ANIME REVIEW | "Food for the Soul" Will Leave You Happy & Full
When you see the name atto attached to any project, you know you’re in for a comfy good time. His series Non Non Biyori is one of the best examples of iyashikei slice-of-life that’s both endearing and hilarious. atto has returned with an original series alongside his go-to composer Hiromi Mizutani and the gang at P.A. Works (Mayonaka Punch, Skip and Loafer). Together, they have made a delightful buffet of humor, beauty, and comfort in the form of Food for the Soul.
Food for the Soul starts out with shy college student Mako Kawai (Hana Shimano). She is always curious about special cuisines, to the point where she’s glued to her smartphone watching a mascot character eating strange food concoctions. That’s when Mako runs into her old grade school friend Shinon Ogawa (Yoshino Aoyama), who is also attending the same college as her. On top of that, she is interested in creating a club, one that — at first — has no purpose other than to give Shinon a place to laze about.
As you can imagine, that plan won’t fly with the college. So Mako’s urge to cook and eat new foods gives the two — plus fellow members Kurea (Ai Kakuma) and Tsutsuji (Natsume Inui) — the idea to make it the Food Culture Research Club. The gang sets out to discover the best dishes in the area, while also learning how to make their own. With full stomachs and hearts, the four college students build their friendship like a massive cheeseburger.
Like Non Non Biyori, Food for the Soul has a laidback vibe throughout its episode runtimes. Taking things one day at a time, Mako and her friends experience what their surroundings have to offer them. A trip to Mount Takao for some dining at the summit, cooking camembert pilaf, and taking on college life stuff like exams and club activity rundown submissions. The show goes through the motions in a way that’s both believable and relatable, all the while delivering fun vibes all throughout.
Where it shines most is in its comedy, something that Non Non Biyori also delivered a bountiful of. Shinon losing her trip money, her and Kurea’s driving skills, and fifth member Nana’s (Saya Aizawa) hardcore social anxiety are all terrific examples of when the show can go for some hearty laughs. However, it’s an episode where Mako goes on a diet when the show reaches peak comedy, as her trip to the gym with her club members delivers some truly laugh-out-loud funny physical humor.
atto and series writer Yoshihiro Hiki (Akiba Maid War) go to great lengths to make sure their characters aren’t one-dimensional. Mako, Kurea, Shinon, Tsutuji, and Nana all have a bountiful of personality to showcase. Whether it’s Tsutsuji’s lazy mentality, Mako’s can-do attitude, or Nana’s introvertedness, each member of the Food Culture Research Club offers a unique perspective on the group’s activities. It also helps that the cast brings these characters’ personalities alive with tremendous effort. (Bonus points to actress Natsune Inui, whose Tsutsuji is the most entertaining of the group.)
When it’s P.A. Works, you know it’s going to be a sight to behold. Every aspect of Food for the Soul comes alive thanks to the studio’s S-rank visuals. The food, the places the club visits, and the characters themselves all brim with beauty and detail that many other series this season wish they could conjure. My advice: eat something before you watch this anime, or else hunger is going to attack it. (It might still get you with a full stomach, so be aware!)
Mizuntani’s soundtrack is a fantastic mixture of folk and dream pop sounds that fit perfectly with the tone of the anime. (It often reminds me off the work of Laid-Back Camp composer Akiyuki Tateyama, especially the folkier songs.) Opening theme “Sora Mon ne” by Asmi has the vibes of a rising sun, waiting to greet the day and activities awaiting the show’s cast. Closing song “Misoshiru to Butter” by Reira Ushio is a deliciously upbeat melody whose food-filled lyrics are a great match to the themes of the anime.
With its fun activities, tasty food, and memorable characters, Food for the Soul is another relaxing romp for fans of comfy anime and culinary delights. While it might not reach the same heights as Non Non Biyori, the ladies of the Food Culture Research Club find ways to entertaining both each other and the viewers. Like many of these Cute Girls Doing Cute Things shows have done in the past, Food for the Soul will no doubt get anyone raring to cook and experience something new for their tastebuds. Just be sure to keep a fire extinguisher at bay, in case an accident occurs in the kitchen…
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Food for the Soul can be viewed on Crunchyroll, and has been licensed by Crunchyroll. Episodes 1-7 were observed for review. Promotional consideration provided by Crunchyroll.
