Ben-To - Reviews

This anime to me was very basic. Nothing too special. I wasnt bad but it wasnt really good.  It was entertaining enough for me to go back and watch more episodes. And I find it a good anime to just kill time. But I for sure agree why this anime is not more popular and I can understand why some people dont like it. It just felt like somthing was missing in it. I cant figure out what. On the other hand I think it was very creative and random. One of the reasons why I liked this anime cause of just HOW pointless and stupid it was. I mean .. come on.. fighting over bento??? Its just so silly I liked it even if their was something missing it was just so diferent. So I give it 6/10 stars. some people like it others may hate it. Up to the person to choose. :)

Right, it's confession time for me. If you have been reading my reviews than you may have noticed that I tend to rip the anime a new one. There is a reason for this though and it has to do with the fact that I can't turn my brain off when watching anime. I can't ignore the stupid shown in the anime and this is a problem as most anime are very stupid indeed.

In this case I'm not talking about a 90 pound girl catching a multi-ton cruise missile and throwing it back. Yes, it is stupid but it is a stupid that I'll allow. It's anime. Things like this are normal here and I'm pretty much fine with it. It annoys me to be sure but I will not rant about it.

So, having explained this lets rip into this anime shall we? Just a heads up: There will most probably be spoilers. The more I hate an anime the more spoilers there will be.

ART: Nothing to really complain about here. It's fine and if CGI was used then I didn't notice it.

SOUND: I very rarely notice the music in an anime and this is how it should be. When I do notice it then it is either very bad or very good. Voice acting was excellent.

CHARACTERS: Main character is Sato. As a highschool student living on his own he is on a tight budget and he is always looking for a way to save money.

Yarizui is a second year student at Sato's school and the only member of the Ben-to club.

STORY: Sato is a Freshman student who is trying to get by on a tight budget. Fortunately the local supermarkets put great discounts on their ben-to lunches after a certain time. Unfortunately he is not the only one after them and the first time he tries to get one he finds himself on the floor unconsious. With his baptism into the world of discount ben-to lunches there is a steep learning curve into obtaining one. Helping him is Yarizui. She is the president of the ben-to club and a champion in obtaining ben-to. Under her guidence he learns how to become and life as a wolf.

RANT: With anime like these there is not a lot for me to rant about. The subject is rediculous and the anime never takes itself seriously.

Pretty everything is done for laughs and some things work better than others. Characters are a bit flat but, again, this is the whole point.

You will either like it or hate it or be completely indifferent. For me, I've seen better and a lot worse. Try an episode and if you like what you see then watch the series.

Hi there !

If you are a fam of shonen with ''easy'' scenario and fun fight, just try it now and don't loose your time by reading this review ^^. If you are not, here is what I have for you.

STORY

Ben-To is an easy concept for having fights in an anime haha. There's people fighting for bento with 50% of reduction, it seems pretty stupid but the scenario is good enough to make us feeling that is normal for those people. In the first eps we learn more about the wolf and dog (the bento fighter) with informations on these fights after that there's 2 ''stories'' wich the principal character get involved and they are well explained. It's surely not the best scenario but it's quite original for a shonen! That's why I give it a 7/10.

ANIMATION

Nothing really to say about that... Pretty good most of the time, fighting scenes are good. I did'nt give a note because I find it useless.

SOUND

Same things as animation and I don't really care about the sound when I watch anime ><.

CHARACTERS

Hero who wanna become better, a girl loving yaoi, a persistant master, etc. Easy characterto find how they are and WILL do wich is sometimes not very fun (probably the only thing I hated about characters). A good research for some names of them. They are not very developped but we can be attach to them fast and easy. That's why I give it a 8.

OVERALL

In overall, a very good animes wich become more serious trough the episodes with always the same awesome universe . Kind of original concept for a shonen (there's no ninja, pirates or katanana if you know what I mean haha). Fighting scenes are pretty good even if sometimes we can get lost by the fast movements of the camera and we don't see all the fight or just the fight. It's a very fun and cool anime with a lot of comedy in it ! You should watch 1 ep and see if it interests you.

This is my first review you can comment and leave question about the anime or this reviews,

Thank you, Couwcouw.

"Ben-To" is a unique and eccentric anime that combines the unlikely elements of high school life with the fierce competition of discounted supermarket bento boxes. This series takes an ordinary aspect of daily life and turns it into an arena of battle, following the story of Yo Sato, a high school student who finds himself unwittingly drawn into the world of bento brawls. Competitors, known as "Wolves," fight for the right to claim half-priced bento boxes, making every dinner a test of strength and strategy.

Flavorful Highs:

• Original Premise: "Ben-To" stands out for its original premise, taking the mundane task of buying dinner and transforming it into an exhilarating battleground. This creativity infuses the series with a unique charm and an unpredictability that keeps viewers engaged, wondering what tactics the characters will employ next in their quest for a discounted meal.
• Action and Comedy Blend: The series does an excellent job of blending high-octane action sequences with comedic moments. The absurdity of the premise is played up for laughs, yet the fight scenes are depicted with enough intensity and flair to keep action enthusiasts entertained.

Undercooked Elements:

• Character Development: While "Ben-To" offers a colorful cast of characters, their development can feel somewhat limited. The focus on the bento battles sometimes comes at the expense of deeper character exploration, leaving some viewers craving more substantial growth and backstory for Yo Sato and his companions.
• Repetitive Structure: The episodic nature of the series, centered around the bento brawls, can become repetitive over time. While each episode introduces new challenges and opponents, the formulaic structure may not be enough to keep all viewers hooked throughout the series.

Mixed Ingredients:

• Visuals and Animation: The animation in "Ben-To" is generally solid, especially during the battle sequences, which are both dynamic and visually engaging. However, the overall animation quality can be inconsistent, with some episodes showcasing higher quality than others.
• Themes and Depth: At its core, "Ben-To" explores themes of competition, perseverance, and the value of hard work. While these themes are present, they are often overshadowed by the series' focus on humor and action. This can leave the series feeling somewhat shallow, lacking the thematic depth that might provide a more fulfilling viewing experience.

Serving Suggestions: "Ben-To" is a series that caters to viewers looking for something out of the ordinary. Its blend of absurdity, action, and humor creates a unique viewing experience that can be both thrilling and hilarious. However, its repetitive structure and lack of deep character development may not fully satisfy those in search of a more nuanced narrative or complex character arcs. For those willing to embrace its premise and enjoy the series for its entertainment value, "Ben-To" offers a flavorful, if somewhat uneven, addition to the anime dining table. It's an anime that, while not without its faults, provides a distinctive and memorable take on the lengths to which one might go for the sake of a good meal.

Initial though immediately after show.

Plot

The show is about food fights. Not fights with food but fights over food. The whole story pretty much revolves around the so called, “Bento brawls,” which sets the tone for the comedy and character interaction.

My thoughts

This is a comical, laid back, enjoyable show that doesn’t require any thought to enjoy. The character development and story are minor or non-existent. These aspect are fine in this show because of its comical atmosphere, but people looking for a more though provoking story or developed character should look elsewhere.

This show was thoroughly entertaining yet a bit disappointing. The disappointment comes from the fact that I believe they could have done a better job on some aspects of the show. I have to say that I loved the first episode, which is something that rarely happens, and it immediately made me want watch more.

Problems

Unfortunately at about episode 4 when Ayame is introduced I think the show took a turn for the worse. As is evident from her chest in the picture above, the show takes a dive into fan-service where there was almost none in the first 3 episodes. Regrettably, though I do enjoy fan-service at times, this is not one of them because Ayame serves little purpose other than to introduce a spectacular chest to the show.

Conclusion

Despite my wishes that they had kept to the original theme and focus of the original 3 episodes this show was still quite entertaining. For those interested in comical semi action anime I would definitely give this a try.