Scrumptious in Dungeon – Episodes 1-3 Assessment (Theatrical Screening)
Netflix will debut Studio Trigger’s version of Delicious in Dungeon in January. Nevertheless, the first three episodes were repackaged and released in restricted theaters in Japan ahead of schedule, allowing us to watch it over a month early. So read on for my non-spoiler analysis on the start of the story.
Establishing the background and getting to know each of our four characters are the main goals of the first three episodes of Delicious in Dungeon. Laios is an armored knight that has a secret love for monsters and a voracious appetite for anything they come across. Chilchuck is a halfling outlaw that is normally laid back but takes his work very seriously. Marcille, the group’s spellcaster, is an elf who frequently frets about her standing in the group because magic is rare, powerful, and expensive. Finally, Senshi, a dwarf warrior who has spent years living in the dungeon and is skilled at transforming almost any creature into a delectable meal, joins the three other party members.
The main problem with the story is the strange juxtaposition of tones. We have a breezy comedy on the one hand. After killing a new creature they come across, the group sets about preparing it for dinner. It’s always the same joke. Senshi and Laios are eager to start eating, Chilchuck is willing to try the enormous feast, and Marcille cries because she doesn’t want to eat something so repulsive but, after tasting it, finds it to be just as good as everyone else. There’s a lot of wordplay and slapstick humor in between meals.
On the other side, this is purportedly the account of a desperate attempt at rescue. The group must move quickly or Laios’ sister Falin will be consumed by the dragon and will not be able to be raised again. They are traveling through a dungeon full with traps where even the plants eat humans. Every time the group becomes distracted by a potential new meal or monster, it feels like they are letting their life-or-death rescue mission slip through their fingers.
It’s surprising that nothing in these early episodes sticks out visually, especially considering that Studio Trigger animated them. The dungeon’s different biomes definitely come to life, but other than a few short, easy fights, not much happens. Furthermore, the character designs are rather simple, to the extent where Senshi’s enormous beard negates the necessity for animation when he speaks. With the exception of the upbeat new song BUMP OF CHICKEN that plays over the closing credits, the music is likewise categorized as “fine”.
Delicious in Dungeon is one of those anime that, after these three episodes, I wish I liked more. I’ve never been into food anime, even if I like the Dungeons & Dragons-esque setting that emphasizes the practicalities of adventure, especially when the cuisine is entirely made up of imaginary ingredients. In spite of the seeming stakes, there is relatively little tension when we combine the tonal mismatch with comedy and character development. After watching three episodes, I’m not quite enthralled, but maybe I’ll give Delicious in Dungeon another go when the whole series airs.
