Ben-To Anime Review

Ben-To

Ben-To is an anime series adapted from a light novel written by Asura and illustrated by Asaura. It’s the kind of anime that will definitely entice all the food lovers out there as it deals with the theme of gourmet as well as comedy and some action. Is it a parody work? Yes, that’s right. But it knows how to make itself over-the-top parody work. All anime fans know what to think about when they hear the word Ben-To. It’s FOOD!

Today, we’ll be doing an in-depth review of the anime Ben-To. So, let’s get right into it!

In Japan, convenience stores hold an important place amongst the masses. You can find anything there, and for high schoolers and office-goers, that place is a life-saver. Every once in a while, these convenience stores declare a special sale on their “Bentos” that are basically lunchboxes with a variety of food items in them. When the deal is announced, everyone rushes to the convenience store, and there’s a battle of wits and strength.

Satou is a high schooler who, unfortunately, gets involved in such battles. He avoids these at first but then lets himself drown in the sea of people who are there for the Bentos and decides to take part in the nightly battles. However, Satou lacks in every way.

His upperclassman, Sen Yarizui, notices him struggling and invites him to join her Half-Priced Food Lovers club along with a girl named Hana Oshiroi. Hana is the type of girl who just spectates the battle and enjoys it. Together, they find out ways to be a Wolf instead of a Dog in the competition and find the true meaning of having to fight for your food.

The premise definitely sounds really absurd. However, you’re going to enjoy the absurdness. There are a lot of over-the-top action scenes that look absolutely ridiculous but are very entertaining, strangely. Also, don’t forget, this is a parody of action anime series. The way these silly little fights are executed is very creative, and we can’t help but laugh at it.

Some of you might find the story complex. But to be honest, it is pretty refreshing to see such a different concept. It’s always fun to take a little break from all the action and blood and indulge in something funny and exciting.

You will definitely be able to come across a lot of fanservice, which taints the quality of this anime. Sure, fanservice does help in attracting a lot of attention. But sometimes, it just leaves a bad taste in the mouth and turns the viewers off. It’s better to stick to creative ideas for stories instead of just sprinkling fan service all over.

We’re a bit surprised because of the depth this anime has to offer. We thought it would be another food-related anime. However, it is intense and meaningful. How sweet! It also lets us know about many valuable tips if we want to avail ourselves of sales.

The characters for Ben-To are flawlessly made. It’s the part where this anime shines the brightest. Every character in Ben-To has a fascinating and likable personality. The most fun part about the characters is their interaction with each other. It’s so comedic and enjoyable. We start craving more and more of their silly minor interactions.

There’s only one thing that is a little disappointing in the character department. There’s little to no character development. But I guess how Ben-To is; there’s no character development needed. There were only 12 episodes, and we didn’t expect the anime to cover all the characters’ backstories. So, we’re not going to complain much about the characters of this anime series.

Ben-To has pretty average art. It’s not too good nor too bad either. The animation style has previously been used so many times, so it’s recognizable. The best thing about the animation is the fight scenes. They are choreographed really well. All the characters look beautiful and are distinct based on their clothes and hair. They can be easily differentiated from each other. The food looks absolutely gorgeous. That’s what we love about food anime! It is going to make you hungry as soon as you watch it.

The opening soundtrack of Ben-To is very catchy as well as beautifully animated. You are going to hum this song whenever you remember Ben-To. The background music is suitable for all the silly little fights that our characters are involved in. It also sets the pace right. We are served with a slow-ending soundtrack that is also very pleasing to listen to. Overall, the music of Ben-To is just perfect. It’s a 10/10 from us.

Ben-To is genuinely a delightful anime series. It’s funny in many ways and will not make you bored. Every scene of this anime is worth watching. If you have some issues with the fan service, then it might not suit your taste. However, if you’re okay with it, then you must not miss it!