Dungeon Meshi Thoughts

I could go on at length about what I liked about the series, and what I think it does well. All things that have undoubtedly been said by those much smarter than I. Instead I want to focus on what I feel like the story is about to me (I apologize if someone's said this exact thing before, I have not looked at any analysis of this series).

Dungeon Meshi is about many things. Eating, connection, obsession, desire, empathy, death...but it's also a story about the dangers of an eternal pretend and refusing to face life head-on. I think it was left pretty ambiguous what the winged lion's curse actually entailed, but I thought about it for a while and kept coming back to "He'll never be full", and my first thought was that statement clearly went beyond literal hunger. The dungeon represents a sort of escapism- it grants those within it whatever they desire and shields them from the reality of the world outside its walls. Its destruction and the events that came after were about having to grow up and accept the responsibilities that come with being an adult and having others depend on you. It's about the grief that comes from having to fit into a life that isn't quite what you expected even though it's meant to be a happy one on paper. The adventure is over. No more dungeons, no more dragons, no more fairy tales, everyone goes their separate ways and you'll always be a little hungry. I think that's a very bittersweet message, but a necessary one I haven't seen told this way before. Very good story.