The smash-hit Japanese anime series, Kaiju No. 8, is poised to embark on an exciting new journey with the announcement of its second season. As the credits rolled on the epic finale of the first season on Saturday, Crunchyroll, the global streaming giant, revealed that Production I.G, the renowned Japanese anime studio, has already commenced work on the next chapter of the captivating tale. Crunchyroll boasts that it will bring the return of Kaiji No. 8's second season to over 200 countries, leaving fans worldwide eagerly anticipating the specific release details to be unveiled soon.
Kaiju No. 8 is a stunning adaptation of the original manga created by the masterful Naoya Matsumoto. The series, animated by Production I.G (renowned for their work on Ghost in the Shell), boasts spectacular kaiju artwork and design supervision from Studio Khara (Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition, Shin Godzilla). Directed by the talented Shigeyuki Miya (known for Onihei) and Tomomi Kamiya (Yotsuiro Biyori), with the skilled scriptwriting of Ichiro Okouchi (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury), the series tells a compelling story.
In a world overrun by terrifying Kaiju creatures, Kafka Hibino dreams of joining The Defense Force. He makes a solemn promise with his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro, to enlist together. However, life has other plans, and the two are soon separated. While Kafka finds himself cleaning up after Kaiju battles, he meets Reno Ichikawa, whose unwavering determination to join The Defense Force reignites Kafka's vow to protect humanity alongside Mina.
The second season of Kaiji No. 8 boasts an impressive team, including chief animation direction and character design by Tetsuya Nishio (Naruto); Kaiju design by Mahiro Maeda (renowned for his concept art and design on Mad Max: Fury Road); art direction by Shinji Kimura (Tekkonkinkreet, Blood Blockade Battlefront); cinematography by Eiji Arai (Kuroko's Basketball, PSYCHO-PASS); editing by Aya Hida (Attack on Titan); and music composed by Yuta Bandoh (Towako Omameda and Her Three Ex-husbands). The opening song "Abyss" is performed by YUNGBLUD, while the closing track "Nobody" is brought to life by OneRepublic.
Crunchyroll, a subsidiary of Sony Group, has carved out a niche in the global streaming landscape by catering to the diverse needs of anime enthusiasts worldwide. With over 13 million subscribers, the service continues to grow and expand its offerings, ensuring that fans have access to the latest and greatest in anime entertainment.
In a separate announcement on Sunday, Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment revealed plans to release Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, the epic conclusion of the beloved Demon Slayer anime franchise, as a trilogy of theatrical films worldwide. The earlier installment, Mugen Train, achieved legendary status as the highest-grossing Japanese film in history, raking in over $500 million at the global box office.
