JIDOU HANBAIKI NI UMAREKAWATTA ORE WA MEIKYUU WO SAMAYOU

DESCRIPTION

CAST

MANGA ComedyJidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou
NOVEL ComedyJidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou
ANIME AdventureJidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta Ore wa Meikyuu wo Samayou 2nd Season

REVIEWS

• 

  Pockeyramune919

  70/100
  It's better than you'd think but that might not be saying much

  

  Isekai is a genre that needs no introduction. If you're at the point where you're not just watching anime, but using a tracking site and reading a review of some obscure seasonal, you know what the isekai genre entails. I've also made my thoughts on isekai known, so I won't 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. I'm not alone in this preference — Re:ZERO is the second-most popular isekai on the site and I’d 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 there's 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.

  

  Iskeai authors recognize this, as it's 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 I'm 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 isn’t 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.

  

  With that in mind, I'm happy to say that Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon exceeded my expectations. It's 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.

  

  While it's true that "magical" is doing a lot of heavy lifting, it isn't 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 Boxxo's quick and imaginative problem-solving skills is vending mentos and cokein 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 Boxxo's quick-thinking is displayed when he's 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.

  

  While the transformations give Boxxo versatility, he still has his limitations. Under an author with less restraint Boxxo's 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 can't turn them himself; they're mostly used to make transporting him easier. He can give himself a vacuum, but it's only powerful enough to suck up coins and the like; it can't 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 phrases("hello/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 it's 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. We're 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 it's an effective and intriguing blend of the mundane with the fantastical.

  

  When Boxxo is parked somewhere in the characters' home base, he's used more the way you'd expect. Honestly, I may have enjoyed this slice-of-life segment of the show more than the adventuring portion. There's a very cozy feeling to Reborn as a Vending Machine at times. It's 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).

  

  Reborn as a Vending Machine's 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 that's pretty neat.

  I just wish there was a bit more to it.

  

  Because, as well-executed as Reborn as a Vending Machine's premise is, like many isekai, the show operates under the assumption that the premise is the end-all-be-all, leaving the rest of the show's aspects out to dry.

  Take the setting, for example, which is the same generic fantasy you've seen before. It's nothing to write home about and if any thought was put into the setting to make it unique, it hasn't 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 it's 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 he's creative and loves vending machines, but these traits are just extensions of his powers. One of the more interesting bits of Boxxo's character is when he briefly wonders if he'd want to turn human again because he feels more useful as a vending machine. It's brief, but it's something.

  

  Reborn as a Vending Machine features a large cast, but not a particularly interesting one. There's Lammis, who can be summarized as "genki girl," a character trait that's 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 she's 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 doesn't do much to escape the confines of the archetypical isekai. While it plays to the genre's strengths extremely well, it's evident that it's very beholden to its weaknesses. Believe me when I say I didn't 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 don't 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, I've been disappointed for one reason or another.

  

  For what it's worth, I don't hate Reborn as a Vending Machine. I don't even dislike it. I'm more ambivalent towards it. It's enjoyable enough; I had a good time while watching it, but it started becoming a real struggle deciding to watch it. It's a fun show, but not an interesting one and one I didn't find particularly gripping. I’m sure a big part of my enjoyment came from my fascination with Japanese vending machines.

  If you're 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 I've experienced. It's a fine enough show if you're just looking for something fun and cute. If you're looking for any depth in characters or setting, this probably isn't the show for you.

  
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• 

  ThatOneUnoriginal

  65/100
  Creative Isekai with a vending machine twist; clever but shallow, with weak characters and a gimmick that wears thin.

  Warning: The review contains spoilers for certain scenes within the season.
  (PS: This is the first time I've explicitly gone ahead and reviewed an anime. I've rated songs and albums before, but not a show or anime.)

  

  Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon is an anime adaptation of a Japanese light novel of the same name written by Hirukuma and illustrated by Itsuwa Kato (original edition) and Yūki Hagure (revised edition). The series was originally published in 2016 as a web novel by the author on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. In August 2022, it was announced that the series would receive an anime adaptation. The anime adaptation is produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ.

  RVMINWD is what's called an Isekai. It translates to "different world," "another world," or "other world." As the translation would suggest, it revolves around a person or persons being transported to—and having to survive in—another world, that world typically being a fantasy setting, a game world, or a parallel universe, with or without the possibility of returning to their original world. This is an extremely common trope. If you're an active watcher of anime, especially some of the more popular ones, you have likely watched a good handful of Isekai-focused anime. I myself can immediately think of two others that I've either watched or am in the process of watching. But this is where the first positive emerges.

  

  A problem or annoyance that I've seen described before with Isekai anime is that there are few limits on the characters that have been Isekai'd. The character, either immediately or suddenly throughout the runtime of the anime, becomes a force to be reckoned with. Their strength becomes so obtusely noticeable that any threat or danger that the show tries to throw at them either needs to be as unreasonably strong as the protagonist or they're just bumps on the road with, at best, poor attempts to mask that truth. The character could just stand in the middle of the field and say, "I cannot die, and I can literally do all I want with essentially no consequence." But when it comes to RVMINWD, that power creep never happens, or at least it's less severe. Throughout the episodes, Boxxo (the vending machine's name) becomes more and more robust but ultimately remains a vending machine.

  

  An example of this would be how it transforms. Although it's of course unrealistic for a vending machine to be able to magically change its inventory, restock, or change shape entirely, what it does with those abilities (and other external abilities) does otherwise feel to be within reason. For example, the types items it gives depends on what machine it is. Boxxo isn't just a black box that can make anything random appear. The machines are also based on real life vending machines, not just turning to any type of machine and pretending it is close to the concept. It's not turning into a large mech that is a force to be reckoned with, nor is it turning into some robotic human that can essentially do anything it wants, all the variants of machines it turns itself into are ultimately vending machines. The limitations stay the same. With the variety of items that it provides, it can be interesting to see what Boxxo does to assist / help in the variety of scenarios it finds itself in. For example to help defeat an enemy, it provides a litre bottle of pop alongside mentos. Or, when it's falling down a far distance, it uses helium balloons to soften the fall. Or, to make the water colder, it dumps a lot of ice into the water. There's a plethora of other scenarios where it transforms into a different machine to the situation it finds itself in.

  

  Additionally, it's at times humorous seeing all the reactions that the creatures and people have towards Boxxo. In our reality, vending machines aren't that interesting. They're small machines that (in most places) either sell drinks or small snacks like chips or candy. Of course, our vending machines cannot magically transform, run on wireless power, or replenish on their own, but as a whole vending machines just exist without much thought put into them. But in a universe where technologically speaking things appear more primitive — although compensated through magic — something like a vending machine seems like well, a magical concept. It can lead to some entertaining moments seeing how the characters react, especially during their first-time usages of the machine as a whole or a specific machine it transforms into. I suppose it can be a reminder of how advanced things have become. A lot of things that people take for granted as just existing would be crazy concepts, bordering on unbelievably futuristic.

  Although the concept of being reincarnated as a vending machine is interesting and comparatively unique, along with the creativity that Boxxo does showcase, its relatively grounded nature of what the vending machine can do results in perhaps one of the bigger negatives of this show: his personality doesn't go beyond his love for vending machines. Boxxo honestly doesn’t really feel much like a protagonist. He's just a tool that just so happens to be very useful for those who have access to it, even if Boxxo itself may not be unreasonably strengthened. Throughout the episodes, Boxxo does showcase other machines that he can transform into, many of them being unique, but the underlying premise holds firm. He transforms into something that gives you something. Another way to put it would be, once the novelty wears off, there's little driving the plot forward. I felt myself constantly yearning to see the concept be expanded upon, but at best, it feels like it's only done marginally. Also, it's a little strange how quickly Boxxo assumed the role. The few deep emotional or existential ideas that it does explore are underdeveloped and quickly chucked aside. Like, if I were suddenly reincarnated as a vending machine, I think I'd have a lot more thoughts, concerns, and worries about all that has happened, even after I become comfortable with the immediate details of my new existence. But for Boxxo, it's sort of just like, "I like vending machines, so I'm not gonna give it much thought!"

  

  This yearning for more and a lack of progression for the plot isn’t helped by everything that surrounds Boxxo. The supporting cast all have minimal depth or development. An example where this is particularly present is Lammis. A lot of the time, it feels like she's only there because she found Boxxo first and is the self-proclaimed transporter of it. The world itself is also bland and unmemorable. It's just everything you've seen before in an Isekai fantasy world. It's as if the world's just there to fill checkboxes to make a bare-minimum story. This isn't helped by the story choosing to ignore any worldbuilding that could reveal more lore or uniqueness hiding beneath potential surfaces. New areas seem to only be created when the show decides that it has to show Boxxo can do something else.

  Ultimately, Reborn as a Vending Machine is a fun, creative twist on an Isekai with a refreshingly restrained and well-executed gimmick. However, it doesn't offer much beyond that. Weak characters, a forgettable world, and a lack of deeper themes hold it back from being more than just a clever gimmick. It plays with Isekai tropes but doesn't escape them—falling back on many of the same limitations that can easily plague a show in its genre. It's enjoyable, and a little humorous a times, but as the episodes go on those enjoyable and humorous moments are just that, moments.

  
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