DnD Players NEED to Watch This Anime!

[@FaiRoxYourWorld1]

Tbh I have to disagree with the part that it’s better to learn Chilchuck is a dad from the get-go. I feel like it’s one of those things that’s supposed to change the way you perceive things on the second watch, like with how only after you learn that the winged lion exists, you suddenly notice just how many winged lion motifs were shown throughout the dungeon from the start. Or a smaller example: the conversation Laios and Marcille had in the background about eating the Sky Fish just before Senshi’s backstory. After learning Chil has a family, you realize that a lot of his behavior was very dad-coded, and I just personally think it’s more fun to pick up on it *after* the first experience

[@PocketLeaves]

That's fair! I just thought it was funny seeing how Senshi and Marcille treated him like a child because to their respective life spans, he seems like one, contrasted to knowing he's a grown man with kids.

[@HoosierJedi]

"Record of Lodoss War" was literally based on the creator's D&D games. It's good stuff too.

[@mikeseymour1792]

Lol I was just about to mention that.

[@FerdinandJosephFernandez]

Yup you can't get any more D&D than Record of Lodoss War

[@emrysthefirst7778]

i was just gonna say that!

[@bray2964]

I will remind you that Senshi is canonically super handsome by dwarven and half-foot standards.

[@PocketLeaves]

Senshi is just super handsome by all standards actually (he is very handsome to me)

[@Kalatash]

Earlier this year, there was an interview with Ryōko Kui published (Famitsū 29, February 2024) that I just saw someone posting a translation for it on Reddit. It mostly focused on what games inspired her and she enjoyed playing, but she did say that the main inspiration was the Wizardry series. Surprisingly, she only learned about DnD after the series was picked up for serialization as she decided to go into a deep dive on the games that inspired Wizardry for "research".

[@charlesmontgomery6395]

as someone who's seen the anime and still listened to this whole video, I am definitely super down for you to talk about dungeon meshi some more :) please rotate these characters around in your head for me

[@creepyxd815]

As someone who's both seen the anime, and then read the whole manga and still listened to this whole video, I agree

[@KitsukiiPlays]

Right?! I love her analysis! I’ve watched a lot others but focused on the technical side and this, from someone who is actually a player? It warms my heart 💜

[@123adamhewitt]

If this anime was anymore DnD, you can hear the dice rolls

[@arathothsherlock]

you can see how laios roll a 20 every time when he is doing silly things ∠( ᐛ 」∠)_

[@cmmosher8035]

I fell in love with series after the first few episodes. Its hust so wholesome. Thr focus on the growing friendships between the leads makes the great great comfort food. Same with Frieren. As a very long time DnD fan, all the little refferences and reimagined creatures just warm my heart. The Mad Mage and his dungeon actually go all the way back to the early 90s. Anyways, not sound TOO old but it's really nice to see younger generations loving the things i grew up with.

[@jemleye]

A few years back, before we got Legend of Vox Machina and DnD movie people were often wondering what series, show, or story was most akin to DnD. Delicious in Dungeon is such a perfect DnD series. Hope more DnD-tubers will do explorations of it! I'd love a DnD race supplement based on the Delicious in Dungeon races and so much more stuff from the anime.

[@BAKAROID]

You didn't talk about Senshi's class equivalent - when watching DunMeshi with my best friend they had the very good idea that in D&D terms he would be a druid ! He often talks about the exosystem of the dungeon and how the adventurers are part of it.

[@mrbluebell2735]

More race specific, Dwarf Surveyor. In his origin delving expedition Senshi was the jobber. Basically the apprentice to a senior band of miners/adventurers and therefore tasked as pack mule and camp work.

[@oliverpearce2338]

One piece is absolutely a fantasy anime that perfectly captures the vibes fantasy goes for. Having dwarves and and elves does not fantasy make. Having a big, open world full of magic and adventure? That's the GOOD shit.

[@SilverScribe85]

Speaking as someone who's already watched the anime from start to finish, I agree; ALL D&D fans need to watch this. For that matter, people like Babish need to try and recreate the dishes the show presents

[@mileslugo6430]

Omg, I just realized, Chilchuck is team Dad. Lol that's so funny, everyone always treats him like a kid.

[@williamgeorge2580]

Regarding the oversexualization of teen girls in Japanese media: Most Japanese people don't like it either. It's just that anime and manga aren't really made for Ma & Pa Tanaka. It's made by otaku for other otaku and that audience wants the sex pest stuff.

[@daydreamz618]

I really like that the clips you showed all involve the character you just talked about while also showcasing the character you're about to talk about, amazing attention to detail!

[@Idk_stuffffff]

OMG I ADORE THIS ANIME!!! I personally haven’t been able to play DnD, so this helps fill my need for it besides BG3 😅 I also love your videos (especially your bg3 essays 😭)!! Would you ever do essays on the Delcious in Dungeon characters?

[@PocketLeaves]

I would love to! I really really loved the anime, and there's so much to say!

[@Idk_stuffffff]

@@PocketLeaves I would LOVE to fall asleep to more video essays especially about my favorite anime, you have a very soothing voice 😅 (Idk if thats a weird compliment .-.)

[@starhalv2427]

If you're more of a "World of Darkness" player, rather than a D&D player (Especially if what you play if Hunter), I recommend reading Dandadan (or watching when it eventually comes out). They're similiar in the way that in both Hunter ttrpg and Dandadan, a bunch of people in modern world who don't know that supernatural exists one day find out about it and are thrown into an extremely dark and dangerous, but also absurd and exciting adventure down the rabbit hole.

[@madame_weeb]

New One Piece fan over here tooo, marathoned it for 3 months straight 🤣 , also i LOVE YOUR BALDURS GATE ESSAY VIDS!!

[@PocketLeaves]

Thank you!! I'm still slowly making my way through One Piece, but I'll catch up one day!

[@padraig548]

So you only got through the first 1% of the series?

[@Mailed-Knight]

@@PocketLeaves 🎶🎶There's always room for you...🎶🎶

[@briarsheart4604]

Literally just finished watching this for second time and love it so much! I’m so happy you’re doing a video on it! Love your videos ❤️❤️

[@reiggae]

while you are reading the manga, i hope that you get to read the phenomenal extra content ryoko kui makes! theres the monster tidbits volume extras, daydream hour, adventurers bible, and most recently the blu ray exclusive what-if chapters (i dont think daydream hour or the what-if's are officially translated yet though) all of the extras have so much charm and lore, they really elevated this series for me and many others

[@PocketLeaves]

Ooh thank you for letting me know about all the extras!

[@Vespuchian]

Daydream Hour doesn't have an English release yet but hoo boy is it on my wishlist. Getting those glimpses into Kui's process really drives home just how much work went into this series to make it so special.

[@blakcharazard213]

NEW POCKET LEAVES VIDEO. LET’S FLIPPEN GO!!! Thank you so much for this. I’ve been craving a new anime, and this sounds fantastic. Thank you so much for all your content. It’s seriously the best 😁

[@godlessyuri]

All video game RPGs _ultimately_ trace their roots back to D&D, and in this respect JRPGs are no different, but the JRPG formula really originated with Dragon Quest and its popularity, as the first game in that series was accompanied with the release of an Akira Toriyama _Dragon Quest_ manga. (He also draw the monsters for the game.) Dragon Quest itself took various mechanics from previous RPGs (such as Wizardry's battle system) a combined them together, looking at a lot of Western RPGs that were, in turn, basically trying to turn D&D into a computer game. Later Japanese RPGs in the JRPG vein have been basically trying to imitate or evoke Dragon Quest, or trying to move forward with an inspiration that ultimately could be traced back to that game series. _Record of Lodoss War_ was also important for popularizing Western fantasy in Japan, and that was basically someone's TTRPG campaign put to paper. And while it would be wrong to say that there haven't been loads of Japanese nerds interested in Western fantasy and TTRPGs for a while now, D&D hasn't necessarily had the same kind of influence on how Western fantasy has been perceived and understood as has been the case in the West; in fact, D&D isn't even the most important TTRPG in Japan! (Although it _does_ have a decently prominent presence, but Call of Cthulu and certain native TTRPGs have been more popular there.) One could probably also go into how important eroge have been for the development of JRPGs (or at least their early development, and the history of JRPGs and life sim/dating sim/outright RPG eroge etc. exchanging notes). ... So yeah, I forgot what the point I was trying to make with this comment was. But it's all pretty interesting stuff.

[@PocketLeaves]

That is so fascinating!

[@nickgotvyak5890]

Minor note: Yawning Portal and Halaster existed since 2nd edition at least, so it's not impossible that the author was inspired by it

[@SMunro]

Senshi is the dungeon boss. He is there to lure the rest of the party back to the bottom of the dungeon to feed on them..

[@OmegaEnvych]

Dungeon Meshi brings me vibes that I haven't seen in anime since, I guess The Slayers - feeling of how actual D&D game would be played. I believe that many JRPGs started not exactly from D&D but from Wizardry, which was kinda-but-not-really inspired by D&D (it's a complicated story). Then again, Final Fantasy (original one) had lots of D&D references - like Mind-flayers, Marilith, Kraken, Lich and Tiamat as bosses and Bahamut as one of more important side-characters etc. Ryoko Kui is incredible artist, her work is so well done - I love how she makes characters look simple yet distinct - Laios is typical human-fighter in a half-plate armor, Marcille is typical elf-mage (well, half-elf, but that doesn't change the fact), Chilchuck is classic halfling rogue and Senshi is best dwarf ever, I absolutely love Senshi! None of them are super-complex in design as many anime/manga do with their main characters, they all wear gear that is practical for them and they have their habits like chilchuck loving to get his hands on some "wheat ghouls" (he's a lowkey alcoholic). By the way - funny enough - I didn't read manga or watched any reviews or like that as I watched anime and my thoughts about both Laios and Falin was "Wait, they both have autism, aren't they?" The scene where Senshi explains Chilchuck about how childrens are made is by far one of the funniest scenes especially when you know that he's middle-aged and has children. What makes Dungeon Meshi work for me is how wholesome it feels even after really bad moments.

[@spudsbuchlaw]

I'm running a ADnD 1e campaign this weekened set in Dungeon Meshi's universe and IM SO EXCITED!

[@thepagansystem]

Yasssss--a deep dive into Dungeon Meshi would be amazing, it's such a fantastic series!!

[@frierennacht]

2:15 a lot of jrpgs are actually based specifically off the Wizardry rpg series! which in turn was inspired by early DnD. Wizardry is massive in japan. it's also why japanese fantasy tend to have dog-like kobolds and pig-like orcs, because early dnd had those and they kept evolving in japan to their current form edit: okay i shouldve kept watching the video you did mention wizardry 😅

[@fnh123]

You should also watch Frieren. Its also another show that fans of DND and high fantasy would love

[@PocketLeaves]

I've just started it, and I'm loving Frieren so far!

[@Crazycoyote-we7ey]

Season 2 is in production

[@Bana_Frog]

When I saw an episode titled "Giant Frogs" I was sad, but it was worth it for the new drip

[@KadarianLord]

really liked this video, thank you, and I am loving dungeon meshi and it is getting me thinking hard about dungeon ecology for my settings and games

[@jessicajames6676]

Idk who needs to hear this but Damien Haas from Smosh is the voice actor from Laios

[@mspirits9911]

Okay, because you like dnd and anime. Here's the list. - Record of Lodoss War (Like mentioned in one of the comments) - Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (it's Isekai, but it's not an op one, more of how hard a level 1 dnd player could be) - Goblin Slayer (Uses dnd system for around 60%) - Another World Munchkin (manga only, isekai, and the premise would be what if your power is DM Guide)

[@probablysomeguy4806]

1:57 You should check out Record of the Lodoss War, the 1990 version.

[@mrbluebell2735]

I'll add that author's later work Rune Soldier Louie. It's what happens when the main character rolled a barbarian mage dual class. Played for comedy. A One Piece inspired campaign would be golden. Not difficult to assemble a crew with defined roles with personal goals.

[@George_M_]

From a drawing by the author comparing Frieren and Marcille, I think of the latter only as "triangle elf"

[@LunedisTerz]

I really really really loved watching this anime. Its one of the best these days (in company of Frieren journeys something) it have his own unique story logic ( i ignore mini logic failure. Just take it. Our brain can handle this) its getting more and more complex and dont deliver the whole context. So every episode is.. Like you are a new member of the group. You getting informations by piece and also food or learning about monsters and the story of the lost members. I watch it several times. I really love it. (also, i have a time for deepdive in iron pans and woks and get a lvl up in cooking. Its motivating) And i agree about the panty views of the dwarf senshi... We cant show other people, animes so easy. They broke the fair moralic laws and rules with their weird se # ual concepts. And this is annoying. And delicious in dungeon have nothings of these problems. I can show this anime to everyone. A good safespace of fantasy until a dragon eats you😂

[@theanonymousunknown1949]

I want to play dnd so bad!!!! But this will keep me sane!

[@keakuma]

If you want to know a bit better about the RPG scene in Japan, check Sword World, it's originally an offshoot of DnD 2nd edition that uses only D6 (because any other dice were very rare in japan until recently) which developed its own lore and is now an independent game of its own. Along with D&D and SW, Call of Cthulhu is the most prominent game played from what I know. Also prominent in the Japanese scene are Replays, books that cronicle RPG sessions as a direct transcript (who knew youtube RPG session videos were already invented in the 80s) Record of Lodoss War actually came from one of these Replays, re-published in novelised form

[@dungeonmaster16]

t oadd: based on the dice thing the box sets from what i heard were missing dice. because of that either go full gatcha and buy multiple box sets just to make a complete set or improvise the rules. soppl blame (again and forever knowing the dnd brand) the manufacturer at the time for missing key things when shipping the sets to japan.

[@keakuma]

@@dungeonmaster16 from what I know the box sets were never very popular in Japan in the first place, and neither were the official books anyway. The RPG scene thrived thanks to photocopies and homebrew stuff, precisely the same from which Sword Word was ultimately distilled

[@keakuma]

Also, if TSR hadn't pushed for Lodoss to change the system from DnD history could have been different and SW would maybe not exist

[@a.t.trujillo9970]

Like I love delicious and onions so much because of how like it treats women with respect unlike other anime which just treat them like sexual objects or sexual jokes which is not good

[@Yoromeki_kuzure]

Man I've heard Laios' English VA did an outstanding job but up until now I didn't know how far he went😂🎉 If only the EN dub was available in my country. Time to try a VPN perhaps

[@driftingswordsmanzer]

I literally thought about this very topic of dnd inspired anime. A couple of days ago, I made a list. I have seen and read all of them. Record of Lodoss War Dungeon meshi Goblin Slayer Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Slayers Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash Overlord Konasuba Mashoku Tensei Magi: Magic in the labyrinth Rune soldier louie

[@FerdinandJosephFernandez]

There's an anime from an independent studio that has a similar vibe called Dungeons & Television. Basically, a TV crew has been told to live broadcast from inside a dungeon to boost their ratings. It only has a trailer for now, I don't know if they'll even get enough funding to make a pilot episode. The video isn't titled in English so you'll have to copy-paste this to find the trailer in KZbin (don't worry it's got English subtitles): ダンジョン＆テレビジョン　パイロットフィルム

[@PocketLeaves]

OH!!! I hope they get the funding to make more, because that is such a fun premise!!!

[@emrysthefirst7778]

i love this series so much.

[@dungeonmaster16]

any fantasy trpg fits the bill on this including pathfinder and osr games. even the creator herself utilized pathfinder (especially the orcs lore in this is kinda reversed for orcs in pathfinder lore), divinity, skyrim and such fantasy themes to make this world. the interview she gave earlier this year which someone on twitter posted goes more into this and you see more of this in the side chapters and the adventurer bibles she made for the manga that annoyingly the anime doesnt show at all. big one: kabru knows how to speak kobold, he and kuro are from the same home region which the anime wont show/tell at all. if ppl complain spoilers unless you gonna read the manga and find those side chaps then it aint a spoiler at all since anime wont ever show and tell it. unless trigger can update the contract with netflix to make a ova special or something but odds of that is slim based on current 2 season/48-50ish eps contract only.

[@June-tv1zr]

Yes I would in fact watch plenty more abt dungeon meshi

[@cristianl1516]

Chillchuck’s an old school Thief class actually.

[@cristianl1516]

Also the reason that what we’d clock as standard humans are called tallmen is because all humanoids in the setting are called humans which is a neat bit of world building.

[@PocketLeaves]

I do love that all humanoids are called humans! They essentially are in the since of having humanity and being people.

[@mileslugo6430]

I heard Sensei Kui was steeped in pathfinder.

[@chengkuoklee5734]

Dungeon & Deli...!

[@Mailed-Knight]

Ha ha ha!

[@solitaryenjoyer411]

Dungeon & Delicacies

[@chengkuoklee5734]

@solitaryenjoyer411 i prefer Deli because in Europe, Deli is a shop that usually sells processed/half processed food like bacon etc, also sometimes sells fresh food. In addition, some Delis also served as bar, cafe, or eatery. So I believe 'Deli' has enough pun and theme matching. Any other ideas for a title with pun?

[@AraumC]

…& drive-ins & diners & dives

[@tenchraven]

First time and last time for your videos. Couldn't finish.

[@SobiTheRobot]

Just to clarify, all JRPGs have their roots in DnD. We wouldn't have Final Fantasy without Dungeons & Dragons.

[@t20sgrunt36]

Definitely took the whole Undermountain vibe from old school D&D(large dungeon made by crazy mage- goes back to the 80s) and old school 80s dungeon crawlers(Wizardry). Heavily borrows stuff from Record of Lodoss War and even Dragon Prince. But it has all the nerdy cheesiness of anime which makes it too silly , cringy, and simple at times.

[@datafogao]

Dungeon Meshi mentioned 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@sporeman1331]

Falin and Marcille aren't officially canon but they're canon in my heart.

[@human-animalchimeraprohibi2143]

I’ve been saying for a while this shit is strait DnD, particularly the older versions. This show was a better advertisement for OSR type games than 100 bitter Reddit users.

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

No details for those not wanting spoilers, but Laios' fight with another character over his inability to pick up on social ques is a perfect scene, especially in the manga, and it meant a lot to me as an autistic person.

[@Mailed-Knight]

Yay! someone else who loves DinD, Null brought it up recently as well, do you two play DnD together? 1:47 The manga ended far too cleanly for it to have been a rush job 7:26 Yes I do claim him, his argument with Shuro was so relatable 8:24 I view it as a mother/daughter relationship (at least in Marcille's mind) 10:16 He is also considered tall for his species as per 'The Adventure's Bible' a spin-off of DinD 11:29 I really like that he is just a cook, he can fight but he isn't a warrior, he is a cook 12:38 She is VERY cool for what little we get of her character 15:27 Honestly just bring up Game of Thrones that's plenty incestuous, western media has all the same things people complain about in anime, while I don't like insinuating bigotry as I think some use it too liberally, the criticism anime/Japan gets does come off as xenophobic and it annoys me 16:26 I've pre-ordered the final volume, can't wait to have all of it in physical media 17:29 Yes absolutely! Would love to see more DinD and I love your Null crossovers, you two are entertaining together, also I want to hear what you think of Thistle/Sissel and Mithrun

[@PocketLeaves]

I've actually never seen Game of Thrones, but I've heard people complain about it as much as I've heard people complain about anime. My personal circle of friends just don't like incest in any media, especially when it's painted in a romanticized or light-hearted way. But you do make a good point how for some people, it does come off as xenophobic. Null and I have played DnD before! They're actually one of the main ones who introduced me to DinD!

[@Mailed-Knight]

@@PocketLeaves The first handful of seasons are pretty good. Nice, do play online, with pen and paper or do you use miniatures?

[@PocketLeaves]

I have mostly play online since a lot of my dnd group is long distance. But I played irl at a table once a few months ago, and that was so fun and engaging!!

[@Mailed-Knight]

@@PocketLeaves I bet it would be.

[@Dr.Mlieko]

All in all, Dungeon Meshi is far superior to any of the official D&D material that came out in the past 3 years ("Fizban's Treasury of Dragons" being the last good official D&D book) If not for the fact that Senshi knows nothing about magic, he would actually be a perfect representation of a Ranger or even Druid, seeing his strong focus on survival and being in harmony with nature also, if you want some more D&D based anime, there is Record of Lodoss War and Slayers

[@confoundingcacophony742]

YES.

[@akumakilla4]

I thought The Tower of Druaga; from 2008; was DnD before I knew what DnD really was. Kinda still recommend The Tower of Druaga, it's so underrated in terms of fantasy shows. Although I eventually later found out that it was based on an older NAMCO game franchise from 1984 that I've never heard of. Show is great but unfinished with only 2 seasons.

[@kedraroth]

Great video

[@josephg.3771]

Goblin Slayer is explicitly DnD

[@a.t.trujillo9970]

Dungeon Meshi isn't exactly like Canon D&D like the Cobalts don't look like reptiles and look like dogs an Orcs don't look like the way they look md&d I described it but I forgot what they look like in D&D

[@madame_weeb]

FIRST🔥🔥🔥

[@danielfenton9742]

isekai is the worst thing to happen to anime lmfao

[@PocketLeaves]

It's just a really oversaturated genre.

[@mrbluebell2735]

It's mostly devolved into a munchkin and harem has. The finest Isekai to have ever been made is Visions of Escaflowne. Inuyasha and Twelve Kingdoms comes close. Am forever spoiled when good music, swordfighting mecha, fabulous animation, royal intrigue and romantic entanglement blend seamlessly together.

[@insanehiker5587]

What about El Hazard?

[@mrbluebell2735]

​@@insanehiker5587 another fine example. Though the OAV I'd rate as more watchable as it's without the gender subversion. It does have a delightfully scummy antagonist that usually wins.

[@levert2457]

I still argue the long-eared girl / elf shares a popular female character trope the neurotic the only thing is is that clingy to a guy and that's what makes her different.

[@PocketLeaves]

Ooh that's fair. Her being neurotic is presented very differently, so it doesn't read as the same trope to me. But now that you mention it

[@mrbluebell2735]

The neuroticism is more due to her mental maturity. Nightmare episode has Marcille appear as an early teen. While it's explained to the audience that she's in the midst of an extended pre adulthood, her party is quite unaware of this which leads to frustration over her mood swings and tantrums. Laios has pretty much figured her out, thankfully almost too late 😅

[@levert2457]

@@mrbluebell2735 yeah she's basically in a multi decade early twenties phase.

[@holafe96]

why dub :C

[@PocketLeaves]

The dub is pretty good! And the rest of this video is in English, so it made sense for the clips to be in English as well.

[@AraumC]

Ugh, sub purist, ew