Filthy Casual for Life

SERIES SUMMARY

Grotesque, Godzilla-like monsters called “kaijuu” have been appearing around Japan for many years. To combat these beasts, an elite military unit known as the Defense Corps risks their lives daily to protect civilians. Once a creature is killed, “sweepers”—working under the Professional Kaijuu Cleaner Corporation—are left to dispose of its remains.

Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old man, is unsatisfied with his job as a sweeper. From a young age, he has aspired to join the Defense Corps and kill kaijuus for a living. After a few failed attempts, however, he gave up on his dreams and resigned himself to the mediocrity that provided a decent paycheck. Nevertheless, when an ambitious, 18-year-old recruit named Leno Ichikawa joins his cleaning team, Kafka is once again reminded of his desire to join the military.

Following a chain of unfortunate events and an interaction with the junior sweeper, Kafka encounters a parasite-type kaijuu that forces its way in through his mouth—turning him into a humanoid monster. With his newfound powers, Kafka aims to give his lifelong dream a final try.

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EPISODE ONE: THE MAN WHO BECAME A KAIJU

It’s a normal day. That is, until a kaiju attack commences. Kaiju response teams are dispatched. Specifically, the Third Division. The kaiju is tearing the city apart. Deploying, the Third Division quickly dispatch the kaiju, but not before making an epic mess. Blood and guts rain down upon the city. Standing in the epicenter is a black-haired woman in military gear who fired the fatal shot.

After the massacre, Kafka sits eating his burger. Looking through binoculars, he surveys the damage complaining about the overtime he is going to have to work. He is part of the clean-up crew. The foreman calls the team to the site to begin remedying the mess.

Kafka is put on intestine duty. His co-workers make fun of him because it’s literally a shit job. Kafka makes his way home and still smells the stench of his work. He turns on the news. The news story highlights the Third Division captain, Ashiro Mina. It’s the black-haired woman who fired the fatal shot to the kaiju. Kafka has a flashback. He remembers a young elementary-aged Kafka telling a black-haired girl that they will wipe out the kaiju together. He turns off the television and asks how he ended up where he is. Pulling himself out of the downward spiral, he reminds himself that the service he provided is beneficial and that he makes a nice living.

The next day, Kafka is paired up with a new employee name Ichikawa. Ichikawa’s dream is to become part of the Defense Force. The boss points out that Kafka had the same dream but gave up. Ichikawa asks why Kafka gave up, and Kafka does his best to answer honestly. Ichikawa makes it clear he never intends to give up and walks off to get dressed. Duties are being assigned at the job site. Ichikawa is assigned intestine duty. Kafka is reveling in the karma.

That is, until they announce Kafka is also on intestine duty. At lunch time, both Kafka and Ichikawa are having trouble eating. Kafka tries to impart his knowledge to Ichikawa, but Ichikawa isn’t as receptive as he could be.

At the end of the day, Ichikawa thanks Kafka for helping him get through his first day. As he walks off, he mentions to Kafka that the Defense Force is raising the age to 32. As Kafka thanks him, a kaiju pops up behind Ichikawa and almost eats him. Kafka is quick enough to get Ichikawa out of the way. Kafka tells Ichikawa to run and call it in. Kafka then begins running to get the kaiju to follow him.

Kafka finds a narrow street to run down. The kaiju can’t reach him. Mustering his courage, Kafka continues to run and jumps out of a window.

Kafka has another flashback. He is still with the black-haired girl. He returns and tells her that everything is gone. Their homes and the school are no longer there. The black-haired girl is crying because she lost her cat. At the same time, they both proclaim that they’re going to join the Defense Force. He balks at the girl and tells her she’s just a kid. She reminds him that he’s in elementary school, too. Young Kafka then challenges the black-haired girl to see who makes the coolest officer and they can wipe out the kaiju together.

As he lands from jumping out the window, Kafka resumes his run. The kaiju has caught up to him. Mustering his courage, Kafka knows he has to aim for the leg. However, he fails and is hit by the kaiju and flies through the air. The kaiju smacks him and breaks his leg. It looks over for Kafka. Then, out of nowhere, comes Ichikawa to save him. Ichikawa tells Kafka if he left Kafka to die, he wouldn’t make it in the Defense Force. Ichikawa does his best to fight the kaiju, but in the end, they both are at the end of the road. Coming to the rescue, a tiger jumps at the kaiju and in a matter of seconds the kaiju is exploding.

Standing above, the black-haired Captain of the Third Division commands her team notating the injured Kafka. In the hospital, Kafka is thinking about Mina, the black-haired Captain of the Third Division. Interrupting his thoughts, Ichikawa thanks him for saving his life and told him he thought he was cool. Kafka finding some resolve admits he is going to try to join the Defense Force again. But as he puts his hand down, a kaiju hovers above his bed.

Unsure what to do, he stares at it. The kaiju transmits that it found him and forcefully enters Kafka through the mouth. Ichikawa, concerned for his senpai, throws back the curtain that is separating them. Instead of seeing Kafka, he sees a kaiju.

THOUGHTS

This is going to be a banger show if it keeps going in this direction. The music is awesome. It compliments each scene. I truly felt this was a great way to open a show. We quickly got the background of the protagonist without it being too overbearing. Kafka is very relatable. How many of us had a dream and had to give it up for whatever reason? There is always that self-doubt that pops up from time to time. Ichikawa is such a sweetheart. He did his best to encourage a man he just met because he could sense the disappointment and sadness that Kafka had. I hope the show develops that relationship a little bit more. I’m looking forward to keeping up with this show. I hope it continues to go big. Will continue to monitor.