Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon is a comedy-adventure anime with strong fantasy elements. Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon features animation production by AXsiZ (Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight, World’s End Harem) and Studio Gokumi (The Ambition of Oda Nobuna, Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn). The series theme song performances are by BRADIO (opening) and Peel the Apple (ending). Created by Hirukuma, Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon spotlighted original character designs by Yūki Hagure. Featuring voice-performances by Jun Fukuyama and Kaede Hondo.

Hakkon (Jun Fukuyama) is a massive nerd who is obsessed with vending machines. Hakkon has all the knowledge one could ever want to have about vending machines and their uses. Few others are as immersed in the world of vending machines. After a tragic death while attempting to protect a – you guessed it – vending machine, Hakkon finds himself reincarnated as a vending machine!

Now that he is a vending machine, Hakkon is Boxxo (Jun Fukuyama). Boxxo is no ordinary vending machine – he is the reincarnation of the ultimate vending-machine nerd. Now that Hakkon goes by Boxxo and has the body of a vending machine, he can’t speak, move, or do other normal human things. Just dispense!

The life of a vending machine isn’t quite what he expected it to be. Yet when the kind and beautiful girl Lammis (Kaede Hondo) decides to pick Boxxo up and take him on a journey, Boxxo finds that he might be able to be the ultimate vending machine to others – dispensing exactly what the people want and need. A new, mysterious, and magical journey as a reincarnated vending machine begins.

Boxxo isn’t a typical protagonist. Whoever imagined a vending machine as a central protagonist for an anime series? Here we are. Fans of offbeat lead characters will appreciate the goofiness of having a vending machine for the lead character. The goofy nature of the lead character being an inanimate physical object that dispenses products is rife for entertainment. The character designs by Takahiro Sakai (Yuki Yuna Is a Hero, Ms. vampire who lives in my neighborhood) are well done and enhance the production.

The animation is one of the most compelling qualities of the series production. Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon features solid art direction by Eiji Iwase (Bakugan Battle Brawlers, In Another World With My Smartphone). The series also features chief animation direction by Nanako Tatsu (Date A Live IV, Plunderer), Naoki Yamauchi (World’s End Harem, Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow), and Yoshiaki Tsubata (Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion, Date A Live IV). The animation quality is something that brings a sunny disposition to the production. The art style is cheerful and fun. The engaging and crisp animation adds a sense of energy and vitality to the series tone. The animators did a solid job with the production and managed to make something as simplistic as a vending machine a bit more compelling than expected. This is commendable and the animation team is certainly deserving of praise for the effort. The vending machine design by Michiru Odaka and Monta Tokita worked quite well for the series and Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon stands out even more as a result.

The cinematography by Masashi Uoyama (7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life, Pompo: The Cinéphile) is solid and a nice highlight of the series. Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon features engaging cinematography with nice visual sensibilities – artistic qualities that are good at showcasing the animation and its colorful aesthetics. Uoyama is a talented cinematographer and a good match for the series production.

The score composed by Keita Takahashi and Yūta Uraki is solid and adds to the series. Though not the best anime score, the music does offer some decent background music for the production. A score providing the backdrop to the goofy antics of the vending machine.

Written by Tatsuya Takahashi (Domestic Girlfriend, Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn), Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon has a fun series concept and the screenwriter has a good time playing around with the sandbox. Takahashi enjoys the vending machine character. The writing is a bit better than some of the other reincarnation anime series out there, too. A playful production with decent writing.

Directed by Noriaki Akitaya (Castle Town Dandelion, The Unwanted Undead Adventurer), Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon is a solid anime series for fans of goofy and strange anime series in the fantasy realm. Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon is a different type of anime comedy and it will appeal to those interesting in a more offbeat series. The series is well worth checking out for comedy fans.

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Crunchyroll, Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The animation is crisp and colorful on the release. The presentation capably showcases the vibrant animation style. The cinematography is well reproduced on the release. Line art and background animation are well showcased.

Blu-ray provides a superior video quality option compared to streaming video services. Streaming video services tend to provide a lower video bit- rate compared to physical media. Though the difference isn't always night and day appreciative fans can enjoy the fact that the release provides the best possible presentation available. The quality element appeals to home theater enthusiasts who are seeking the best out of their system.

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options including: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with English subtitles). The release also includes a selection of extra optional audio selections including French Dolby TrueHD 2.0 and German Dolby TrueHD 2.0. The presentation features sound direction by Fumiyuki Go (Death March to The Parallel World Rhapsody, O Maidens in Your Savage Season). The lossless audio encoding capably reproduces the soundstage of the series. The English 5.1 surround sound option offers a somewhat more expansive soundstage with the rear channels utilized to expand the sound design – for a somewhat more immersive surround track. The Japanese language version is excellent sounding with 2.0 audio and the English subtitles are well done. The English subtitles are free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes with a nice-looking o-card slipcover. The artwork underneath the slipcover remains the same as the key artwork included on the front of the slipcover. Though an additional cover art selection would have added a nice component to the release, it is still a nice slipcover for fans. A package that will look nice in hand.

On disc supplements include:

Promo Videos (HD, 3:38)

Textless Opening Song (HD, 1:31)

Textless Closing Song (HD, 1:32)

Unfortunately, the supplemental package on the release is a bit sparse and it doesn't provide much in the way of extras. The release could have added a lot of extra value by provided audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, making-of documentaries, cast/crew interviews, convention behind-the-scenes, photo galleries, art galleries, and more. Alas, the nearly barebones supplemental content won't entice anyone with extra incentive to purchase.

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon is a decently entertaining anime comedy with fun fantasy elements. The reincarnation saga of a person reborn as a vending machine is a nice comedic concept and it has some fun aspects for comedy fans. The Blu-ray provides a nice video presentation and lossless audio encoding. Unfortunately, the supplements are a bit sparse. The first print run includes a nice o-card slipcover (though it doesn't include different key-art underneath the slipcover). Fans of Reborn as a Vending Machine – I Now Wander the Dungeon may wish to consider purchasing. Recommended.