Food for the Soul begins its finale with a brief scene where Mako checking out a Chinese restaurant that Mokotaro recommends in their latest video. This is a callback to how the show began. Way back in Episode 1, Mako was too shy or too anxious to go anywhere on her own. Now though, she’s able to muster the courage to step inside and make an order all on her own. While not the only time in the episode that acknowledges Mako’s growth, this scene is definitely the one that best demonstrates it, due to it brining one of the earliest scenes in the show full circle.
After the OP, Mako joins the others in cleaning out the clubroom on New Year’s Eve, much like they did when they first got the room. There’s of course a couple of nods to past gags such as Kurea needing to keep everyone on track when they start to goof off and Mako finding Shinon’s walking stick. The fact that Shinon ultimately neglected to use the stick again makes her wasting money on it even funnier. While the cleanup part is fun, I kind of enjoyed the aftermath more. The girls lazily sleeping in their kotatsu is cliche but I still find it amusing, especially when they force themselves groggily get out for dinner.
As the clock counts down to midnight, Nana was to jump in celebration though everyone else is disinterested. The fact that Nana still jumps is a little sad but that also makes the moment funnier. I was going to say they should all jump because any anime where the characters jump is god-tier but then I remembered, that’s only true if it’s the OP. Funnily enough, this is not the first time I’ve made a Bocchi reference in this series of blog posts. I like that Mako receives a text from Hiyori and Yuna. A minor detail but it’s nice to know that Mako and Shinon has stayed in touch with their childhood friends.
Since the local shrine is likely too crowded, the girls decide to carpool over to the one near Kurea’s house. The girls do the usual thing of making a New Year’s prayer (good luck with that investment, Shinon) and reminiscing on the past year. The only missed opportunity here is Nana not getting drunk off of amazake after asking if it’s non-alcoholic. The show would of course have to say she’s getting drunk off of the atmosphere or something but come on, that’s most obvious to do. A drunk Nana? I can only imagine what she’d be like. On their way back to the car, Mako realizes they should’ve taken a picture at the shrine. While it’s too late to go back, the gang is fortunately pleased with another photogenic opportunity: the first sunrise of the year. Not much to say about this scene other than it’s a nice, sentimental moment to have before the credits.
I like how after the credits, we skip to the start of the girls’ second year in college and we see new photos of their shenanigans. What sucks then if that it’d be better if we actually got to see these moments play out. I mean, Mako finally getting to meet Mokotaro. That should’ve been animated! Now, I’m hoping this show will pull a Non Non Biyori and get a second season that traps its characters in a floating timeline.
Is Food for the Soul a good anime? I think so. I had plenty of fun with it. The only huge complaint I have is that, it’s pretty light on the food theme. You do get some fun tutorials but much of the average episode really is the characters goofing off. This is admittedly a common thing with CGDCT anime but my point still stands. As for how it stacks to Non Non Biyori, I’m not sure. I want to say I enjoyed Non Non Biyori more but that’s almost an unfair comparison because it has Renge and it lasted three seasons and a movie. One thing I will say is that I really appreciate that Atto and the crew went with a slightly different vibe this time around. I feel Non Non Biyori captures the joys of childhood while Food for the Soul instead shows much fun one could have in their young adulthood.
Watch Food for the Soul on Crunchyroll
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