Karen's Anime Blog

True story: I was catching up on season one of Reborn as a Vending Machine when my daughter came into the room. I thought, “Should I turn it off and put on something more kid-friendly? Nah it’s just Vending Machine, it’s not really objectionable.” Within one minute, Boxxo began selling condoms. Thanks Boxxo!

I’m getting tired of the isekai boom as much as the next person, but I do appreciate the fact this trend has given us series like Reborn as a Vending Machine and So I’m a Spider, So What? For RAAVM, I read the novels a few years back and really enjoyed them. I appreciate the fact that as a big metal box who can’t move and can barely communicate, Boxxo needs to use some creative problem solving. They do cheat a bit by making it possible for Boxxo to turn into anything even vaguely reminiscent of a vending machine; I don’t think most people would consider a AED machine to be a vending machine, but we got that in the last season finale. They also cheat by having Boxxo earn magic powers like telekinesis, but in a world of tremendously OP isekai protagonists who can make even the gods shudder with a sneeze, I guess our entrepreneurial hero needs all the help he can get.

So, onto season two. Our gang is hanging out when Director Bear comes with news of a big meeting. I love Director Bear! Why is the biggest authority figure in the series randomly a bear? Do we need a reason?

Hey, does anyone remember Stephen Colbert’s War on Bears from back in the day? Am I dating myself here?

Boxxo’s group fought one of the Demon Lord’s generals last season, and apparently the stratum leaders are not okay with letting the Demon Lord strut his stuff unmolested. They decide to mount a huge attack on the Demon Lord, with every stratum sending their best fighters. Err, isn’t that tremendously reckless? I get that from their perspective, the DL has already attacked them on their own turf, so they’re responding, not provoking. But how much intelligence on the DL do they have? They can’t possibly know what they’re getting into.

Then there’s a really nice little sequence where some of the older adventurers join the party, including Hoxie: the woman who runs the orphanage where Shui grew up. I like it when fiction acknowledges that even older people can be part of the fun…although in this case, I think this attack is a dumb idea, but I appreciate the fact that they’re included on principle.

Old People, +1; Skeletons, 0

Hulemy, bless her, points out that if the DL wanted to isolate all of the strongest fighters for some reason, then he’s played them like a fiddle. She then decides to share this insight with no one but Boxxo, who can’t talk outside of saying “yes” and “no.” Hulemy! Trust your instincts more! If you tell Director Bear your concerns, you could still turn back!

By the way, even though I’ve read the source material, I don’t remember this storyline; I don’t know if that means this is anime-original content, or if I just have the memory of a goldfish.

Anyway, they find the DL and his minions and the fight is pretty impressive, with plenty of flaming skeletons getting ripped apart. Of course, they’re magically animated skeletons, so they can just reassemble. Looks like the team won’t get anywhere until they kill the DL proper. Fortunately, Boxxo is on that, using balloons to levitate himself and then dropping the biggest vending machine in history right on the DL’s noggin. That isn’t enough to kill him, so Boxxo uses a combination of ice and the electric shock from his defibrillator paddles to take the fiend down; classic Boxxo problem solving.

Director Bear in action! Don’t mess with mid-level administrators who are also bears.

But the plot thickens! The DL is still alive and they team has only defeated his left arm. Didn’t they say earlier in the episode that the monster Lammis’ group defeated in the season one finale was his left arm? Did they just defeat the left arm again? Anyway, now that the strongest fighters are all called away, the other strata are poorly defended and the DL can have free reign. Oh, and the DL wants all the adventurers to die so he can use the mana from their souls to create new monsters. Just peachy.

A not-at-all unsettling way to end the adventure.

Well, that was a surprisingly action-packed season opener. I kind of feel like Hulemy should say “I told you so,” except she didn’t actually tell them, so she’s at fault too. I kind of hope they defeat the DL early on in the season so we can get back to everyone chilling and buying Boxxo’s canned udon, but I probably won’t get my wish. Still, I’m happy to have Boxxo back for the season.

As a nice bonus, the ED has all the chibis you could possibly want. CHIBI SUPREMACY