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Kaiju No. 8 had a blockbuster season 1, after which it was renewed for a sequel. The anime has found its right audience, and everyone is excited to see what happens in Kaiju No. 8 season 2. In the finale of the previous season, Kafka was finally able to find his place in the Third Division without having to hide his identity any longer.

Season 2 will mark a turning point in the series as there will be much less fun and games now. There will be more exploration into the psyche of the main characters, including and not restricted to Kafka, Reno, Kikoru, Iharu, Hoshina, and Gen Narumi.

There are plenty of new characters who will steal the spotlight, and the fights will extend way beyond the Third Division. Some of the divisions will have to come together for an epic battle as Kaiju No. 9 will arrange for the biggest showdown in the upcoming season.

The premiere date of Kaiju No.8 Season 2 is closer than ever, which means that fans are more than ready to get hyped up with any new information that gets released. This week, Anime TV underscored that the hit anime series is returning for Season 2 this July and did it with a new image that has already sparked speculation. A specific release date for the new season is yet to be announced.

The image suggests a change of pace for Kaiju No. 8. The show is usually frantic, but the image depicts a quiet moment. It shows protagonist Kafka Hibino (voiced by Masaya Fukunishi in the original Japanese and by Nazeeh Tarsha in the English dub) enjoying a snack while crouching down at a pier with the wind blowing by several fish-shaped balloons. Will the new season give Kafka some breathing room or is it just one rare moment that gets...

This weekend was important for anime fans, as the fan event AnimeJapan 2025 took place and brought news from some of the most famous anime titles in the world. One of them was Kaiju No.8, a hugely popular new title that went on radio silence ever since its Season 2 release window was announced. Now, fans can finally check out the first trailer for the new episodes, which are slated to start rolling out in July.

The first thing to notice about the new trailer for Kaiju No.8 is that the anime series is once again bringing its high-quality urban artwork that was a standout in Season 1. This time, however, there is a lot more destruction in sight as characters deal with the aftermath of the brutal fight that made Kafka (voiced by Masaya Fukunishi) go berserk. Meanwhile, Isao (Tesshō Genda) is hard at work on his mission to create the most powerful kaiju-stopping Division ever.

Studio Ghibli is famous for combining its lighthearted animation style with complex characters, from protagonist to antagonist and everyone in between. Hayao Miyazaki once said that he puts a part of himself into his villains, which no doubt is why they authentically reflect real parts of the human experience (for better or worse). Many say that the word "antagonist" applies more aptly to Studio Ghibli movies than villains, because the characters aren't black and white.

Studio Ghibli movies aren't afraid to explore the darker parts of the human experience, like violence, consumption, and avarice. Villains like Spirited Away's Yubaba is more of an antagonist capable of change, whereas Nan from When Marnie Was There is absolutely cruel and indefensible. Some Ghibli "villains" aren't just one person, but a school of thought, or an entity that represents something like overwork, war, land-grabbing, or even apathy.

Updated on January 9, 2025, by Ajay...

Studio Ghibli films are based on varied source materials. Some are inspired by studio executives' original stories, like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke, and some are based on young adult fantasy novels written by Welsh authors, like Howl's Moving Castle. Some are inspired by shojo manga, like Whisper of the Heart.

A basic definition of shojo are works that are marketed toward a young female audience. Though shojo is a demographic and not a genre, shojo stories tend to have certain conventions and trope hallmarks. Fans of shojo manga and anime will find plenty of familiar tropes in Studio Ghibli films, as well.

Shojo Trope: Friends-to-Lovers Taeko & Toshio Bond in Only Yesterday

Taeko goes back to the countryside where she grew up in the quiet contemporary film, Only Yesterday. Only Yesterday is based on a manga written for a female audience, though it's unclear whether it's classified as shojo.

Ahead of an October 3 debut on Japanese television, the official website and accounts for the 365 Days to the Wedding anime today unveiled a brand-new trailer and a key visual, the latter of which previews the office romance series' theme songs. HoneyWorks feat. HaKoniwalily ( Aharen-san wa Hakarenai Ed) performs "Kirakira" for the opening song and Gohobi ( Pseudo Harem Op) performs "Tsumari wa" for the ending song. Key Visual Three more cast members were also revealed, joining leads Kentaro Kumagai and Saori Hayami: Claudia voiced by Nao Toyama (Rin in Laid-Back Camp ) Nao Umiyama voiced by Fairouz Ai (Live in Mayonaka Punch ) Koichi Ohara voiced by Tessho Genda (Isao in Kaiju No. 8 ) Claudia Nao Umiyama Koichi Ohara Related: 365 Days to the Wedding Anime Debuts on October 3 Based on the manga by The World God Only Knows author Tamiki Wakaki, Hiroshi Ikehata ( Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You ) directs 365 Days to the Wedding...

The saddest, most heart-breaking movie in Studio Ghiblis profoundly emotional repertoire, Grave of the Fireflies, is all set to land on Netflix next month. Meaning that audiences everywhere will soon be able to share in the trauma. And while that may be a daunting prospect, Grave of the Fireflies is worth it, with the animation by far one of the most effective war films ever made, that is sure to leave you forever changed. Netflix has now picked up the rights to stream the deeply moving Grave of the Fireflies, with the platform making the movie available in over 190 countries, excluding Japan, from September 16.

Written and directed by Isao Takahata, and produced by Studio Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies is based on Akiyuki Nosaka's Naoki Prize-winning short story and takes place in Kobe near the end of World War II. The animated movie depicts the tragic fate of war...

Quick Links How Kaiju No. 8s Final Battle Starts Kafka Fights For His Humanity One Last Time In Kaiju No. 8 How Kaiju No. 8 Ends Its First Season The Biggest Plot Points Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 Needs To Address Kaiju No. 8's finale sees Kafka's humanity tested in a fight with Isao, ultimately leading to his deferred execution. Kaiju No. 8 season 2 will address Kaiju No. 9's attack, the concept of Kaiju as weapons, and Kafka needing to prove to everyone that he can be trusted. The incredible highs of season 1 leave a lot to be excited about for season 2.

After a tremendous run from start to finish, Kaiju No. 8 has officially come to a close. The series received an incredible amount of hype and attention in the months leading up to its premiere, and thanks to its great character writing and even greater animation, it...

So far, the Kaiju No. 8 anime has introduced anime fans to a small but delightful cast of characters, starting with the 32-year-old half-other protagonist himself, Kafka Hibino. He is the Jakdf's strangest soldier yet, having minimal conventional power but overflowing with kaiju strength as the titular Kaiju No. 8. He's also in good company, with buddies like Reno Ichikawa and the talented Kikoru Shinomiya to back him up in battle.

Kikoru made a strong first impression as a hotheaded 16-year-old soldier with incredible strength and indomitable courage in battle when facing kaiju of all shapes and sizes. Right away, Kikoru set an incredibly high bar for the Jakdf's newest recruits, and Soshiro Hoshina thinks Kikoru is destined to reach the highest ranks before long. However, Kikoru's rapid success comes at a cost, since her father, Isao, puts her under serious pressure to succeed at all costs, with no room for mistakes.

Kaiju No. 8 , based on the hit manga by Naoya Matsumoto, is the story of Kafka Hibino. Hibino is a regular guy in his thirties who lives in a world where Kaiju attacks are commonplace. He once dreamt of joining Japan’s Defense Force to protect innocent people from the Kaiju’s devastating attacks, but instead, he ended up on a ground cleanup crew. One fateful day after a routine job, everything changes for Kafka… Related: Recap: Kaiju No. 8 Episode 11, “Kaiju No. 8 Captured” Let’s talk about everything that happened in the latest episode of Kaiju No. 8 ! And catch the next episode of the blockbuster anime right here on Crunchyroll. And did you hear the news? You’ll be able to catch the second season of the blockbuster anime right here on Crunchyroll! Stay tuned for more details. Warning: Full spoilers for Kaiju No. 8 follow in our season finale summary.

Kaiju No. 8 shares similarities with Attack on Titan, featuring protagonists transforming into monsters to fight giant threats. Both series showcase protagonists losing control of their transformations, endangering lives and testing their humanity. Kaiju No. 8's narrative may continue to parallel Attack on Titan, with characters using transformed powers for battles and overcoming challenges.

Kaiju No. 8 has become the latest hit anime in the Shnen Jump genre this spring. The series distinguishes itself in the genre with a protagonist of a relatively older age. This unique aspect has become one of its main selling points. However, the anime's narrative also shows clear inspiration from Hajime Isayama's hit series, Attack on Titan, which adds to its immense popularity. Both Attack on Titan and Kaiju No. 8 share a similar setting, featuring worlds overrun by giant, human-eating monsters.

The first similarity between these two aesthetically appealing series, besides the...

Kaiju No. 8 , based on the hit manga by Naoya Matsumoto, is the story of Kafka Hibino. Hibino is a regular guy in his thirties who lives in a world where Kaiju attacks are commonplace. He once dreamt of joining Japan’s Defense Force to protect innocent people from the Kaiju’s devastating attacks, but instead, he ended up on a ground cleanup crew. One fateful day after a routine job, everything changes for Kafka… Related: Recap: Kaiju No. 8 Episode 10, “Secret Revealed” Let’s talk about everything that happened in the latest episode of Kaiju No. 8 ! And catch the next episode of the blockbuster anime right here on Crunchyroll. Warning: Full spoilers for Kaiju No. 8 follow in our Episode 11 summary. Seriously, Kaiju-sized spoilers ahead! Transfer The upper brass of the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force reviews footage of Kaiju No. 8 as they consider what to do with Kafka Hibino.

The action adventure marks the latest from the director of Berlinale award-winners ‘Parade’ and ‘River’s Edge’.

Japan’s Isao Yukisada is adapting award-winning novel Revolver Lily as an action-adventure feature, which Toei Company is unveiling to buyers at the European Film Market.

Isao is best known internationally for titles including Go, A Day On The Planet, Parade and River’s Edge, all of which played in the Panorama strand of the Berlinale. Parade and River’s Edge both won the Fipresci prize at the festival in 2009 and 2018 respectively.

His latest takes place in 1924 and centres on Yuri, who killed 57 people...