Summary
Kaiju No. 8 shares similarities with Attack on Titan, with the main characters transforming into monsters to fight giant threats. Both series feature the main characters losing control of their transformation abilities, endangering their lives and testing their humanity. The plot of Kaiju No. 8 could continue in parallel with Attack on Titan, with the characters using their transformation powers to fight and overcome challenges.
Kaiju No. 8 has become the latest hit anime in the Shōnen Jump genre this spring. The series stands out in the genre with its relatively older protagonist. This unique aspect has become one of its main selling points. However, the anime's plot also shows clear inspiration from Hajime Isayama's hit series, Attack on Titan, which has added to its immense popularity. Both Attack on Titan and Kaiju No. 8 have similar settings, with the world being invaded by giant man-eating monsters.
The first similarity between these two aesthetically appealing series, aside from the giants filling their bellies with humans, lies in the powers given to their protagonists. Both Eren Jaeger and Kafka Hibino undergo transformations into the very monsters they despise. However, they turn this curse into a blessing, using their monstrous abilities to fight against monsters.
Becoming a monster comes with consequences that the protagonists eventually have to face. This is exactly what Kaiju No. 8 is depicting right now. Kafka is captured by the Defense Force after his secret is revealed and, while Kafka is able to escape unscathedThe protagonist lost control of his Kajju form, a scene reminiscent of Eren losing control of his Titan form in the worst situations in previous episodes. The repetition of this trend proves that Kaiju No. 8 may have been inspired by Attack On Titan.
Kafak losing control of his Kaiju form may be inspired by Attack On Titan
The parallels in this series of events imply that Kaiju No. 8's plot is similar to Attack on Titan.
Volume #11 of Kaiju #8 sees Kafka confronted by Isao Shinomiya, who intends to discover whether or not Kafka is truly human. During this confrontation, Isao forces Kafka to fully transform into his Kaiju form. However, in doing so, Kafka loses control of his monstrous form, begins to act on instinct, and poses a threat to those around him. This story reflects Eren losing control of his Titan form during the “Struggle for Trost” arc in Attack on Titan.in which he had to help fill the hole in the wall by placing a large rock.
These scenes in both series are important because they not only endanger the lives of innocent people, but also threaten the fate of the main characters. Like Eren, Kafka will need the support of his friends. In Kafka's case, Kikoru will be the key to helping him regain control of his Kaiju form, since he is not surrounded by other familiar faces. Being able to control his monstrous form in an emotional setting will demonstrate Kafka's humanity, similar to how Eren did after regaining control and helping humanity fight the terror of the Titans for the first time.
Will Kaiju No. 8 go in a dark direction like Attack on Titan?
With the recent similarities, could Kafka and Eren have characters with similar storylines?
Image created by Joshua Fox
Kaiju No. 8's storyline will likely continue to parallel the Attack on Titan storyline. The Defense Force could use Kafka's Kaiju transformation to their advantage, much like the scouts did with Eren's powers. While Kafka will seemingly be part of an experiment to uncover the secrets of the Kaiju, he will eventually be brought into battles against greater threats. These dire situations could also be inspired by Attack on Titan, building anticipation for Kafka's transformation but potentially showing him struggling to transform, similar to Eren's struggles when he had to confront Annie at the end of the first season.
So far, Kafka has had no problem transforming but, of course, the concept could also be interpreted in Naoya Matumoto's manga to make Kafka's return to the battlefield or his need to transform more impactful. Although Kaiju No. 8 is lighter due to its comedic tone, this Shonen Jump anime has proven itself to be a true successor to Attack On Titan with these plot similarities, filling in the gaps left by that masterpiece.