The story follows an aspiring chef that challenges himself on almost every opportunity. The acknowledgement from the get go that he isn’t the best, nor ever will be with the shadow of his famous father constantly on him is endearing. I think we’ve all had that spark, and seeing it on screen with an already upbeat character the first moment we see him is something to not scoff over; Souma is as relatable as ever, and that is the true mark of a great start to a show.

The show’s characters are an ensemble of misfits that provide some fantastic cohesiveness to each other. Characters like Megumi feel fleshed out and really provide a nice balance to the confidence that emanates from Souma, and other characters like Hisako, Alice and Takumi prove that supporting characters can have some sense of originality. These students all have a past that contributes to their aspiration of being a chef, and even though you don’t see it much in the first season, the characteristics are there, little hints of a backstory. One of the mains, Erina for example the renowned ‘God Tongue’ creates a constant buffer to Souma’s upbeat attitude, and their dynamic only fuels that with how they tackle the same thing with different styles. Students from not only Japan but around the world are featured here and cooking styles feed the grandeur take on how this world is built in great detail. Upperclassmen are also included in this, and many of the main graduates that helped cement this school show great interest in Souma’s style of cooking. A highlight of that is Koujirou Shinomiya, a similar vein of character to Souma's confident persona, with a path that could potentially mirror his in the future.

Most of the anime is centred around the school of Totski Academy, and as students do, the many walks of life they all have intertwine with each other. Dorms, classes, examinations and the like. The main standout is the act of a Shokugeki. A one on one battle for a certain reward and as high school students do, there’s a lot of clashing that occurs here. The showcases of skill and prowess that each student has is shown in full force here, and is one of the best parts of the show. Battles provide real word examples of how to make the dish, and explanations whether through the trademark sexual satire the show is known for or through clever metaphors is fantastic. The creativeness of each dish served is immaculate. You can really tell how devoted the writers were to their craft.

This show is a case of not all things are what they seem syndrome. The foodgasms paired with real world recipes is a confusing one, and many won’t want to watch that for obvious reasons. It does beg the question on if that trait reflects the entertainment this show can provide to very different groups of watchers. I think it just makes this show better. Food is treated as art in almost all corners of the world. This show really tells that through a unique perspective.

Being a show that was adapted from the source material, I will be happy to say that it does for almost all aspects go one-for-one with the manga. Animation is relatively good, with effects on the cooking and characters’ foodgasms showing great detail, but of some of the battles are shown in moving picture collages, something that the later seasons really hammer hard on. It can be seen as lazy for some, but overall, the style in which the show is used is great. The soundtrack for the opening is as catchy as ever, and many of the tracks in relation to the Shokugekis are great pairings to the action involved. The voice acting on both the sub and dub versions are adequate, however not for everyone (especially the dub)

As a strong believer in first impressions, this show from the get go pulls you in immediately. It's the characters and constant in your face cooking that keeps you afloat through it all. Enjoyment is subjective, but at least for me this was great watch. A fantastic anime of action, ecchi and a surprising, but welcome connection to real world cooking methods and practices.

(+) - Fantastic ensemble of characters
(+) - Action and original take on high school battle shounen
(+) - Real recipes and their preparation methods with intrinsic detail

(-) - Animation can be a bit up in the air
(-) - Typical troupes of many anime clichés