’s style is not bad by any means, and he’s crafted some iconic designs, but either as a result of bad shading, poor color choice, or a lack of finer line art, his work here seemed lacking. Fans have taken issue with the way his style has overwritten qualities of the original designs and the anime look has been received as a very poor adaptive choice.
This might be a more pressing issue for fans of the manga, but even anime-only watchers might feel underwhelmed by what comes across as the “Boruto-ification” of Matsumoto’s artwork. Additionally, there are a lot of little things that makeKaiju No. 8’s anime peculiar. For one thing, it will bethe first ever anime to stream on X (Twitter). For another, the opening and ending themes will be performed by YUNGBLUD and OneRepublic respectively.
TOHO Is Aiming Big
Having Western artists contribute music to anime isn’t an inherently bad thing, nor is it a particularly new thing, even if it is rare. It’s just a peculiar choice that has come across in the most recent trailer as somewhat jarring to some fans. Combined with the series streaming on X, these decisions suggest that TOHO is trying to make this series a big deal in overseas markets.
While that ambition is admirable, it might have the unfortunate side effect of driving away the fans that already exist, but it’s too early to tell. Between its action and the draw of its older lead,Kaiju No. 8does look very fun. If done well, this joining of two great studios known for their contributions to science fiction anime might very well be the highlight of the upcoming season.
Kaiju No. 8Premieres on April 13 and will stream on Crunchyroll and X.
