Unlike my fellow feature writer, Izah Azahari, who bulldozes through anime and other forms of popular media like she’s on a mission, I tend to tiptoe around my options.
I’m the sort who spends more time doom scrolling through Netflix’s overflowing buffet of anime than actually committing to watching anything.
My indecisiveness often leaves me sampling trailers and snippets without ever settling on a full course. So, when Delicious in Dungeon dropped on Netflix, I didn’t expect much. But little did I know, this quirky culinary adventure was exactly what I needed.
Produced by Trigger and based on Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryoko Kui, Delicious in Dungeon also known as Dungeon Meshi, which translates to ‘Dungeon Meal’ is a deceptively cosy fantasy that strikes a delicate balance between comforting and thrilling.
The story kicks off with a failed dungeon raid that leaves our hero, Laios, and his party in a dire situation. A dragon devours Laios’ younger sister, and the party is left without supplies, funds, or even a clear plan.
What they do have, though, is a rather unusual idea: why not source their food from within the dungeon itself? And by food, I mean the very monsters they would typically be running from.
Enter Senshi, an eccentric dwarf with a penchant for gourmet monster cuisine. He takes Laios, Marcille, and Chilchuck under his wing, teaching them how to cook up feasts using ingredients like giant bats, walking mushrooms, and other dungeon-dwelling creatures.
As the group navigates the treacherous dungeon in search of the dragon that devoured Laios’ sister, they must rely on their newfound culinary skills to survive and possibly revive their fallen comrade – before she is fully digested, that is.
The series is a delightful blend of cooking show and fantasy adventure, but don’t be fooled by its seemingly light-hearted premise. Beneath the surface, Delicious in Dungeon has a surprisingly dark edge.
The show explores themes of survival, death, and the cyclical nature of life in a dungeon where, fortunately, those who perish can be revived – provided there’s enough of their body left intact for their soul to return.
One of the most captivating aspects of Delicious in Dungeon is its food direction – or more aptly, its food animation.
From the rich food art the likes of Studio Ghibli films, the monstrous cuisine featured in the article is rendered with such detail that you can almost taste and smell the flavours wafting off the screen.
Whether it’s the Huge Scorpion and Walking Mushroom Hotpot or the Man-eating Plant Quiche – a concoction of mashed and cut-up Man-Eating Plant fruit, slime, and scorpion soup cooked in a pan lined with the fruit’s peel – the dishes are as imaginative as they are visually mouth-watering.
The show’s ability to make monster-based cuisine look appetising is nothing short of magical, and it’s easy to find yourself both laughing and marvelling at the bizarre yet beautiful culinary creations.
As season one wraps up, it’s clear that there’s more bubbling beneath the surface of this delightful series.
The hints of deeper plots and character development suggest that Delicious in Dungeon is just getting started, with much more to explore in future episodes. Like any good dish, Delicious in Dungeon is a fantastic binge because of the carefully selected ingredients that make up its story.
Beyond its innovative take on action-fantasy anime, the characters themselves add a delightful zing to an already scrumptious experience. The ones really taking the cake? The human, Laios, and the dwarf, Senshi.
In an action fantasy, you’d expect someone dashing, brave, and heroic. Laios is all that – with a dash of extreme sociability.
While Senshi drives the series with his culinary genius, Laios is the true monster connoisseur, dishing out fascinating titbits about the monster ingredient of the week. His knowledge is presented with flair, showcasing the intricate relationships between the monsters, their surroundings, and each other.
Laios’ obsession with monsters borders on insanity, making you wonder if eating dungeon creatures was really about survival or just an excuse to indulge in his twisted fantasy.
I mean, the guy dreams of tasting the dreaded living armour – some sort of mollusc that takes over abandoned suits of armour. And it’s downright hilarious, the ways in which to cook these monsters, alongside its nature documentary-worthy lore.
This commitment to both the humour and the deep world-building of Delicious in Dungeon is nothing short of impressive.
Senshi, the dwarven chef, is a novel character in his own right, wrapped in mystery – especially with his extensive knowledge of dungeon cuisine, which raises more than a few eyebrows.
Laios’ other guild mates, like the elf Marcille and the halfling Chilchuck, aren’t just background noise either. Each is a clever twist on typical RPG archetypes.
Marcille, the magic user and healer, has magical depths you wouldn’t expect, while Chilchuck, the locksmith and traps expert, brings a level of cunningness that’s par for the course for his class, though his loyalty to the guild might be his greatest strength.
In Delicious in Dungeon, you’ll meet many traditional denizens found in any RPG fantasy or the fantasy genre, from orcs to silkies, to traditional tanks, ninjas and summoners. Ultimately, the anime is a familiar dish but with a surprise filling!
And here’s the kicker: Delicious in Dungeon is one of the rare animes I’d recommend both dubbed and subbed. The voice acting in either version is top-notch, perfectly capturing the essence of the characters.
So maybe it’s time to dive in and see what’s cooking in the dungeon. You might just find yourself savouring every bite. – Wardi Wasil
