The first season of the anime " Kaiju No. 8 ", based on the popular manga by Naoya Matsumoto , currently being serialized on Shueisha's manga app "Shonen Jump +", will be screened in theaters for three weeks only from March 28th. Also being screened at the same time is "Hoshino's Day Off", which depicts the days off of Soshiro Hoshina, vice captain of the Japan Defense Force's third unit. The first season of the anime was much talked about for its powerful visuals and the passionate performances of the voice actors, so fans will be happy to be able to enjoy it on a large screen and with sound in the theater. With the second season of the anime scheduled to air in July, it looks like "Kaiju No. 8 " will continue to get more exciting in the future. We asked Masaya Fukunishi , who plays the protagonist Kafka Hibino/ Kaiju No. 8 , and Kengo Kawanishi, who plays Hoshina, to look back on the first season.
◇Anime to watch on the big screen
-What do you feel are the results after the first season aired from April to June 2024?
Kawanishi-san: We were doing something that is rare elsewhere, a real-time worldwide broadcast, and just that alone shows the passion of the staff, and it became a hot topic on X, so I felt a sense of accomplishment. We even received letters from people overseas, and they had studied Japanese to write to us, which made us really happy.
Fukunishi: I was also happy to receive comments from overseas on social media. Hoshina is especially popular. Last year, there was a screening at Tachikawa Cinema City, and when I saw it on a big screen, I felt something again. The animation staff respects each and every one of us, the cast, in the scene in episode 4 where Kafka reveals his true identity to Kikoru. The ad-lib I put in was incorporated into the picture. It's not just ad-lib, but they draw pictures that make the acting more lively in various ways. We look at it and try to express it in this way, and we feel a sense of accomplishment in the creative aspect, thinking, "I'll try to express it like this and use it in the next dubbing." We can challenge ourselves in recording without fear. I feel the respect from everyone involved in "Kaiju No. 8", both in the promotion and music. I felt that this is what "making things" is all about.
I felt that Mr. Kawanishi was putting effort into the production, ignoring the time and cost, and we had to respond to that. I felt that we had a cooperative relationship where we were competing with each other to improve through the work.
--This is a film that should be seen on the big screen.
Mr. Fukunishi: That's for sure. I've seen the advance screenings and the marathon screenings, so I can say that with confidence. The sound has also been updated, so I'm looking forward to that as well.
◇Is Kengo Kawanishi surprisingly a muscle-brained person?
--What are your impressions of each other as actors? Have you ever been inspired by each other?
There are a lot of things about Fukunishi . I used to watch him as a viewer, and we had the opportunity to work together in other works, but this was the first time we worked together so closely. I think he is a thoughtful person with a good sense of balance. On the other hand, he once said that he was "a muscle-brained guy," which was very surprising. But as we worked together on "Kaiju No. 8," I noticed something. He's a little different from a muscle-brained guy, but he always looks like he's having fun acting, and I think he's someone who values that kind of feeling. First of all, he has fun while expressing the character well. I feel that there is something similar to him, and it resonates with me a lot. However, there are some parts of him that I can't grasp... (laughs). I would like to continue to investigate that.
Kawanishi-san (laughs). I think I've always enjoyed it because I'm doing the work I want to do. If I'm not having fun, it's not interesting for me, and it won't be interesting for the viewers either. It's entertainment, so before I can deliver it, I always try to enjoy it myself.
-Are you a “muscle-brained” person?
Kawanishi: My belief is to just give it a try. Even if I do something wrong at an event, even if it's not a recording session, my friends will help me out in various ways. We've built up a relationship of trust through recording, so I'll just try it out, and if it doesn't work, I'll leave it to them and leave it to them.
◇ The role of Kafka was inevitable
--What is your impression of Fukunishi?
I didn't notice it at other locations, but it's very Kafka-like.
Fukunishi-san: Yes (laughs).
I feel like Kawanishi-san was destined to be like that. It's very difficult to propose a plan that you've thought up yourself, but he takes on the challenge. He's diligent and plans things down to the last detail, but he also has the agility to try things out once and quickly back out if they don't work out. That's something I don't have. I try to do things in an interesting direction, going with the flow and intuition of the moment. Fukunishi-kun is very meticulous.
Fukunishi-san is the type who is cautious before crossing the bridge. Kasai-san jumps right into the action and I feel that he is very bold and I envy him.
--Mr. Fukunishi, you do a lot of research.
Fukunishi: However, sometimes my perspective is too narrow. The director comes to the scene every time, so I hear about the details of the storyboard in advance and then reconstruct it from there. By eliminating as many anxiety factors as possible, I can act freely. This is the scene where I can do that. The atmosphere that the staff creates and the sense of security that comes from having Matsumoto-sensei there are also great.
Mr. Kawanishi: Sound director Sato (Yuki Fumi) explained things in an easy-to-understand way, so we were really relieved. I felt relieved to have the answer from Matsumoto-sensei and the answer from the director, so it was very easy for me to work.
Mr. Fukunishi , you have a clear vision.
◇ "Hoshino's Holiday" is the culmination of the first season
--What scene in the compilation left an impression on you?
A certain line that Fukunishi-san spoke in episode 10 of the anime was moved in a different way when I watched it all at once. The compilation focuses heavily on Kafka's feelings and growth, and the way you feel about the series of scenes changes a little. It directly conveys Kafka's thoughts, growth, and conflicts up to now. I hope you will watch until the end, including that scene.
Mr. Kawanishi looked at it as if checking the answer, saying "It connects those scenes," "I see." As Mr. Fukunishi said, the point is that it can be seen in a different way.
Fukunishi-san , you have a really clever way with your composition.
-What about "Hoshina's Holiday" which is being shown at the same time?
Mr. Kawanishi: First of all, I thought, "Hoshina can drive..." When he goes to the scene, he drives a helicopter of the defense force or a special vehicle, so I thought he might not have a license. I understand his taste in cars, and I can see an unexpected side of him. When I saw him giving advice, I felt that he was close to the members of the force, and that he was making things go smoothly like a lubricant.
It's like a culmination of Fukunishi-san 's first season. Each character's personality came out, and the recording was a lot of fun. What I want you to see in Kafka is the singing scene. I sang a certain song ad-lib and it was adopted. It's only for a moment, so I hope you don't overhear it.
--The second season will begin airing in July.
Fukunishi: New characters will appear and we will enter a new phase. Recording is... always difficult, but also a lot of fun!
"Kaiju No. 8" is a battle manga that has been serialized in "Shonen Jump+" since July 2020. Set in Japan, a monster superpower where monsters mercilessly invade everyday life, the story follows the adventures of the protagonist, Kafka Hibino, whose body has been transformed into a monster by a mysterious creature. The comics have sold over 18 million copies in total. The first season of the anime aired from April to June 2024 on TV Tokyo and other networks. The second season of the anime will begin airing in July.
