Seems like the series is getting way more attention in Japan than in the West.
Summary:
- Delicious in Dungeon is a comedy anime about cooking seemingly inedible monsters.
- It’s animated by Studio Trigger, which is a reason to watch it for animation alone.
- The anime is consistently funny, and people should definitely watch it.
The official X (formerly Twitter) account behind Delicious in Dungeon (Dungeon Meshi) pointed out that the series is trending in Japan. The creators thanked the viewers for the support and expressed the desire to hear their opinion on the upcoming episodes.
While the anime already has quite a bit of following, it’s still far from the most popular thing this season in the West. While the source material has had its share of fans for a while, a lot of people unfamiliar with it seem to be hesitant to start the anime.
An anime about food?
Delicious in Dungeon is a somewhat surreal comedy featuring an adventuring party turning monsters (and other things found in the dungeon) into food. A lot of these monsters are, predictably, very dangerous — and also look disgusting. Seemingly inedible ingredients turning into delicious food is a source of comedy, and it is as funny as it sounds (if not more).
Anime about food seems to be way more popular in Japan than it is in the West. In the English-speaking anime fandom, many otaku would struggle to name even one food-themed series outside of Food Wars! (Shokugeki no Souma). That said, with Delicious in Dungeon, a turnaround is very much possible.
Why should we watch it?
One reason to watch Delicious in Dungeon — even if you don’t care about its premise — would be the fact it is animated by Studio Trigger. They’re famous for series like Kill la Kill, SSSS.Gridman and Kiznaiver, and even if their projects are hit or miss, the direction and animation are always top-tier.
Delicious in Dungeon isn’t an exception — it’s incredibly well-animated for a series that isn’t even about action.
If you don’t especially care about cooking, the series is still quite funny. It is also a really well-done fantasy anime, which is not surprising in the slightest. A show focusing on cooking different kinds of monsters has to come up with them first, and Delicious in Dungeon is very good at that.
The hype is justified
Overall, the hype the anime is getting in Japan is definitely justified. With how consistent Delicious in Dungeon is, it’s only going to be a few more weeks before the West catches the hype wave as well.
It’s an easy watch, especially if you follow it weekly so the comedy doesn’t get stale. And, since the anime is scheduled for 24 episodes, we’re in for a treat — both figuratively and literally.