Food for the Soul

In a season stacked with amazing CGDCT slice of life series, Hibimeshi is actually at the top of my list and is probably my fave PA works original, maybe ever. I really loved this cast and how cozy a watch this was. The cute art style, the girls’ friendship, the FOOD, this was a very pleasant viewing experience that just helped me wind down every Saturday. PLUS, it’s an adult cast! We don’t get a ton of em, so you know when they come around I have to praise them. For the most part, the girls actually act like adults too which is a bigplus. This is a must watch for any Iyashikei fan. Hibimeshi and Mono airing back to back on Saturdays was such a crazy experience. Literally two of my fave slice of life casts ever and you get a double helping of them on a weekly basis. Both are amazing shows, but I liked Hibimeshi a bit more because of the college setting and how much I fell in love with this cast. That’s not to knock Mono’s girls at all, I loved them too, but the main cast is slightly bigger here and felt more varied. I also just thought they were so silly and there’s this ‘loveable idiots’ sort of energy going on in every episode. Always fun watching a gang of cute girl failures come together, start a club and just enjoy each other’s company. Mako in particular is so relatable as she’s sort of socially isolated herself since she was a kid and now she finally has people she can be herself around and cook for! It’s a simple premise, but one that resonates with me because and I think I can speak for everyone here, the older we get the harder it is to make friends. Your old friends from high school drift apart from you and you often realize you were only together because you saw each other every day. When you get to college, it’s your opportunity to make genuine friends, people you’re around because you have similar interests, passions or mindsets instead of just similar class schedules. I’m just a sucker for seeing characters come out of their shells and find their niche, their special place to belong. I’m also a sucker for good food and man I love how it looks in here. Seeing the girls prepare so many delicious dishes was a treat and encouraged me to go out and try a few of them. Enjoyed the meal prep process a lot and the looks on the girls’ faces when they were eating a great meal made with love! They say food tastes better when you’re surrounded by people you love and this show is that personified. It’s such a warm and comfortable feeling you get when watching this show and it’s all thanks to this cast. I mean literally this group of girls could make anything seem fun. There’s an episode where they basically just drive to a grocery store to shop for dinner, and the episode still manages to go by in a flash because of the comedy of one of the characters just getting their license and not being comfortable on freeways, as well as the general comedic aspects of the story. There’s never a dull moment here and I appreciate it! The best slice of life casts can make something out of nothing and they do that well here. The show looks gorgeous. PA works have been on a roll since Aquatope, just pumping out great looking anime originals with great casts and this is no exception. The art is beautiful, the character designs are excellent and the voice acting is good as well. No complaints with the production here. If you’re a foodie or just want another healing anime to add to the list, I can’t recommend this one enough. It was one of the highlights of my week and hopefully it’ll have the same impact on you! Hibimeshi gets 9 out of 10

I was pretty gutted when Non Non Biyori ended. It was a stunningly relaxing show that really knew how to take its time, not rush through scenes, and just let the moment take over for an extended period. No other show could quite replicate its unique blend of comfy and comedy. That is, until I discovered HibiMeshi, made by many of the same people (Atto included), airing this season, which is very much a spiritual successor to Non Non Biyori. Even the character archetypes are largely similar, just all aged up to be university students, and taking place in Hachioji as opposed to some rural backwater.Ren-chon, Hotarun, and especially Nattsun are all back, alongside a Mama-type tsukkomi and some unholy amalgamation of Bocchi and Kita (Ironically Bocchi's seiyuu is voicing the Nattsun analogue here). While the character archetypes aren't anything novel, the show still does a masterful job of depicting their day-to-day lives. Oshinko is especially a highlight, being an obnoxious genki aho that somehow manages to keep the whole gang together. Being in university as opposed to high school does open up a lot more avenues that other shows normally do not explore, like panicking in your first highway drive, or the concept of meeting up with old friends you once went to school with. Of course, as with most CGDCT shows, the primary gimmick is just a vehicle to explore the character personalities and interactions with each other. And, unlike with Mono, the show never really abandons its primary gimmick to focus on other things. It does commit to being about food, and there is no compromise with depicting how good the food looks. The comedy is top notch too. Atto's signature "awkward moments punctuated by long uncomfortable silence" returns, and the writing is as sharp as ever with punchlines catching me out of nowhere at times. It's very Non Non Biyori, which is a very good thing. But to me, the best part of the show is simply how relaxing it is. Turn off the lights when you watch the show. The soothing music paired with the gentle visuals make for an excellent viewing experience under the right conditions. For a show that I only discovered literally on the day it started airing, HibiMeshi has been a complete joy to sit through. While I'm bummed the show is over, the manga adaptation it spawned can hopefully tide me over until it gets renewed for a second season. 9/10

Hands down best slice of life anime this season. If you want to watch that one anime that will make your heart feel so warm at the end of hard day or week - this is anime for you. For me it's bonus since MC Mako reminds me a lot of MC Hiiragi from 'The Suffering of a 26 Year Old Unloved Female Doomer' which I also love and root for MC there. Animation and sound: great. The animation is very unique for show and music is quite decent. Watching this show was joy for the eyes, I didn't notice a single scene where I noteda drop in quality. Music while not giving something unique other than OP or ED was decent. Overall: animation and music are good with artwork that makes this show unique when compared to others. Characters: this is where this show shines, there are 5 main characters here and it is their interactions that make this show great. It is also refreshing that main characters are university students rather than high school ones, that means while still silly and free spirited they are more mature and can actually drink booze. xD Mako - MC of the show and prime wife material. She is interested in cooking but is shy and unsure in herself. Over the show she is doing her best in order to overcome her shortcomings. She is adorable and cute, this is what prime wife candidate looks like. Kurea - she is daughter of a restaurant owner and knows how to cook very good food. She is your dependable onee-chan of the group. I like her very much because of how caring and serious she is when situation demands it. Without her the group would be in all sort of troubles. Mako's new best friend, and one that initially helped her in starting to overcome her shyness. 2nd best character of the show. Shinon - Mako's friend from middle school and leader of a group. But she is also very carefree and silly, she constantly have new ideas that half of the time get group in trouble. She herself is kind of a clutz but her carefree nature, ability to push others toward goal and silly situations she usually creates make her a best comedian character of the show. Higa - she is smol, she is cute and she love sheeps. Very laid back character but very cool one. Calm and collected she will always be there to give a helping hand and play some nice music if she cannot assist in any other manner. 2nd best comedian of the show. Nana - this is a funny one. She has a problem of socializing as in she is scared of people. This only lasts until she gets to know them better. Once that happens she turns into best drinking/hang out buddy you could have wish for. Higa is her best friend and one that introduce her to the group and once she settles up with everyone her charisma and bright personality really helps in carrying the group around. Overall - characters are all very unique and well written. It is interactions between them and how they hang out during the show is what makes it so great. Story - there are basically two stories here: 1st is about Mako trying her best to change for the better and the 2nd one is about food research club and their activities. Story itself is quite basic, we have everything except beach episode. But every episode have them making some new food and enjoying it while being at different location every time. What interested me the most here is Mako's character development and in that field I was not disappointed. Shame that other characters remained basically the same but watching them hanging out in various places and joking around is what this show is about and in that regard I was more than satisficed. Overall grade: 10. Best slice of life show this season and definitely worthy of watch. I would recommend this show to everyone who wants to watch enjoyable slice of life show with cute girls doing cute things. If you have hard time at work during this week it is perfect to heal your soul for the weekend.

"Good Food is Good for the Soul" If you are looking for a break from intense drama and full packed action anime, Food For The Soul anime is a good choice. This comforting slice-of-life, CGDCT anime offers a delightful twist with its all-adult cast, providing a uniquely relatable perspective on college life. Story : The premise is simple, about our main Mako who want to change a pace in her university life. Mako later meet others characters that let her start enjoy her life in the college. What makes "Food For The Soul" particularly engaging is its portrayal of college student life, which many viewers will findrelatable. It's a grounded and charming exploration of friendship and pursuing new passions. (8.5/10) Animation : While the animation may not reach to the level of Makeine, Yuru Camp or Violet Evergarden, it's certainly a good for a slice-of-life anime. It successfully captures the warm, everyday vibe of the club's daily activities and the characters' interactions. The visuals effectively convey the comforting atmosphere, making it easy to settle in and enjoy their world. (8.25/10) Music : Song for opening and ending is one of good parts of this anime. Really GOOD especially the ending song that shows Mako and friends enjoyment. It's the kind of music that lingers long after the episode ends, leaving you with a warm feeling. (9/10) Characters : "Food For The Soul" truly shines through its fun, unique, and incredibly lovable characters. They bring vibrant energy to the series, infusing every scene with charm and humor. Their interactions are a constant source of smiles and genuine laughter, making their antics a core part of the anime's appeal. Each character contributes distinct colors to the group dynamic, making their bond feel authentic and heartwarming. (9/10) Food For The Soul is recommended to Slice of Life enthusiasts and I am really glad that Spring 2025 have some good Slice of Life anime. 8.75/10.