We’re eating monsters now?: Netflix’s new show gets creative with its menu

How do adventurers manage their resources and how does it impact a party when they run low?

“Delicious in Dungeon”, an anime based on a manga coming out on Netflix, starts by asking those questions. It is, undoubtedly, a fantasy adventure, but much of it centers around real struggles.

Spoilers ahead.

“Delicious in Dungeon” opens by showing the consequences of mismanaging resources. The main party loses a member and two others leave as a result. This leaves the remaining party members: Laios, Marcille, and Chilchuck, desperate and destitute.

They can’t enter the dungeon without food, but they can’t wait long enough to earn money to buy it. They are left with one choice: eating the monsters they come across.

They quickly meet Senshi, someone who lives in the dungeon and has been eating monsters for years. And thus they begin delving into the dungeon, hoping to reach their lost friend in time to bring her back.

“Delicious in Dungeon” slowly introduces the audience to the politics of the world. We start with the main party, a group of people who have little and have had to adjust their lives because of it. We are shown other parties in a similar financial state who are taken advantage of. We are also shown well-off parties with friends in high places. Through those high connections, we begin to see more of world politics. Each new thing we learn is built upon previous experiences.

The dungeon is clearly painted as an unique ecosystem that has been thrown out of balance for an unknown reason. Adventurers are part of that ecosystem, keeping monsters in the dungeon and below the surface. Consequences are quickly and clearly shown; what adventurers do has a direct effect on the dungeon.

The ever-expanding world is expertly paired with a captivating art style. It’s beautifully drawn, managing to capture light and dark moments with equal weight.

There’s also a vast array of character designs, which doesn’t sound big, but this is anime. It’s not uncommon that characters, especially women, look similar enough to be related and have similar personalities. Not in “Delicious in Dungeon”. Each character is distinct; you will not be confusing them.

A final, small thing I love about “Delicious in Dungeon”: it has filler episodes. This isn’t an eight-episode-per-season show. We have time to connect with characters and learn more about the world without being given too much information at once.

“Delicious in Dungeon” is a beautiful, emotional show that’s perfect if you want to start watching anime or if you want something gripping and entertaining to watch over the summer.

Kai Spahr is a Hutchinson sophomore studying journalism and the Opinion Page Editor.

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