" Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME," a smartphone and PC game based on the anime "Kaiju No. 8, " based on the popular manga by Naoya Matsumoto that was serialized on Shueisha's manga app "Shonen Jump+," will be released on August 31st (the PC version will be released at a later date). The game, developed by Akatsuki Games, TOHO, and Production IG, is based on the concept of a "giant-killing RPG" in which you deliver a comeback blow to a giant monster. The appearance of Shinomiya Sagan, the "non-blood sister" of Kikoru Shinomiya, as an original character in the game has also been a hot topic. Shinomiya Sagan is played by popular voice actress Akari Kito. We spoke to Kito about the game and Sagan.
◇The common thread is impatience!
The manga "Kaiju No. 8" began serialization in "Shonen Jump+" in July 2020 and aired its final chapter on July 18th. Set in Japan, a monster-dominated country where monsters mercilessly invade daily life, the story follows the adventures of protagonist Kafka Hibino, whose body is transformed into a monster by a mysterious creature. The first season of the anime aired from April to June 2024, and the second season is currently airing every Saturday at 11:00 PM on TV Tokyo and other channels, and is also streaming live worldwide on X.
Shinomiya Sagan is an original character for the game, and this will be Kito's first time appearing in "Kaiju No. 8."
"The main character has turned into a monster, and is stronger than when he is human, so he is a reliable presence, but you never know when he might be consumed by the monster's power. There is a thrill in the unknown existence of someone who is both human and monster. I felt a sense of affinity with Kafka. The other members of the defense force seem to have been well-trained, but Kafka is originally set as a 32-year-old man whose dreams were once shattered, and he seems more like an ordinary person than the others, which is what made him relatable. I watched the story and sympathized with him as a character closer to an ordinary person."
Sagan, played by Kito, is the leader of CLOZER, a dimensional monster countermeasure unit formed to investigate the mystery of the "Monster Dimension Gate." He was adopted by the Shinomiya family and later traveled to the United States to join the US Defense Forces. He is clearly a "strong character."
"When I first saw the character, I thought she was dignified and strong, but also strict and a little scary. But as we went through the recording, I discovered that she has some unexpectedly cute and absent-minded sides to her. She has room to grow, and I get the impression that she's a really earnest and nice girl. She does make mistakes sometimes, but that's because she's so earnest. She's dignified and reliable in battle, but when she's talking with her allies, she shows signs of being her age, so I'm conscious of making sure to bring out that contrast. I wondered how far I should go with the relaxed attitude she shows when she's talking with her allies in everyday life, but she told me, 'It's okay to let your guard down,' so I had fun portraying that relaxed feeling. I think she's a lovable character."
Although they are not related by blood, Shinomiya Sagan and Kikoru Shinomiya are sisters.
"I wasn't particularly conscious of the similarities, but I was conscious of the bond and love between the family members when I played the role. The story is original to the game, and with Sagan's appearance, you can see a new side of Kikoru. I think it's something that fans of the manga and anime will enjoy as well."
Shinomiya Sagan has some surprising aspects and seems to be an attractive character with a gap between her personality and her personality, but do she have anything in common with Kito-san?
"I guess it's my impatience (laughs). Sagan sometimes likes to run ahead of the pack, and I can understand why. Even when we're all out having fun, I sometimes just walk briskly by myself."
◇You can make a movie with this!?
When the topic turned to games, Kito revealed, "Actually, I'm not very good at them..."
"I also like action games, but I also slack off on leveling up. I'll challenge a boss without leveling up and spend about two hours beating it. I sometimes think it would have been more efficient to challenge it after leveling up... (laughs). I'm not very good at difficult games, but I like games themselves, so I sometimes watch game commentaries."
"Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME" has simple controls but allows players to experience the exhilaration of turning the tables, making it a game that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, and Kito says he is looking forward to its release.
"There were some parts where we were able to record in time with the video, but the graphics are really beautiful. The quality is so good that it feels like a movie could be made out of it, and I enjoyed recording it as well. I think the story has been expanded in a way that will be great for fans who are already enjoying ' Kaiju No. 8'. People who don't know ' Kaiju No. 8' can enjoy it, and it seems like people of all ages can play, so I hope lots of people will play it."
What kind of performance will Shinomiya Sagan, played by Kito, show us? Be sure to give the game a try.
