520https://i.ur.com/z3DjFzE.png Isekai is a genre that needs no introduction. If youre at the point where youre not just watching anime but using a tracking site and reading a review of some obscure seasonal you know what the isekai genre entails. Ive also made my thoughts https://anilist.co/review/4892on isekai knownhttps://anilist.co/review/10859 so I wont belabor you with my spiel except to say this: it takes a very specific type of premise for me to consider watching an isekai. Said premise usually involves giving a character an extreme handicap. In a genre saturated with overpowered protagonists the only shows that feel unique enough for my consideration are those that exhibit a hint of restraint. Im not alone in this preference Re:ZEROhttps://anilist.co/review/7271 is the secondmost popular isekaihttps://anilist.co/search/anime?genres=Isekai on the site and Id wager a big draw is the fact that Subaru is physically ineffectual with his signature power being that he revives upon death. It just makes for a more engaging and exciting story when theres the threat of your protagonist being beaten. Beyond that handicaps and limitations tend to make isekai protagonists more distinct as their strengths usually lead to the same conclusion: an absolutely cracked power fantasy. 520https://i.ur.com/5rvQLrS.png Iskeai authors recognize this as its not exactly rare to come across an isekai with a seemingly nerfed protagonist. The operative word here is seemingly because rarely do these authors want to commit. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and So Im a Spider So What? are shows that I was primed to watch since they featured unorthodox seemingly weak protagonists. My enthusiasm enthusiasm deflated once I learned that they both both of them ended up getting human forms because of course they did. At least I was able to get out of dodge before investing my time unlike Rising of the Shield Hero whose main character supposedly was only able to use their shield for defense as you do with a shield only to end the season whipping out offensive capabilities that would make Naruto sweat. This isnt about them Pockey stay on track stay on track. When I heard of an isekai about someone reincarnating as a vending machine I was intrigued yet cautious. On one hand being reborn as a stationary vending machine provided a wealth of opportunities for the main character to navigate a fantasy world with severe limitations such as being unable to move. On the other hand as far as I knew two episodes in the protagonist would be able to turn into a Gundam or something. 520https://i.ur.com/q12k7i9.png With that in mind Im happy to say that Reborn as a Vending Machine I Now Wander the Dungeon exceeded my expectations. Its an isekai that handles its premise well not only sticking to what makes it interesting but surprising me with just how far it stretched the concept while remaining true to it. Our unnamed protagonist is largely undefined save for his interest in vending machines and after he ends up dying in an effort to save one karma reincarnates him as a magical vending machine in a fantasy world. 520https://i.ur.com/u2A3Ywz.png While its true that magical is doing a lot of heavy lifting it isnt doing as much as you might think. This magic manifests in our protagonist quickly christened Boxxo being able to modify himself using points earned from purchases. These modifications range from increasing his stats such as durability creating a barrier changing prices altering stock and most notably changing his form. The catch is that he can only change into types of vending machines. The transformations lead to some very interesting solutions to problems. One notable application of Boxxos quick and imaginative problemsolving skills is vending mentos and cokehttps://www..com/watch?v=4unm8iwHyTcabchannel=AHBrandonReviewsin order for his allies to defeat a monster. Part of what makes Reborn as a Vending Machine work is due to the sheer amount of different vending machines there are. Another example of Boxxos quickthinking is displayed when hes in freefall. To slow his descent he creates a barrier fills it with balloons via a balloon vending machine and then turns into a vending machine made of cardboard. These are all real things I was pleasantly surprised by how informative the show was. Some transformations such as a gas pump stretch the definition of a vending machine though nothing really feels egregiously out of line. 520https://i.ur.com/PRhHvfr.jpg While the transformations give Boxxo versatility he still has his limitations. Under an author with less restraint Boxxos other mods and features could have functionally made him human or at the very least something with more utility than a vending machine. But no Reborn as a Vending Machine sticks to its premise throughout its run. Boxxo can give himself wheels but he cant turn them himself theyre mostly used to make transporting him easier. He can give himself a vacuum but its only powerful enough to suck up coins and the like it cant really be used as a weapon in and of itself. The biggest possibility for the show to jump the shark was in giving Boxxo the ability to display text. Throughout the show Boxxo is limited to seven stock phrases the only way to converse with him is by asking him questions and assigning responses to certain phraseshello/welcome is yes for example. Having him be able to speak freely via writing would make Boxxo feel a lot less limited in his capabilities and less interesting as a result. Thankfully when Boxxo chooses the ability he discovers much to his dismay no one can read the text as its in Japanese even if they could he can only display the same phrases he says anyway. Thanks to these limitations Boxxo makes his way through this fantasy world with the help of his friend and deutaragonist Lammis. Were treated to the unique ways a medieval adventuring guild would use a magical vending machine. Boxxo is parts ration pack and parts Swiss Army Knife. I appreciate it because its an effective and intriguing blend of the mundane with the fantastical. 520https://i.ur.com/QUxEJpI.png When Boxxo is parked somewhere in the characters home base hes used more the way youd expect. Honestly I may have enjoyed this sliceoflife segment of the show more than the adventuring portion. Theres a very cozy feeling to Reborn as a Vending Machine at times. Its very cute to see this sentient vending machine blow the minds of medieval villagers when he introduces them to the likes of ramen menstrual pads shampoo porn magazines and condoms Japanese vending machines are wild. 520https://i.ur.com/QJiHIyd.png Reborn as a Vending Machines greatest strength is doing right by its premise which has more depth than it might seem. The show not only treats us to a fantasy world but familiarizes us with an aspect of our own world that we might not have been aware of. And I think thats pretty neat. I just wish there was a bit more to it. 520https://i.ur.com/YxJWKI6.png Because as wellexecuted as Reborn as a Vending Machines premise is like many isekai the show operates under the assumption that the premise is the endallbeall leaving the rest of the shows aspects out to dry. Take the setting for example which is the same generic fantasy youve seen before. Its nothing to write home about and if any thought was put into the setting to make it unique it hasnt translated into making it interesting for the viewers. I imagine this is largely the point because for as much as isekai shows are ostensibly about exploring another world almost as if its in the name or something they tend to just be an avenue for exploring all the things the main character can do with their fancy powers. Not mind you an avenue for exploring the character themselves. Boxxo is no exception. Sure all the ways he can use his powers are cool but I have little sense of who he has as a person. I know hes creative and loves vending machines but these traits are just extensions of his powers. One of the more interesting bits of Boxxos character is when he briefly wonders if hed want to turn human again because he feels more useful as a vending machine. Its brief but its something. 520https://i.ur.com/58I0dTH.jpg Reborn as a Vending Machine features a large cast but not a particularly interesting one. Theres Lammis who can be summarized as genki girl a character trait thats simple to a fault whether you find her endearing or annoying is largely based on your own personality and your mood on a given day rather than anything the show itself did. And shes probably one of the more rounded characters. The cast at large is less memorable than a literal inanimate object. I distinctly remember feeling lost in the penultimate episode because we were following a character we were introduced to yet whom I could not remember for the life of me. Reborn as a Vending Machine doesnt do much to escape the confines of the archetypical isekai. While it plays to the genres strengths extremely well its evident that its very beholden to its weaknesses. Believe me when I say I didnt intend to go into this review raving about a genre I barely watch but the more I dug into the show the more convinced I was that its weaknesses are intrinsic to its genre. And I dont just say this to be a hater I want to like isekai I really do hence why I occasionally give one a try every few years. But each time Ive been disappointed for one reason or another. 520https://i.ur.com/CdRNiOL.png For what its worth I dont hate Reborn as a Vending Machine. I dont even dislike it. Im more ambivalent towards it. Its enjoyable enough I had a good time while watching it but it started becoming a real struggle deciding to watch it. Its a fun show but not an interesting one and one I didnt find particularly gripping. Im sure a big part of my enjoyment came from my fascination with Japanese vending machines. If youre a fan of isekai or are interested in giving the genre a shot Reborn as a Vending Machine Now I Wander the Dungeon features one of the most creative and interesting power sets Ive experienced. Its a fine enough show if youre just looking for something fun and cute. If youre looking for any depth in characters or setting this probably isnt the show for you. 200https://i.ur.com/RdG6qg9.png 520https://i.ur.com/CveqtSq.png