Delicious in Dungeon is an ongoing anime released in the winter 2024 season, slotted for 24 episodes and animated by Studio Trigger. It is currently streaming on Netflix and is basically a must-watch for fans of High Fantasy. It follows our main cast of Laios, Marcille, Chillchuck, and Senshi as they attempt to go through this dangerous dungeon created by an ancient mad mage.
Story Breakdown
For me, the story that Ryoko Kui writes captures the look and feel of a game of Dungeons and Dragons, following a party of people from different races and walks of life on a journey to accomplish a common goal. The main selling point is related to the name, namely, the reason they failed in their expedition the first time, according to Laios, is hunger, so he proposes they eat the monsters in the dungeon as they proceed further in, arguing that they would save a lot of money and time by doing so.
This crazy idea, initially rejected by his companions, leads them to Senshi, a dwarf whose dream is to cook in the dungeon. Their combination of willingness to eat and cook eventually wins over the others, and they set off. Everything is on the menu, from mushroom monsters and a basilisk to living armor.
Animation
Studio Trigger animates the show, a verified juggernaut of the industry most well-known for shows like Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Kill la Kill, Darling in the Franxxx, and many more. The movement is fluid and dynamic, the action is executed expertly, and the colors are vibrant and bright. This contrasts with studios such as Yokohama Animation Lab and Mappa which haven’t put their best foot forward recently.
The world is brought into life with no details being spared on even the most basic backgrounds, making this eye candy of a show stand out even more. Impact frames are done justice, and magic feels light and heavy, depending on the cast type. Nothing is lacking, from dynamic poses and character movement to creature animation.
Then we get to the look of the food, and by god, would I devour every creature in there as long as Senshi cooked it? Hot pots, Tarts, Pizzas, Roast Basilisk, Omelets, and so on look mouth-wateringly good, possibly past the level of something you would see on Food Wars. Don’t watch this hungry, is what I’m trying to say.
Music And Sound Effects
Another area where this show shines is the sound effects and music selection. The opening is Sleep Walking Orchestra, done by Bump of Chicken. The legends behind openings to March Comes in Like a Lion, Kekkai Sensen, Spy x Family, and many more. Utilizing classic sounds you might hear in a high fantasy setting mixed with a modern pop song really makes the opening stand out in a good and recognizable way.
The sounds in the show are really where its footsteps sound different based on character weight and equipment, and the weapons all have matching sounds, which doesn’t sound impressive unless you’ve heard the disaster that is Guts’ weapon in Berzerk(2016). The lovely cooking animation is backed by flawless sound engineering to really make you consider diving into a dungeon yourself. Water, fire, stone, and steel, each element is brought to life to complete the audio-visual experience, even for the most challenging audiophiles.
Character Designs
Ryoko Kui, the author and avid RPG gamer, is a master of versatility. Her designs allow for many intricacies, whether race, body shapes, or outfits and armaments. The personalities of each character are represented in their outfits, encompassing their history and preferred exploration/battle style. Hence, Laios wears a breastplate and chainmail since he’s the frontline, while Marcille and Chilchuck wear robes and leathers to allow for more nimble movements.
Senshi has a mix of light, moveable armor and heavy to protect his head and vitals while fighting with his pot as a shield and an axe that’s not maintained as his main weapon because his passion lies in cooking, not fighting. These are just some of the fun little things to catch in the main casts designs. The same thematic and practical accuracy is also spread throughout the side characters.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a fun Seinen building a great story on a wacky basis, then Delicious in Dungeon is the Anime for you. Lovely animation, sound design, music, and characters bring this world to life on the screen. So far, it has 12 episodes out with 12 more to go, and with it being on Netflix, most people don’t have a good reason not to give it a shot. While the story is wholesome and fun for now, I suspect there is something much deeper and more shocking to come. So, don’t delay and dive into the delectable world of Delicious in Dungeon!
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