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Kaiju No. 8 seasons
As of October 2026, Kaiju No. 8 has two anime seasons totaling 23 episodes: 12 in Season 1 (2024) and 11 in Season 2 (2025). There is also a Season 1 compilation film with a new episode, released abroad as Mission Recon, plus short series on YouTube. Production I.G animates the series, with Studio Khara supervising the kaiju designs, and Crunchyroll streams it outside Japan. Naoya Matsumoto's manga ran on Shōnen Jump+ from 2020 to July 2025 and ended with 16 volumes.
| Season | Premiere | End | Episodes | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | April 13, 2024 | June 29, 2024 | 12 | Production I.G |
| Season 2 | July 19, 2025 | September 27, 2025 | 11 | Production I.G |
| Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon | March 28, 2025 | Production I.G |
Season 1
Season 1 aired from April 13 to June 29, 2024, with 12 episodes. It covers Kafka gaining the power to become a kaiju, the Defense Force entrance exam alongside Reno, Kikoru and other candidates, and his first days in the Third Division as he tries to keep his secret from his superiors, especially Hoshina.
Season 2
Season 2 aired from July 19 to September 27, 2025, with 11 episodes. It widens the world of the Defense Force, introduces Gen Narumi's First Division and Director General Isao Shinomiya, and puts Kafka under growing pressure as his secret gets harder to keep, while new kaiju attacks test every division.
Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon
Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon condenses Season 1 into a film and adds a new episode, Hoshina's Day Off. It opened in Japanese theaters on March 28, 2025 for a three-week run and was later released in other countries. The new episode aired on Japanese TV on July 5, 2025.
Next season Announced
The next part of Kaiju No. 8 was announced on December 20, 2025 at Jump Festa '26 as the story's conclusion arc (Kanketsu-hen), with a teaser and key visual. Production I.G returns to animate it. As of October 2026 there is no premiere date, and official sources have not said whether it will be a third TV season or another format. The manga ended in July 2025, so this part is expected to finish the adaptation. Separately, the four-episode short Narumi's Weekday streamed in September 2026.
FAQ
How many seasons does Kaiju No. 8 have?
As of October 2026, there are two seasons: Season 1 with 12 episodes from 2024 and Season 2 with 11 episodes from 2025. There is also a compilation film, and the final part of the story has been announced.
Will there be a Kaiju No. 8 season 3?
Yes. In December 2025 the anime's conclusion arc was announced, which will adapt the end of the story. There is no premiere date yet, and no official word on whether it will be a TV season or another format.
How many episodes does Kaiju No. 8 have?
There are 23 TV episodes so far: 12 in Season 1 and 11 in Season 2. The Mission Recon film and the YouTube short series are not counted in that total.
Is the Kaiju No. 8 manga finished?
Yes. Naoya Matsumoto's manga ran on Shōnen Jump+ from July 2020 to July 2025 and ended with 16 volumes. The announced conclusion arc of the anime is set to adapt the final part of that story.
Who is the main character of Kaiju No. 8?
The main character is Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old kaiju cleanup worker who gains the power to turn into Kaiju No. 8. He uses that second chance to join the Defense Force while hiding what he has become.