10 Best Anime If You Can't Wait for Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 (& Where to Watch Them)

Kafka Hibino's action-packed story as anime 's ultimate underdog resonated with the fans to the point where a renewal was inevitable. After its successful run as one of the best anime of 2024, Kaiju No. 8 was picked up for Season 2, which will make its highly anticipated return in summer 2025. Although the spring season is still kicking, there's no shame in going back to titles that best align with the storytelling style and the premise of Kaiju No. 8 .

There's no lack of anime with a monstrous backdrop and brave heroes putting their lives on the line to protect humanity, but Kaiju No. 8 fans have developed a unique taste for similar stories. Fortunately, while there are anime which may echo similar themes, certain titles with a different premise but the same vibes can recreate the Kaiju No. 8 magic for fans who can't wait for Season 2.

Goblin Slayer's Dark Fantasy Elements Are Commendable

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Goblin Slayer is a highly underrated action anime that almost always flies under the radar when it comes to recognizing quality dark fantasy anime . Unlike the stark difference in the anime's backdrop compared to Kaiju No. 8 , Goblin Slayer doesn't shy away from channeling the same grimness as when the Defense Force goes up against monsters who are out of their league.

Goblin Slayer is focused on a group of hunters rather than a proper organization which takes down aggressive goblins plaguing their land. Apart from their somewhat similar plots, Goblin Slayer is a little grittier and far more violent than Kaiju No. 8 . Goblin Slayer 's action is driven by the anime's need to resort to brutality and gore to elevate the stakes, something absent in Kaiju No. 8 .

Dandadan Is a Fun-Filled Supernatural Anime

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Alongside Kaiju No. 8 , Dandadan also managed to make a name for itself as it swept the fans off their feet with its exhilarating chaos. The two anime differ in the intensity of their humorous approach, but the emotions are somewhat similar, especially that of Okarun. Like Kafka, he also accidentally gets powers but with unwanted side effects. Okarun is as awkward and weak as Kafka , but both have this insatiable need to protect the women they care about regardless of how powerful the heroines are themselves.

Although the similarities between the two anime aren't too pronounced, there are elements of action, otherworldly creatures, and romantic undertones which will remind fans of Kaiju No. 8 . Both anime have their second seasons lined up for Spring 2025, offering fans a rare opportunity to catch up on all the hijinks simultaneously.

The Tower of God Anime Features Impressive Political Undertones

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Tower of God might be the furthest from having any sort of similarity with Kaiju No. 8 , but it would be criminal not to consider it a worthwhile replacement while fans wait for Season 2. There might be no gigantic monsters or heroes roaming about to save humanity in Tower of God , but there's a profound sense of eeriness and urgency in this anime. In a world where the ones who live underneath a vast monument have known nothing but depravity and loneliness, it doesn't take long for the hierarchy to fall apart.

When a seemingly ordinary boy named Baam decides to climb the tower to reach the top, he embarks on a perilous journey full of mysterious threats and betrayals that would turn his whole world upside down. Fans who are strictly in it for action may find Tower of God slow-paced, but its political undertones and bureaucracy are worth watching.

Attack on Titan Thematically Aligns With Kaiju No. 8

Streaming on Crunchyroll

While both Attack on Titan and Kaiju No. 8 have tonal differences, the similarities in their monster-dominated themes cannot be overstated. Attack on Titan is one of the greatest shonen anime of all time, so even when it doesn't completely align with Kaiju No. 8 's humorous undertones and modern backdrop, it still evokes the same emotional value. Both Kafka Hibino and Eren Yeager were driven by their need to protect the people they loved and rid the world of monsters.

However, in their bid to achieve their goals, Kafka and Eren ended up becoming the very things they despised. Like Kafka, when Eren became the Attack Titan, he had nothing but the best interests of his people, but the weight of the great power set him down a dark path. It'll be refreshing to revisit Eren's story while fans wait for the answers about why Kafka turned into a kaiju in the first place.

Jujutsu Kaisen's Upcoming Anime Season Will Change the Course of the Story

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Jujutsu Kaisen may not feature gigantic monsters, but its underdog trope is as impactful and entertaining as Kaiju No. 8 's. As one of the best modern-day shonen anime, Jujutsu Kaisen lives up to its critically acclaimed source material to do justice to a rather complicated lore rich in sorcery and intricate character arcs. After Itadori Yuji swallows the finger of the darkest and most powerful sorcerer in history, he is taken under the wing of Jujutsu High, specifically Gojo Satoru.

Like Kafka Hibino, Yuji is also looked upon as dispensable and a means to an end, who has been sentenced to death if the power inside him goes berserk. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 covered the Shibuya Incident Arc , one of the most critical arcs in the manga, which resulted in heavy losses, including the sealing of Gojo. Like the Defense Force, the Jujutsu Society and its sorcerers are in for a difficult journey as the evil has come out in the open.

Solo Leveling Has Quickly Taken Over the Anime Scene

Streaming on Crunchyroll

If there's a recent hit that has overly glorified the weakest hero trope, it's Solo Leveling . As one of the most successful manhwa adaptations, Solo Leveling quickly gained traction for openly embracing some of the most celebrated shonen anime tropes. Both Kafka and Sung Jinwoo have more in common than any other shonen anime protagonist, faced with situations that echo their struggles. Both heroes were considered the weakest in their respective fields and received unprecedented powers at the brink of death.

Besides the obvious difference in themes and tone, Kaiju No. 8 fans will definitely resonate with both series' similar construction of a monster-plagued world defended by a widely recognized organization. While fans wait for the Defense Force's return, they can tune into Solo Leveling , which already has two seasons under its belt.

Fire Force Perfectly Mirrors Kaiju No.8's Fundamental Elements

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Like Kaiju No. 8 , Fire Force also takes place in a dystopian world where monsters called Infernals have threatened humanity. If they aren't extinguished and their souls purified, the Infernals can run rampant for centuries. To put a stop to their atrocities, the government created the Special Fire Force, an organization of individuals with special powers, and tasked them to safeguard humanity. The parallels between the two anime make Fire Force a fine alternative to Kaiju No. 8 since it thematically resonates with the former.

Shinra and Kafka are somewhat in the same boat as they both harbor secret abilities shrouded in mystery, and they can't exactly expose themselves for it. Shinra and Kafka have to work with what they have and slowly learn about their role in the broader scheme. Viewers will get to see Fire Force 's story progress more than Kaiju No. 8 since its third season is currently airing.

Black Clover's Protagonist Is as Underestimated as Kafka Hibino

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Black Clover takes place in a world where magical prowess is everything. To be born without powers is no less than a curse Asta had to endure in such a world. Like Kafka, Asta learned to toughen himself in other ways to avoid being excluded altogether. After training tirelessly, Asta somehow acquired a mysterious power which made him immune to all sorts of magical abilities.

Asta then embarks on a journey of dangerous missions to achieve his dream of becoming the strongest. Both Asta and Kafka face insecurities and weaknesses which keep them away from their goals, but they never lose the hope and passion to become the strongest to prove to others or themselves that their existence is worth something.

World Trigger Has Uncanny Similarities to Kaiju No. 8

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Fans might be surprised to know that World Trigger might be the closest in terms of mirroring elements and featuring the fundamental themes of Kaiju No. 8 . World Trigger also features a world facing an imminent alien invasion, with monsters pouring into the world to cause destruction from another dimension. Fortunately, humanity has learned to fight back by breeding elite warriors who pair with technologically advanced weaponry to fight the monsters.

Unlike Kafka, Osamu isn't overpowered, but he uses his extensive knowledge of tactical combat and weaponry to make up for his lack of uniqueness. There's no denying the similarities of endearing qualities both Kafka and Osamu possess. Both anime have brilliant action sequences, visuals, and fantastic world-building.

Blue Exorcist Features a Protagonist Who Becomes What He's Supposed to Fight

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Blue Exorcist and Kaiju No. 8 share compelling similarities, especially that of a protagonist who turns into literally what he set out to eradicate. In Blue Exorcist , Rin Okumura vows to exorcise demons and fight them despite his demonic heritage as the Son of Satan. When his exorcist adoptive father is killed by Satan, Rin vows to kill him and decides to attend an elite academy for exorcists, much like Kafka, who also joins the Defense Force to kill kaijus despite being one.

Both anime also feature a military organization which monitors threats of such nature and centers fast-paced action around it. The fantastical elements of Blue Exorcist may differ from Kaiju No. 8 , but both are thematically aligned, causing the viewers to harbor similar feelings for both heroes .

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