Anime enthusiasts, brace yourselves! 📣 The anime adaptation of Naoya Matsumoto’s Kaiju No. 8 manga is ramping up for a thrilling second season set to debut in 2025. But wait, there’s more! Not only are we getting a new season, but an original episode titled “Hoshina’s Day Off” and a recap of the first season will also hit Japanese theatres. 🎬
What’s the Buzz? 🐝
On August 5, the official Kaiju No. 8 website dropped some major news. The Japanese pronunciation of “No. 8” is “Hachi Gō” (where “hachi” is eight and “go” can mean five), making this date perfect for their announcement. Clever, right? 😉
New Faces and Familiar Voices 🎤
Joining the cast for season two is Kōki Uchiyama as Gen Harumi. If you’re a fan of his work, you know we’re in for a treat! And guess what? Crunchyroll will stream the new season, so international fans can dive in without a hitch. 🌍
First Season Recap 📺
Let’s rewind a bit. The first season premiered on TV Tokyo on April 13 and graced us with 12 electrifying episodes. Thanks to Crunchyroll, fans worldwide enjoyed the series with English subtitles and even an English dub. Talk about inclusivity! The anime was also streamed on X (formerly known as Twitter) in real time as it aired in Japan. 📱🖥️
Meet the Dream Team 🏆
Behind the scenes, we had Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya directing the magic. The series composition and screenplay were helmed by Ichiro Okouchi, with Tetsuya Nishio crafting those iconic character designs. The kaiju (monsters) that had us on the edge of our seats? All thanks to Mahiro Maeda’s brilliant designs. Art direction by Shinji Kimura and music by Yuta Bando added the cherry on top. 🍒
Production Powerhouses 🎥
Production I.G, known for Ghost in the Shell, handled the animation, while Studio Khara, the brains behind Rebuild of Evangelion, was in charge of the kaiju designs and artworks. This collaboration brought the monstrous world of Kaiju No. 8 to life in spectacular fashion.
Manga and More 📚
For those who can’t get enough, Viz Media is releasing the manga in English both digitally and physically. Shueisha also offers the manga digitally on its MANGA Plus service under the title Monster #8. The story revolves around a man far removed from his childhood dreams who, after an unexpected twist of fate, becomes a monster and sets out to achieve his lifelong goals. 🏆
Matsumoto launched the ongoing manga in July 2020 on Shonen Jump+ and the franchise continues to expand, including a spinoff manga and an upcoming game for smartphones and PC. Gaming fans, get ready to immerse yourselves in the Kaiju No. 8 universe even more. 🎮📱
So, anime lovers, mark your calendars and stay tuned for more monstrous adventures in 2025. The Kaiju No. 8 hype train is just getting started! 🚂✨
