KJ Files Season 1 Review: Story and characters that exceed expectations

KJ Files Season 1 - A new anime series depicting the coexistence of monsters and humans

"KJ Files Season 1," which aired from July 11 to October 3, 2022, is an anime series about the coexistence of monsters and humans. It aired every Monday late at night on TV Tokyo and was also streamed online on a number of platforms. This work is an original anime and depicts the activities of the United Nations Monster Watch (commonly known as the Coulombs), which specializes in monitoring and analyzing monsters.

story

In the early 20th century, monsters with unique personalities suddenly started appearing all over the world. Humanity initially tried to fight them, but concluded that complete eradication was impossible in the face of the monsters' overwhelming power, and began to focus on monitoring and analysis. As a result, the United Nations Monster Watch (Koulombs) was born. Led by the indomitable leader, Secretary-General Yuichiro Kaido, the Koulombs are made up of experts such as authority on monster ecology, Marucho Kobayashi, genius in monster functional analysis, Claire Coleman, heretic in monster disaster prevention, Kenny Mikoshiba, nobleman in anti-monster strategy, Nikita Tarkovsky, new generation monster linguist, Loulou de Picard, and leading monster life science expert, Guillermo Marquez. They monitor and analyze hundreds of monsters, and continue to explore a world where monsters and humans can coexist.

cast

The show's cast is supported by a fantastic cast of voice actors who bring out the unique personalities of each character. Below is a list of the main cast:

• Dr. Kobayashi Maruchoji: Kiyokawa Motomu
• Yuichiro Kaido, Secretary General: Kazunari Futamata
• Dr. Kenny Mikoshiba: Koji Imai
• Dr. Nikita Tarkovsky: Masayuki Ohshita
• Dr. Claire Coleman: Kaori Fukumori
• Dr. Lulu de Picard: Nene Nahi
• Dr. Guillermo Marquez: Kiyoshi Kobayashi

Main Staff

Many talented people were involved in the production of "KJ Files Season 1". Below is a list of the main staff members:

• Planning: Norio Yamakawa (TV Tokyo), Takuya Iwasaki (ILCA)
• Producers: Umezu Satoshi (TV Tokyo), Funada Akira (yell)
• Directed by Akira Funada
• Screenplay: Mitsukaku Sasaki, Takashi Iizuka
• Illustrations: Shinji Nishikawa, Hideo Okamoto, Yu Ebihara, Takashi Iizuka, Mitsuko Furuya, Jimmy, Tomoko Wada, Norio Yamakawa
• Production cooperation: Studio Backhorn, Japanese-style animation
• Produced by: ILCA, yell
• Production: "KJ File" Production Committee

Main Characters

There are many unique characters in "KJ Files Season 1". Below are details of the main characters:

Yuichiro Kaido

Gender: Male Age: 67 Position: Secretary General Family: Wife Etsuko (deceased), eldest daughter Pets: Small dogs Favorite food: Soba noodles Hobbies: Go and shogi

He is the calm and collected leader of the Coulombs, has a good personality, and is trusted by the researchers. He serves as the moderator of regular report meetings. His wife, Etsuko, was a research assistant to Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba, but after her death, he took on the strong will to lead the Coulombs in order to realize Etsuko's dream of "a world where monsters and humans coexist." He is a close friend of Dr. Marucho Kobayashi.

Kobayashi Maru Choji

Gender: Male Age: 65 Position: Senior Fellow in the "Monster Ecology" department Family: Wife, eldest son, second son Pet: Shiba Inu Favorite food: Mitarashi dango Hobby: Walking the dog

He is the chief scientist in charge of the "Monster Ecology" department. He is a disciple of Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba, and together with his ally, Secretary General Kaido, he is obsessed with realizing "a world where humans and monsters coexist." In the past, he was at odds with Dr. Nikita Tarkovsky's grandfather and father, who were in favor of "monster extermination," and even now he does not like Dr. Tarkovsky, who is researching "anti-monster strategic weapons." Although he can be selfish and arrogant, he also has a kind side, such as when he took in the orphaned Loulou de Picard and raised her like a daughter. He admires Dr. Guillermo Marquez, and considers him the only person he can respect now that Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba is gone.

Kenny Mikoshiba

Gender: Male Age: 40 Position: Senior Fellow, "Monster Disaster Prevention" Department Family: Mother Pets: Many large reptiles Favorite food: Vegetables (vegetarian)
Hobbies: None

He is the chief scientist in charge of the "Monster Disaster Prevention Science" department. He is the grandson of Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba, who developed the ultrasonic monster control device (commonly known as the Rattenfanger). He was in the same class as Loulou de Picard at university (Loulou skipped a grade). After graduating from university, he didn't want to be called a shill for his grandfather, so he got a job at a private think tank that had nothing to do with monsters. However, after the death of Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba, he suddenly returned to the world of monster science, published several groundbreaking papers on "Monster Disaster Prevention Science", and was welcomed as a senior fellow at "Coulomb's". He has an extremely frivolous personality, and even at regular reporting meetings, he is noticeably seen to disregard human life, despite being the head of the "Monster Disaster Prevention Science" department. There is a rumor among researchers that "Kenny joined Coulomb's for some other purpose than research...", but the truth is unclear, and he is a very elusive person.

Loulou de Picard

Gender: Female Age: 33 Position: Senior Fellow, "Monster Linguistics" Department Family: Both parents are deceased, no brothers or sisters Pets: Cockatiels Favorite food: Sandwiches and other things you can eat while reading Hobbies: Reading

She is the chief scientist in charge of the "Kaiju Linguistics" department. Lulu's parents were assistants to Dr. Kobayashimaru Choji, but they died in an accident during research. Orphaned, Lulu was taken in by Dr. Kobayashimaru Choji and raised like a daughter. She excelled academically from an early age and advanced to university by skipping grades. She secretly had a crush on her classmate, Kenny Mikoshiba (at the time, Lulu was still a child, so they never dated). Influenced by Dr. Kobayashimaru Choji, Lulu became a kind-hearted woman who loved kaiju, dreaming of actually communicating with them, and after repeatedly analyzing their cries, she eventually pioneered a new research field called "kaiju linguistics." She is currently in a relationship with Dr. Nikita Tarkovsky, but has not made their relationship public out of consideration for Dr. Kobayashimaru Choji. She is close to Dr. Claire Coleman, and looks up to her like an older sister.

Claire Coleman

Gender: Female Age: 55 Position: Senior Fellow, Department of "Monster Functional Analysis" Family: Father, older brother Pets: Cats Favorite food: Spicy food Hobbies: Yoga and other physical activities

He is the chief scientist in charge of the "Monster Functional Analysis" department. His mother died at a young age, and he was raised by his father, a former soldier, alone. Although he was not from a wealthy family, he worked hard and earned his doctorate at university. After graduating, he applied to become a researcher at "Coulombs" and studied under Dr. Guillermo Marquez. He is an enthusiastic researcher who takes the initiative in dissecting monsters, something that other researchers dislike, and he is eventually recognized for his many achievements in research and promoted to senior fellow. He has a bright personality, and when he makes a new discovery about monsters, he becomes engrossed in it even during regular reporting meetings, and sometimes he can't stop talking. He is close to Dr. Loulou de Picard, and thinks of her as a younger sister.

Nikita Tarkovsky

Gender: Male Age: 26 Position: Senior Fellow, Anti-Monster Strategy Department Family: Mother, sister Pet: Large dog Favorite food: Seafood Hobbies: Zen meditation

Nikita is the chief scientist in charge of the "Anti-Monster Strategy" department. The Tarkovsky family is a distinguished family of scientists who have been researching "anti-monster strategy" and "anti-monster strategic weapons" since his great-grandfather's generation. Nikita's grandfather and father were at the forefront of the "monster extermination faction" in the world of monster science, aiming to eradicate monsters by force, but the times changed when Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba developed the ultrasonic monster control device (commonly known as the Rattenfänger), and the "monster protection faction" became the mainstream in the academic world. When the "Koulombs" were formed, the budget for the "Anti-Monster Strategy" department was drastically cut, and the "anti-monster strategic weapon" that Nikita's grandfather and father dreamed of was never completed. In order to avenge his grandfather and father, Nikita conceived a new weapon that emits a powerful beam, commonly known as SAAK, and conducted repeated experiments. In terms of personality, Nikita is a noble and extremely proud man, but he is also a man who is somehow hard to hate. It may be this quality that struck a chord with his current girlfriend, Dr. Loulou de Picard.

Guillermo Marquez

Gender: Male Age: 95 Position: Honorary Fellow in the "Monster Life Science" department Family: None Pets: None Hobbies: Research

Although his title is a part-time honorary position, he is still an active researcher at Coulomb's. He lived in the same era as Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba, and was a rival and legend in monster research. At regular presentations, he shares his unique monster philosophy and inspires young researchers. It is rumored that he is "attracted by the life force of monsters and is researching immortality...", but the truth of this is unknown.

Main Robot Items

In "KJ Files Season 1," we are introduced to the United Nations Monster Watch (Koulombs), a group that specializes in monitoring and analyzing monsters. Here is an overview and history of the group:

Summary

It is a United Nations organization that continues to monitor monsters by gathering together the science and wisdom of humanity. It has research institutes and branches all over the world, and by monitoring and analyzing monsters around the world, it continues to explore ways for monsters and humans to coexist on a daily basis.

History

In the early 20th century, a meteorite fell in the far east of the Eurasian continent, causing a huge explosion. This caused a great shift in the earth's crust, awakening giant creatures (monsters) that had been sleeping in ancient strata. Monsters appeared from underground, under the sea, and even from the sky, and began to attack the civilization built by humans. In response to this situation, humans formed the League of Nations and fought to eradicate the monsters. However, the League of Nations' forces were repeatedly defeated by the overwhelming power of the monsters, and it seemed that humanity was on the path to extinction. The tide turned in the mid-20th century, when Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba developed an ultrasonic monster control device (commonly known as the Rattenfänger), which made it possible to control the behavior of monsters. This was the turning point for humans to stop fighting monsters and begin to seek ways to coexist with them. The League of Nations' forces were disbanded and reorganized, and the United Nations Monster Watch (Coulombs) was formed, centered around Dr. Shiro Mikoshiba.

Organizational Structure

It is divided into six research departments.

• Monster Ecology: Observing and analyzing the ecology, behavior, and habits of monsters.
• Monster Life Science: Analysis of monster genetic material and research at the molecular biology level.
• Monster disaster prevention studies: Research into predicting damage caused by monster disasters and evacuation methods.
• Monster linguistics: The study of monster communication by translating monster cries into words. This is the newest research field in monster studies.
• Monster Functional Analysis: Medical analysis of the biological functions of monsters through dissections, etc.
• Anti-monster strategy: Assuming a battle with a monster, they analyze the methods of attacking the monster and its weaknesses. However, they have hardly produced any results, and every year there are discussions about abolishing the department.

Regular reports are held by the heads of each research department to discuss analysis and new discoveries regarding the monsters currently under surveillance.

subtitle

"KJ Files Season 1" consists of 13 episodes, each of which features a different monster. Below are the subtitles for each episode:

• #1: "Fanburn/Gesoramari" (2022/07/11)
• #2: "King Depths/Helregira" (2022/07/18)
• #3: "Girolgo/Murtihorn" (2022/07/25)
• #4: "Dunkle Neville/Fire Pongo" (2022/08/01)
• #5: "Christapiris/Pterosto" (2022/08/08)
• #6: "Zoligzen/Giuira" (2022/08/15)
• #7: "Tsongadon/Vazolas" (2022/08/22)
• #8: "Begriffmons/Isbion" (2022/08/29)
• #9: "Daigirafan/Turbulason" (2022/08/29)
• #10: "Mubalanda/Soubakka" (2022/09/05)
• #11: "Omnibaron/Woodlago" (2022/09/12)
• #12: "Protonga/Despotitas" (2022/09/26)
• #13: "Caprimar/Hydrochi" (2022/10/03)

Related Titles

"KJ Files Season 2" is being produced as a sequel to "KJ Files Season 1". This season also focuses on the coexistence of monsters and humans, and depicts the new challenges faced by the Coulombs.

Theme songs and music

The ending theme and insert songs for "KJ Files Season 1" are as follows:

Ending Theme

・Kaiju Fire ・Lyrics: Azuma Isamu ・Music: Isamu ・Singer: Kazuki Yamamori

Insert song

・"Song title unknown (currently under investigation)"
・Composer: Tomoki Kikutani ・Singer: Aozora Sorano (Dempagumi.inc/ARCANA PROJECT), Kana Hoshizaki, Nobuhiko Kashihara, Kota Okamoto

Ratings and Recommendations

"KJ Files Season 1" is a work that depicts the coexistence of monsters and humans from a new perspective, and its unique world view and the charm of its characters have attracted many viewers. A different monster appears in each episode, and the scenes that analyze its ecology and behavior in detail are not to be missed by monster fans. In addition, the unique character settings of the members of the Coulombs and their human drama are also one of the highlights.

It is particularly moving to see how each character plays their own role and moves the story forward, such as Secretary-General Kaido Yuichiro's leadership, Dr. Kobayashimaru Choji's deep understanding of monsters, Dr. Kenny Mikoshiba's unorthodox perspective, Dr. Loulou de Picard's pioneering of new research fields, Dr. Claire Coleman's passion for research, Dr. Nikita Tarkovsky's pride and passion, and Dr. Guillermo Marquez's presence as a legend.

The film also provides a detailed look at the organizational structure of Coulombs, which specializes in monitoring and analyzing monsters, and the roles of each research department, allowing viewers to learn specialized knowledge about monster science. The conflicts that arise in the process of exploring how monsters and humans can coexist, as well as the suffering and growth of the researchers, are depicted realistically, leaving viewers deeply moved.

The ending theme "Kaiju Fire" symbolizes the strength of the monsters and the hope of humanity, and resonates with the hearts of viewers. The inserted song "Unknown (currently under investigation)" also plays an important role in expressing the characters' feelings.

"KJ Files Season 1" is recommended not only for monster fans, but also for those who are interested in science and research, and those who want to enjoy human drama. Be sure to check out the sequel, "KJ Files Season 2."