Forum - View topicEP. REVIEW: Kaiju No. 8
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malvarez1
Posts: 2115 |
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This is gonna be a real interesting series to follow. Like Solo Leveling, it falls off hard later…but anime wise, we won’t reach that until season 2 - maybe even 3.
But like most people, I think the manga starts off really strong, and I think the anime has a great chance to improve the manga’s failings, namely developing the supporting cast and making the villains more threatening when they eventually appear. |
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Minos_Kurumada
Posts: 1186 |
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Kafka getting his crap together and training to get into the force while he has to deal with the cleaning job and the general functioning of a society that gets a monster attack daily sounds like a more interesting history than "I became Ultraman because reasons".
I really hope the series explains why there are no defensive systems of any kind placed around and inside the city or no visible damage across the buildings. I mean, Evangelion solutioned these questions 30 years ago with the AT Field and the hiding of the city, this is no rocket science. The guns needing some kind of BS bio energy or whatever for example. |
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MFrontier
Posts: 13902 |
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The animation is great and the voice acting fits the characters very well. Sure the Naruto-esque designs take some getting used too, but so far this is shaping up to be a good adaption.
The OP is kind of weak compared to the ED to me.
Honestly would probably be easier to keep his secret identity too (even though numerous Ultra Hosts have been able to pull off being on defense teams while maintaining their identity). Actually that would be a good premise for an Ultra show. |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11601 |
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Isn't Kafka the host and the kaiju the parasite? Loving this so far, but I want to see rich JDF applicant get her comeuppance sooner than later, and change her attitude. Is she gonna pay for the damage she caused? I doubt it, unless she's forced to. I suppose she's an extreme example of those morons who park their expensive cars at an angle in crowded lots to prevent others parking near their baby (and get said baby keyed for their efforts). |
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kgw
 Posts: 1189 Location: Spain, EU |
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This manga is full of interesting directions spoiler[it never took.
Civilian life under the Kaiju menace? Kafka's interaction with his Kaiju persona? What did that bug mean by "I found you"? In the end, it becomes a hot blooded action comic where even Kafka being a 32-year old adult loses all importance.] And I still think that Naruto's characters, even the ones who appear in just one filler chapter, are better designed than the ones of this series. |
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Minos_Kurumada
Posts: 1186 |
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EP2
OK... I am still not sure of what the issue with the series is exactly... maybe the problem is that the series is still trying to find its tone, maybe the problem is that its trying to juggle multiple themes as the same time but doesn't develop one ... - Should I take the kaiju menace seriously? Dunno, the city doesn't looks like it does, it doesn't even has sensors to detect mini tremors nor sonars to detect enemies underwater nor under land. - Should I rot for Kafka to get the girl? Dunno, I know nothing about her. - Should I care about Kafka's struggle with his monstruos body? Dunno, the series gives him his human form back and treats his transformations as a joke, weird decision taking in account his name is Kafka, an obvious reference to Metamorphosis. - Should I care about the soldiers fighting? Dunno, all the kaiju are killed quite easily, and apparently they can pull property damage if they feel like it. When you write a series, you need an emotional core and then you write everything around it, but the series doesn't have one yet. |
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tintor2
 Posts: 2134 |
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Somehow, this series reminds me of Gintama. It starts with messed up civilization, a middle aged man as protagonist (Kondo?), humor that goes from something simple to peeing and shit. The production values are good but I don't recall being mindblown.
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Cardcaptor Takato
 Posts: 5203 |
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I really like the premise, the characters, and the animation, but I feel like the pacing is holding the show back to me as I find it to be too slowly paced going through the plot setup episodes. I'll always prefer a show taking it's time over rushing through the source material but this feels like something where maybe reading the manga is faster paced and the anime is taking it's sweet time getting through all the character introductions and setup. This latest training episode is also reminding me a bit too much of MHA.
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Gem-Bug
 Posts: 1320 |
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I agree. Third episode felt like a slog, like it was building to a point and then just ended before a proper cliffhanger. Also, as someone who's 37, the constant barrage of "Lol, you're funny because you're an old guy" towards our MC who is only 31 is getting pretty tired. I get that real-world military/fire organizations prefer a certain age, but the series has established that A.) Kafka has tried and failed numerous times, and that B.) the age limit has been lowered to gather more personnel. Like, we get it. Hearing the ridicule from almost every introduced character doesn't feel like it's bringing anything to the table. |
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malvarez1
Posts: 2115 |
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Saying that the episode uses popular tropes and doesn’t stray too far from the playbook describes the series as a whole, TBH.
The pacing complaints are fair, we’ve only covered like five chapters so far. |
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Greed1914
 Posts: 4640 |
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These are definitely fair questions, and I keep expecting even a brief explanation that would help with some of them. For example, I can't tell if the age limit for applicants was lowered because kaiju attacks are so frequent they just need more staff, or if replacing casualties is a problem. I think it's the first option since there don't seem to be a lot of stakes so far, but I don't know. I'm also a bit perplexed with the physical fitness part of the test in episode 3. I get that it's going with the joke about getting debuffed at 30, but Kafka seems completely bewildered that he is struggling that much. He mentions that he has been keeping up with exercise etc. but it's also a part he always struggled with every time, so I'm not sure why he is that surprised. Similarly, his coworkers seem worried about that letter saying he was rejected again, but Kafka isn't at all excited by passing the first test because the written test isn't the problem. Did the coworkers not know that? It's probably small stuff, but it's weirdly inconsistent. |
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XR250rdr
Posts: 8 |
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The age limit was raised, giving Kafka another chance to take the test since he was too old. A reasonable inference is that the defense force is short on staff. I overlooked the part about the coworkers. I was also confused how they seem to be rebuilding so quickly when Kaiju attacks are frequent enough that they have a Kaiju attack street light. |
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MFrontier
Posts: 13902 |
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I think Kafka's problem isn't necesarilly his age (and also that he has to hold himself back because of his Kaiju powers) but that he's testing alongside a bunch of high-spec candidates. Kikoru is basically a prodigy with the advantage of having had enough experience with the power suits that she can bring out the potential of them more than anyone else on the first go around (and she's the one mostly calling Kafka out on his age because she's arrogant like that).
Though what Kafka brings to the table as himself, and not Kaiju No. 8, is intimate know-how of Kaiju physiology and weaknesses in the field as well as being more of a team player (compared to how Kikoru immediately goes for the kill and basically tries to show off). |
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Covnam
 Posts: 3827 |
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Based on this episode it seems like Kafka should be in command and control providing support and not on the battle field (kaiju powers aside).
Surely he could have gone for a position doing that and been successful? It may not be his first pick, but at least he would still be more involved and could work with his childhood friend. |
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MFrontier
Posts: 13902 |
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But it wouldn't be fulfilling their promise to stand beside each other in battle. That's why he has to be on a field team. |
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