Kaiju No. 8, the new sci-fi action anime based on Naoya Matsumoto’s ongoing Shōnen Jump Plus manga, premiered its first episode last Saturday.

Produced by Production I.G (Heavenly Delusion, Ghost in the Shell) in collaboration with studio Khara (Rebuild of Evangelion), the new series is unquestionably one of the most highly anticipated anime to premiere this spring, and for good reason — the first episode alone absolutely nails the irreverent tone, personal drama, and exhilarating action that’s made the series one of the best-selling manga in Japan since its debut in 2020. Even with just a single episode, it already feels like a strong contender to be one of the best anime of 2024.