List of Kaiju No. 8 episodes

Key visual for the series

Kaiju No. 8 is an anime television series based on the manga series of the same name by Naoya Matsumoto. Produced by Production I.G with Studio Khara supervising the kaiju designs and artworks the series was announced on August 4, 2022. The series first season aired from April 13 to June 29, 2024 on TV Tokyo and its affiliates, alongside Twitter for simulcast in Japan. The series is directed by Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya with scripts written by Ichiro Okouchi, character designs and chief animation direction by Tetsuya Nishio, art direction by Shinji Kimura, monster designs by Mahiro Maeda and music composed by Yuta Bandoh. The opening theme song for the first season is "Abyss", performed by Yungblud, while the ending theme song is "Nobody", performed by OneRepublic. A second season was announced on December 22, 2024, during Jump Festa 25, it is set to premiere in July 2025.

Crunchyroll streamed the first season as it aired in Japan, as well as dubbed versions an hour after its television premiere, and is set to stream the second season. Medialink licensed the series for streaming in Southeast Asia on its Ani-One Asia YouTube channel.

Series overview

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released
1	12		April 13, 2024 (2024-04-13)	June 29, 2024 (2024-06-29)
2	TBA		July 2025 (2025-07)	TBA

Episodes

Season 1 (2024)

No.	Title	Directed by	Storyboarded by	Original air date
1	"The Man Who Became a Kaiju" Transliteration: "Kaijū ni Natta Otoko" (Japanese: 怪獣になった男)	Tomomi Kamiya	Tomomi Kamiya	April 13, 2024 (2024-04-13)
Kafka Hibino works as a cleaner disposing the carcasses of Philinosoma and other kaijus after they have been eliminated by the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, a military organization that protects Japan from kaiju. Initially wanting to be part of the Defense Force, Kafka gave up after failing to pass the exam before he got too old, but finds out the Defense Force has recently raised the recruitment age to 32, making him eligible again. At work, Kafka and his new coworker and aspiring Defense Force Member, Reno Ichikawa, are attacked by a Trichonephila yoju, a type of smaller kaiju that accompany larger ones named honjus. After holding the yoju off, the duo are saved by the Defense Force's Third Division led by Captain Mina Ashiro, Kafka's childhood friend with whom he made a promise to fight kaiju together. Later in a hospital, at the encouragement of Reno, Kafka decides to try to join the Defense Force one last time. However, Kafka is attacked by a parasitic kaiju that enters his body through his mouth and turns him into a human-kaiju hybrid. A patient reports Kafka's position forcing him and Reno to flee. In a post-credits scene, Mina is called to gather her squad and eliminate the kaiju reported to be at the hospital.
2	"The Kaiju Who Defeats Kaiju" Transliteration: "Kaijū o Taosu Kaijū" (Japanese: 怪獣を倒す怪獣)	Takayuki Inagaki	Kazuya Nomura	April 20, 2024 (2024-04-20)
While Mina orders her squad to move to the location where a kaiju was reported, Kafka and Reno leave the hospital to hide from the Defense Force. As the duo is escaping, Kafka detects a Trichonephila yoju that emerges from the underground and attacks a nearby house, trapping a woman and her daughter. Kafka steps in and kills the yoju saving the mother and daughter with the daughter thanking him for his help which strengthens his resolve to join the Defense Force. After changing back to his human form Kafka escapes with Reno. Mina and her squad arrive at the scene and question the girl about what happened. The girl mentions a "good kaiju" that saved her and her mother which surprises Mina. Three months later, Kafka has been given the codename "Kaiju No. 8" due to evading capture and he and Reno pass the first part of the test. The duo proceed to the testing grounds for the second part of the test where they meet Kikoru Shinomiya, another recruit, who notices that Kafka smells like a kaiju.
3	"Revenge Match" Transliteration: "Ribenji Matchi" (Japanese: リベンジマッチ)	Hitomi Ezoe	Kazumi Yū	April 27, 2024 (2024-04-27)
Reno tells Kikoru that he and Kafka work as kaiju cleaners explaining his smell and swaying her doubts. Kafka and Reno begin the physical part of the test, which Kafka barely passes, and move on to the aptitude test. The proctor for the exam, the vice-captain of the Third Division, Soshiro Hoshina, explains that the recruits need to eliminate a large group of Primigenius yoju led by a honju in a training area. The recruits are outfitted with power suits, made from kaiju muscle fibers, that empower them, boosting their physical capabilities and their weapons and providing them with a shield that, if activated, makes them fail the test. The suits have unleashed combat power expressed as a percentage with Kafka being the only recruit with a 0% output. Despite that, Kafka utilizes his knowledge of kaiju to support others in eliminating the targets when a yoju attacks him and injures him. Right before his shield activates Kafka is saved by Kikoru after which Soshiro advises him to quit due to his injuries. Kafka refuses and chooses to continue as Mina watches his progress.
4	"Fortitude 9.8" Transliteration: "Forutichūdo 9.8" (Japanese: フォルティチュード9.8)	Kazuki Yokoyama	Iwao Teraoka	May 4, 2024 (2024-05-04)
Kafka and Reno try to support other recruits due to the duo's low firepower. Kikoru runs past other recruits eliminating all yoju and the honju, ending the aptitude test. As Kikoru is about to return to the others, she is attacked by an intelligent, humanoid kaiju that revives all of the yoju and the honju, making them stronger in the process. The humanoid kaiju orders the honju to attack Kikoru who tries to fight it off. A flashback reveals that Kikoru's father, the Director General of the Defense Force, Isao Shinomiya, demands from her to be perfect on the battlefield in the memory of her mother who was killed by a kaiju. Despite her efforts, the honju heavily injures Kikoru and prepares to kill her as Kafka appears and transforms, killing the honju and saving Kikoru's life. The Defense Force picks up on Kafka's fortitude level, revealing it to be 9.8 which is written off as a reading error. Mina and Soshiro survey the destroyed honju with Soshiro suspecting that it is connected to the Trichonephila yoju Kafka killed three months prior. As Kikoru recuperates in the hospital, Soshiro questions her if she killed the revived honju. Kikoru lies and says that she is the one who killed it. Later, the humanoid kaiju listens to a news report about the incident, changing its appearance to that of a human kaiju cleaner.
5	"Joining Up!" Transliteration: "Nyūtai!" (Japanese: 入隊！)	Kōji Komurakata	Yōjirō Arai	May 11, 2024 (2024-05-11)
With the test finished, Reno and Kikoru are inducted into the Defense Force as officers while Kafka is accepted as a cadet to be further trained on Soshiro's recommendation who points out Kafka's contributions in the aptitude test to the selection committee. Secretly however, Soshiro suspects that Kafka is hiding something as his vitals were not being picked up when the 9.8 fortitude level reading appeared during the test. Kikoru talks with Kafka and Reno about Kafka's power and promises to keep it a secret advising Kafka to be careful as the Defense Force would most likely dispose of him since numbered kaiju are used to make more powerful equipment. The trio continue their training slowly increasing their unleashed combat power. Kafka and Reno befriend recruits Iharu Furuhashi, Haruichi Izumo and Aoi Kaguragi with Kafka revealing that he and Mina are childhood friends which is overheard by Soshiro. Later, Kafka and Soshiro talk about Kafka's promise to Mina and that Kafka aims to be by her side which Soshiro interprets as a challenge to take his position. Their conversation is cut short by an alarm that indicates a new kaiju emergency and Kafka prepares for his first mission.
6	"Sagamihara Neutralization Operation at Daybreak" Transliteration: "Yoake no Sagamihara Tōbatsu Sakusen" (Japanese: 夜明けの相模原討伐作戦)	Tetsuji Nakamura	Kazuya Nomura	May 18, 2024 (2024-05-18)
The Third Division begins an operation to eliminate a large fungal type honju called Mixogastero that emerges in Sagamihara. Mina uses her personal weapon, a massive handheld cannon, to eliminate the honju while utilizing her full unleashed combat power. The honju's destruction releases a swarm of Phaneroplus yoju that start approaching the city. Kafka and the rest of the division are tasked with eliminating the swarm to prevent further destruction. Kafka struggles to help in combat due to his low unleashed combat power so he dissects a dead yoju, finding its core and a set of reproductive organs that allow it to increase its numbers even after death. Soshiro thanks Kafka for his help and the information is spread to other platoons. As Reno and Iharu eliminate yoju in a part of the city, they encounter the humanoid kaiju that attacked Kikoru during the entrance exam, in its human disguise, as it wonders how the Defense Force found out about the yoju's anatomy.
7	"Kaiju No. 9" Transliteration: "Kaijū Kyu-gō" (Japanese: 怪獣9号)	Yoshihide Ibata	Takayuki Sano & Shigeyuki Miya	May 25, 2024 (2024-05-25)
The humanoid kaiju attacks Reno and Iharu, severely injuring the latter. Reno tries to contact the rest of the Third Division but the humanoid kaiju reveals that it formed a "mimetic space" that blocks communications and that allows it to remain hidden from the Defense Force. Reno and Iharu try to defeat it but are easily dispatched. As the humanoid kaiju is about to kill the both of them, Kafka arrives and easily defeats it. However, a pair of Third Division officers appear preventing Kafka from finishing off the humanoid and it escapes. Kafka runs away from the area to hide in an alleyway where he is found by Soshiro who attacks him and accuses him of attacking Reno and Iharu. Soshiro removes the limiter from his suit so that he can use his full unleashed combat power and informs the Third Division that he is neutralizing Kaiju No. 8.
8	"Welcome to the Defense Force" Transliteration: "Bōei Tai e Yōkoso" (Japanese: 防衛隊へようこそ)	Haruo Okuno	Haruo Okuno	June 1, 2024 (2024-06-01)
Kafka tries to defend himself long enough to escape without hurting the vice-captain. Soshiro locates Kafka's core and tries to destroy it but Kafka successfully counters his attack, breaking the vice-captain's sword, and escapes while avoiding detection. Soshiro informs Mina that he suspects that Kaiju No. 8 might be a daikaiju, a rare and powerful type of kaiju. The humanoid kaiju, now identified by the Defense Force as Kaiju No. 9, kills a man and absorbs him, taking his appearance and goes into hiding. With the mission over, Kafka and Kikoru visit Reno and Iharu who are recovering in a hospital. The Third Division holds a party to celebrate their success and Reno and Iharu's recovery. Soshiro announces that Kafka is now officially part of the Defense Force due to his contributions in the mission and is later promoted by Mina who informs Kafka that this was done on Soshiro's recommendation. While Mina leaves the base to have a meeting at headquarters regarding No. 9, Kafka visits Soshiro as the latter is training and thanks him for his trust. While this is happening, in the skies above the base a group of flying yoju led by another humanoid kaiju prepare to attack the Third Division base.
9	"Raid on Tachikawa Base" Transliteration: "Tachikawa Kichi Shūgeki" (Japanese: 立川基地襲撃)	Kōji Komurakata, Ryōta Furukawa, Claire Barbou des Courières & Hirotaka Mori	Ryōta Furukawa	June 8, 2024 (2024-06-08)
The group of flying kaiju land on the Third Division base and begin their assault. Soshiro leads the defense efforts as Mina is away at headquarters. Kafka identifies the kaiju as wyverns named Preondactyls and relays this information to Soshiro and the rest of the division saying that they are usually solitary. Soshiro deduces that the wyverns put aside their pride and are banding together under a leader. The leader is identified as another intelligent, humanoid kaiju with a fortitude level of 8.3 classifying it as a daikaiju. The humanoid attacks Soshiro as he is the strongest fighter on base. While this is happening, Reno, Iharu, Haruichi and Aoi try to eliminate the other wyverns with the help of Kikoru who was given an axe as a personal weapon made from the remains of a previously eliminated honju. Soshiro continues fighting the humanoid leading it to the training grounds, utilizing his full unleashed combat power and nearly destroying its core. However, the humanoid keeps its core intact and transforms, increasing its size and fortitude level to 9.0 as it prepares for further battle.
10	"Secret Revealed" Transliteration: "Bakuro" (Japanese: 曝露)	Kenta Kushitani	Susumu Nishizawa	June 15, 2024 (2024-06-15)
Soshiro's battle against the humanoid continues, but his suit ceases the full output due to the strain it's causing on his body. During the battle, he recalls being told by his father and superiors to give up on joining the Defense Force since he cannot wield firearms well enough. To his surprise, Mina asked him to join her division because his skills might be useful against future smaller kaiju and because she cannot wield blades herself. Remembering the trust Mina showed him, Soshiro continues to fight despite the physical strain until the humanoid grabs a hold of him. Kafka attempts to transform to save him but with the timely return of Mina and with Kikoru's help the Third Division subdue the kaiju. The division's celebration is cut short when they notice that the rest of the wyvern kaiju gathered themselves into a bomb capable of devastating the entire city. Left with no choice, Kafka transforms into his kaiju form in front of everyone, leaps to intercept the bomb, punches it to a higher altitude for it to explode far away from the city. As the dust clears, Mina and the rest of the division gather around Kafka to detain him.
11	"Kaiju No. 8 Captured" Transliteration: "Torawareta Kaijū Hachi-gō" (Japanese: 捕らわれた怪獣8号)	Ayataka Tanemura	Ayataka Tanemura	June 22, 2024 (2024-06-22)
The top brass of the Defense Force, led by Isao Shinomiya, order the Third Division to hand over Kafka to headquarters in the Ariake maritime base his transport being overseen by the deputy director of the Defense Force, Keiji Itami. While detained, Kafka is informed by Mina that she and the rest of the Third Division do not see him as an enemy and will do everything they can to help him avoid disposal. Mina affirms Kafka's desire to be by her side saying that she waits for his return. Reno, Iharu, Haruichi and Aoi are set to be transferred to other divisions for further training while the Third Division base is rebuilt after its destruction by the other humanoid kaiju, now identified as Kaiju No. 10. Kikoru talks with her father about sparing Kafka's life as he saved her during the aptitude test. Isao, however, shows her an x-ray of Kafka's chest saying that his heart is now a kaiju core and insisting that he is no longer human. Still, Kikoru vouches for Kafka's humanity. Afterwards, Isao fights Kafka in a containment cell to dispose of him. Kafka tries to avoid using his kaiju form to prove his humanity but senses a great power emanating from Isao's suit and realizes that Isao is wearing a Numbers weapon, a more powerful Defense Force suit made from defeated numbered kaiju; his made from the remains of Kaiju No. 2. Before Isao deals the death blow, Kafka fully transforms and fights back. However, deep in Kafka's subconscious, the mysterious kaiju that infected him gains control of his body and directs him to rush towards Isao as Kikoru watches on in horror.
12	"Kafka Hibino" Transliteration: "Hibino Kafuka" (Japanese: 日比野カフカ)	Katsuya Kikuchi	Katsuya Kikuchi & Shigeyuki Miya	June 29, 2024 (2024-06-29)
The fight between Kafka and Isao continues as Keiji notices that Isao seems to be testing Kafka rather than trying to kill him. Kikoru realizes that her words got through to her father. Kafka becomes more powerful, increases in size and overwhelms Isao. In Kafka's subconscious, the mysterious kaiju devours him and he falls into an abyss. As Kafka is about to deal the death blow, a mental image of Mina grabs his hand and says that she will always wait for him which causes Kafka to strike his own core, preventing himself from killing Isao. Kafka collapses and is taken by medics to be taken care of. The rest of the Third Division remember Kafka's contributions and hope for his return while Mina is called to headquarters to provide information on Kafka as an officer. She praises his efforts and speaks positively about his character recalling the time he comforted her when they were younger. Isao visits Kafka and explains that he decided to keep him alive as an asset for the Defense Force but that the rest of the top brass still see him as a kaiju and that they want him dead. He tells Kafka to prove his worth, calling him by his name. Kafka states he will prove himself as an officer. The Third Division receive news that Kafka's disposal has been deferred. In a post-credits scene, Kaiju No. 9 talks with another version of itself as it prepares its next move.

Home media release

Japanese

Toho Animation (Japan – Region 2/A)

Vol.		Episodes	Cover character(s)	Release date	Ref.
Season 1
	1	1–3	Kafka Hibino	July 17, 2024
	2	4–6	Reno Ichikawa	August 21, 2024
	3	7–9	Kikoru Shinomiya	September 18, 2024
	4	10–12	Mina Ashiro	October 16, 2024

External links

• Official anime website (in Japanese)
• Official website at Crunchyroll
• Kaiju No. 8 (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Kaiju No. 8 at IMDb