Ever since its release, Kaiju No. 8 has been taking the SHOUNEN world by storm. With its high-quality animation and clever humor, it has quickly become a fan favorite. The protagonist, Kafka, is a well-crafted character with a relatable personality that resonates with many viewers.
Despite the curiosity of some fans about the character’s inspiration, others believe it bears a resemblance to the author, Naoya Matsumoto. However, the author himself addressed these inquiries in a recent interview.
Kafka’s Character Development: Matsumoto Sensei’s Influence
Kafka Hibino, the protagonist, is 32 years old, which is considered older than the average age for main characters. However, how does he still manage to connect with a younger audience?
During a recent interview with Bunshun Japan, author Naoya Matsumoto of Kaiju No. 8 revealed that Kafka’s character is reflective of himself. Matsumoto, who had been disheartened by his unsuccessful attempts at creating a popular manga while seeing his fellow mangakas succeed, channeled his frustration into Kafka’s development.
Despite witnessing his close friend succeed, Kafka’s failure to achieve his desired role as a natural leader and join the Japan Defense Force parallels the author’s own challenges.
Younger audiences are more likely to experience these thoughts, often driven by a fear of missing out or a sense of failure in comparison to others’ success.
“There is a large part where I project myself into the story. At the time, I couldn’t make a living from my own manga either, so I was earning my living in a place close to but far away from my dream. Whenever I saw my manga artist friends working in magazines, I had mixed feelings about why I was on this side of the world. I think Kafka Hibino was naturally born out of me like that.”
Kafka’s Kaiju Form is Inspired by Tron
It is common knowledge that Kafka obtained his abilities and transformed into a monstrous kaiju. You may have also observed the signature blue light emanating from the kaiju’s muscles, which is one of the most recognizable effects in the series.
According to Matsumoto sensei, the shining blue effects in Kaiju No. 8 were inspired by the TRON movie. In both the 1982 film TRON and its 2010 sequel TRON Legacy, characters known as programs wore special suits that resembled motorcycle gear with bright, glowing lines. These unique suits served as the inspiration for the kaiju in Kaiju No. 8.
What Inspired Matsumoto to Create Kaiju No. 8 Manga?
The author disclosed that his motivation for creating the manga was derived from Hideaki Anno’s Shin Godzilla. He was drawn to the movie’s plot development and the devastation caused by the monstrous creature.
“I watched the movie ‘Shin Godzilla’ and was reminded of how interesting the ‘disaster aspect’ of monsters is. From there, we expanded the settings to make the world of manga more interesting.”
Godzilla, renowned for its ability to cause widespread devastation in Japan, has served as the inspiration for numerous forms of media and manga. It is difficult to come across something that has not been impacted by Godzilla in some manner.
One of his senior colleagues suggested that he label the monsters with the code “No.”, which is similar to the way typhoons are classified.
Mastsumoto-sensei was greatly surprised when Kaiju No. 8 became a massive hit and was adapted into an anime only one year after its serialization. He had jokingly mentioned to a friend who was an avid anime fan,
“If Production I.G or Studio Khara were to animate my manga, I’d accept it even if I had to commit seppuku after watching the preview of the first episode!!”
I have high hopes that the series will continue to flourish and establish itself as a long-lasting success.
About Kaiju No.8
Kaiju No. 8, also known as Monster #8, is a manga series created by Naoya Matsumoto. It has been published for free on Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump+ since July 2020.
Kaiju, creatures that are notorious for attacking Japan, are often met with resistance from the Japanese Defense Force, who are responsible for their elimination.
Childhood friends Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro make a promise to each other to join the Defense Force following the destruction of their home by a kaiju. While Mina rises to the rank of renowned commander within the Force, Kafka struggles to pass the exam and ultimately becomes a monster sweeper, responsible for disposing of the deceased bodies of the creatures.
One day, a tiny talking kaiju enters his body through his mouth, granting him the ability to transform into a Kaiju. The Defense Force dubs him “Kaiju No. 8.”
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