Kaiju No. 8 offers balanced character development and hardcore action: Review

Posted in: Anime, Crunchyroll, Review, TV | Tagged with: Anime, Crunchyroll, Kaiju No. 8, Review

The first season of Kaiju No. 8 on Crunchyroll was a skillfully balanced mix of strong characters, hard-hitting action, and emotional depth.

After being tempted several times on Crunchyroll, I decided to wait until all episodes of the first season of Kaiju No. 8 wanted to watch it in one sitting. It was a pleasantly entertaining experience that left me wishing there were more episodes to watch. I finished in just a few hours and it felt like the time flew by. The show is very action-oriented, with witty lines, likable characters and just the right mix of intensity and lighter moments – and it definitely deserves additional seasons.

The anime focuses on Kafka, who, as one might expect from his name, has quite a past that involves one or two existential crises and, if you will, undergoes a major metamorphosis… Hm…he hasn’t been taken advantage of by anyone yet, but I have a feeling this will be explored in the future. The story takes place in a world that is constantly threatened by various types of Kaiju, who cause massive destruction every time they appear. Kafka is part of the Kaiju disposal crew after they are defeated by the Defense Force. Along the way, we discover that it was his dream to join the force, and a new colleague inspires him to join, even though his age speaks against it. As a 30-year-old, this anime was a personal attack, but also a reminder that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

However, persistence isn’t the only thing on his side… he’s soon afflicted by a kaiju that becomes a parasite, turning Kafka himself into a demi-kaiju that can speak and fight coherently. It’s a very entertaining rollercoaster ride that introduces you to very likable characters – some seem a little more suspect. I liked how the newbies to the Defense Force became a tight group. Although they competed against each other, they also built on and recognized each other’s strengths. Even in the officers who ran that particular department.

I really thought we were going to encounter more idiots on this team, but I’m glad it was a nice group. We can argue about who’s in charge though, knowing how corrupt systems and people in power can be… but we’ve yet to get all the details. However, as mentioned above, we see that the government is willing to have him on their side, but more as a weapon. I wonder how that will play out next season. I have a feeling there’s going to be a bigger existential crisis now that we know he can be pushed to kaiju levels to the point of forgetting himself.

But overall, I really liked the characters and the world building. The story is told at a great pace – it sets up the premise and we learn who our main players are while getting a chance to get to know the characters and how things work. The dialogue is on point and for the most part, very funny and realistic. I love the little twists and turns the story takes and how succinct the storytelling is. Kafka’s silliness compared to the rest of the characters was definitely one of my favorite things. I also liked how balanced the writing style was between funny and serious. It gets more and more serious as things build up without losing some of the funny aspects.

And just as importantly, the soundtrack on this show was amazing. It really enhanced the scenes and was a warm start and end to each episode. One of the few anime where I rarely skipped the intro or outro. However, the animation was a little inconsistent. The animation was mostly fantastic, but there were a few shots that made me wonder about the quality control. Crunchyroll’s first season of Kaiju No. 8 was definitely a great anime from last season. I wish I had gotten into it sooner, but I’m glad I had the chance to watch it all in one go.

Kaiju No. 8: Season 1

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Check by Alejandra Bodden

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8.5/10

After being tempted several times on Crunchyroll, I decided to wait until all the episodes of Kaiju #8’s first season were out to watch it. It was a pleasantly entertaining experience that left me wishing there were more episodes to watch. I finished in just a few hours and it felt like the time flew by. The series is very action-oriented, with witty lines, likable characters, and just the right mix of intensity and lighter moments – and it definitely deserves additional seasons.

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