KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE ‒ Episode 12
Kaiju Girl Caramelise sticks its landing with an earth-shattering thump that echoes the series' core precept of loving yourself. I will admit I was a tad cynical going into this finale, and it also does not tie a neat bow around everything I wanted out of it. I'm actually more interested in the story's next steps than anything that's happened all season. But I cannot say this episode left me feeling dissatisfied either. It's a big, bombastic, and beastly conclusion to the first arc of Kuroe and Minami's relationship, and it successfully made me cry.
Akae's kaiju superiority over Kuroe manifests physically in the blow that shatters her wing, but its psychological manifestation is more important. For Kuroe, this is a reminder that she is not a “true” kaiju more than a “true” girl. And if she cannot blend in and survive with either of these groups, then she may as well fall motionless into the canal and crumble into nothingness. During this time, we see her dream of a world where she is just a girl. Her nails are done. Her clothes are cute. Her accessories match. Her boyfriend awaits at the door. It is not a far-fetched aspiration.
Meanwhile, in reality, Minami takes his turn playing the hero. I like the irony of him doing so while in his movie getup, which is a physical embodiment of the “Prince of Kaiju's” idyllic status—an image the media both concocted and accepted. Minami, however, rejects this idea with the arduousness of his climb up Kuroe's back, discarding the boots along the way. And while Minami must exert himself to reach his goal, he must also be careful not to harm Kuroe, whose spikes and scales turn to brittle dust if he grips them too hard. This image works well as a metaphor for the path any one of us navigates when speaking to a loved one in distress. How do we make sure our words get through without accidentally harming them in the process? It is anything but easy.
On the subject of metaphors, the trans reading follows through and finishes strong. Again, the image of Kuroe's kaiju parts ripping and bulging out of her dress is scarily accurate to how dysphoria can feel/appear to a transfeminine person in particular. And I honestly cannot say if that's a voice you can ever fully exorcise. I'm still way too early into this process to say so for myself, and I can relate to Kuroe's nightmare of endless empty drawers with nothing for her to wear. However, that despair is a very small slice of my life, to be clear, and there are myriad ways to get out of it. In Kuroe's case, she has Minami's love and acceptance to remind her that she too must love and accept herself.
Upon realizing this, Kuroe regenerates and merges the show's romantic and kaiju sides into a confession of love powerful enough to blast Akae to kingdom come. The voice acting, music, and overall direction make for a deeply satisfying climax. While I have not been entirely enthused about this arc's construction, I'm very happy with this ending. The series fully embraces its ridiculousness and creates a spectacle by doing so. And the strength of such moments will keep Kaiju Girl locked in my brain long after I conclude this review.
Naturally, the most important and interesting part of this finale is the confirmation that Minami finally recognizes that Harugon and Kuroe are the same, and that he lets her know as much. This is what I've been looking for all season, as amusing as some of Kuroe's attempts at stealth have been. She can't hide this part of herself from somebody she wants to be close to, nor should she. And Minami, of course, has no problem with her and is instead relieved to get to know her better. While he quickly runs through this arc's misunderstandings and missed connections, all the scenes of Kuroe acting weird that must now make sense to him are left unspoken. It doesn't undo the hurt they caused each other, but it gives both of them a stronger footing for the path forward.
And if I have one criticism of this finale, it's that it ends right where the real story begins! While the climax is saccharine sweet, it does not imply a neat “happily ever after.” Kuroe and Minami will face trials in the future. Some might come in the form of Kuroe's insecurities bubbling up again. Some may arise from Minami's good intentions running up against his lack of experience in a relationship. And some problems may be kaiju-shaped with eyes on Tokyo. Whatever happens, I want to see how these two kids work it out together. Finding love as a kaiju girl is one thing. Holding onto love as a kaiju girl is another.
Rating:
KAIJU GIRL CARAMELISE is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sylvia is on Bluesky for all of your posting needs. She is a girl who likes kaiju. You can also catch her chatting about trash and treasure alike on This Week in Anime.
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