Embracing 2023's Weirdest Isekai Anime

Over the years, there have been numerous quirky and unique isekai anime. Summer 2023's Reborn as a Vending Machine may be the weirdest of them all.

A vending machine isekai is a bizarre concept. At first glance, it sounds like the premise for a horrifying entrapment story. This isn’t the case, though. Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon is a light-hearted, humorous anime that cleverly explores problems that only a bulky metal object would experience. It’s refreshing to watch an anime about a main character who can’t articulate his thoughts, fight or even move under his own power.

That being said, the concept is definitely bizarre. Over the years, there have been isekai titles about slime, swords and spiders, as isekai is a genre packed with weird and wonderful ideas. There’s even one about someone who has access to a Japanese supermarket. Somehow, though, Reborn as a Vending Machine stands out among fierce competition.

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The main character has a profound obsession with vending machines. In his old life, he was a vending machine repairperson who loved talking about these machines. One day, he risks his life trying to prevent one from toppling over. Unfortunately, the machine crushes him. The next time he opens his eyes, he finds himself reincarnated as a vending machine. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he quickly embraces his new identity, as he has become a living embodiment of his passion. Boxxo, the main character’s new name, thinks endlessly about vending machine products and how to utilize his functions. It’s both unusual and somehow familiar; his fixation is reminiscent of the numerous anime characters who are profoundly driven to explore their passions. However, in this case, that passion is vending machines.

Reborn as a Vending Machine's author, known professionally only as Hirukuma, may have been channeling his own experiences when he wrote this manga. Following the death of his father, he sold his family business. According to the author's remarks in Volume 1 of the light novel, Hirukuma thought to himself, "Have I done everything I've wanted to in life?" He then became a writer and spent years unsuccessfully pitching ideas. During the fourth year, his pitch for Reborn as a Vending Machine was approved. His relentless pursuit of achieving his passion had finally paid off, and Boxxo, just like Hirukuma, followed his dream.

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How would a vending machine solve most of its problems? The answer, of course, is by dispensing products. A large part of the story involves solving problems with food and drink. At first, Boxxo has a limited range of products. Over time, he expands his range, swapping out old items for new ones. Boxxo, like any good salesperson, knows that variety is the spice of life, and he begins to experiment with physical transformations. So far, there appear to be no limitations to his range. In Episode 4, "Boxxo Is Abducted," Boxxo and a villager become trapped under a collapsed building. He notices that the person trapped under the rubble with him is displaying symptoms of asphyxiation and quickly transforms into an oxygen machine. The narrator then explains when the oxygen machine was first used and the purpose it served.

While Boxxo has other functions, such as defensive shields, the anime remains true to its core concept. Boxxo loves vending machines and cares about the people around him, always carefully examining his surroundings and then deciding what he needs to do. If he’s placed outside a bathhouse, he’ll stock toiletries. If he sees someone who is ill, he’ll offer electrolyte drinks. As strange as it may sound, watching these situations play out is rewarding. Reborn as a Vending Machine is happy for the main character to occasionally play a passive role as someone who enjoys listening to the conversations of the people happily talking around him.

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Most recent isekai follow a similar narrow formula whereby an unhappy student, shut-in or salaryman is reincarnated in another world, where they are no longer burdened by the problems of their last life. In this new world, they can be attractive, powerful, intelligent and popular. This is a second chance for them. Unsurprisingly, this trope is incredibly popular with viewers, as they tap into an audience’s fantasies and satiate them. This makes isekai a perfect subgenre for escapism. However, Reborn as a Vending Machine also subverts this isekai trope since Boxxo is not particularly attractive or powerful -- he is simply a large, bulky vending machine.

Nonetheless, rather than hindering the anime's appeal, subversion becomes its strength. Boxxo is unlike most isekai protagonists. Due to his physical limitations, he has to approach problems differently. This creates unique scenarios that the anime humorously explores. In Episode 3, "Rebuilding," Boxxo provides his allies with mints and cola. This allows them to drench a flaming king frog fiend with fizzy liquid. It’s a refreshingly weird solution that only a sentient vending machine could find. On other occasions, Boxxo may offer condoms, energizing drinks or magazines. There’s a surprising amount of variety for what seems like a limited concept.

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Amid the recent deluge of tropey isekai anime shows, Reborn as a Vending Machine explores fresh ideas. Hirukuma wastes no time introducing unique concepts; within the first few minutes of the anime, viewers are introduced to its unique protagonist, Boxxo. Unlike typical overpowered isekai heroes, he does not have any offensive abilities. He doesn’t even have hands or feet, so he can’t wield a sword and lacks the capacity for most forms of magic. This forces Boxxo to approach life’s challenges in ways unique to him. Sometimes this is comforting, while at other times, it's laugh-out-loud funny.

It’s a shame that more isekai don’t actively challenge tropes. Last year's Uncle From Another World featured a protagonist returning from another world, flipping the attractive social butterfly concept by having a goofy, socially illiterate hero. In 2021, Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy similarly subverted isekai conventions. This year, Reborn as a Vending Machine is one of the few isekai offering something different with its blend of comedy, iyashikei and isekai. Boxxo is a main character who is happy to play a supporting role, and as he blends into the background, the villagers get their chance to shine. While a vending machine anime is initially a bizarre concept, it quickly becomes apparent that appearances can be deceiving, as Reborn as a Vending Machine is easily one of the better isekai released so far this year.