Kaiju No. 8 season 2 Premiere: Lived up to the season 1 hype or let us down?

After waiting for a while, I was excited for Kaiju No. 8 season 2. Especially after the first season became a massive success, fans had high expectations for the new season. Moreover, premieres are important as they tend to set the tone of the overall episodes to come.

But after watching the season opener, I found myself in a conflicted space between admiration and disappointment. The episode opens with a dreamlike flashback that transports us to Kafka’s childhood, when he and Mina Ashiro were just innocent kids facing down the horrors of a kaiju attack.

On paper, this is a brilliant move, connecting Kafka’s current burden with his childhood trauma. But it’s quickly revealed to be just a dream sequence, and that false start feels like a bait-and-switch. The emotional gravity vanishes almost as quickly as it appeared.

Monster Kaiju (Image Credits: Production I. G.)

There was a strange blur filter over most of Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 1, and it dulled the visual clarity I had come to love from season 1. While some of the key animations were revised well and character designs held up overall, the lack of crispness was a distraction.

While I understand that it is unreasonable to expect top-tier animation quality from the anime, I was expecting it from this show. Kaiju No. 8’s story thrives on action, and if the action sequences are not up to the mark, then the quality of the story also drops.

While we didn’t get full visuals for the opening and ending themes in this episode, the songs themselves are already making waves online. The opening theme, “You Can’t Run From Yourself” by Aurora, is the perfect sonic backdrop for Kafka’s journey in Kaiju No. 8 season 2. It captures the inner turmoil of a man who must come to terms with the monster within him, rather than running from it.

Kafka Hibino’s character analysis in the season premiere

Kafka Hibino remains one of the most compelling protagonists in anime. A 32-year-old janitor turned kaiju-slaying powerhouse, he’s refreshingly mature and emotionally grounded. In Kaiju No. 8 season 2, we do get glimpses of his internal conflict.

His flashback-turned-nightmare, his strained interactions with his Defense Force colleagues, and his quiet acceptance into the First Division all showcase a man torn between duty and dread. These emotional beats are powerful; they just arrive a bit too quietly.

There was also a curious omission that I couldn’t ignore. In the manga, Kafka has a small yet meaningful memory of Reno while he’s training. It’s just a panel, but it reinforces how important Reno is to Kafka, not just as a comrade but as a friend and emotional anchor. Kaiju No. 8 season 2 decided to skip that moment, and I can’t help but feel it was a missed opportunity.

What was good about the episode

Visual from Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 (Image Source: Production I.G.)

Despite its flaws, I’m not ready to write off Kaiju No. 8 season 2. The final minute of the episode, an original anime addition, was excellent. It added another layer to the characters and concluded on a note that genuinely excited me for Episode 2. The post-credits scene, which jumped into Chapter 41 of the manga, also helped build momentum.

The direction, script, and animation staff know what they’re doing. With Yuuichirou Kido handling the script and Mineo Oe directing the episode, the pieces are in place for Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 to become a major contender for anime of the season, if it picks up the pace.

Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 1 review

Expand Tweet

When you break it down, Kaiju No. 8 season 2 episode 1 is a setup episode, plain and simple. And in many ways, that’s fine. Season premieres often serve as a bridge between the past and what’s to come. But here’s the thing: Kaiju No. 8 Season 1 didn’t gain popularity by playing it safe. It stood out because it hit hard, both emotionally and physically, right from the start.

One of the strengths of Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 is that it doesn’t abandon its supporting cast. Kikoru Shinomiya gets some much-needed character depth in a quiet moment near the end of the episode

She’s shown in her mansion, staring at a blurry picture of her deceased mother before donning her uniform and diving back into battle. It’s a stark contrast between her privileged background and the battlefield she’s chosen. That was some top-tier storytelling.

Final thoughts