The highly anticipated second season of the Kaiju No. 8 anime has released its newest trailer, titled “The Will Lives On” (or “Ishi no Keisho,” meaning “Succession of The Will”), offering fans a deeper look into the upcoming narrative and revealing key additions to its voice cast and musical lineup. This latest preview not only builds excitement for the premiere but also confirms the return of a familiar musical act for the ending theme.
OneRepublic Returns for “Beautiful Colors” Ending Theme
The second trailer for Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 officially unveils “Beautiful Colors” by American rock band OneRepublic as the ending theme song. This marks a significant return for the band, as they also performed the first season’s ending theme, “Nobody,” and the ending theme “Invincible (from Kaiju No. 8)” for the “Hoshina’s Day Off” special. “Beautiful Colors” is set to be the inaugural single from OneRepublic’s forthcoming seventh studio album, further cementing their ties with the anime franchise. The new trailer prominently features this track, setting an intense and emotional tone for the forthcoming season.
Expanding the Defense Force: New Voice Cast Members Revealed
The new trailer also confirms several significant additions to the Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 voice cast, introducing pivotal characters who will play crucial roles in the escalating conflict against the Kaiju. These new voice actors bring renowned talent to the series, enriching its already compelling roster.
Key Additions to the Cast
Among the newly announced voice actors, Koki Uchiyama joins the cast as Gen Narumi, the formidable First Division Captain. Gen Narumi is poised to have a major role in the second season, especially as Kafka Hibino’s identity as Kaiju No. 8 becomes known to the Japanese Defense Force. His character is expected to closely monitor Kafka, ensuring he maintains control of his powers.
Additionally, Hiroki Yasumoto has been cast as Eiji Hasegawa, the First Division Vice-Captain, bringing his distinctive voice to another key figure within the Defense Force. Kana Hanazawa joins as Rin Shinonome, adding another layer to the intricate character dynamics. Furthermore, Kotono Mitsuishi is confirmed to voice Hikaru Shinomiya. These new characters are anticipated to be integral to the narrative as the Defense Force faces increasingly frequent and intense battles against advanced Kaiju threats.
Season 2 Narrative and Production Details
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on July 19. It will be available for global streaming on platforms such as Crunchyroll and X (formerly Twitter), with Netflix also streaming the series in select regions of Asia.
The second season is expected to pick up directly after the events of the Season 1 finale, where Kafka Hibino’s transformative ability into Kaiju No. 8 was dramatically revealed. With his secret now exposed, Kafka becomes an indispensable asset to the Defense Force, as they recognize the potential of Kaiju No. 8 as a formidable weapon against intelligent monsters like Kaiju No. 9. The season will delve into Kafka’s journey as he grapples with maintaining control of his powers while fighting alongside and under the scrutiny of the Defense Force’s elite members.
Production I.G. is once again handling the animation, with Studio Khara in charge of the intricate creature designs, ensuring the series maintains its high visual standards. Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya are directing the series, with Ichiro Okouchi handling series composition and Tetsuya Nishio as character designer and chief animation director. Yuta Bando returns to compose the music, further enhancing the anime’s atmospheric depth.
The unveiling of this second trailer, complete with its powerful ending theme and new cast announcements, sets the stage for what promises to be an action-packed and emotionally charged second season of Kaiju No. 8.
