On March 14, 2025, Crunchyroll, the premier destination for anime enthusiasts worldwide, revealed that it acquired the North American theatrical rights to the exciting omnibus film, Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon. In collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, the film will hit theaters across the United States and Canada for a special event-style release on April 13, 14, and 16, 2025. Audiences can enjoy the film in either the original Japanese with English subtitles or as an English-dubbed version.
Production I.G animated the Kaiju No. 8 anime series, based on the best-selling manga by Naoya Matsumoto, with Studio Khara supervising kaiju artwork and design. The series premiered in April 2024. Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya directed the series, while Ichiro Okouchi handled the adaptation. The story follows a group of characters navigating a world plagued by giant kaiju attacks that wreak havoc on humanity.
The omnibus film, Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon, will present an action-packed recap of the show’s first season, along with a brand-new, never-before-seen episode, “Hoshina’s Day Off.” Yuto Tsukuda and Yuichiro Kido created the episode, and OneRepublic performs the fresh ending theme song, “Invincible.”
The new episode will follow the Defense Force team on a rare day of peace. In the episode, Reno is unsure what to do with his free time after his extensive training schedule. Sensing that Hoshina is up to something during his day off, Reno decides to follow him, enlisting Iharu for the mission. However, events take an unexpected twist.
Read Crunchyroll’s official synopsis of Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon below:
In a Kaiju-filled Japan, Kafka Hibino works in monster disposal. After reuniting with his childhood friend Mina Ashiro, a rising star in the anti-Kaiju Defense Force, he decides to pursue his abandoned dream of joining the Force… when he suddenly transforms into the powerful “Kaiju No. 8.” With help from his junior colleague Reno Ichikawa, Kafka hides his identity while striving towards his life-long dream of passing the Defense Force exam and standing at Mina’s side. But when a mysterious intelligent Kaiju attacks a Defense Force base, Kafka faces a crucial decision in a desperate situation…
Season One is now available on Crunchyroll.
Source: Crunchyroll
For more information on the upcoming film, check out the official website: kaiju-no8.net/en
