Crunchyroll Announces American Theatrical Date for Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon

By: Robert Prentice

CRUNCHYROLL ACQUIRES NEW MONSTER-SIZED CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE KAIJU NO. 8: MISSION RECON AND SETS NORTH AMERICAN THEATRICAL DATE

Adapted from the manga by Naoya Matsumoto, the omnibus film features a thrilling recap of Season One and an exclusive never-before-seen original episode

Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment Set to Release the Action-packed Film in Movie Theatres in the United States

and Canada starting on April 13

©JAKDF 3rd Division © Naoya Matsumoto/SHUEISHA

Crunchyroll, the ultimate home for anime worldwide, announced today that it has acquired the North American theatrical rights for the monster-sized omnibus film Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will bring the film to theatres in the United States and Canada for an event-style release on April 13, 14 and 16, 2025. It will be available in both Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English.

Adapted from the original manga created by Naoya Matsumoto, the anime series debuted in April 2024 and is centered around a group of characters living in a world where giant kaiju (ormonsters) attack humanity and the creatures’ destructive aftermath.

Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon features a high-action condensed recap of Season One and gives fans an exclusive new original never-before-seen episode, “Hoshina’s Day Off,” coming to theatres. The film also debuts a new ending theme song, “Invincible” by OneRepublic.

Official Film Synopsis:

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…

The omnibus film Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon features an action-packed recap of season one and a new original episode, Hoshina’s Day Off.

(Hoshina’s Day Off) A day off… a rare day of peace for the Defense Force. After spending so long training, Reno has forgotten what he’s supposed to do with free time. He sees that Hoshina is up to something with his own day off, and decides to go on a mission to tail him with Iharu! But then things go in an unexpected direction…

Kaiju No. 8 is adapted from the original manga created by Naoya Matsumoto. It is animated by Production I.G (GHOST IN THE SHELL), with kaiju artwork and design supervision by Studio Khara (Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition, Shin Godzilla Pre Visualization Development).

CREDITS: Original Manga: Naoya Matsumoto (Serialized in “MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA”). Director: Shigeyuki Miya & Tomomi Kamiya. Series Composition & Screenplay (Season 1): Ichiro Okouchi. “Hoshina’s Day Off” Original Story: Yuto Tsukuda. “Hoshina’s Day Off” Screenplay: Yuichiro Kido. Character Designer & Chief Animation Director: Tetsuya Nishio. Kaiju Supervision (Design & Artworks): Studio khara. Animation Studio: Production I.G