On March 14, 2025, the details for the upcoming release of Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon were announced by Crunchyroll. Teaming up with Sony Pictures Entertainment, the film will debut in theaters April 13, 14, and 16, 2025, in the United States and Canada. Japanese with English subtitles and its English dub will be available upon release. A stylized action-packed recap of season 1, Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon also includes a brand new original episode, “Hoshina’s Day Off,” ending with a new theme song “Invincible” by One Republic.

Kaiju No. 8: Mission Recon is based on the original manga by Naoya Matsumoto and has been brought to life by Production I.G, best known for Ghost in the Shell. The film’s kaiju artwork and design supervision were handled by Studio Khara, renowned for Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition and Shin Godzilla’s pre-visualization development. Directed by Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya, the film features series composition and screenplay by Ichiro Okouchi. Tetsuya Nishio contributed as both Character Designer and Chief Animation Director. Additionally, Yuto Tsukyda is credited with the original story for Hoshina’s Day Off, while Yuichiro Kido wrote its screenplay.

Synopsis

Under threat by the nonstop barrage of Kaiju attacks, Japan forms an anti-Kaiju Defense Force, using the monsters’ remains to enhance soldiers to superhuman extents. However, Kafka Hibino is no heroic soldier, only working on the thankless after-battle relief of monster disposal. The day a newbie joins their crew, one Reno Ichikawa, both are attacked by an auxiliary Kaiju left undetected in the corpse. Their miraculous saviour is none other than Kafka’s childhood friend, Mina Ashiro, a renowned and powerful Defense Force member. Kafka becomes inspired by Ichikawa’s unending drive to pass the Defense Force exam combined with the sight of his old friend, but inexplicably transforms into “Kaiju No. 8.” Still determined to pass the exam, Kafka hides his inhumanity until another intelligent Kaiju like him attacks, and forces him to risk it all.