Nov 10, 2011
WARNING: In my Review I go on tangents, but that's just the way I roll because I like barbeque sauce on my chicken nuggets. And don't you forget it.
There are two reasons that I watch anime:
1) I want to see something with depth that is intellectually stimulating where the characters and story weave a fascinating tale with twists and turns. One Anime that did this for me was Kaiji.
2) I just want to relax and experience an enjoyable adventure with a memorable cast of characters. In this category I mostly look for the theme and eye candy (meaning the quality of the art).
I watch Toriko
...
for the second reason.
I actually tried watching Toriko when it first came out and didn't like it. With this season being one of the worst seasons of anime for me I decided to give Toriko another chance. And I am REALLY glad that I did.
Summary/Review:
Toriko takes place during the "Gourmet Age" where food is not merely a delicacy but also a sought after commodity. In this world rare and exquisite food exists and is often extremely hard to attain. There are two main factions, the IGO, (which are a bunch of Gourmet Hunters) and an evil group (Bishikokai or something like that) who desire to control the food supply because food is essentially power.
Characters 8/10
Not the best characters nor the most memorable. However, they do have their moments and grow on you.
Story 9/10
Hilarious. It's about food, and food is power.
Visuals 10/10
Looks awesome. Nice fight scenes.
Misc. 10/10
I love the pacing and feel that almost every episode gives me my money's worth rather than feeling cheated and held at gunpoint like with many other Anime.
Random Thoughts/Comparisons:
I thought One Piece was good. Then I later realized I liked Fairy Tail better. The reason I like Fairy Tail better is because, while very similar, it does not suffer as much from "Dragon Ball Z syndrome". One Piece just takes soooo long to get its point across and it drags on and on. It's awesome but the lengthening just dilutes what could be greatness and it's frustrating.
Then I realized I like Toriko better than Fairy Tail. While Fairy Tail's pacing is good, Toriko's pacing is phenomenal. It doesn't drag out arcs. It moves fast and leaves you wanting more rather than hanging for weeks on end (like One Piece).
Toriko is stereotypical. It's almost how Dragon Ball Z would be if it centered around food and had ridiculously enjoyable pacing. As a matter of fact, Toriko is what I always wished Dragon Ball Z had been.
Conclusion:
The art is beautiful and imaginative. Some of the monsters are huge and give off vibes of epicness. It's just such an enjoyable Anime to chill back and watch. Turn your brain off and just enjoy mindless action with its beautiful visuals. If you try and take it seriously you will definitely not enjoy it. But if you don't take it seriously you are truly in for a full course meal...
P.S.
I usually don't care to write reviews but I hope that a few people read this and give Toriko a chance because it doesn't get the credit it deserves. I was one of the many who overlooked this gem.
If Komatsu ends up getting Gourmet Cells I will say this is the best Anime ever!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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