Summary
As indicated by its title,Kaiju No. 8is a high-octane shōnen action series that revolves around humanity’s constant war against city-destroying giant monsters (or Kaiju) and one man named Kafka Hibino, who can turn into one of them to join the fight. Needless to say, this is a very fun and entertaining series, not to mention that theoriginal manga was finalized very recently.
Obviously enough, Kaiju No. 8is a giant love letter to the world of Tokusatsu films and shows, which is famous for influential and iconic characters like Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Gamera, Ultraman, and many more. As a result, not only has this series featured powerful monsters in almost every chapter, but it’s also brimming with some of the most distinctive and brilliant Kaiju designs ever made, and the following are the most noteworthy examples.
8Trichonephila
The Spider-like Kaiju That Kickstarted The Plot Of The Series
While this series is filled to the brim with conventional Kaiju designs, it’s worth pointing out that the very first monster that played a key role in the story was surprisingly unique. Known asTrichonephila,this spider-like Kaiju attacked Kafka and Reno in the very first chapter/episode.
Its arachnid anatomy and striking color scheme already made it look very weird from the get-go, but its human-like face and limbs are what make this design come off as truly disturbing, which is perfect for the Kaiju that successfully established how unpredictable and dangerous these giant beasts can be.
7Kaiju No. 15
A Creepy Humanoid Kaiju With Shapeshifting Abilities
The Second Wave Arc introduced a bunch of powerful Kaiju who possessed some of the most detailed and distinctive appearances in the entire series, withKaiju No. 15being one of the most notorious examples. This is a deceiving monster that prefers to use its psychic powers to manipulate its opponents, instead of sheer strength.
Its fighting style is perfectly reflected in its creepy design, as it has a feminine and humanoid appearance, with a collection of giant brains on its head and what seems to be a skirt made out of brain matter. However, Kaiju No. 15’s most defining feature is its lack of a face, which represents its ability to read its victim’s minds and shapeshift into them,just like it did to Kikoru Shinomiya.
6Kaiju No. 14
The Weirdest Creature In The Entire Series
Most of the Kaiju inKaiju No. 8have animalistic appearances, whether they look like reptiles, insects, fish, or mammals. However,Kaiju No. 14is an obvious exception, as it’s noteworthy for how unconventional and strange it looks when compared to all of its peers. This monster is a giant black monolith with four human-like faces in its corners, which is as creepy as it’s fascinating, and it feels like something straight out ofNeon Genesis Evangelion, which surely can’t be a coincidence.
Curiously enough, author Naoya Matsumoto even confirmed that he gave No. 14 this ominous design to make it come off as apocalyptic and chaotic. Nevertheless, this bizarre creature stood out from other monsters in the series, and it ended up being a surprisingly memorable antagonist as a result, despite its relatively brief role in the story.
5Preondactyl
A Flock Of Deadly Flying Wyverns
Curiously enough, there are not many Kaiju with the ability to fly in this series, which is why thePreondactyls(also known as Wyverns) that attacked the Tachikawa Base were particularly remarkable. Their large wingspan, three red eyes, and large horns made them look quite intimidating, which worked perfectly for a bunch of Kaiju that starred in one of the most suspenseful moments in the story.
Needless to say, the Preondactyls not only stand out due to their unique wyvern-like anatomy and their impressive fighting abilities, but also becausethey’re most likely an homage to Rodan, an iconic monster from theGodzillafranchise, and that is a very fun detail.
4Kaiju No. 9
A Human-Killing Creature That’s Constantly Evolving
Kaiju No. 9is the main antagonist of the series, which means that it has a particular set of skills and abilities that separate it from the other Kaiju. When it was first introduced, it looked like a skinny human with scales, jagged teeth, and a plain head, which was disturbing, but it really didn’t make it seem all that powerful in comparison to other monsters in this story.
But, of course, Kaiju No. 9 eventually proved that it’s both an evil mastermind and an efficient fighter, and the contrast between its seemingly feeble appearance and its immense power turned it into an extraordinary villain. But, of course, throughout the story, it kept evolving further by absorbing other living beings, like Kaiju No. 2 and Isao Shinomiya. This led to No. 9’s impressive new design during the final battle, where it became a hulking monster that could go toe-to-toe against No. 8, and its newfound strength was perfectly reflected in its imposing muscular appearance.
3Kaiju No. 6
It’s Basically Godzilla, But With Four Tails And Ice Powers
To no one’s surprise,Kaiju No. 8has paid tribute to Godzilla, the most well-known fictional Kaiju in the entire world, on several occasions, via the designs of monsters like Philinosoma and Diclonius. However, out of all the Godzilla-like creatures in this series, the coolest-looking one isKaiju No. 6, who was even known as “The King of Kaiju,” an obvious reference to the King of the Monsters.
No. 6 was only seen on-screen very briefly, and yet its design is still one of the most impressive in the entire manga. It’s basically a large dinosaur (similarly to Godzilla), but it stands out from him due to its large horns, multiple long tails, and incredible ice-generating powers. Kaiju No. 6 looked like an unbeatable beast of destruction, and based on its design, there’s no doubt that it was worthy of the title of “King of Kaiju.” Hopefully, the anime will give fans a closer look at this titan in the near future.
2Kaiju No. 10
A Monstrous Prototype With A Menacing Appearance
WhenKaiju No. 10’s anime design was first revealed, many longtime fans were perplexed by its bright red skin, but this turned out to work perfectly for this character, as it not only made it look more distinct, but it also helped it come off as even more deadly, as it seemed like it was covered in the blood of its enemies.
Since it was a prototype that Kaiju No. 9 created to defeat Kaiju No. 8,Kaiju No. 10 looks relatively similar to the series’ titular character, but with a few key differences that set it apart, like its beetle-like horns, its long tail, its giant maw hiding a single blue eye inside, and the aforementioned red skin. On top of that, No. 10 can transform into a second form, which is much bigger and has even more spikes and horns throughout its body. Needless to say, this monster has what is undoubtedly one of the most imposing, fascinating, and cool-looking Kaiju designs in the entire series.
1Kaiju No. 8 (Kafka Hibino)
A Design So Perfect That It Became The Face Of The Series
While all the Kaiju in this series have excellent designs, it’s evident that creator Naoya Matsumoto put more thought and attention into the appearance of its main titular character,Kaiju No. 8, more than anything else. This makes a lot of sense, however, since this is the character that eventually appeared on almost every single manga cover, anime trailer, and other promotional material, so he needed to have an interesting design that would attract people’s attention and entice them to give this series a shot.
Kafka Hibino’s Kaiju form is perfect, since not only does it look like a man-made Kaiju costume(an obvious homage to the Tokusatsu genre), but its horned skull-shaped face makes it stand out extremely well, seeing as there’s no other transformation that looks like it in the entire action shōnen genre. The dark skin was also a clever addition, because it contrasts flawlessly against the bright blue energy Kafka emits whenever he’s fighting. Furthermore, the most brilliant aspect of Kaiju No. 8’s overall appearance is its simplicity; since this is a character the author had to draw over and over, a task that would have been a lot more tedious if he had a needlessly complex design. Of course, Kafka also unlocked a second, more powerful form during the climactic final battle, and it looked even more amazing, thanks to its longer horns and the dorsal plates on its back (which, of course, are a reference to Godzilla’s very own dorsal plates).
