In conjunction with the second season of the anime "Kiju No. 8," pre-release of songs from the movie by Bando Yudai! Mark Juliana, the genius of modern jazz drums, will also be participating!

The anime “Kiju No. 8” is an anime based on the manga titled by Matsumoto Naoya, who just finished serialization on Shueisha’s manga magazine app “Shonen Jump+”, and is handled by Production IG and Studio Color for Monster Design & Works. The first season will be broadcast and streamed from April 13th, 2024, and the second season will be broadcast and streamed from 11pm on Saturday, July 19th, 2025.

In conjunction with the anticipated second season of the anime, three songs will be pre-released from the music in the film composed by Bando Yudai, including “Narumi’s Theme” and “Hikari’s Theme” and “Hikari’s Theme” from the extra edition “Hoshina’s Holiday” which was recently broadcast on terrestrial television.

Narumi Tsune, who will be appearing in earnest as the commander of the 1st Defense Force, will be featured in the theme song, featuring contemporary jazz drumming genius Mark Juliana. Here are some comments from Mark, who has been involved in Japanese anime for the first time.

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When I first heard this song, I felt like I was entering a whole new world. I remember feeling instantly familiar with the texture of the sound, and the ideas of how to approach it suddenly surged through my mind.

The recording was a truly exciting challenge. We kept our constant energy in place, but we kept our accuracy in order to support and propel the music and characters forward.

I am truly honored to be able to participate in a Japanese animation production that will reach many people, and I am deeply grateful to be part of this incredible project.

Mark Juliana (Drums)

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Please look forward to the anime “Kiju No. 8” that delivers an overwhelming sense of realism and quality.

◆Delivery information

“Kiju No. 8” 2nd Original Soundtrack Vol. 0

1. Narumi’s theme feat.Mark Juliana

2. Hikari’s theme

3. Hoshina’s theme (holiday edition) feat. Nakamura Komi

Music Bando Yudai

Streaming: DL/ST streaming starts on July 20, 2025 at various streaming stores

Streaming link: https://YutaBandoh.lnk.to/Kaiju82ndvol0

Cover photo

© Defense Force 3rd Unit © Matsumoto Naoya/Shueisha

◆Profile

Bando Yuta (Bando Yuta)

Composer/Musician. Born in 1991.

He conducts a wide range of creative activities across a variety of styles, with themes such as the possibility of stimulation and perception through alienation and deconstruction.

His works range from orchestras and chamber music to sound designs that make full use of three-dimensional sound, to theater performances and more.

Completed the Department of Composition and Graduate School of the Tokyo University of the Arts. He won the 25th Akutagawa Composition Award (2015).

In 2022, his first collection of works, “TRANCE / Fireworks,” was released by Nippon Columbia.

In addition to the main work mentioned above, activities that cross genres will also be expanded to a wide range of areas.

The main theme of “Hoshi Station,” includes the music for the film, including the drama “Soyada Towako and the Three Ex-husbands” (written by Sakamoto Yuji), and the film “The Dragon and the Freckles Princess” (directed by Hosoda Mamoru, music by Iwasaki Taisei and Ludvig Forssell).

Co-arrangement with Yonezu Kenshi, arrangement and conducting by Utada Hikaru, Arashi’s “Kite” orchestra arrangement, etc.

Winner of the Music category of the 2023 “Sakuyakono Hana Sho.”

Mark Guiliana

Grammy-nominated superstar drummer and composer Mark Juliana, who was described as “a drummer of worship” by the New York Times, has a sense of adventurous, broad musical tastes and improvisational talent, and is a remarkable variety of styles. He excels in outstanding performance skills across all genres, from acoustic jazz to electronic music beyond the limits to next-generation rock, and has collaborated with innovative sonic seekers such as St. Vincent, Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam/Soundgarden), Brad Mehdo, M83, Michelle Ndegeocello and the late David Bowie.

[Information on the anime “Kiju No. 8”]

Introduction

Hibino Kafka ends up facing the powerful power of “Monster No. 8.” An unprecedented threat poses to the Defense Forces, who are shaking by their existence.

The first season of the anime “Kiju No. 8,” based on the popular manga by Matsumoto Naoya, which has sold over 18 million copies in total, will be aired in April 2024. His charming characters, including Kafka, who has experienced setbacks but continues to pursue his Defense Force dreams, his tense battles with monsters and his bonds with his friends, became popular, and he has received a huge response both domestically and internationally.

With passionate attention from all over the world, the long-awaited second season will be aired in 2025! Kafka, who is being held captive by the Defense Force as “Monster No. 8,” appears before Narumi Gen, the strongest man in the Defense Force! And with the emergence of evolved threats, the Defense Forces are placed in an unprecedented predicament.

The new era of monster battle action that has made the world go wild is back!

Synopsis

Although Hibino Kafka is spared from being made into a weapon at the discretion of the Defense Force Director Shinomiya Isao, he remains detained. As the new members of Unit 3, who have been ordered to transfer, appeared before him, Narumi Gen, the strongest man in the Defense Force, who leads the 1st Unit. Kafka faces the powerful power of Monster No. 8 in order to make Narumi, who does not need Kafka as a member of the squad, recognize her own strength. However, behind the scenes, the threat of “Monster No. 9” was approaching… The will and power that will be inherited, the birth of a new compatible with the identification monster weapon (Numbers), and the biggest crisis in history is upon us, as we face the Defense Forces.

staff

Original work: Matsumoto Naoya (serialized in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump +)

Director: Miya Shigeyuki

Series composition and script: Kido Yuichiro

Character Design and General Animation Director: Nishio Tetsuya

Monster Design: Maeda Mahiro

Art Director: Kimura Shinji

Color design: Hirose Izumi

3D Director: Aragaki Hayato

Director of Photography: Arai Eiji

Edited by: Hida Fumi

Sound Director: Gofumi Yuki