Kaiju No. 8 (2024)

Name: Kaiju No. 8
Rating: 8.4

Rating: 8.4

Synopsis

In a world plagued by creatures known as Kaiju, Kafka Hibino aspired to enlist in The Defense Force. He makes a promise to enlist with his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. Soon, life takes them in separate ways. While employed cleaning up after Kaiju battles, Kafka meets Reno Ichikawa. Reno's determination to join The Defense Force reawakens Kafka's promise to join Mina and protect humanity.

First Air Date: 2024-04-13

Last Air Date: 2025-09-27

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 23

Networks: TV Tokyo, TV Aichi, TVQ, TV Osaka, TVh, TSC

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Masaya Fukunishi as Kafka Hibino / Kaiju No. 8 (voice)
Asami Seto as Mina Ashiro (voice)
Wataru Katoh as Reno Ichikawa (voice)
Kengo Kawanishi as Soshiro Hoshina (voice)
Fairouz Ai as Kikoru Shinomiya (voice)
Genta Nakamura as Troops Member (voice)
Ryosuke Higa as Kohinata (voice)
Yuuki Shin as Iharu Furuhashi (voice)
Tomohiro Ono as Citizen (voice)
Sayaka Senbongi as Konomi Okonogi (voice)

Seasons

Season 1 (2024)

Kafka Hibino finally gets another chance to pursue his childhood dream of joining the Defense Force, only to gain the ability to transform into a kaiju himself. While hiding his extraordinary secret, he fights alongside a new generation of officers against increasingly intelligent and powerful threats, forcing him and his comrades to grow stronger as the battle for humanity’s survival escalates.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: The Man Who Became a Kaiju (2024-04-13)

Kafka Hibino has given up his dream of joining the Defense Force and now works cleaning up the remains of defeated kaiju. When ambitious newcomer Reno Ichikawa reminds him of the promise he once made to childhood friend Mina Ashiro, Kafka begins reconsidering the path he abandoned—just as an unexpected encounter changes everything.
Ep. 2: The Kaiju Who Defeats Kaiju (2024-04-20)

Following the shocking incident at the hospital, Kafka and Reno are forced to flee while trying to understand what has happened. When they encounter civilians threatened by a kaiju, Kafka must decide whether to remain hidden or risk everything to protect them.
Ep. 3: Revenge Match (2024-04-27)

Kafka and Reno arrive for the Defense Force selection exam, where they meet the highly confident Kikoru Shinomiya. Determined to revive his abandoned dream while keeping his secret hidden, Kafka struggles through the physical tests before facing a daunting final challenge that puts the candidates’ combat abilities to the test.
Ep. 4: Fortitude 9.8 (2024-05-04)

Kikoru’s overwhelming combat ability brings the Defense Force exam to a swift conclusion, leaving the other candidates in awe. Before they can recover, a mysterious kaiju suddenly appears within the testing grounds, throwing the exam into chaos and forcing Kafka to confront a dangerous choice.
Ep. 5: Joining Up! (2024-05-11)

Kafka finally takes his first step into the Defense Force, but his place among its ranks is far from secure. Given only three months to prove his worth, he throws himself into training alongside his new teammates while struggling to keep pace with their rapidly developing abilities.
Ep. 6: Sagamihara Neutralization Operation at Daybreak (2024-05-18)

Kafka and the other new recruits embark on their first real Defense Force mission when a kaiju emerges in Sagamihara. Assigned to eliminate smaller monsters behind the front lines, Kafka eagerly embraces the work he has long dreamed of while struggling to prove that he belongs among his rapidly improving teammates.
Ep. 7: Kaiju No. 9 (2024-05-25)

Reno and Iharu encounter a mysterious humanoid kaiju whose strength and intelligence far exceed their expectations. Quickly overwhelmed, the two recruits are pushed into a desperate fight for survival while Kafka races to reach them before it is too late.
Ep. 8: Welcome to the Defense Force (2024-06-01)

After revealing his power to save Reno and Iharu, Kafka comes face-to-face with Hoshina, who immediately recognizes him as a dangerous kaiju. Reluctant to fight back against someone he respects, Kafka must find a way to escape without exposing the truth behind his identity.
Ep. 9: Raid on Tachikawa Base (2024-06-08)

With Mina away, Tachikawa Base is suddenly attacked by a coordinated swarm of flying kaiju led by a powerful new intelligent threat. As the Defense Force scrambles to defend its headquarters, Hoshina takes command and finds himself singled out by an enemy eager to test its strength against the base’s strongest fighter.
Ep. 10: Secret Revealed (2024-06-15)

As the attack on Tachikawa Base intensifies, Hoshina is pushed to his limits against an increasingly powerful enemy. With the Defense Force struggling to contain the threat, Kafka faces an impossible choice between protecting the secret he has fought to preserve and using his hidden power to save his comrades.
Ep. 11: Kaiju No. 8 Captured (2024-06-22)

With his identity exposed, Kafka is taken into Defense Force custody and transferred to headquarters under the orders of Director General Isao Shinomiya. Haunted by the possibility that his dream is over and that he has betrayed his comrades, Kafka faces an uncertain fate while Mina struggles with what comes next.
Ep. 12: Kafka Hibino (2024-06-29)

As the Third Division fights to save Kafka from execution, he is forced into a brutal confrontation with Director General Isao Shinomiya. When the kaiju within him begins to seize control, Kafka must struggle to prove that he can remain human before his fate is decided.
Ep. 13: Kaiju Weapon (2025-07-19)

Kafka goes on a mission with his new squad and faces Kaiju No. 9 once again.
Ep. 14: The Next Generation's Trial (2025-07-26)

A massive sinkhole opens in Shinagawa, unleashing a swarm of giant ant kaiju and sending the First Division into action. As Kikoru works to prove herself under Narumi’s command, Kafka joins the battle under close supervision, determined to demonstrate that he can still be an asset to the Defense Force.
Ep. 15: The Strongest Division (2025-08-02)

Kaiju No. 9 divides into two bodies, forcing the First Division into battles on multiple fronts. While Narumi confronts one of the evolving threats, Kafka and Kikoru struggle against the other, and Kafka faces a frightening new problem when he suddenly finds himself unable to transform.
Ep. 16: The Man Called Isao Shinomiya (2025-08-09)

As the battle against Kaiju No. 9 reaches a critical stage, Kafka, Kikoru, and Narumi combine their strength to confront the evolving threat. Just when the Defense Force appears to regain control, a sudden development places Director General Isao Shinomiya at the center of an unprecedented crisis.
Ep. 17: I Want to Be Strong (2025-08-16)

In the aftermath of the devastating battle with Kaiju No. 9, the Defense Force faces an uncertain future. As Narumi and Kikoru renew their determination to become stronger, Kafka confronts the growing consequences of relying on Kaiju No. 8’s overwhelming power.
Ep. 18: Compatible User (2025-08-23)

Kaiju No. 10 awakens in Defense Force custody and makes an unexpected proposal to Hoshina. Meanwhile, the division captains gather to discuss how to confront the growing threat of Kaiju No. 9, leading Hoshina to present a surprising possibility that could reshape their strategy.
Ep. 19: Wall (2025-08-30)

Chosen to wield the formidable Numbers Weapon 6, Reno enters his first real battle with the dangerous new equipment. As his abilities continue to grow at an astonishing pace, Iharu struggles with frustration and self-doubt while trying to keep up with the teammate who once stood beside him as an equal.
Ep. 20: Destiny (2025-09-06)

As Reno struggles to control the immense power of Numbers Weapon 6, Iharu refuses to let him face the danger alone. Their battle pushes both recruits to their limits, forcing Iharu to confront his own potential while the bond between them becomes their greatest weapon.
Ep. 21: Omen (2025-09-13)

Determined to fight without relying entirely on Kaiju No. 8, Kafka begins intensive close-quarters training under Hoshina. As he reconnects with his scattered comrades, the Defense Force grows increasingly concerned by a series of unexplained kaiju incidents appearing across Japan.
Ep. 22: Cataclysms (2025-09-20)

Kaiju suddenly emerge across Tokyo and begin coordinated attacks on critical facilities throughout Japan. As the crisis spreads on an unprecedented scale, the First and Third Divisions mobilize alongside the Defense Force’s strongest fighters and newest recruits to confront a threat unlike anything they have faced before.
Ep. 23: Second Wave (2025-09-27)

Just as the Defense Force begins turning the tide against the widespread kaiju attacks, five powerful numbered kaiju appear before its strongest fighters. With the situation rapidly deteriorating, Kafka is forced to decide whether he can continue waiting for Kaiju No. 9 or must enter the battle himself.