Kaiju No. 8 episode 2 aired on Saturday, giving fans another week of excitement in the form of bloody action and awkward comedy. While I’ve siphoned through enough comments on social media from viewers saying they’re let down with Kaiju No. 8 so far due to the excessive humor when they thought it would be more gruesome, let me say one thing—be patient. This episode did a wonderful job of setting up a few major storylines for what’s to come, adding in anime-original scenes as well. It was a damn-near perfect follow up to the series premiere.
The Start of Kafka’s New Life
Kakfa has already proven to be a great main character in the span of two episodes. He’s a grown adult working a dead-end job with one last chance of reaching his dream of fighting kaiju alongside Mina. He doesn’t want to be the number one kaiju slayer or even the head of the Defense Force. He just has a simple goal and is working hard to obtain it with one last chance. So he already crosses off the respectable and admirable parts you’d like in a story protagonist.
But, like most shonen anime, the protagonist will gain some sort of odd advantage that the others don’t have and this time it’s Kafka turning into a kaiju. What I love throughout this episode is how quickly Kafka realizes who he is now and what’s part of him. And, truthfully, I almost feel sorry for him.
Imagine wanting to be a hero alongside your best friend in a line of work that can save people. A position of power where people can rest at ease and smile knowing you’re there to protect them, only to have all that vanish in the blink of an eye when Kafka realizes that his kaiju appearance is intimidating and will scare citizens, not comfort them. For someone realizing that his dream quickly came to a halt in a different way, that’s gotta be heartbreaking to some degree. So not only is he trying to become someone Mina can respect and be proud of, he also needs to traverse a rocky terrain going forward.
The shot above is a picture that can paint a thousand words. Kafka is now going to be looked at as a threat while Ichikawa will be the comfort. This shot almost felt like a representation of the world that’s going to shield Kafka out simply because of his appearance, not knowing he’s the same ‘ole Kafka we’ve grown to love these first two episodes. Even with the comedy, fans can’t deny the series has done a wonderful job of setting up Kafka’s story going forward.
Just when Kafka gets his last chance at joining the defense force, a double-edged sword appears in the form of glistening teal and grey kaiju armor and abilities. An already rocky road for our hilarious and praise-worthy MC has now become one of debris, blood, and strong resolve now that he’s wanted. Well, “Kaiju #8” is.
Kikoru Shinomiya
Despite only being introduced at the end of the episode, Kikoru has already made an impact as the next notable side character introduced to the fans. As someone who has the character design of the typical female tsundere look with the twin-tails paired with the I’m-better-than-you attitude, one would immediately think that’s all there is to Kikoru and the series is playing into the standard trope—but oh those naysayers couldn’t be any more wrong.
Not only did she show up with the confidence of someone ready for the Defense Force, but she put it on display by lifting an entire truck with one hand. Yes, the suit helped with doing that but don’t look at it as a cop-out. That being said, fans should take this opportunity to become enthralled by a glimpse of the wonderful technology that Kaiju No. 8 implements. This is where the sci-fi part of the series becomes such a thrill, but that will show more and more as the story develops.
And that wasn’t the only tidbit for Kikoru’s character—she also had a personal butler behind her, never once said she was better than Kafka, like many tsundere characters have tendencies to do, and she’s already showcasing her knack for sniffing out kaiju…literally. Kikoru, along with Mina, have established a strong female pair just two episodes in, and doing so will only uplift the story even more (see Black Clover).
Production
The production for Kaiju No. 8 continues to impress. In adding anime-original scenes to episode 2, it added more depth to the story and even more to its characters. The moment with Mina talking to the little girl after Kafka obliterated the kaiju and left the scene wasn’t in the manga. But, it gave some sense that Kafka can slowly win the hearts of everyone around him if they just give him the chance. It also showed how a little girl can tell the difference between a good kaiju and a bad one, a sight that even adults might not be so reluctant with.
The episode also added onto scenes such as the one where Kafka destroys the wall in the hospital. While the scene is in the manga, the anime was able to add a little bit more to really emphasize how powerful he is in his kaiju form. The animation while blowing up the kaiju in episode 2 was phenomenal, despite some obvious dimming, and the facial expressions were done, dare I say, perfectly with how they line up to the manga. The voice acting from Masaya Fukunishi (Kafka) and Wataru Katou (Ichikawa) made all the comedic moments in this episode that much better. The chemistry between the two was flawless and felt like they were actually best friends in real life.
Bringing Kazuya Nomura on to storyboard the episode was definitely a surprise. Despite being the director of anime like Moriarty The Patriot and Joker Game, this now marks only Nomura’s fourth storyboard since 2020, the other three being a single episode for Great Pretender (ep. 9), Heavenly Delusion (ep. 3), and The Apothecary Diaries (ep. 23). Perhaps producer Heishi Yoshihisa was the reason, seeing as how he was a producer for Moriarty The Patriot. Or even Keiji Oota, a producer for The Apothecary Diaries. Maybe it was Jouji Wada, a producer for Great Pretender. Either way, seeing him storyboard another phenomenal episode was definitely a treat.
Kaiju No. 8 Episode 2 Wrap-Up
Kaiju No. 8 episode 2 was undoubtedly another piece to trend the series in the correct direction. This series is receiving an unprecedented level of marketing from the production companies, along with Crunchyroll and X. Even Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer didn’t have episode countdowns on the Crunchyroll app. As a manga reader, I expect the adaptation of Kaiju No. 8 to be one plenty of fans, both manga and anime, can enjoy as the series continues.
Episode 2 rating: 9/10
If you enjoyed Kaiju No. 8 episode 2 then be sure to vote for it in our weekly poll! Episode 3 of Kaiju No. 8 will be released on Saturday, April 27. The series is streaming weekly on Crunchyroll and X.
Screenshots via Crunchyroll
© JAKDF 3rd Division © Naoya Matsumoto/SHUEISHA
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