ANIME REVIEW | "Kaiju No. 8" a Stunning Monster Metamorphosis
What makes a monster, and what makes a man? Yes, I’m starting this article out with lyrics from Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but it fits well to the tone of what Kaiju No. 8 is all about. As someone who has been reviewing the manga for well over two years, I can tell you that the story of Kafka Hibino (Masaya Fukunishi) and his sudden transformation isn’t just about fighting and killing monsters. In fact, if you could guess just by his first name alone, there’s more about the human condition on display here than just the tale of a hero’s rise.
But let’s first start at the beginning. Kafka dreams of joining the Defense Force, working alongside his childhood friend Mina Ashiro (Asami Seto). Alas, he’s not the brightest bulb or the strongest around, which has forced him to work in cleanup duty. And it’s not just normal cleanup; it’s post-Kaiju battle cleanup, meaning spending weeks on end ridding the city of the massive corpses that lie about. Still, he has one more chance at getting into the Defense Force, and his luck changes after a certain incident.
Whether it’s good luck or bad luck depends on your side of the glass half-full/empty argument. A parasite (TARAKO, in one of her final roles before passing away last March), enters Kafka’s body, transforming him into a Kaiju. His friend Reno (Wataru Katoh) witnesses the change, but still sees Kafka as the coworker he knows. Since Kaiju are killed at first sight no questions asked, Reno vows to keep Kafka’s change a secret. But now, it’s up to Kafka to not reveal himself, which becomes a challenge when it comes time for the Defense Force exam.
Killing monsters is the secondary story narrative within Kaiju No. 8, as the real tale is about Kafka’s humanity. Just as Gregor in Metamorphosis tried to prove to his family that he was a human in a cockroach’s body, Kafka must do the same. Thankfully, unlike the poor lad in the classic play, Kafka has the power to switch between human and monster form. Where the trouble starts is when people witness him switching between those transformations.
To really show what he’s made of, Kafka needs to earn the respect of his peers. Kikoru Shinomiya (Ai Fairouz), daughter of Director General Isao (Tessho Genda), is the first to give him that respect, despite her cocky first impression. Mina, Isao, and Captain Gen Narumi (Koki Uchiyama) also begin to see what Kafka is made out of, as he overcomes his age and stamina to take on the opposing Kaiju. With all of his experience dealing with dead Kaiju cleanup, Kafka knows where the most vulnerable parts of a monster can be found.
However, there are times when Kafka must go full Kaiju in order to save others. And it’s here where both characters and viewers will see the amount of humanity our hero has. Although his powers are terrifying, the fact that he uses these skills for good rather than evil shows that even within his monster skin, he’s still a human. Just as someone like Spawn or even The Toxic Avenger has shown, what matters is the mind and heart that lingers within the behemoth. In its own twisted way, Kaiju No. 8 is teaching why it’s what’s inside that counts.
This is a fact that other members of the Defense Force wind up having to learn through Kafka’s actions. The likes of Gen and the Director General have a much harder time overlooking Kafka’s monstrous side once they learn of it, wanting to just go all in and kill him and use his parts as future weaponry. Thankfully, Mina is quick to know that her childhood friend is still within the beast, as well as other members of the Defense Force and his longtime pals. Although the story doesn’t go all in for the “us vs. them” motif, there are a few speed bumps in Kafka’s road to humanity that he must drive over. And when it does, it’s not just stunning mentally, but visually as well.
Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell, Magical Circle Guru Guru) goes all in for spectacle, with every fight showcased with bloody and gory detail. Limbs are ripped off, entrails are pulled from stomachs, and the occasional human or two gets squished like a bug. They also go all in for the more comedic aspects of this series, whether it’s one of Kafka’s many facial expressions to just how a Kaiju relives themselves when it’s time to take a Number One. They know the importance of comedic and serious timing, something that author Naoya Matsumoto demonstrates well in the original manga, and it’s translated incredibly well in animation form.
The humanity aspect of Kaiju No. 8 is also on display in the voice acting. Fukunishi really takes on an Everyman approach to his performance as Kafka, showing viewers that he’s just your Average Joe that just so happens to be a Kaiju. Fairouz is always a joy to listen to, and her role as Kikoru goes between brat and lady-bro with the greatest of ease. Uchiyama can be a hoot as Gen, but also terrifying when he is in battle mode. Although she doesn’t play too big of a role in this part of the story, Seto’s portrayal of Mina is one that’s both stern and sympathetic.
Yuta Bandoh — who is one of Kenshi Yonezu’s go-to composers — crafts a phenomenal soundtrack that brings the action, drama, and even comedic parts of this series out in a beautiful and satisfying way. Artists such as King Gnu’s Kazuki Arai, Sunni MF, and Patrick Paige II of soul band The Internet also contribute some amazing songs that bring the show to life. However, it’s the superb opening and closing themes — done both by Western artists — that showcase the real themes of this anime. Yungblud’s openerr “Abyss” is about Kafka’s internal fight to prove that he’s still a human underneath that Kaiju skin, whereas OneRepublic’s “Nobody” is Kafka’s childhood promise to Mina in song form.
Kaiju No. 8 is a tour-de-force shonen series. It excites you with its battles, but it also makes you think with the philosophies it teaches about what it means to be human. However, as a reader of the manga, I can tell you this: Season One is just the prelude to everything that’s about to happens from here on out. Needless to say, you be both excited for what’s to come — both visually and mentally — whenever the next season of Kaiju No. 8 arrives.
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Kaiju No. 8 can be viewed on Crunchyroll, and has been licensed by Crunchyroll. Episodes 1-12 were observed for review. Promotional consideration provided by Crunchyroll.
