New Crunchyroll Kaiju Anime May Be the Unofficial Pacific Rim Successor Fans Have Waited For

A new anime airing on Crunchyroll this season, Kaiju No. 8, has the potential to be the long-awaited spiritual successor to the film Pacific Rim. Guillermo del Toro’s take on the classic Kaiju story has developed a cult following since its debut in 2013. The merging of giant monsters with huge mechs made for a stellar visual feast. The film has become a favorite among del Toro fans, and now a new anime could prove to be a perfect follow-up.

Crunchyroll recently revealed its April lineup with a list of upcoming programming to hype fans up for the Spring 2024 anime season. There are quite a few notable entries, such as the long-awaited third season of Konosuba, but the biggest eyecatcher is a new series called Kaiju No. 8. Based on the 2020 manga of the same name by Naoya Matsumoto, the series follows a character named Kafka as he aims to join Japan’s Defense Force to eradicate the Kaiju invading Japan. The official trailer for the series on Crunchyroll’s YouTube gives further insight on what lies in store for this bold new take on the traditional Kaiju story.

On the surface, the new series looks like a fun new Kaiju story for fans of the subgenre of monster movies. However, there are some interesting elements at play that seem to be lifted directly from Pacific Rim.

Pacific Rim‘s World-building and Kaiju Design Seems to Inspire Kaiju No. 8

Produced by Production I.G; based on the original manga by Naoya Matsumoto

While no mechs are present in Kaiju No. 8, the influence from del Toro’s Pacific Rim is certainly there. The trailer’s opening moment shows what happens when a Kaiju is killed in the streets of Japan as a band of extractors harvests the creature’s skin and organs. This is similar to Kaiju Organ Harvesters, headed by Ron Perlman’s Hannibal Chau, who take organs from deceased Kaiju and sell them on the black market. It suggests that this is a world where Kaiju have become a regular occurrence, so there are people who take advantage of the resources provided by the Kaiju for the benefit of humanity.

What also stands out about Kaiju No. 8 is the design of its monsters. The use of neon for some of these creatures, particularly with Kafka’s Kaiju form that he attains midway through the teaser, draws heavy parallels to Pacific Rim‘s Kaiju. Plus, with the exaggerated features making it easier to tell the monsters apart, it’s clear just how influential del Toro’s film was when Matsumoto created the story. However, there’s more to Kaiju No. 8‘s style than just Pacific Rim.

Kaiju No. 8 Gives an Attack on Titan Twist To Pacific Rim

The character’s ability to transform into a Kaiju calls back to Eren Jaeger’s Titan form

The fascinating thing about Kaiju No. 8 is how it also takes inspiration from Attack on Titan, not too long after the latter officially ended. The Kaiju themselves share similar traits to the Titans, especially concerning their monstrous human features, making them appear otherworldly. However, the biggest draw is the twist that Kafka is able to transform into a Kaiju himself. While he doesn’t nearly reach the same size as the Kaiju he’s fighting, it’s clear Attack on Titan was a massive influence for the story as Kafka charges into battle with his new form.

Fans will be able to see this exciting merging of two iconic franchises when Kaiju No. 8 premieres on Crunchyroll on April 13, 2024. Kaiju storylines are incredibly popular right now, with storylines like Attack on Titan and Godzilla Minus One drawing in huge crowds to witness the giant-sized action. Now, Crunchyroll’s Kaiju No. 8 could be the next big thing for fans of the subgenre as it serves as a spiritual successor to Pacific Rim and other notable Kaiju works.

Sources: Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll YouTube