Monster #8

Let's start with what surprised me the most. There I was, in the shower, when suddenly Kaijū No. 8's ending theme started playing on the radio! This happened to me twice. I have no idea how the producers managed to get OneRepublic for this, but the result was fantastic. I'm all for more Western music in anime if it fits as perfectly as it does here. While I haven’t heard the opening theme on the radio (even though it’s also by a Western artist), I like it a lot, and the accompanying video is creatively done. Now, onto the series itself. I loved that the main character is in my age group (30+). More characters like Kafka, please — thirty-somethings are cool! Although, Kafka’s behavior in some comedic moments didn’t quite fit his age. But that might just be me being a bit of a bore compared to him. Honestly, the humor didn’t always land for me. It's clear the anime targets a younger demographic, and the humor reflects that. Still, representation counts! Aside from that, there's a lot to praise. The animation in Kaiju No. 8 is outstanding. The monsters, mostly hand-drawn, look amazing. There’s a great variety of creatures, and we get to see a bit of their biology and anatomy, which Kafka cleverly uses to his advantage. It's always great when a protagonist uses both brains and brawn, especially when we see how they gained that knowledge. The battles are fantastic, with excellent use of movement, effects, and colors. They’re visually stunning and action-packed. The characters are generally likable, although I wish we got to know more of them better in these twelve episodes. The villain, Kaijuu 9 Gou, is fascinating. I love watching his development and his almost scientific approach to his plans. He’s not just a mindless monster; he's smart and getting smarter, making him truly intimidating. The story is straightforward but engaging, making it easy to follow while still packing in a few surprises and intriguing mysteries. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the first season. It’s a solid start, and I’m looking forward to what comes next. Kaiju No. 8/10. (29/06/2024)