The studio Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Eden of the East) shared a letter from Shigeyuki Miya (Onihei), the director of the anime series adaptation of the manga Kaiju No. 8 (Monster #8 / Kaijuu 8-gou) by Naoya Matsumotowhere he talks about the anime and how the manga helped him in these turbulent times we face today.
Shigeyuki Miya he wrote:
We are in the midst of turbulent times and many people feel like they are the only ones left behind as the “normal” things we knew are disappearing one by one. To be honest, I felt the same way. At that time, I suddenly read Kaiju #8. I immediately became a big fan of Kafka, the main character who used to be on this side of things, and the passionate ensemble drama. After going through several twists and turns, I reached the point where I am today.
There’s a lot of pressure, but as a fan of Kaiju #8 and someone who was encouraged and entertained by this work, the entire team will work together to make it the best it can be.
The animation of Kaiju No. 8 It is the studio’s responsibility Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Eden of the East) with the Studio Khara (Rebuild of Evangelion) to be responsible for the kaiju design and art. The direction is Shigeyuki Miya (Onihei), the argument is Ichiro Okouchi (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion) and the character design is by Tetsuya Nishio (Naruto). The art direction is Shinji Kimura (Tekkonkinkreet) and the music is the responsibility of Yuta Bando (BELLE).
In the cast we have:
- Masaya Fukunishi like Kafka Hibino/Kaijuu No. 8.
- Wataru Katou as Reno Ichikawa.
- Asami Setou as Mina Ashiro.
- Kengo Kawanishi as Soshiro Hoshina.
- Oh Fairouz as Kikoru Shinomiya.
Kaiju No. 8 (Monster #8) began publishing in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ in July 2020 and the story takes place in Japan where monsters known as kaiju regularly attack the population with the Japanese Defense Force tasked with killing them.
After their town was destroyed by kaiju when they were children, childhood friends Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro vowed to become members of the Defense Force. Mina became famous as commander of the Third Defense Force Unit, but Kafka failed the exam several times and is a member of the cleanup team, Monster Sweeper Inc., whose job is to dispose of monster bodies after battle. After a small talking monster enters his body through his mouth, Kafka gains the ability to transform into a monster, which is nicknamed “Kaiju No. 8” by the Defense Force. Kafka remains fully conscious while in this form, but gains superhuman strength and becomes the first monster to escape the Defense Force.
The first volume of Kaiju No. 8 (Monster #8) was released on December 4, 2020.
