Kaiju No. 8 is a hit manga series, and there’s no denying that. However, since the TV anime adaptation hit our screens, fans have wondered about Kaiju No. 8 Season 2. Will the much-hyped anime return for a season 2? Well, plenty of questions are running back in the minds of avid anime lovers. But you can hold your horses. That’s because the studio house recently dropped a surprising update, hinting at the bright future for Kaiju No. 8. What can it be? Keep reading to know the details.
Based on the popular Japanese hit manga series Kaiju No. 8, the anime is set in a world where monsters named Kaiju often cause trouble. However, Japan is a hot spot for such disasters, and because of that, the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force was established to deal with these rising monsters. Defense Force officers wore power suits that helped them increase their speed, strength, and durability. But as things progress, more trouble arises in front of the team as new Kaijus enter the picture.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2: Is It Renewed?
The manga series undoubtedly has a huge fanbase. That’s why when Production I.G. and Studio Khara announced Kaiju No. 8, fans couldn’t keep their calm. The highly anticipated anime debuted on April 13, 2024, as a part of the Spring 2024 anime schedule and has finally concluded with a bang. But before the anime could conclude, the fans had only a few more episodes left to enjoy their potential first season; the anime dropped a much-needed update. While the fans were waiting for the finale, the anime’s official social media page made a jaw-dropping announcement.
The franchise’s official page shared that they will soon make its biggest-ever announcement: they will reveal a new project for the anime on Saturday, June 15, the day the pilot season will drop the tenth episode of the series. While it remains unclear what this new project could be, many believe it will be Kaiju No. 8 Season 2. Is it? Keep reading to learn this. But the official announcement shares a look at the mysterious wireframe for Kafka Hibino’s Kaiju No. 8.
Will There Be Kaiju No. 8 Season 2? Updates
With the anime edging closer to its end, it’s more likely that the studio house will announce Kaiju No. 8 Season 2. Well, there’s no denying that the series is highly popular. Within the first week of its debut, Kaiju No. 8 received solid ratings from the audience as well as the critics. It gained 8.4 stars out of 10 on IMDb. However, on MyAnimeList, the anime faced some challenges. It only earned 6.4 stars in its first week of debut. But the rating is now increasing. So, considering that the series is receiving more love from the audience as well as the critics, there’s a high chance of Kaiju No. 8 Season 2.
Also, the anime has just started with the introduction part. That means Naoya’s manga series has many more arcs to cover. Many more intelligent Kaiju foes are about to rise in Japan. So, considering this, it’s highly likely that Season 2 of Kaiju No. 8 can happen. But one thing to remember here is that the studio house can come up with various projects. Popular anime could get a feature movie, art exhibitions, stage plays, or more, exclusively to Japan.
With the teaser project featuring more anime-related content, the fans expect it will likely announce its sophomore run. The official announcement was made just after the series dropped its tenth episode. While the new anime project is highly anticipated, Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 might return based on its incredible performance.
Official Announcement!
Kaiju No. 8’s pilot season was epic, and there’s no denying that. The anime left fans on their toes with the progressing story arc. With the finale released on June 29, 2024, the anime took the audience to the gritty world of Kaijus, leaving the fate of the Defence Force up in the air. While many wondered whether the Defence Force could deal with the new monsters, Crunchyroll confirmed there’s hope for them to return with a bang.
That’s right! Following the blockbuster season one finale, Crunchyroll confirmed that the anime is gearing up for another season, Kaiju No. 8 Season 2. The streaming platform confirmed that the new outing will be available on their platform to stream. The renewal announcement came with a teaser clip hinting more devastation is yet to come. The clip begins with the citizens being advised to evacuate.
The background hints at the chaos and destruction caused by Kaiju. While the destruction and havoc remain at the center of the play, a voice informs the citizens to seek refuge in the shelter and evacuate the place destroyed by the Kaiju. Meanwhile, a voice calls the Defence Force, saying, “First Division, move out. Let’s kick some ass.” Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 will undoubtedly be epic with Kafka in action. Now, it remains to be seen how things will unfold.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2: What To Expect Next?
Well, the anime was expected to cover 40 chapters in 13 episodes. That means it was expected to cover “The Man Who Became a Kaiju Arc,” “Sagamihara Neutralization Operation at Daybreak Arc,” “Raid on Tachikawa Base Arc,” and “Captured Arc.” Per reports, the first anime will only cover seven chapters from the “Captured Arc,” twelve chapters from “Compatible User Arc,” and nineteen chapters from “The Second Wave Arc.” Considering this, we have many more storylines left to explore.
If we delve deeper into the storyline, Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 will begin with Kafka revealing his secret. That will lead to the epic fight scene between Kafka and Isao. Well, Isao has already figured out that something is wrong with Kafka. So Isao will point a gun at him, leading to the biggest showdown ever. There’s also a saying that Kaiju No. 9 will molt its old skin, creating panic among the fighters. Another storyline the second season could explore is the fight between Kafka and Kikoru’s dad. So far, the first season hasn’t included such a mindblowing element to the anime.
Considering this, we can expect the next season to delve deeper into Kafka’s story arc. Fans can also expect more of Kaijus’ arrival, as some more humanoids are present in manga that have yet to be introduced. On the other hand, Kafka’s relationship with Kaiju can play a greater role in Kaiju No. 8 Season 2.
Which Studio House Will Return?
Back in 2022, Production I.G. and Studio Khara announced the anime adaptation of Kaiju No. 8 under the direction of Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya. Ichiro Okouchi joined the scriptwriting team with chief animation direction by Tetsuya Nishio. Shinji Kimura joined as the art director, and Mahiro Maeda was solely responsible for the Kaiju’s designs. Yuta Bandoh composed the music. So, the entire team is believed to return for Kaiju No. 8 Season 2.
Production I.G. was founded on December 15, 1987, by Takayuki Goto and Mitsuhisa Ishikawa. Since then, the studio has been known for giving various A-lister animes to anime lovers. Blue Seed, Windy Tales, Ghost Hound, Shoka, and many more. However, the studio is known to produce two to three animes per year. And since it’s already working on Kaiju No. 8 and hasn’t yet revealed the total number of episodes the series would have, one can expect that Production I.G. can return.
So does Studio Khara. The Japanese animation studio was founded in 2006 and is known for producing numerous animated and live-action films. However, the studio stepped into the television world in 2017 and animated three of the best animes ever– The Dragon Dentist, The Diary of Ochibi-san, and Kaiju No. 8. Since the studio is currently working on the series, it will likely return to design Kaiju. We can also say that the teaser hints at new Kaiju designs, hinting at Studio Khara’s return.
Is There Enough Source Material?
Yes, there is! The manga series, written and illustrated by Naoya Matsumoto, started serializing on July 3, 2020, on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+. It is currently ongoing, which means there is ample source material to cover. As of June 2024, the manga has 12 tankobon volumes with over 13 million copies in circulation. However, the 13th volume is expected to be released in July 2024. So, considering this, we can expect that more seasons can take place.
According to reports, the first season covered from Chapter 1 to Chapter 38. It ended with the Defence Force decision ruling in Kafka Hibino’s favor. Instead of terminating him from the Defence Force, he would be used as a weapon against the monstrous Kaiju. So, if that’s the case, then Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 will pick up the pace from Chapter 39. Since 13 volumes are available at this moment, the anime can return with more than one season.
Is Kaiju No. 8 Worth Watching?
Some say anime is a must-watch because it combines action-packed sequences, strong character development, and a unique storyline. The series follows Kafka, a Kaiju No. 8, who escaped from the Defense Force. He has superhuman strength, regeneration, durability, and speed in his kaiju form and can detect other Kaiju. That’s why the series has received worldwide recognition for bringing such a twisted storyline to their plate.
One viewer also stated that anime is a powerful story about friendship, resilience, and the human spirit’s ability to deal with challenges. Another viewer noted that the series is a balance of action, comics, and worldbuilding. One user on Reddit also stated that the anime has some real potential plot-wise. Meanwhile, another said that the episodes were freaking good, and they couldn’t wait for more. Thus, there’s no denying that Kaiju No. 8 is worth watching.
Kaiju No. 8 Game Announced
As soon as episode 10 of Kaiju No. 8 aired, the series announced the new anime project. Well, it is not the sophomore run. However, the new project is a video game. It was teased on June 15, followed by a daily countdown. The new project is titled Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME, which is available on PCs and smartphones. The teaser video introduces Kaiju No. 8 to the world of people who are fighting against the evil Kaijus. You can catch the teaser video below.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2: Release Date
Rejoice, fans! On August 5, Kafka’s birthday, the Japanese anime industry announced the release window for Season 2 of Kaiju No. 8. Crunchyroll confirmed the Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 release date. The streaming platform confirmed that it will return to Crunchyroll in 2025. In addition, the production committee announced an upcoming compilation film, and the first episode of the second season, “Hoshina’s Day Off,” will hit theatres in Japan in 2025. So, don’t miss it. Stay with The Anime Daily for more such updates.