Whether the first episode is constantly pulling you in or forcing you to pull out, here is my two cents on the anime Shokugeki no Souma, A.K.A Food Wars.
Summary:
Shokugeki no Souma follows young chef Yukihira Souma as he progresses at the rigorous culinary school, Totsuki Culinary Academy. Previously instructed by his father at the family diner, Souma is considered lowly within the prestigious school. Despite this, Souma aims to become the number one chef at the school declaring so at the entrance ceremony. However in order to do so, his only choice is to partake in the Shokugeki, a 1v1 high stakes cook-off between students. Will Souma make it to the top or crumble beneath the pressure and face expulsion?
Thoughts:
Shounen Jump’s titles tend to have a focus on three key criteria. Friendship, effort, and victory all shine through Shokugeki no Souma to an extreme. Yukihira Souma plays the character that we all wish we could be. Someone who pushes themselves to the furthest extent and gets results. Maybe that is what draws us to watch Souma work towards greatness or possible failure. Maybe for others it is the fan service for both genders, but hey I’m not judging.
Review:
While I can’t give it the #1 spot for my favorite Shounen Jump Manga/Anime, I don’t mind giving it a solid spot in my top 10. What Shokugeki no Souma lacks in my opinion is secondary character depth. Being able to watch Yukihira Souma grow is fun, but that is all we get. The growth of everyone around him isn’t apparent and to an extent uninteresting. Other titles like One Piece excel at secondary character story lines and that is why it ranks higher than Shokugeki no Souma in my opinion.
However, when a manga/anime is both interesting and not too far from reality, that is when a interest becomes impulse. Using actual culinary techniques from various cuisines shows the depth of research done. Other titles such as Kuroko no Basket choose alternative routes by indulging in fantasy skills that can never exist within every character. While Kuroko no Basket is entertaining, I always find that something relatable will always surpass the surreal. This is what keeps me coming back for more.
Verdict:
Unfortunately Shokugeki no Souma hasn’t been aired consistently as it has been cut into seasons with fairly long breaks in between. Up till now, only season 1 and 2 have been aired with season 3 on its way. While this may be a deterrent to some, don’t fret the manga is still ongoing and in my opinion it only gets better.
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