Stream It Or Skip It?

Japanese anime title Kaiju No. 8 returns to Crunchyroll with its second season starting this month. The adventure science fantasy series follows 32-year-old Kafka Hibino (Masaya Fukunishi) as he goes from a job disposing of dead monstrous creatures called “kaiju” to inadvertently becoming a powerful one himself, known as Kaiju No. 8. With the help of his ambitious coworker turned fellow officer, Reno Ichikawa (Wataru Katoh), Kafka works to harness his powers so he can one day achieve his dream of fighting kaiju alongside his childhood friend, Japan Defense Force Third Division Captain Mina Ashiro (Asami Seto). With fresh faces, familiar friends, and an ever-evolving enemy out for blood, Kaiju No. 8: Season 2 looks to raise the stakes like never before.

KAIJU NO. 8: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: An alarm blares across Tokyo to announce the presence of a kaiju. A breaking news program estimates the kaiju at a 6.7 magnitude, and urges people to protect themselves. Across the city, terrified civilians run away, including child versions of Kafka Hibino (Megumi Han) and Mina Ashira (Asami Seto). The scene unfolds to see Kafka now in Kaiju No. 8 form as he fights the Defense Force and an adult Mina, seemingly going for the kill… only to reveal that the entire scene was all just a bad dream.

The Gist: Following the events of the first season, the Third Division’s base is still in ruins. As they try to rebuild what was lost, Captain Mina Ashira (Asami Seto) and Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina (Kengo Kawanishi) send their most promising rookies to train with different units across the country. Reno Ichikawa (Wataru Katoh) and Iharu Furuhashi (Yuuki Shin) will be with the Fourth Division, Haruichi Izumo (Keisuke Komoto) and Aoi Kaguragi (Shunsuke Takeuchi) with the Second Division, and top recruit Kikoru Shinomiya (Fairouz Ai) with the storied First Division.

At the same time, Kafka Hibino (Masaya Fukunishi) remains under lock and key five days after a fight with Director General of the Defense Force Isao Shinomiya (Tesshō Genda) that ends with an official verdict for Kafka and his Kaiju No. 8 powers to be utilized as a weapon. Director Shinomiya says that Kafka must prove himself and gives him the chance to do so in the First Division under reactive Captain Gen Narumi (Koki Uchiyama) and stoic Vice-Captain Eiji Hasegawa (Hiroki Yasumoto). Although Narumi doesn’t seem to want Kafka on his team, he urges both Kafka and Kikoru to prove themselves by showing him unstoppable power. With these fresh beginnings in place and the deadly enemy Kaiju No. 9 (Hiroyuki Yoshino) still out there planning its next move, the stage is set for an exciting new season of Kaiju No. 8.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of?: Kaiju No. 8 might remind viewers of Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Chainsaw Man, since all four anime series revolve around groups of humans who put their lives on the line to fight dangerous monsters with the help of a human-monster hybrid that shakes up their entire world.

Our Take: Coming off a largely well-received first season, Kaiju No. 8 returns ready to up the ante from the jump, diving headfirst into action and inviting viewers to keep up without holding their hands. Season 2 truly seems poised to keep building on its strong foundation, whether it’s by upgrading the animation for characters like Gen Narumi or scoring an opening song by acclaimed Norwegian singer Aurora.

In its second season, Kaiju No. 8 keeps delivering interesting, dynamic visuals, rich sound design, and a story that keeps viewers engaged and curious as we continue to uncover the history of this reality and its kaiju. The Japanese-language voice cast gives engaging and expressive performances from top to bottom that further pull you in and add life to the show’s world, and then the characters themselves keep you watching. Both the story and its characters contain multitudes, striking a balance between drama and levity that entices viewers while still keeping them on their toes.

Time will tell if Kaiju No. 8 can keep its fast pace and intriguing storyline going strong, but based on this first episode alone, we have high hopes for the rest of Season 2.

Sex and Skin: No sex or skin, but there’s some guts and gore to watch out for if you’re squeamish (but if you saw Season 1, you likely already know what to expect).

Parting Shot: Director Shinomiya arrives at a high-security research facility, where he’s greeted by three men in lab coats who declare, “It’s right this way,” prompting the hulking director to look up at an unknown entity suspended in a fluid-filled tank or chamber.

Sleeper Star: From his first introduction, Captain Gen Narumi (voiced by the talented Koki Uchiyama) is certainly a character. He’s the strongest person in Japan who makes killing kaiju look easy, and yet whenever he’s not in serious work mode, he’s messy, immature, and egotistical. Equal parts entertaining and intriguing, Narumi is someone worth keeping an eye on as the season goes on.

Most Pilot-y Line: Narumi to Kafka upon their first meeting: “I’m not interested in your feelings, your situation, or your shows of resolve. Show me strength and results. And if you lose control again, I’ll kill you on the spot and use you as my suit.”

Our Call: Kaiju No. 8: Season 2 appears to have the vibrant visuals, exciting characters, and twisting plot to keep viewers hooked from start to finish. At the very least, it certainly knows how to pull you in and keep you wanting more. This genre might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you liked Kaiju No. 8: Season 1 or similar anime series, then you should enjoy this too. STREAM IT!