Cooking Master Boy

I first encountered Chuuka Ichiban when I was about 10, as reruns of it were being shown on Chinese TV. The premise is quite simple: the protagonist Liu Mao Xing explores China's culinary landscape, while making friends and battling other chefs, in order to become a legendary chef himself. I didn't remember too much from the show, but I did remember having a lot of fun and learning about food at the same time (entertaining and educational - who'd have thought?) The simple premise, humor and intense cooking scenes were enough to keep me hooked back then. I revisited the show about a year ago, mainlydue to nostalgia. Although the animation and sound don't hold up to today's standards anymore, I still felt the same degree of excitement I did 10 years ago. The characters are quirky and likeable, the show doesn't take itself too seriously (and neither should you), and there's also LOTS OF FOODPORN. Not only do all of the dishes look scrumptious and amazing, but the show always manages to re-imagine traditional Chinese cuisine in creative and unexpected ways. Being half Chinese, I really appreciated that. (If you're interested in Chinese cuisine in any shape, way or form, I would also recommend this show - it's certainly more entertaining than a documentary) Verdict: this is the kind of show you can watch sporadically, when you're looking for some light-hearted entertainment that'll make you hungry (you have been warned). The show doesn't place too much emphasis on an over-arching storyline, so you can jump in and out without feeling guilty. I didn't watch it for the character development or compelling plot, but for the sheer joy of accompanying Mao on his quest to become the very best.

Cooking Master Boy is an anime about a boy who happens to be really good at cooking [obviously] much to the surprise of the people he meets along the way. Despite it's rather plain subject matter, I give the series high marks for the enjoyment that comes with watching it. Although not a fan at first, I was hooked by the fifth episode and watched faithfully to the end. Although simplistic, the artistry grabs the eye and the sound, although plain, grabs for the heart. I especially enjoyed hearing the dub in Cantonese, as the voice actors were excellent. I would recommend this series toanyone who likes a good yarn without a lot of dark baggage, and is appropriate for all age groups.

Got to know this series after my brother bought me the manga and since then I really, really love it. The story is well ... a bit cliche but it's enjoyable. Searching around China to find tools for cooking that have magical power. The art is also awesome for an old manga. The sound is okay. The characters are fine, I guess, considering this anime is pretty old. The villain, I guess it just need a bit improvement. The ending is also a bit rushed but overall, it's fine The bond between characters is okay. Two villains become friends is unexpected.