The current year symbolizes a breakout one for Kaiju No. 8. At the start of 2024, fans around the globe were treated to the historic debut of the anime, which simulcasted in real-time from Japan. Since its premiere, Kaiju No. 8 has held viewers charmed week after week.
In a recent interview in Japan, series creator Naoya Matsumoto opened up about the origins of his hit manga. Matsumoto revealed that Kaiju No. 8 began out of a mixture of spite and desperation.
Frustrated by financial struggles and watching his friends find success in manga magazines, Matsumoto channeled these emotions into his story about Kafka, a thirty-year-old struggling to achieve his dream.
Interestingly, Matsumoto mentioned several of his successful friends in the industry, including Yuki Tabata (Black Clover), Toshiaki Iwashiro (Psyren), and Ryuhei Tamura (Beelzebub). Despite a long career in manga, Matsumoto did not achieve mainstream success until Kaiju No. 8.
Since the manga’s debut, Kaiju No. 8 has soared in popularity, and the anime adaptation has only amplified its success. Matsumoto expressed that he finally feels he can measure up to his successful friends in the industry.
If you haven’t checked out Kaiju No. 8 yet, Matsumoto urges you to give it a try! The sci-fi series is available for streaming on X (Twitter) and Crunchyroll.
