Dungeon no Naka no Hito

For the last three years, Clay has undergone rigorous training in order to find her father, who was last seen exploring a dungeon. While dungeon exploring is difficult for any regular adventurer, Clay knows her father, a thief who doesn't purely rely on raw power or magic, managed to progress farther than anyone else. Clay sets off after him, following in his footsteps until she encounters a furnished room behind a dungeon wall.

Clay is shocked to find the room is filled with monsters that can talk and a girl who claims to be the dungeons administrator. However, the room is meant to be kept hidden from explorers. Now that she knows the secret behind the dungeon, Clay is hired to be part of their staff. While she never expected to find a job in her adventure, doing so may just help Clay unravel the mystery behind her father's disappearance.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Clay Main

Senbongi, Sayaka Japanese

Belle Main

Suzushiro, Sayumi Japanese

Kraitze Supporting

Shimada, Bin Japanese

Binky Supporting

Arai, Satomi Japanese

Fuuka Supporting

Hanazawa, Kana Japanese

Sendai Supporting

Tobita, Nobuo Japanese

Thief Guild Receptionist Supporting

Onishi, Aguri Japanese

Darkness Spirit Supporting

Fukuyama, Jun Japanese

Millielent Supporting

Oonishi, Saori Japanese

Buggs Supporting

Tadokoro, Hinata Japanese

Yamai, Sayaka Director

Tateishi, Yayoi Sound Director

Shimura, Jouji Episode Director, Storyboard

Mori, Takeshi Storyboard

Reviews

Oct 2, 2024

PixelB

Recommended

Dungeon no Naka no Hito is a surprisingly well-made anime about the logistical management of an artificially made dungeon.

It's a slice-of-life sort of fantasy regarding the management of a dungeon. Does that interest you? You're in luck. It's a robust work that's quite varied and doesn't get boring.

After all, there's a lot to cover. How does an artificial dungeon refill its chest, get rid of garbage, and design levels? Why is there a lot of magical power flowing through there, and how is there a seemingly infinite supply of monsters?

Overall, there are a lot of things to talk about as we see Clay and ... Belle interact with each other. I'll also be damned if there's anime talking about the management of much more mundane things such as local shops and restaurants, then you can surely pull off a dungeon management type of anime as well.

And, of course, characters certainly play a large role in anime. Clay and Belle are employer and employee, but as the two interact with each other, a blooming friendship also occurs. Clay's a typical adventurer, trying to discover the mystery of her father's whereabouts. Her goal seems to be to get strong enough to reach her father's level. On the other hand, Belle is a more relaxed dungeon master, but as a result of that, is lonely and reclusive as a result.

Both Clay and Belle seem to have reached near the pinnacle of human ability, Clay being a world-class thief/rogue while Belle a world-class mage. Rather, it's their other departments they seem to be completely clueless about. Neither character has much social interaction due to their lifestyle, and despite their human nature to socialize, they never had the opportunity to or were too scared or anxious to deal with other people. Thus, the slice of life of managing a dungeon gives a good backdrop for character exploration, development, and understanding of characters better. Of course, the dungeon development in its own right is interesting, but the characters complete the story.

The way the story deals with more mature themes is also quite consistent. While Belle and Clay are both perhaps good-natured, they also don't shy away from death. After all, it is a fantasy anime about dungeon clearing. A dungeon by nature is a death-churning machine, and thus people will die. People will also reveal their ugly sides when faced with desperate situations. Punishment by death is sometimes necessary in a rule where the iron fist is the strongest, and both Clay and Belle are well aware of this. Belle and Clay are not completely clueless and innocent to the world around them. They know the rules of the world and live by them too, and they don't think so pure-heartedly that they think discourse is the only way to solve a problem. Rather, they've more than fulfilled their physiological and safety needs through personal experience and strength, and the show more focuses on their social and self-actualization needs instead.

The show has a solid foundation of decent characters, and while I would like more side characters, it's good enough. The episodes flow seamlessly despite there not being a huge overarching plot, the anime still consistently produces good-quality episodes and I'm never bored of Clay learning more about the dungeon. I also quite immensely appreciate that no CGI was used for monsters. The animation quality is simple but effective.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Sep 28, 2024

giffey6

Mixed Feelings

This was a fun little show here. It's definitely the kind of show that you just kinda throw on and relax too, but doesn't really offer anything much beyond that. The concept is there for sure, but it doesn't really feel like any of the plot threads end up getting a fulfilling conclusion. It's recommended for fans of this kind of thing, due to its subdued yet leisurely tone and pacing. The animation was mostly solid, however there wasn't a ton about it impressive. The score was nice, and I did enjoy the majority of the designs of the various monsters, as well as the ... humans.

With the slice of life elements in the show it does make it feel a bit like nothing really happens. If you don't mind that sort of thing it really isn't bad, but it doesn't really help move the show along in a satisfying way. The best aspect of the show is between protagonist and the dungeon manager. The relationship works well because she is much more powerful than she looks, and our protagonist mostly the opposite. It makes for a fun dynamic watching the two of them fight others on occassion.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Sep 27, 2024

Tardivex

Not Recommended

Well-written

Dungeon no Naka no Hito follows the story of Clay, a thief who ventures into a mysterious dungeon in search of her lost father. Instead of the usual adventuring fare, she ends up taking a job working for the dungeon’s caretaker, Belle. The series attempts to offer a behind the scenes look at dungeon operations, coupled with an exploration of the relationship between Clay and Belle. While the concept is intriguing, the execution leaves much to be desired.

The premise of diving into the inner workings of a dungeon is intriguing, but for a story to effectively delve into this subject matter, it needs strong world ... building and creativity, areas where this anime unfortunately struggles. The dungeon itself feels underdeveloped, and explanations for how things work come off as shallow and contrived. Basic questions that naturally arise from the premise often remain unanswered, and the lack of depth detracts from what could have been a rich setting. When compared to shows like Made in Abyss or Dungeon Meshi, which both offer intricate ecosystems, interlocking lore, and thoughtful design, the dungeon in Dungeon no Naka no Hito pales in comparison. In these other series, creatures, environments, and mythology all intertwine in meaningful ways, creating worlds that feel alive and vibrant.

Here, the mechanics feel arbitrary. The story seems content with hand waving away details, resulting in a world that feels half baked. The absence of clear reasoning or lore behind the dungeon’s function limits the viewer's engagement. Some might argue that this simplicity is intentional, that we shouldn’t take it too seriously, but even if that’s the case, it doesn't excuse poor world building. Whether something is bad on purpose or accidentally doesn’t change the fact that it’s still bad. There is potential humor in how the show tries to justify game like mechanics in a supposedly real world, but even this rarely lands in a satisfying way.

Belle, the dungeon master, presents an interesting contrast at first. Her cutesy, playful persona is juxtaposed with the ruthless nature of dungeon life, where adventurers risk their lives and face harsh consequences. This initial contrast works well in theory, as it could highlight the duality of her character, she may be lighthearted on the surface but is ultimately tied to the brutal reality of the dungeon’s nature.

However, this dynamic falls apart when Belle’s actions take an unexpected turn. In one particular episode, a group of adventurers exploits the dungeon’s dangerous environment to kill their teammates with plausible deniability. Given the established ruthlessness of dungeons and the fact that Belle herself seems to accept this brutality as part of the job, this scenario fits within the world’s logic. Even Clay acknowledges that dungeons are unforgiving, and up to this point, the show reinforces this idea.

Yet, despite everything leading up to this moment, Belle decides to intervene, saving a supposed "victim" and punishing the rule breakers. This act of moralizing feels completely out of sync with the show’s previous tone, as if the writers wanted to inject some sense of morality into a character and setting that had previously been indifferent to such concerns. What rules are being broken, and why does Belle suddenly care about them when she’s otherwise complicit in the dungeon’s ruthlessness? It’s a bizarre moment that undermines the show’s own internal logic and leaves Belle’s character feeling inconsistent. For a dungeon master who is supposed to be indifferent to the life and death nature of adventuring, her sudden role as a protector of some vague moral code is jarring and unearned.

What's more the second central theme of the show, the relationship between Clay and Belle, and while it has some charming moments, it ultimately falls flat. Their dynamic revolves around the loneliness both characters feel, now somewhat alleviated by their newfound companionship. There’s potential in exploring this friendship between two isolated individuals, but the show never delves into it beyond the surface level. While the cutesy interactions between the two can be entertaining, they don’t offer much depth. The friendship serves as a narrative device to keep the story moving, but it lacks the emotional complexity that could have made their bond compelling. Ultimately, their relationship feels like another missed opportunity for meaningful storytelling.

Dungeon no Naka no Hito had the potential to be a fascinating exploration of dungeon life and the bond between its central characters, but it squanders that potential with weak world building and inconsistent character writing. The show’s take on dungeon operations is underwhelming, lacking the depth and creativity that other series in the genre have mastered. Meanwhile, the relationship between Clay and Belle, though occasionally charming, doesn’t offer enough to elevate the series beyond mediocrity.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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