Delicious in Dungeon is an anime produced by the unlikely partnership between Netflix and Trigger, a well-known Japanese animation studio. Currently, the first season, based on the 2014 manga series Danjon Meshi, is being released with one episode each week. However, this doesn't stop us from giving it an early review.
The plot is quite simple yet original. A team of adventurers delves into the depths of a dungeon and suddenly finds themselves facing a gigantic Red Dragon that annihilates most of them. In a last-ditch effort, the cleric Falin sacrifices herself by casting a spell to save her companions. So the story begins in medias res, meaning in the middle of events, allowing the audience to gradually understand how things reached this point in the following episodes, a narrative technique that I found truly captivating.
Having escaped the dungeon, Laios the Knight, Marcille the Elf Mage, and Chilchuck the Thief decide to return immediately to resurrect Falin before she is completely digested. If at this point you notice a resemblance to a friendly game of Dungeons & Dragons, you are absolutely right. However, it doesn't stop there as the protagonists quickly realize they are broke, forcing them to resort to eating the "disgusting" monsters of the dungeon. Fortunately, they encounter Senshi the Dwarf, who is the Gordon Ramsay of the dungeon, showing them how to cook five-star dishes, that's why the title Delicious in Dungeon.
The anime builds on various scenes of combat (including some quite gory ones, so I don't recommend it for the faint-hearted), tranquility thanks to the genuine characters that make the story unique, and even moments of laughter. Additionally, it's advisable not to watch it on an empty stomach, as the dishes they create look delicious.
The animation and the creation of both the environments and the characters are chef's kiss (to stay on theme), providing distinct and almost stereotypical designs and personalities to both the main characters and the dozens of secondary characters encountered along the way. This inclusion makes viewers feel part of the story, leading them to automatically appreciate a character or root for a team.
Overall, even though the series isn't finished yet, I definitely recommend it. Every episode I've seen so far has been a pleasure to watch, and I've been completely captivated. I believe this is because it manages to mix different television formats: anime, role-playing game, fantasy, and even cooking shows, resulting in a unique and surprisingly successful outcome.