Kaiju No. 8 is both the most anticipated anime of the season and one of the most worrisome at the same time. The series is about to make its premiere and although there is a lot of hype surrounding it, it also comes with backlash for one reason or another. Needless to say, Naoya Matsumoto’s work is the talk of the town, or rather the world.
Upon getting positive updates one after the other, there were some that did not sit well with fans. These included its consecutive streaming on the social media X. However, what became the cherry on top was the announcement of who would be in charge of the opening and ending themes of the first season.
Unfortunately for the anime, fans did not like it at all.
Yungblud, One Republic, Imagine Dragons – A Recipe for Kaiju No. 8’s Disaster
Kaiju No. 8 made the announcement of the artists who would be taking over for the ending and opening themes of the first season. Contrary to popular belief, Japanese music artists were not responsible for that. The series shared via X that Yungblud and Dan Reynolds from Imagine Dragons would be making the opening theme. Whereas, One Republic would give the fans its ending theme.
Many would argue that as a Japanese anime, Kaiju No. 8 becomes a platform for artists to expand their talent worldwide. The world would thus get a taste of Japanese music, one that anime is already responsible for spreading manifolds. However, the involvement of Western artists takes away from that. Fans too see it the same way, an opportunity snatched from those who could have brought more to the series.
Abyss by Yungblud is to act as the opening song with Dan Reynolds credited as a writer. Nobody would be the ending theme by One Republic.
Kaiju No. 8’s Decision Could be the Start of Something Unwanted
Kaiju No. 8 is opening the doors for other artists to get their works featured in animes. One Republic, Imagine Dragons, and Yungblud find themselves with this rare opportunity. However, it becomes somewhat unfair for Japanese artists to expand their platforms. Successful artists like YOASOBI expanded their horizons with the help of Oshi no Ko. Now Idol stands as one of the most successful anime openings.
every new piece of info about this anime depresses me.
— gods silliest goose (@skorpii_) February 29, 2024
??? Can't wait for Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran to make the OPs and EDs for ORV anime https://t.co/b9jcXTOAcZ
— dvbs (@kimdokjer) February 29, 2024
Can't wait for Dandadan OP by The Weeknd and ED by Ed Sheeran https://t.co/tUsl5fLZrX
— シルバ 🌸 (@silvpokkii) February 29, 2024
they are trying so hard to make this pop in America and I can feel in my bones it’s gonna flop because of it https://t.co/e71fsqgjLc
— slimeprime (@SlimeFancypants) February 29, 2024
“Go to hell” is basic.
“I hope OneRepublic makes the ending song for an anime adaptation of one of your favorite manga” is real. It’s scary, and it just happened now. https://t.co/WzpGQ1nOFZ
— CJ💜🇵🇸 (@The_CJ_Z) February 29, 2024
this feels like the most washed anime somehow https://t.co/WeYEgmb6R4
— exa (@cursedexa) February 29, 2024
Fans seem to see this problem as well, acknowledging how soon enough Western artists would take over the anime industry as well. From joking about Ed Sheeran being the next opening artist to understanding that Kaiju No. 8 could be writing its own doom with the risk it is taking. Saying that audiences are worried about the anime’s fate would be an understatement.
Kaiju No. 8 will premiere worldwide on April 13th, 2024.
