What makes Delicious in Dungeon so special? Exploring its unique premise

Laios and others eating monsters as seen in anime
Laios and others eating monsters as seen in anime(Image credits: Studio Trigger)

Delicious in Dungeon stands out in the world of anime that is currently flooded with isekai, fantasy, and dungeon-crawling anime. This anime is adapted from Ryoko Kui's manga, which has been completed. Additionally, it is produced by Studio Trigger. The interesting part about this anime is that it is not about adventuring through dangerous ruins or ruthlessly battling magical beasts. Well, there are intense battles in this, but for reasons that no anime has ever thought of before.

The story is about Laios, who was the leader of an exploration party that had a disastrous adventure. His sister, Falin, had sacrificed herself to save the group; unfortunately, she was eaten by a dragon. Instead of grieving about his sister's loss, Laios has an outrageous plan to rescue her before she is digested by the monster.

With no time to waste, despite being broke, out of supplies, and not able to afford traditional food provisions, he comes up with a creative idea. Laios has a solution: he chooses to eat the monsters as they are in abundance. His character is truly unhinged because he was optimistic about this plan and utilized this chance to be openly obsessed with monster biology and culinary possibilities.

This is what makes this anime unique. Also, his obsession sometimes cannot be distinguished between endearing and unsettling. Furthermore, his passion for cooking and studying dungeon creatures in Delicious in Dungeon is so infectious that it somehow makes the viewer forget these are technically monsters and not gourmet ingredients.

Marcille with Chilchuck and Senshi as seen in anime(Image credits: Studio Trigger)
Marcille with Chilchuck and Senshi as seen in anime(Image credits: Studio Trigger)

In Delicious in Dungeon, food is not just seen as a means of survival. It is a tool that the creator used for worldbuilding and elaborating on the lore. Every meal teaches us something new about the dungeon’s structure, the nature of its inhabitants, and even the social norms of different races.

Moreover, it is interesting to watch so many monsters and not feel overwhelmed. Instead of info-dumping lore, the series slowly reveals it through interactions, meals, and exploration. Also, the explanations are fairly simple and have introduced almost all types of monsters fans might have seen in fantasy anime.

What takes this anime to the next level is Studio Trigger. Fans might know their other famous works like Kill la Kill, Promare, and Little Witch Academia. They have done a phenomenal job at animating the monsters to look grotesque, but after being cooked, fans forget their initial design and are mesmerized by how delicious the food looks.

It is almost as if the food scenes are animated with such care and detail that they rival high-budget cooking shows. There are only a handful of shows that can balance such extremes without turning into parody, and Delicious in Dungeon has nailed the animations and its story.


Importance of emotional depth and character backstories in Delicious in Dungeon

One of the great aspects of this series is how it has layers to it. It starts as a quirky anime that seems like a simple fantasy comedy, but fans would not even realize it would become quite serious as the story continues. Viewers get more information about the character's past, and we get clarity about their personality and behavior.

Laios’ unshakeable optimism is revealed to mask deep guilt and fear over Falin’s fate. Marcille’s resistance to monster cuisine in Delicious in Dungeon is tied to trauma and magical ethics. Even Senshi, with his calm demeanor, hides a complex past that shaped his self-imposed isolation in the dungeon. Interestingly, these backstories are not just some filler used to fill gaps in the story; rather, they are cleverly added to deepen the connection of these characters with the viewers.


In conclusion, Delicious in Dungeon is a one-of-a-kind series to be introduced in the world of anime. It is a show where the creators have dared to show a fantasy world where characters love fighting monsters to make them their meal. Moreover, it has amazing character arcs, emotional backstories, and a rescue mission that becomes an adventure. If this has not helped change your mind, one could just tune in to watch a basilisk get turned into a stew. Because one thing is for sure, this series has something to offer for every type of audience.

Edited by Sangeeta Mathew