Kaiju No 8 Episode 1 Review: A new action, Sci-Fi anime is here, and we are absolutely thrilled about it. Let us see how the first episode of this brand-new series went.
Kaiju No 8 Overview
Kaiju No. 8 stands out as a remarkable manga by the skilled Matsumoto Naoya. Taking the role for the anime adaptation are directors Miya Shigeyuki and Kamiya Tomomi, while scriptwriting duties and series composition fall under the capable hands of Ookouchi Ichirou. Gou Fumiyuki, known for his work on titles like Blue Lock, Mieruko-chan, and Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo, assumes the role of music director. Bringing the visuals to life is Production I.G, renowned for their work on series such as Haikyuu!! and Kuroko no Basket.
In terms of the songs, the opening theme “Abyss” is performed by YUNGBLUD, adding a distinctive energy to the series. Meanwhile, the closing theme “Nobody” comes from OneRepublic, perfectly complementing the anime.
Episode 1 of Kaiju No. 8 can also be called the 1st episode of Kaijuu 8-gou (怪獣8号).
I have tried my best to keep the review as spoiler-free as possible, but there are certain elements that I had to mention to give proper feedback.
– Kaiju No 8 Episode 1 Review Contains Minor Spoilers –
Kaiju No 8 Episode 1 Review: Road To Become A Hero
I absolutely loved the first episode. Now that my view on this show is clear let’s dive deep into what was good about this anime. The premise is very interesting where we see a Japan tormented by frequent Kaiju attacks. If you do not know about Kaiju, it is essentially a Godzilla-like monster that arises from the ocean and then wreaks havoc with the single goal of destroying everything in its way.
As this kind of situation has been going on for a very long time, there have been dedicated defence forces allotted to handle a Kaiju attack. These are very skilled and powerful soldiers who are essentially heroes protecting civilians from a Kaiju monster with absolute finesse. These soldiers are respected and everyone wants to be like them just like our hero, Kafka.
Kafka, too wanted to become a Defence Force Officer and set out to achieve greatness. But just like many of us, who do not get what we want in our lives, Kafka had to settle for a different career. He is in the cleaning team that is tasked with cleansing the remains of a Kaiju once the Defence Force is done with it. But do not think for once that this is a walk-in-the-park of a job. No, it is more difficult and even more dangerous given the people doing these jobs do not have the power or the gear to support or protect themselves.
In such a scenario, Kafka leads a mundane life but suddenly everything changes when a day at his job goes vehemently bad. The pacing of this show is very good and not for once do you feel like taking your eyes off the screen. The animation on top of it is remarkably neat and properly portrays the terror of a Kaiju.
Not only that, but the storyline paired with the fight sequences is very nicely written and well executed. The background music, especially the one where Mina the captain of the 3rd division of Defence Forces, first enters to kill a Kaiju makes you hyped for what’s to come. Even the opening by One Republic is a nice match for the overall mood of the anime.
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Verdict
As someone who loves a good action anime, this felt like an absolute treat. The makers of this show were also not shy when they showcased the gore to clearly portray what might happen if an animal of that kind gets blown up in the middle of the city. Kafka is also a very likeable, as well as, a relatable protagonist who has thoughts and feelings just like us. As of now, I just want to fast-forward to the second episode as soon as possible.
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