Kaiba (2008)
A haunting anime odyssey where memories are currency and identity is never guaranteed, crafted by visionary director Masaaki Yuasa.
Kaiba - Series Information
- Original Title: カイバ
- First Air Year: 2008
- Last Air Year: 2008
- Created by: Masaaki Yuasa
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Animation, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama, Mystery, Action, Adventure
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 24 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 12
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: April 11, 2008 (United States - TV-MA), April 11, 2008 (Canada - 18+), April 11, 2008 (Australia - PG)
- Networks: WOWOW Prime
- Alternative Titles: 카이바 (KR), Kaiba (JP)
- Production Companies: Madhouse, WOWOW, VAP, Sony PCL
- Production Countries: Japan
Kaiba - Plot
In a world where memories can be stored like computer data, a young man named Kaiba searches for his lost memories and discovers a connection with a mysterious girl.
Kaiba - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a first glimpse into Kaiba's mesmerizing world:
Even without my memories I love you.
Where to Watch Kaiba
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Kaiba - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Masaaki Yuasa
Main Cast
- Houko Kuwashima
- Mamiko Noto
- Romi Park
- Hisao Egawa
- Wasabi Mizuta
- Chiwa Saito
- Aiko Hibi
- Yuhko Kaida
- Ai Orikasa
- Akihiko Ishizumi
Writers
- Masaaki Yuasa
- Akitoshi Yokoyama
- Eunyoung Choi
- Michio Mihara
Executive Producers
- Jungo Maruta
- Naoki Takamizawa
- Hiroshi Hirayama
Kaiba - FAQs
What kind of story does Kaiba tell?
Kaiba unfolds in a dystopian future where memories exist as transferable data — bought, sold, and stolen across a stratified society. A young man wakes with no recollection of who he is, clutching only a locket with a mysterious girl's face, and sets off on a journey to reclaim his identity and past.
Is Kaiba suitable for all audiences?
Kaiba carries a TV-MA rating, making it intended for mature audiences. While its art style may appear deceptively childlike, the series explores dark themes including exploitation, identity loss, mortality, and social inequality, alongside some graphic content. It is not recommended for younger viewers.
Where can you stream Kaiba online?
Kaiba is available to stream on Crunchyroll and through the Crunchyroll Amazon Channel. It is also included with Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus subscriptions. For free viewing with ads, you can catch it on Pluto TV.
Who directed and created Kaiba?
Kaiba was created and directed by Masaaki Yuasa, the visionary animator celebrated for his boundary-pushing style across works like Mind Game, The Tatami Galaxy, and Devilman Crybaby. Kaiba stands as one of his most emotionally ambitious and visually distinctive projects, produced by Madhouse studio.
How was Kaiba received by critics and anime fans?
Kaiba earned strong acclaim from critics and dedicated anime enthusiasts, praised for its bold visual language, philosophical depth, and emotional resonance. Its unconventional art style — deliberately reminiscent of vintage animation — drew comparisons to avant-garde filmmaking and cemented Masaaki Yuasa's reputation as one of anime's most daring auteurs.
What makes Kaiba's animation style so distinctive?
Masaaki Yuasa deliberately drew from retro and abstract animation traditions, giving Kaiba a fluid, almost hand-drawn quality that contrasts sharply with mainstream anime aesthetics. Simple, rounded character designs coexist with surreal, kaleidoscopic environments, creating a visual experience that feels both nostalgic and completely unlike anything else in the medium.
What are some anime series similar to Kaiba?
If Kaiba resonated with you, Serial Experiments Lain and Steins;Gate offer similarly mind-bending explorations of identity and technology. Eden of the East blends intrigue with a compelling amnesiac protagonist, while Made in Abyss shares Kaiba's knack for hiding profound darkness beneath a deceptively whimsical visual surface.
Who composed the music for Kaiba?
The score for Kaiba was composed by Kiyoshi Yoshida, whose atmospheric and emotionally layered music perfectly complements the series' dreamlike tone. The soundtrack weaves between tender, melancholic passages and more unsettling textures, reinforcing the show's themes of lost love, fractured identity, and a world stripped of human warmth.
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