English Dub Review: Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon

Kaiju movies on the big screen are almost as classic as the cinema itself. Whether it was Godzilla tearing through Tokyo or King Kong climbing the Empire State Building, filmmakers have always enjoyed the prospect of big huge monsters going ham on a civilian population. So, take this idea and throw it in a blender with a good heap of your garden-variety Shonen, and you’ve got yourself Kaiju No. 8. 

In a Kaiju-filled Japan, Kafka Hibino works in monster disposal. After reuniting with his childhood friend Mina Ashiro, a rising star in the anti-Kaiju Defense Force, he decides to pursue his abandoned dream of joining the Force… when he suddenly transforms into the powerful “Kaiju No. 8.” With help from his junior colleague Reno Ichikawa, Kafka hides his identity while striving towards his life-long dream of passing the Defense Force exam and standing at Mina’s side. But when a mysterious intelligent Kaiju attacks a Defense Force base, Kafka faces a crucial decision in a desperate situation…

The omnibus film Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon features an action-packed recap of season one and a new original episode, Hoshina’s Day Off. (Hoshina’s Day Off) A day off… a rare day of peace for the Defense Force. After spending so long training, Reno has forgotten what he’s supposed to do with free time. He sees that Hoshina is up to something with his own day off, and decides to go on a mission to tail him with Iharu.

Production I.G. has delivered energetic camera work, bold colors, and detailed character designs for Kaiju No. 8. The action sequences are particularly exciting and inventive, with expert use of lighting to enhance the nighttime settings and the dark suits of the characters. CGI is used sparingly, with the studio opting for a more hand-drawn aesthetic showcasing the animators’ effort.

In the grand-scheme of Shonen anime, Kaiju No. 8 isn’t one that has the most meat on the bone as it pertains to depth of plot but showcasing massive Kaiju battles on the big screen is as tradition as tradition gets when it comes to Japanese cinema and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed going to see this one on the biggest screens possible.