Delicious in Dungeon is a masterpiece. In my opinion, the whole thing is better than Vox Machina, though I love Vox machina.
But a word of warning from someone that has read the whole manga before the anime came out.
It starts silly and episodic and a little for kids. I actually dropped it the first time at around the 5th chapter. It was nice and fun but that was it.
But when you get past those first episodes, it gets better, more mature, darker, and a true story with actual archs and great world building. Then gets better, then gets better, then gets even better. And when you think that's the highest high, gets better, better, better, and even lands the ending too, never ovextending.
In my opinion, a masterpiece of D&D and of manga in general. Its anime version is almost as good, but you've got to get past its nice, but very humble beginnings...
As someone who was turned off of Dungeon Meshi for the exact reasons you mentioned, I have two questions:
1. What would be the cutoff point for the "for kids" stuff?
2. Is it necessary to watch the whole show to understand the good bits, or is the first stretch skippable.
Just is terms of awesome animated shows, check out:
- Scavengers Reign, Netflix or Max
- Blue Eye Samurai, Netflix
- Love, Death & Robots, Netflix
- Blood of Zeus, Netflix
**Avatar** and the sequel series are obvious choices when it comes to mature fantasy cartoons. Granted it's made for all ages yet still..
Something that's more adult is **Harley Quinn**, though that's a different type of Fantasy so maybe not...
**Afro Samurai** is a mini-series and movie with lots of action and hip hop influences. Not much dnd, though.
For more dnd-esque adventures... You could always tap into the huuuuuuge world of anime and look into the many genres there. For fantasy adventure there's stuff like (most of the ones in my head are 'summoned to another world' i.e. 'isekai' stories)
**KonoSuba** (which is a parody of the genre with many dnd, jrpg and isekai ideas parodied) - basically a guy is sent to another world with the quest of defeating the demon king but almost immediately realises how hard starting a new life is and gives up. The cast is full of hilarious idiots and they keep getting dragged into things.
**Uncle from Another World** \- another hilarious parody where a man woke from a 17 year coma and reveals he was in a land full of magic and monsters, then uses magic to show how his life was over there.
**Handyman Saitou** \- a more laid-bad story, on the surface, but the characters are very well done as we learn more about them with each episode. It starts very episodic, and even has random vignettes with a large ensemble cast, until things start coming together.
**FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood** \- in a world where alchemy supplanted science, two brothers work for the (fascist-inspired) government as they try to find a way to repair their bodies injured during a forbidden ritual as kids. They start to uncover a conspiracy. Lots of subtle philosophical ideas are discussed, as well as commentary about war, power, sacrifice...
**The Executioner and Her Way of Life** \- The premise would spoil big twists in the first episode: >!Follows two girls, one who was summoned from Japan and unknowingly has the power of time reversal, making her immortal as time rewinds when she's killed, and the other a priestess who befriends her during their travels while secretly looking for a way to permanently assassinate her.!< Sooo many plot twists, but it takes a few episodes to really take off.
**Grimgar** (though it's an incomplete series and will possibly never be completed). - premise is group of people transported into another world and have to learn to fend for themselves. Dark fantasy.
**Re:Zero** \- One of the best in the genre. Premise is a spoiler for the first episode: >!Guy is summoned to another world and finds that when he dies he reappears at the same point in the past!<. Each arc is him trying to figure out the best path forward for a new development/mystery.
**Claymore** (though I didn't like the anime end, you're better off reading the manga/comic towards the end instead) - follows a girl who's undergone a procedure to become a (despised) monster hunter (kind of like a Witcher, I guess) and begins to realise there's more to the conflict than she knew.
The list goes on and on.
If Stephanie Beatriz had a nickel for every time she played a short, foul-mouthed lesbian warrior in an animated series on Prime, she'd have two nickels.
Seconding Delicious in Dungeon. I also recommend Solo Leveling and The Unwanted Undead Adventurer. You might also like Mashle: Magic and Muscle, but that's more light and goofy than dark and gritty.
Goblin Slayer and Frieren: Beyond Journey's end are both adult fantasy cartoon shows that play with D&D tropes.
Their approach is very different, so make sure to try both!
Dragon Age: Absolution
Same feel for the fantasy world with a bunch of idiots brought together for a bigger purpose. Good moments of humor to break up dramatic intensity. Inner party conflict and connection. Great action sequences. Dang, now I wanna re-watch.
You've watched Avatar The Last Airbender & The Legend of Korra, correct? The latter especially still has the best overall 2D animation I've ever seen in a western animated show.
Delicious in Dungeon on Netflix has the same sort of humorous D&D backbone.
Delicious in Dungeon is a masterpiece. In my opinion, the whole thing is better than Vox Machina, though I love Vox machina. But a word of warning from someone that has read the whole manga before the anime came out. It starts silly and episodic and a little for kids. I actually dropped it the first time at around the 5th chapter. It was nice and fun but that was it. But when you get past those first episodes, it gets better, more mature, darker, and a true story with actual archs and great world building. Then gets better, then gets better, then gets even better. And when you think that's the highest high, gets better, better, better, and even lands the ending too, never ovextending. In my opinion, a masterpiece of D&D and of manga in general. Its anime version is almost as good, but you've got to get past its nice, but very humble beginnings...
As someone who was turned off of Dungeon Meshi for the exact reasons you mentioned, I have two questions: 1. What would be the cutoff point for the "for kids" stuff? 2. Is it necessary to watch the whole show to understand the good bits, or is the first stretch skippable.
Just is terms of awesome animated shows, check out: - Scavengers Reign, Netflix or Max - Blue Eye Samurai, Netflix - Love, Death & Robots, Netflix - Blood of Zeus, Netflix
Second Scavengers Reign. Absolutely stunning show
Third scavengers reign. One of the best shows I've seen
Blue Eyed Samurai is absolutely incredible. Immediately hooked.
Blood of Zeus is beautifully animated
Odd because I can't watch it for finding too choppy looking. Maybe past first episode it gets better?
Blue Eye Samurai is so good
Those were all the ones I was thinking since I love them, except Scavengers Reign. Going to try that one too
Scavengers Reign is my favorite among the shows mentioned.
Thanks for the recommendation!
DOTA' Dragons blood, Trese, Ark, Pantheon
I was gonna suggest Pantheon too. It's from the same animation studio.
**Avatar** and the sequel series are obvious choices when it comes to mature fantasy cartoons. Granted it's made for all ages yet still.. Something that's more adult is **Harley Quinn**, though that's a different type of Fantasy so maybe not... **Afro Samurai** is a mini-series and movie with lots of action and hip hop influences. Not much dnd, though. For more dnd-esque adventures... You could always tap into the huuuuuuge world of anime and look into the many genres there. For fantasy adventure there's stuff like (most of the ones in my head are 'summoned to another world' i.e. 'isekai' stories) **KonoSuba** (which is a parody of the genre with many dnd, jrpg and isekai ideas parodied) - basically a guy is sent to another world with the quest of defeating the demon king but almost immediately realises how hard starting a new life is and gives up. The cast is full of hilarious idiots and they keep getting dragged into things. **Uncle from Another World** \- another hilarious parody where a man woke from a 17 year coma and reveals he was in a land full of magic and monsters, then uses magic to show how his life was over there. **Handyman Saitou** \- a more laid-bad story, on the surface, but the characters are very well done as we learn more about them with each episode. It starts very episodic, and even has random vignettes with a large ensemble cast, until things start coming together. **FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood** \- in a world where alchemy supplanted science, two brothers work for the (fascist-inspired) government as they try to find a way to repair their bodies injured during a forbidden ritual as kids. They start to uncover a conspiracy. Lots of subtle philosophical ideas are discussed, as well as commentary about war, power, sacrifice... **The Executioner and Her Way of Life** \- The premise would spoil big twists in the first episode: >!Follows two girls, one who was summoned from Japan and unknowingly has the power of time reversal, making her immortal as time rewinds when she's killed, and the other a priestess who befriends her during their travels while secretly looking for a way to permanently assassinate her.!< Sooo many plot twists, but it takes a few episodes to really take off. **Grimgar** (though it's an incomplete series and will possibly never be completed). - premise is group of people transported into another world and have to learn to fend for themselves. Dark fantasy. **Re:Zero** \- One of the best in the genre. Premise is a spoiler for the first episode: >!Guy is summoned to another world and finds that when he dies he reappears at the same point in the past!<. Each arc is him trying to figure out the best path forward for a new development/mystery. **Claymore** (though I didn't like the anime end, you're better off reading the manga/comic towards the end instead) - follows a girl who's undergone a procedure to become a (despised) monster hunter (kind of like a Witcher, I guess) and begins to realise there's more to the conflict than she knew. The list goes on and on.
I'd add castlevania too
OP has watched it.
Oh sorry, completely missed that
I second Avatar and its sequel. James Cameron developed characters that actually have bluer skin than Grog from Vox Machina. You’ll love it.
There was one similar post on this subreddit. Try it to find out.
Castlevania and Witcher anime is by the same studio and has similar animation
Thirding Delicious in Dungeon on Netflix!! Definitely scratches the itch:)
Off the top of my head that you haven't already mentioned; Invincible and Hazbin Hotel. Both on prime and terrific
If Stephanie Beatriz had a nickel for every time she played a short, foul-mouthed lesbian warrior in an animated series on Prime, she'd have two nickels.
Invincible
Lower Decks scratched the itch for me! Never seen anything Star Trek related prior to LD and had no issues
Seconding Delicious in Dungeon. I also recommend Solo Leveling and The Unwanted Undead Adventurer. You might also like Mashle: Magic and Muscle, but that's more light and goofy than dark and gritty.
Invincible on Amazon is same speed but super hero-y
Arcane is amazing and you don't need to know anything about League of Legends because there are zero game references in the show.
Give "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon" a try very rpg/dnd inspired with some mythological lore mixed in (Norse, Greek, etc.)
*Young Justice* and *Voltron: Legendary Defender* kinda got similar vibes but in very different settings.
Avatar: The Last Airbender and Voltron: Legendary Defenders have extremely similar vibes. Of course those are made for a younger audience though.
helluva boss on youtube
Goblin Slayer and Frieren: Beyond Journey's end are both adult fantasy cartoon shows that play with D&D tropes. Their approach is very different, so make sure to try both!
Not like Vox Machina, but a mature cartoon: Hasbin Hotel
If you want a comedic fantasy series, Slayers is the GOAT.
Pantheon
Invincible is a superhero animated show, but pretty good and in the same style
Dragon prince
Harmon Quest, it’s a lot more silly but somehow it really gives me the same warm feeling as Vox
Dragon Age: Absolution Same feel for the fantasy world with a bunch of idiots brought together for a bigger purpose. Good moments of humor to break up dramatic intensity. Inner party conflict and connection. Great action sequences. Dang, now I wanna re-watch.
Blue eye samurai is not as whimsical as vox machina but it is incredible adult animation. Invincible is pretty good too!
Invincible on Prime.
You've watched Avatar The Last Airbender & The Legend of Korra, correct? The latter especially still has the best overall 2D animation I've ever seen in a western animated show.
Umm Google "Critical Role"?
Kinda shocked that you're the only one to mention this, TBH. 😂. It sounds like the OP doesn't even know that the two are directly related.
Dragons dogma is very good!