The hype for Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 is reaching fever pitch! A new trailer has dropped, unveiling fresh cast members and a sneak peek at the opening theme song. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know:
Broadcast and Streaming Details
Mark your calendars! Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 is set to premiere on July 19, 2025, at 23:30 JST on TV Tokyo and its affiliated channels. For international fans, the season will stream worldwide in real-time on X (formerly Twitter) as it airs in Japan, continuing its unique approach to anime distribution. Crunchyroll will also be streaming the new season as part of their Summer 2025 simulcast lineup.
Before the main course, don’t miss the side story episode, “Hoshina’s Day Off,” airing on July 5, 2025, on TV Tokyo and affiliates at 11:00 p.m JST. This special episode will also be simulcast on X/Twitter worldwide.
The Trailer: What to Expect
The main promotional video, the second trailer for the second season, was released on Thursday, June 19th, giving fans their first extended look at what is next. The trailer promises to reveal more about the story’s new direction.
Key highlights from the trailer include:
- More Action: Teases even more groundshaking action than before.
- Deeper Character Dynamics: Glimpses into the relationships and tensions between characters.
- Intense Tone: Hinting at a darker, more epic season ahead.
- Gen Narumi’s Central Role: Showcasing Gen Narumi, “Japan’s Strongest Anti-Kaiju Combatant,” taking the spotlight.
New Cast Members
The latest trailer revealed additions to the already stellar cast:
- Hiroki Yasumoto as Eiji Hasegawa
- Kana Hanazawa as Rin Shinonome
- Kōki Uchiyama as Gen Narumi
Returning cast members include:
- Masaya Fukunishi as Kafka Hibino/Kaiju No. 8
- Asami Seto as Mina Ashiro
- Wataru Katō as Reno Ichikawa
- Fairouz Ai as Kikoru Shinomiya
- Kengo Kawanishi as Sōshirō Hoshina
- Keisuke Kōmoto as Haruichi Izumo
- Shunsuke Takeuchi as Aoi Kaguragi
- Yūki Shin as Iharu Furuhashi
Opening Theme Song
Adding to the anticipation, the trailer reveals and previews the second season’s opening theme song, “You Can’t Run From Yourself,” performed by Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora.
Production Staff
Many staff members from the first season are returning.
- Directors: Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya
- Series Composition: Ichiro Okouchi
- Character Designs: Tetsuya Nishio
- Music: Yuta Bando
- Animation Studio: Production I.G.
Story and What to Expect in Season 2
Season 1 covered chapters 1 through 38 of the manga. Season 2 will likely pick up with chapter 39.
Here’s what we can expect:
- Kafka’s Role: With Kafka’s secret out in the open, the stakes are higher than ever. He is now an indispensable asset to the Defense Force, and the enemy is ready to attack upfront.
- Third Division’s Training: The members of the Third Division went their separate ways for specialized training in other divisions after the events of Season 1.
- Gen Narumi’s Influence: Gen Narumi will mentor both Kikoru and Kafka, and he will likely have a complex relationship with Kafka, especially as Kafka struggles to hold onto his humanity while living as Kaiju No. 8.
- New Threats: Expect new threats and old foes as Kafka continues his journey to become a Defense Officer worthy of standing next to Mina.
- Strongest Division: Isao Shinomiya believes that recruiting Kafka will result in the creation of the strongest division in the Defense Force.
About Kaiju No. 8
Kaiju No. 8 is based on the manga by Naoya Matsumoto, which began serialization on Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump+ application and website on July 3, 2020. The series is influenced by Japanese tokusatsu media, especially Ultraman. As of March 2025, the manga had over 18 million copies in circulation.
The anime adaptation is produced by Production I.G and debuted in April 2024. A compilation film of the first season and an original episode, “Hoshina’s Day Off,” was screened in Japanese theaters in March 2025.
