This past weekend at Anime Expo 2025, fans of “Kaiju No. 8” were treated to a special Director and Voice Cast panel, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the anime’s production. The panel featured English ADR Director Shawn Gann, alongside the English and Japanese voice actors for Kafka Hibino: Nazeeh Tarsha and Masaya Fukunishi, respectively.

Maddie Morrow from Temple of Geek recently sat down with Nazeeh Tarsha, the English dub voice of Kafka Hibino, the main character of the series. Nazeeh discusses recording season one, what’s coming in season two, and the hype surrounding the upcoming game.

Nazeeh Tarsha Touches on the Impact “Kaiju No. 8” Has on Audiences

For Nazeeh, this was his first Anime Expo experience. Being able to attend an event on such a large scale and see the love people have for this series was overwhelming in the most positive way. He tells us that he never would have imagined just how popular the anime would be. “The energy here is amazing,” Nazeeh says, “everyone is fantastic. And in a way, it’s kind of overwhelming.”

Popular anime, such as “Kaiju No. 8,” tends to resonate and leave a positive impact on its audience. Nazeeh says:

One of the core messages, I think, the show…imparts on viewers is that it’s never too late to pursue your passions. And kind of, you know, give life an honest go. Give it a second shot.

The story follows Kafka Hibino, who is doing just that. He is in his thirties and wants to once again work toward his childhood dream of becoming a member of the Defense Force, fighting kaiju and protecting his home. “Suddenly, he finds a renewed lease on life. He finds the kind of motivation to pursue his original goal,” explains Nazeeh. While achieving that dream doesn’t come with trials and struggles, Kafka goes for it with the help of his friends. The moral here is that no one is too old to work on themselves and reach for a particular goal in life.

Balancing the Silliness of the Series with the Serious Moments

“Kaiju No. 8” is a beautifully animated kaiju series with epic battles. In addition, there are many comedic moments throughout the show paired with moments of intensity. Nazeeh draws from moments in his own life to balance the acting once he’s in the recording booth.

Because the character is so relatable, I don’t have to dig too deep for analogies within my life to try and figure out: okay, how do I reach this level of emotion or this intensity? For a lot of it, it really is just a character that resonates with me.

He goes on to thank the director, Shawn Gann, for guiding the cast through the emotional beats. Preparing for the range of emotions in each episode comes from both their own experiences and their director aiding in the entire process.

What Fans can Look Forward to in Season 2 of “Kaiju No. 8”

Season two is right around the corner, coming July 19, 2025. Not only are old characters coming back, but there are also new characters joining the show. The new season will foster the relationships of the characters fans have already grown to love.

Nazeeh is the most excited about season two, taking what happened in season one and multiplying it. He says, “Everything that happened in season one, season two is going to have occur tenfold. And so, like, bigger battles, bigger relationships, more characters, and just more intense emotion coming forth.”

Nazeeh Finds it Bizarre That he is Involved in Such a Major Series

The “Kaiju No. 8” video game will release soon! Fans can play through the main story of the manga and anime as well as dive deeper into individual characters. Nazeeh finds it bizarre, in a good way, that he gets to be part of this cultural phenomenon.

I didn’t think I’d be a part of a franchise or a property that necessarily had this sort of a boom. You know? It’s not even just the game. You look around, and you see Kaiju No. 8 on, like, shirts in various stores. You see energy drinks. And it’s like, ‘Oh, what is this?’ I know I’m the English voice, but even then, being able to share like a glimpse of that character with the original creators and everything. It’s…very surreal.

“Kaiju No. 8” season one is available now on Crunchyroll! Season two will air on July 19th, and the game release date is to be announced.

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