Summary
Kaiju No. 8has become one of thisyear’s most popular anime releases, captivating the viewers with its gripping narrative and thrilling action. The series' selling point is undoubtedly its protagonist,Hibino Kafka, due to the character’s relatively old age for a shonen series.Naoya Matsumoto boldly breaks the mold of the shonen genre by featuring a 32-year-old protagonist in his manga.
At first glance, Kafka’s age might appear to be a mere marketing gimmick, but it actually has deeper roots. In a recent interview forBunshun Online, Naoya Matsumoto revealed that Kafka’s age was inspired by his personal experiences. Matsumoto shared that Kafka is a reflection of the challenges he faced while pursuing his dreams, aiming to convey the struggles and perseverance of adulthood through the character.
Kafka’s age-related plotline incorporates the author’s feelings of never giving up on dreams and that the age factor shouldn’t stop one from pursuing their dream. Rather, having a profound ambition and hard-working ethics should be the driving force in the journey toward achieving one’s dreams. This is whyKafka shares many similarities with Deku fromMy Hero Academia, another hard-working hero who surpassed expectations and the limitations imposed by life.
Kafka’s Relatively Old Age for a Shonen Series Reflects the Creators' Struggles
Naoya Matusmoto’s response in the interview roughly translates to:
“There is a large part where I projected myself into the story. At the time, I couldn’t make a living from my manga either, so I was earning a living in a place that was close to my dream but far away.”
This statement resonates deeply with Kafka’s situation, as the series initially features Kafka working for the Professional Kaiju Cleaning Monster Sweeper Inc. While this job brought Kafka closer to his dreams, it still kept him at a great distance from becoming a Defense Force officer.
Naoya Matsumoto went on to say:
“Every time I saw my manga friend doing well in magazines, I had mixed feelings and wondered, “Why am I on this side?” I think that Hibino Kafka was born naturally from within me.”
Kaiju No. 8’s protagonist shared similar feelings while working as a monster cleaner, comparing himself to his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. While Mina went on to reach the top of her field, Kafka wound up almost giving up on his dream. Though it seemed almost impossible for Kafka to continue pursuing his dream, he never gave up and was ready to sacrifice himself for Reno Ichikawa when the situation got worse, hoping to achieve his dream of protecting others, even if it meant facing death.
Kafka Hibino reflects the author’s struggles as a mangakaand as an adult pretty well, and in the process, this narrative also inspires people to follow their dreams regardless of their age. Hence, Kafka’s real-world origin, which stems from none other thanKaiju No. 8’s creator’s personal experience and struggles, makes the series much more heartwarming and inspiring.
Kaiju No. 8
Cast
Kaiju No. 8 follows Kafka Hibino, who dreams of joining The Defense Force alongside childhood friend Mina Ashiro in a world beset by Kaiju. Kafka’s path diverges as he works cleaning up post-battle, but his encounter with Reno Ichikawa reignites his vow to defend humanity. Released in 2024.
