Now I’ve already talked about Kaiju No. 8 and all that it encompasses in my original review. However, I wanted to dive a little deeper into our main character Kafka. Specifically, regarding his psyche and his approach to quitting. Please note that there will be spoilers coming up in this review! I recommend at least watching up until episode 5 to avoid the semi-important spoilers.
Simply put, ripping off the band-aid immediately. In Kaiju No. 8, Kafka has a really poor mental image of himself. I’m not talking in terms of physical, he honestly has a really positive outlook in that regard. No, I’m talking about his constant internal dialogue concerning his current situation. Kafka shuts down when the going gets tough. Like to a degree that you don’t ever see from the main protagonist in Shonen. Often an MC will push through and rise to the occasion immediately after weighing the facts, often to their detriment. Kafka however hovers along the border of Realism and Defeatism.
It honestly doesn’t sound like a real word, but it is. Kakfa has severely low self-esteem as shown with some of his outlooks on life and his current predicament. Don’t get me wrong, the man tries his hardest but when he realizes he’s backed into a corner he shuts down almost completely.
In one of these first scenes, we see of him displaying this mentality is the first time we see him fighting/luring away a Kaiju. He’s injured and can’t move. He’s about to be eaten. At this point, the main character refuses to back down. But Kafka? We see his thoughts. And he just gives up. “It was a good run, wish I had done more with my life, I guess I’m going to die here.” This isn’t word for word, but it explains a lot about this man and his mentality towards him. But the question is, why does he feel this way?
Why Does Kafka Doubt Himself
In Kaiju No. 8, Kafka is 32 years old. He is among the oldest protagonists we have seen in a Shonen Anime. Besides Senku from Dr. Stone, he doesn’t really count. Kafka has spent his whole life striving to enter the Japanese Anti-Kaiju Defence Force. And he has failed at every possible chance he got. He tried and tried, over and over, and never got where he wanted. The realistic part of him understood it was a pipe dream. And with that Defeatism took root. He took the blows and didn’t get back up.
And at times he repeatedly explains he’ll never make it, and he should just quit because there is no chance of him ever becoming a JAKDF Officer. So, does he give up? Does his story just end there? It doesn’t and the reason why is often the cheesiest and the most interesting.
Kafka is surrounded by people who won’t let him quit. He has what is known as a Support System. This is a psychological term that is frequently used for those suffering from mental disorders or some form of depression. Relying on oneself isn’t always the best way to move forward. It requires people around Kafka to build him up and push him forward.
Kafka’s Support Systems in Kaiju No. 8
According to VeryWellMind Kafka has support on two major fronts from two separate types of support systems. Emotional Support and Instrumental Support. Emotional support is shown in the moments where Kafka voices his doubts and reserves about his chances of becoming an Officer only to have Reno assist him in building his confidence back up and steering him to use his knowledgeable talents rather than his physical aptitude.
Whereas Kafka gains Instrumental support from both Reno and Kikoru whenever he is fighting. They give him a helping hand when he is injured, they provide him with covering fire or supplies to complete his mission. All of these factors boil down to a moment of self-doubt that is obliterated by the people working with Kafka to build him into the best version of himself. That is why a Support Structure is so needed in life. Kaiju No. 8 teaches us that we all face obstacles that we just cannot overcome by ourselves. It’s alright to ask for help.
You are not alone, and you never will be. So keep fighting alongside those you wish to fight with and press onwards.
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