Kaiju No. 8 is secretly the season’s most subversive anime, but not for the reason anime fans might expect

The men in Kaiju number 8 subverts common tropes at every turn and displays a refreshing level of empathy and self-esteem. This can be seen in everything from the team rivalries that fuel competition and personal development in the character of the Defense Force, to the admiration shown for Kafka Hibino by his teammates. Many of them embody the common masculine ideal of “protector”, without undermining the abilities and agency of the women and men around them, Modeling a positive masculinity that warrants celebration.

This should be noted as something that anime as a genre does well with its serious, unabashedly caring protagonists who are not afraid to cry or express affection for their friends and embrace their weaknesses. yet, Kaiju number 8 is a surprisingly consistent innovator Which still revels in the joy of a typical power fantasy, while also steadily subverting the tropes to promote a more empathetic and realistic perspective. Although, later in the manga, it begins to return to a few of the tropes it once subverted.

Kafka Hibino is not your average underdog

Although he is perhaps more true to the term than any to follow the trope before him, saw Kaiju No. 8’s Genuine middle-aged, realistic protagonist is unusual in itself. Add to that Kafka’s utter lack of strength or power by any typically measurable standardsAnd his will to fail in a beautiful and public way, and he does it in a remarkable way. His antics are endearing to the audience just as they are to Vice Captain Hoshino, as he invokes both laughter and respect for Kafka’s determination and perseverance.

Even more striking, he is almost instantly given more power than his peers by becoming Kaiju No.8 – but he doesn’t take full ownership of it. instead, Kafka struggles with his own sense of worthWorking to prove himself without these powers and treating them as a last resort, even celebrating emphatically when his unleashed combat power increases to an ugly 1%. He finds creative ways to overcome his weaknesses, applying his knowledge of kaiju anatomy from his waste disposal work to create value for the team outside of combat. Rather than being defined by his limitations, they become his inspiration.

The Defense Force has the right kind of rivals

There is no shortage of rivalries in the series, but each of them constantly produces loyalty and friendship. Right off the bat, viewers are introduced to Reno Ichikawa, a stand-in for the typical underdog protagonist trope As someone young and determined, not yet recognized, but clearly with a lot of talent. However, any tension that might arise between Reno and Kafka is dispelled immediately by Kafka’s goofy, in-your-face kindness and Ichikawa’s easy display of gratitude. The two are fast friends and show radical loyalty to each other, risking their lives to protect each other, even though they’ve only met days before.

Every ‘competitor’ that has appeared for Kafka since then, including Kikoru Shinomiya and Vice Captain Hoshino, Kafka looks with unreserved admiration and respect, even when embarrassed or indignant In Kikoru’s (constant) teasing. He notably never roots for anyone’s downfall, or imagines he needs them to Stop Improve so he can catch up: He simply works hard to be worthy of standing alongside them, and rooting for their success. It is a model for the best sportsmanship, with an emphasis on personal growth and team ability rather than hierarchy or superiority.

This model is repeated with Vice Captain Hoshino, who openly supports and roots for Kafka despite his bold declaration that he wants Hoshino’s position, and is repeatedly his loudest cheerleader. It repeats again with Ichikawa and Iharu Furuhashi, who struggle with feelings of inadequacy and resentment for Ichikawa’s rapid and seemingly easy rise. At first modeling a more typical jealous rival, he grows to realize his respect and admiration for Ichikawa, and even attempts to emulate and save him. This is the key to Furuhashi’s continued improvement And an excellent example of overcoming a toxic mindset.

Kafka learns to rely on radical trust

A recurring theme in Kaiju number 8 Is the need to believe in and trust in the comrades and their abilities. Sometimes, a version of “Don’t underestimate me” is repeated as a rejection of the savior mentality That Kafka has to go rescue another Defense Force officer. Instead, the characters ask their comrades to rely and rely on them, to hold the line or cover a certain area, as they split up to most efficiently handle the problem at hand.

Although it may seem small, this challenge is an important departure from the norm. Rather than the typical trope that the main character Must Arriving at the last second as the only possible savior (which, to be fair, still happens a few times), there is a parallel line of thinking throughout the story that Kafka should instead trust in their comrades and their abilities. This mindset encourages recognition of and pride in the group, belief in community, and some sort of shared identity above an overly individualistic savior-type mindset.

Kaiju number 8 People show empathy and unconditional love

The characters also totally lack shame when it comes to cheering each other on, and show trust and affection in each other. Most notably, rather than having problems with losing trust among comrades due to hiding something from them, Kafka is immediately forgiven not only by Kikoru when he first tells her, but by the entire Third Division after it is revealed that he is Kaiju Number 8 . and hid it. The level of trust in the actions of a protagonist and support for them despite how things seem is surprising when there is a drama in the conflict of distrust.

Instead, the characters are just as quick to forgive as they are to vote for each other, as Hoshino did in accepting Kafka to the defense force and Captain Mina Ashira did in defending him to the higher-ups. Kafka openly fights for the goal of standing by Captain Ashira’s side, and Ichikawa openly fights to be strong enough to protect Kafka. These kinds of motivations fill the group, which becomes all the more determined by their concern for each other.

Kikoru and General Shinomiya subvert the stoic father stereotype

General Shinomiya is set to follow the trope of an icy, distant father, only to be revealed as a sadist instead because he took his daughter’s words to heart and was willing to give Kafka a chance to prove his humanity. Although the general clearly revels in displays of affection when Kafka is generous with them, he also subtly subverts a stereotype in his respect for his daughter. Later in the manga, this becomes a foil to Kaiju No. 9’s false paternal feelings towards Kaiju No. 15, who identifies the deception through the sincerity of the Shinomiyas’ love.

Kafka then models the kind of verbal praise and support that Kikoru should have received. Scenes often juxtapose the two and show Kafka praising her abilities and congratulating her status even as she seems to be forced to prove it.Slowly boosting her self-esteem as well. It cleverly upends the typical distant and demanding father trope while also showing the ways it falls short.

The antagonist subtly embodies toxic masculinity

The abilities of Kaiju No. As a perfect opposite to Kafka, the power of the antagonist is essentially based on Taken And Abuse The powers and bodies of others. Furthermore, the only goals we can see so far from the kaiju are a blind determination to subjugate everyone and everything around him: a mind that sees threat where Kafka sees inspiration.

Even Kaiju No. 10, whom Hoshino defeats and then later reunites with his armor, displays a kind of identity in the love of fighting itself, and an ability to respect the power of his opponent. Kaiju number 9, in contrast, is uniquely focused on becoming superior, subjugating or killing and taking the abilities of anything powerful he encounters. With yet another example of clever character development, Kaiju number 8 Shows off incredible depth in its construction and is Full of subversive examples of positive masculinity.