The highly anticipated Kaiju No. 8 Season 1 Compilation Movie is set to hit theaters on March 28, 2025, for a limited three-week screening across 32 theaters in Japan. Alongside the compilation film, fans will be treated to a completely new bonus episode titled "Hoshina's Day Off."

A Collaboration of Top Creators

The new episode boasts an original story concept by Yūto Tsukuda, known for his work on Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, and a script by Yuichiro Kido, who has contributed to notable series like Dr. STONE and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

Synopsis and Key Visuals

Season 1 Compilation Synopsis
Set in a monster-ravaged Japan, Kaiju No. 8 follows Kafka Hibino, a former cleaner who rekindles his dream of joining the Japan Defense Force after reuniting with childhood friend and elite officer Mina Ashiro. Just as Kafka begins his journey, he transforms into the formidable "Kaiju No. 8." Balancing his monstrous power and human aspirations, Kafka faces trials including the Defense Force entrance exams, his first combat mission, and a shocking attack on the Defense Force base by a highly intelligent kaiju. Amid this chaos, Kafka must make a life-altering decision.

The visual for the compilation highlights Kafka's duality, portraying his human determination alongside the overwhelming power of Kaiju No. 8, symbolized by claw marks dividing the image.

"Hoshina's Day Off" Synopsis
Even Defense Force officers need a break. On his day off, Hoshina exudes an unusual aura that intrigues rookie officers Reno Ichikawa and Iharu Furuhashi. Unable to resist their curiosity, the duo decides to shadow Hoshina, but their tailing operation takes an unexpected turn. The visual for this bonus episode blends seriousness and comedy, with Hoshina flashing a mischievous smile while Reno and Iharu watch him from a distance.

What's Kaiju No.8 ?

"Kaiju No. 8" began serialization on the manga app "Shonen Jump+" on July 3, 2020. The story is set in Japan, a country with one of the highest kaiju emergence rates in the world, where kaiju mercilessly invade daily life. The protagonist, Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old who works in cleaning up kaiju corpses defeated by the Defense Force, dreams of becoming a "Defense Force member." However, his body is transformed into a kaiju by a mysterious creature, earning him the codename "Kaiju No. 8" from the Japan Defense Force.

From the first episode, the series garnered over 3,200 comments in a single day, trending on Twitter (now X). With each new release, it broke records for fastest-growing readership and circulation on "Shonen Jump+," now boasting over 2 million readers eagerly awaiting each new chapter. The series also won the "Web Manga Category" of the "Next Manga Award 2021," topped "Comic Volume 1 Sales Ranking" by Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc.'s (Nippan) web media "Hon no Hikidashi," placed 6th in "Manga Taisho 2021," and secured 2nd place in the "5th TSUTAYA Comic Awards," among other accolades. The manga has exceeded 15 million copies in circulation, and the TV anime aired from April to June 2024.

Source : ORICON NEWS