Kaiju No. 8 anime adaptation trailer still

 

The anime adaptation of Kaiju No. 8, the popular Shōnen Jump+ series, is being criticized by fans for its art style that goes against the manga.On Twitter, fans of Kaiju No. 8 expressed their disappointment that the upcoming anime adaptation by Production I.G looks “off” compared to the original manga art style by series creator Naoya Matsumoto. Fans also questioned the quality of the Kaiju No. 8 anime character designs, fearing it could be a red flag for poor animation.RELATED:Chainsaw Man Fans Start Petition Demanding Remake Of The Anime

Kaiju No. 8 Anime and Manga Designs Don’t Compare

Twitter user MangakaSelim uploaded a side-by-side comparison of the manga designs of Kaiju No. 8 with the anime. Visually, there is a more mature, somber look to the characters in the manga than in the anime. The anime characters are also more circular in design, foregoing the angular look of the manga. Certain characters from the series have also been slightly redesigned for the anime, such as Reno Ichikawa no longer having spiky hair. While the quality of the anime art style for Kaiju No. 8 is subjective, the differences between it and the source material are enough to cause concern for longtime readers.

What is Kaiju No. 8?

Released on July 3, 2020, Kaiju No. 8 is a Japanese sci-fi fantasy series that takes place in a world populated by monsters called “kaiju,” like Godzilla. Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old who works as a kaiju disposal cleaner, gains a kaiju’s power after a small one flies inside his body through his mouth. With his newfound powers, Kafka re-applies to the Defense Force, a Japanese military organization dedicated to eliminating the kaiju. He hopes to finally fulfill his childhood promise of fighting alongside Mina Ashiro, who is now the 27-year-old captain of the Third Division of the Defense Force.

The anime adaptation of Kaiju No. 8 is handled by Production I.G, the animation studio behind series like Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,Fena: Pirate Princess and Psycho-Pass. Studio Khara (Rebuild of Evangelion) is supervising the kaiju designs and artwork for the anime. A teaser trailer for Kaiju No. 8‘s adaptation was released in Dec. 2022.