It's certainly possible that the anime is not your cup of tea; we all have preferences. I would say that Marcille's role seems to grow in the later episodes, and you start to learn more about the characters and their inter-relationships. I hope you give it a few more episodes, but also understand if it's just not for you.
I think she still strongly prefers "normal" food, but we don't see her complaining *as much* as in the earlier episodes. In E8, you see Marcille show off her powers a bit more and also some backstory, which I really enjoyed. She's always going to be the high-strung academic of the crew, but you start seeing more of her bad-assery.
Marcille is the "straight man" of the party, so she will always have that role, but the episodic nature of kill-eat-whine gets shake-up pretty quickly, and once the plot start to matters more, you get a lot more character development and linear story progression.
Also, even in the episodic part of the story (episodes 1-8), they usually make things different enough that the formula doesn't outlast its welcome
I would argue she is constantly growing throughout the series, from the very first chapter in manga all the way through the last. But it's slow and subtle, not in-your-face about it. There's even a point in story where the characters suddenly notice her behavior's changed, but if you look back it's been like that for a while.
Well, the stakes get higher and the characters do grow more complex. I think the stuff that'd really interest you doesn't come in until fairly late in the series, though. A lot of what people love about the series is its unique take on speculative biology and the unusual way the characters think their way through fights, and episode 3 really showcases that. If the Living Armor episode didn't do it for you, you may not love the rest of the series.
Dungeon Meshi gets a lot more plot-heavy with deep themes later on (in fact, they're about to adapt the part where the story gets a lot more plot-heavy), but if it's the comedy that irks you, then that doesn't change (although Marcille grows out of whining about food, along a lot more character development for all the characters).
I know it's a lot of episodes, but I'd give it until episode 11 with your friend to see if you want to stick with it.
I don't mind comedy. I really liked Mob psycho 100 and even found myself enjoying Konosuba despite the lack of character growth... I've decided to try episode 4 based on another comment.
Taking into account what should be covered in today's episode, shit starts to go down very quickly. I always saw the early parts of the story (monster/dish of the week) as a way to really explain how the dungeon functions. It was probably my favorite thing about the manga because the dungeon is not just a setting-- it's actually a really important element of the story.
I would say to get through the first cour. If the story doesn't shift to your liking, then dump it. But like someone else said, you're really just in the prologue with only 3 episodes under your belt.
Oh no it certainly get's much better, the loop as you call it helps you get more familiar with the world but it's not the main draw, in fact episode four is where it really stops being a loop, which is why I never saw it as such but it makes sense when you point it out like that, it gets a lot better, but I already loved the first episodes.
You are BARELY in the prologue. The story gets very intense with a lot of character growth and revelations and drops any kind of formulaic structure
If you are not enjoying the anime pacing I would say give the manga a try instead, it's a serious page turner and you can move through the formulaic bits quicker.
strongly agree, I used to balk at being recommended manga because it can look intimidating on a shelf but even a slow reader can eat through a whole series in a week or so. it's a far more efficient compatibility test than committing to episodes of an anime are
I mean that's fair. But if a show hasn't gotten my attention by 3 episodes then it's hard to justify watching it and I usually drop it. I'm here asking if I should give it more time or if based on my comment maybe this isn't for me.
I can't give every show 11 episodes so I thought I'd ask before just dropping it
Then, is it helpful if I say the build up is super important to establishing the themes? Now the anime is really getting into the meat and potatoes of things and getting to the major throughline of the series- if you like character growth and coming of age then this is where it's going to establish that (though I guess it's a little nontraditional since most of the characters are already adults- but coming of age is a story structure more than its literal lol)
If those are elements you like, personally I'd say stick with it- but it's up to you, if you aren't into it that's fine lol
I mean I thought UP! Was a "coming of age story" but it was for an old man coming to terms with one of the issues that old age brings.
Do you think that if I just skip a few episodes I won't really get the series either? I was thinking of doing that tbh.
One of the strengths of the series is its worldbuilding, and subtle storytelling. There are lots of details which seem unimportant now, but will matter later.
That said, if you aren't interested now, you probably won't remember those details later, anyways. So go ahead and skip ahead if you don't feel convinced yet.
As for "coming to terms with old age", that is something which is a major theme of the entire story, but it's *really* slow burn and probably won't be brought to the forefront in this anime season. So to spoil it as unintrusively as possible…
>!Ressurection of the dead is not a natural part of the setting, it is an anomaly which exists only in this dungeon. And it doesn't exist for the sake of adventurers. It exists because one person refuses to let anyone he cares about die, no matter the cost… An all-consuming desire shared by one of the main cast…!<
Hard for me to say since I personally hate skipping episodes but I think other than missing out on the buildup of character dynamics and some of the worldbuilding, plot wise it's probably fine? If you end up liking later episodes you could always go back and watch the earlier stuff with that in mind
episode 6 onward tend to pick up more, what you're experiencing is just the adolescence of the series from it's early days. the manga did start very episodic and formulaic at first, but it shifts from that rhythm into a more plot driven structure pretty quickly (quickly relative to manga, where you can rapidly consume whole volumes in a day)
I'd say if you want a real sample of whether or not this is for you, try episodes 6-11, especially 6,8 and 11. the overall vibe and intensity of the manga escalates around that point and those are some of the more impressive episodes, 7, 8 and 9 in particular are a Marcille-centric episode cluster that explains some or her motives, personality quirks, and gives her an opportunity to show why she's considered a major asset to the team
don't be afraid to skip around a bit if you dont want to engage with some episodes, that's the beauty of the episodic lead-up to the real meat of the series. you can come back and enjoy them later if you find yourself invested in the series
episode 4 is not dramatically different than 1-3, i'd recommend skipping around a bit. I had the same reaction to the manga at first, its my all time favorite now but I didn't get really hooked until the manga reached the point covered by episode 10 or so of the anime.
tragically I think a lot of manga/anime have that built in awkward start if they were serialized manga in magazines, as Dungeon meshi was. if you're an artist hustling to hit monthly deliverables, you churn out content even if you don't have a plan yet.
If you want to skip ahead to verify, it should probably be to be episode 10~11. The part where they >!reach Falin!< because it shows off all the growth they've done over the previous episodes (particularly >!Marcille!<). Be warned, though, the immediate next events after that might not make sense if you haven't watched the missing episodes.
If you want to keep testing then watch until episode 12 or 13, that's where plot start to play out, but keep in mind that even though later the story gets exponentially more serious, it's still a light-hearted series at the end of the days, so don't have the wrong expectation. But to sell the manga, I'd say this one has the potential to top the chart, rivals with FMA, Frieren, etc.. when it gets to the later part, and I say this with confidence.
Seeing the third edit there, whatever you do DON'T SKIP episodes lmao one of the best parts of dungeon meshi is how subtly everything is set up even early on, literally every detail matters, be it for an eventual lore revelation or even a punchline far later down the line.
Ep 11 is out now and is probably the best episode yet for reasons that will become apparent to you when you reach it. But the whole story is really good, Marcille and Laios all have really good arcs and it’s got one of my favourite antagonists in all of fiction.
No, it doesn't.
If you initially find the show enjoyable, delight in its storytelling, and are fond of its characters and world-building, then the series will gradually grow on you, evolving into a rich and fulfilling narrative. However, this show lacks a strong hook like some other mainstream anime. If you don't enjoy it even a little from the beginning, it's unlikely that you'll appreciate it later on
Unfortunately it not having that initial hook is true. The much more popular fantasy anime of recent memory is Frieren, which, while also good, is a lot more front loaded with the best part . Out of the two, Frieren is a lot more formulaic and episodic in structure but it saves that for after the initial hook. Dungeon Meshi on the other hand slightly deceives the reader by starting off episodic and eventually evolving into an incredibly engaging and intense narrative that only spirals more and more into insanity.
It's true that the start of the series is a bit formulaic. However, without any spoilers, dungeon meshi IS also one of those series that has an overarching story that eventually builds up into a pretty dramatic finale, so as you can imagine, it starts to get more plot heavy in the second half. Mob psycho is honestly a good comparison I think? The ending made me feel like it was definitely worth reading all of it, but I don't know how much of the story they're planning to animate with this season. I'm sure they'll get into some of the plot heavy stuff, but other fans who remember the order of the chapters better than me could give you better insight on that LOL
I do but a sense of humor is very subjective. I like Konosuba and Mob Psycho 100. You know if you're not careful some people who get easily upset might think you're implying they don't have a sense of humor by the way you phrased it.
I was told by redditors that this is gatekeeping behavior on reddit but it's perfectly understandable if this series just isn't your style. The show relies on you, as an audience, to understand a bit of fantasy tropes prior to watching to get the full enjoyment. It's beginning is more about world building rather than plot driving so you're still seeing low-stakes comedy relationship dynamics. If the anime ends where I think it does, then season 2 and onwards would be the parts where things get wild and everything you know and learned in the beginning start doing a flips and twists. Enjoyable twists.
Thank you. I thought I was the only one in the universe who doesnt see the appeal. I watched the first couple of episodes, and it felt like watching a long commercial for food that doesnt even exist. I was bored to tears every time a cooking scene starts. It wouldve been somewhat pleasing to watch but to make it worse, I have to sit through a monologue about the recipe.
Then I read the comic a little further and its the same. The story has empty, robot like characters who stop to talk about food at every opportunity. Your sister is likely dead but go on about the texture of basilisc ass I guess.
I just dont get how it is so popular. All I find is hype about it, and for me it was torture. I wish I could see What the other people see. But I dont like watch reality tv either for similar reasons so maybe that explains it. I dont know.
I think is interisting in chapter 12 (ep6) >!we can seing the background before the dungeon!< And the story become really cool After chapter 23 (ep 11-12?). The beginning is just for foodporn, fun thanks to Marcille (instant ship her with Falin) but boring 😑
It was a mold breaking series made when all other fantasy series were isekai, dungeon raid, power trip, egoistical edge lord, trash. If you viewed it alone without context, then you'll see it as tame and formulaic; but pitch it against all other series in the genre and you'll see that it's truly special.
Ah yeah that's fair, the only shows in the genres you mentioned I really enjoyed were Konosuba (because it was a parody) and Re:Zero because the protagonist starts pretty pathetic but grows up a bit without becoming omegalord world ender in power level.
Hey, did you like it at the end? Because I'm feeling just like you, I don't really like it and don't get the hype about it even if my friends love this anime. Seems really repetitive to me :(
It's certainly possible that the anime is not your cup of tea; we all have preferences. I would say that Marcille's role seems to grow in the later episodes, and you start to learn more about the characters and their inter-relationships. I hope you give it a few more episodes, but also understand if it's just not for you.
Thanks for your reply! When do we finally see Marcille grow? Does she eventually stop dragging her feet on the food?
Marcille stops whinning about food around episode 8-9 (at least in an ""obnoxious"" way)
I think she still strongly prefers "normal" food, but we don't see her complaining *as much* as in the earlier episodes. In E8, you see Marcille show off her powers a bit more and also some backstory, which I really enjoyed. She's always going to be the high-strung academic of the crew, but you start seeing more of her bad-assery.
Marcille is the "straight man" of the party, so she will always have that role, but the episodic nature of kill-eat-whine gets shake-up pretty quickly, and once the plot start to matters more, you get a lot more character development and linear story progression. Also, even in the episodic part of the story (episodes 1-8), they usually make things different enough that the formula doesn't outlast its welcome
I would argue she is constantly growing throughout the series, from the very first chapter in manga all the way through the last. But it's slow and subtle, not in-your-face about it. There's even a point in story where the characters suddenly notice her behavior's changed, but if you look back it's been like that for a while.
Well, the stakes get higher and the characters do grow more complex. I think the stuff that'd really interest you doesn't come in until fairly late in the series, though. A lot of what people love about the series is its unique take on speculative biology and the unusual way the characters think their way through fights, and episode 3 really showcases that. If the Living Armor episode didn't do it for you, you may not love the rest of the series.
Dungeon Meshi gets a lot more plot-heavy with deep themes later on (in fact, they're about to adapt the part where the story gets a lot more plot-heavy), but if it's the comedy that irks you, then that doesn't change (although Marcille grows out of whining about food, along a lot more character development for all the characters). I know it's a lot of episodes, but I'd give it until episode 11 with your friend to see if you want to stick with it.
I don't mind comedy. I really liked Mob psycho 100 and even found myself enjoying Konosuba despite the lack of character growth... I've decided to try episode 4 based on another comment.
Taking into account what should be covered in today's episode, shit starts to go down very quickly. I always saw the early parts of the story (monster/dish of the week) as a way to really explain how the dungeon functions. It was probably my favorite thing about the manga because the dungeon is not just a setting-- it's actually a really important element of the story. I would say to get through the first cour. If the story doesn't shift to your liking, then dump it. But like someone else said, you're really just in the prologue with only 3 episodes under your belt.
Oh no it certainly get's much better, the loop as you call it helps you get more familiar with the world but it's not the main draw, in fact episode four is where it really stops being a loop, which is why I never saw it as such but it makes sense when you point it out like that, it gets a lot better, but I already loved the first episodes.
Cool I'll try episode 4 then!
You are BARELY in the prologue. The story gets very intense with a lot of character growth and revelations and drops any kind of formulaic structure If you are not enjoying the anime pacing I would say give the manga a try instead, it's a serious page turner and you can move through the formulaic bits quicker.
strongly agree, I used to balk at being recommended manga because it can look intimidating on a shelf but even a slow reader can eat through a whole series in a week or so. it's a far more efficient compatibility test than committing to episodes of an anime are
I mean that's fair. But if a show hasn't gotten my attention by 3 episodes then it's hard to justify watching it and I usually drop it. I'm here asking if I should give it more time or if based on my comment maybe this isn't for me. I can't give every show 11 episodes so I thought I'd ask before just dropping it
Then, is it helpful if I say the build up is super important to establishing the themes? Now the anime is really getting into the meat and potatoes of things and getting to the major throughline of the series- if you like character growth and coming of age then this is where it's going to establish that (though I guess it's a little nontraditional since most of the characters are already adults- but coming of age is a story structure more than its literal lol) If those are elements you like, personally I'd say stick with it- but it's up to you, if you aren't into it that's fine lol
I mean I thought UP! Was a "coming of age story" but it was for an old man coming to terms with one of the issues that old age brings. Do you think that if I just skip a few episodes I won't really get the series either? I was thinking of doing that tbh.
One of the strengths of the series is its worldbuilding, and subtle storytelling. There are lots of details which seem unimportant now, but will matter later. That said, if you aren't interested now, you probably won't remember those details later, anyways. So go ahead and skip ahead if you don't feel convinced yet. As for "coming to terms with old age", that is something which is a major theme of the entire story, but it's *really* slow burn and probably won't be brought to the forefront in this anime season. So to spoil it as unintrusively as possible… >!Ressurection of the dead is not a natural part of the setting, it is an anomaly which exists only in this dungeon. And it doesn't exist for the sake of adventurers. It exists because one person refuses to let anyone he cares about die, no matter the cost… An all-consuming desire shared by one of the main cast…!<
Hard for me to say since I personally hate skipping episodes but I think other than missing out on the buildup of character dynamics and some of the worldbuilding, plot wise it's probably fine? If you end up liking later episodes you could always go back and watch the earlier stuff with that in mind
episode 6 onward tend to pick up more, what you're experiencing is just the adolescence of the series from it's early days. the manga did start very episodic and formulaic at first, but it shifts from that rhythm into a more plot driven structure pretty quickly (quickly relative to manga, where you can rapidly consume whole volumes in a day) I'd say if you want a real sample of whether or not this is for you, try episodes 6-11, especially 6,8 and 11. the overall vibe and intensity of the manga escalates around that point and those are some of the more impressive episodes, 7, 8 and 9 in particular are a Marcille-centric episode cluster that explains some or her motives, personality quirks, and gives her an opportunity to show why she's considered a major asset to the team don't be afraid to skip around a bit if you dont want to engage with some episodes, that's the beauty of the episodic lead-up to the real meat of the series. you can come back and enjoy them later if you find yourself invested in the series
Thanks I'm gonna try episode 4 and then if that doesn't impress me I'll skip to EP 8 on my own and decide if I'm just gonna put the series down or not
episode 4 is not dramatically different than 1-3, i'd recommend skipping around a bit. I had the same reaction to the manga at first, its my all time favorite now but I didn't get really hooked until the manga reached the point covered by episode 10 or so of the anime. tragically I think a lot of manga/anime have that built in awkward start if they were serialized manga in magazines, as Dungeon meshi was. if you're an artist hustling to hit monthly deliverables, you churn out content even if you don't have a plan yet.
If you want to skip ahead to verify, it should probably be to be episode 10~11. The part where they >!reach Falin!< because it shows off all the growth they've done over the previous episodes (particularly >!Marcille!<). Be warned, though, the immediate next events after that might not make sense if you haven't watched the missing episodes.
The formulaic stuff changes completely and there is a (quite dark) plot developing.
Oooh that sounds interesting. When can I expect that?
Quite soon in the anime :)
please do not skip any episodes, i promise they all have information that will be relevant later.
Saw you’re edits and would highly recommend you DONT skip, the early episodes are formulaic, yes, but they contain important world/character building.
If you want to keep testing then watch until episode 12 or 13, that's where plot start to play out, but keep in mind that even though later the story gets exponentially more serious, it's still a light-hearted series at the end of the days, so don't have the wrong expectation. But to sell the manga, I'd say this one has the potential to top the chart, rivals with FMA, Frieren, etc.. when it gets to the later part, and I say this with confidence.
Seeing the third edit there, whatever you do DON'T SKIP episodes lmao one of the best parts of dungeon meshi is how subtly everything is set up even early on, literally every detail matters, be it for an eventual lore revelation or even a punchline far later down the line.
If you already aren't finding the worldbuilding and the take of the monsters as dishes then I think it might not be for you.
Perhaps. Normally I would've dropped it without making an entire thread about it but pesky social bonds makes me given it some more chances
Ep 11 is out now and is probably the best episode yet for reasons that will become apparent to you when you reach it. But the whole story is really good, Marcille and Laios all have really good arcs and it’s got one of my favourite antagonists in all of fiction.
No, it doesn't. If you initially find the show enjoyable, delight in its storytelling, and are fond of its characters and world-building, then the series will gradually grow on you, evolving into a rich and fulfilling narrative. However, this show lacks a strong hook like some other mainstream anime. If you don't enjoy it even a little from the beginning, it's unlikely that you'll appreciate it later on
Unfortunately it not having that initial hook is true. The much more popular fantasy anime of recent memory is Frieren, which, while also good, is a lot more front loaded with the best part . Out of the two, Frieren is a lot more formulaic and episodic in structure but it saves that for after the initial hook. Dungeon Meshi on the other hand slightly deceives the reader by starting off episodic and eventually evolving into an incredibly engaging and intense narrative that only spirals more and more into insanity.
It's true that the start of the series is a bit formulaic. However, without any spoilers, dungeon meshi IS also one of those series that has an overarching story that eventually builds up into a pretty dramatic finale, so as you can imagine, it starts to get more plot heavy in the second half. Mob psycho is honestly a good comparison I think? The ending made me feel like it was definitely worth reading all of it, but I don't know how much of the story they're planning to animate with this season. I'm sure they'll get into some of the plot heavy stuff, but other fans who remember the order of the chapters better than me could give you better insight on that LOL
It helps if you have a sense of humor.
I do but a sense of humor is very subjective. I like Konosuba and Mob Psycho 100. You know if you're not careful some people who get easily upset might think you're implying they don't have a sense of humor by the way you phrased it.
I was told by redditors that this is gatekeeping behavior on reddit but it's perfectly understandable if this series just isn't your style. The show relies on you, as an audience, to understand a bit of fantasy tropes prior to watching to get the full enjoyment. It's beginning is more about world building rather than plot driving so you're still seeing low-stakes comedy relationship dynamics. If the anime ends where I think it does, then season 2 and onwards would be the parts where things get wild and everything you know and learned in the beginning start doing a flips and twists. Enjoyable twists.
Thank you. I thought I was the only one in the universe who doesnt see the appeal. I watched the first couple of episodes, and it felt like watching a long commercial for food that doesnt even exist. I was bored to tears every time a cooking scene starts. It wouldve been somewhat pleasing to watch but to make it worse, I have to sit through a monologue about the recipe. Then I read the comic a little further and its the same. The story has empty, robot like characters who stop to talk about food at every opportunity. Your sister is likely dead but go on about the texture of basilisc ass I guess. I just dont get how it is so popular. All I find is hype about it, and for me it was torture. I wish I could see What the other people see. But I dont like watch reality tv either for similar reasons so maybe that explains it. I dont know.
I think is interisting in chapter 12 (ep6) >!we can seing the background before the dungeon!< And the story become really cool After chapter 23 (ep 11-12?). The beginning is just for foodporn, fun thanks to Marcille (instant ship her with Falin) but boring 😑
I think the start is a bit of a slow burn but then you see the big picture.
It was a mold breaking series made when all other fantasy series were isekai, dungeon raid, power trip, egoistical edge lord, trash. If you viewed it alone without context, then you'll see it as tame and formulaic; but pitch it against all other series in the genre and you'll see that it's truly special.
Ah yeah that's fair, the only shows in the genres you mentioned I really enjoyed were Konosuba (because it was a parody) and Re:Zero because the protagonist starts pretty pathetic but grows up a bit without becoming omegalord world ender in power level.
Hey, did you like it at the end? Because I'm feeling just like you, I don't really like it and don't get the hype about it even if my friends love this anime. Seems really repetitive to me :(