"The Solitary Gourmet" Review: Good Food and the Taste of Life

"The Solitary Gourmet": A look at the flavors of life through food

"Kodoku no Gurume" is an anime based on the original manga by Masayuki Kusumi and Jiro Taniguchi, and was distributed on the app Tate Anime from November 29, 2017 to August 31, 2018. It has 10 episodes, each of which is just four minutes long, and depicts the life and emotions of the main character, Goro Inogashira, through his meal scenes. The work was released online and animated by Production IG. Directed by Kazuya Kise, it has succeeded in bringing out the charm of the original work to the fullest.

Story and Characters

The protagonist of "Solitary Gourmet," Goro Inogashira, is a middle-aged man who runs an import goods store. He is depicted enjoying meals at various restaurants during his free time at work. Goro's dining scenes are not simply food reports, but function as a mirror that reflects his life and emotions. The food Goro eats symbolizes his inner thoughts and the events of the day, allowing viewers to get a deeper insight into his inner self.

Goro's character is very realistic and easy to empathize with. He doesn't have any special talents or abilities, but he has a sincere attitude towards food and the courage to face himself. Goro's meal scenes have the power to make the viewer think, "I want to enjoy meals like that too." In addition, his commitment to food and the joy he feels when eating resonate with many people.

Animation and performance

The animation of "Solitary Gourmet" is a work that shows off the high technical capabilities of Production IG. In particular, the depiction of the meal scenes is so realistic that the viewer feels as if they are tasting the food along with Goro. The depiction, which conveys the color, texture, and even the aroma of the food, stimulates the viewer's appetite and has the power to make them empathize with Goro's emotions.

Director Kise Kazuya has faithfully recreated the atmosphere of the original work while adding a unique cinematic expression that enhances the film's appeal. Goro's monologues and the silences between meal scenes leave a deep impression on the viewer. In particular, the scenes that depict Goro's satisfaction after finishing his meal and his anticipation for the next meal grab the viewer's heart.

Music and Sound

The music and sound of "Solitary Gourmet" are also important elements that enhance the appeal of the work. The background music changes to match Goro's emotions and the atmosphere of the meal, enhancing the emotions of the viewer. In particular, the sound effects in the meal scenes emphasize the realism of the food and stimulate the viewer's appetite. The sounds of Goro bringing food to his mouth and chewing have the power to make the viewer share Goro's feelings.

Goro's monologues and conversations with the waiter are also important elements that draw out the viewers' emotions. Goro's monologues delve deep into his inner world and evoke empathy from the viewers. His conversations with the waiter portray Goro's relationships with others and his particular preferences for food, warming the viewers' hearts.

Comparison with the original

The original work of "Solitary Gourmet" is a manga by the duo Masayuki Kusumi and Jiro Taniguchi. The original work and the anime version share the same theme of depicting Goro's life and emotions through his meal scenes. However, the anime version further enhances the appeal of the original work by adding expressions that are unique to the visual medium. In particular, the depiction of the meal scenes is more realistic than the original work, stimulating the viewer's appetite.

The anime version also carefully selects episodes from the original work to depict a story that viewers can most easily empathize with. In addition to Goro's meal scenes, the original work also contains episodes from his work and private life, but the anime version focuses on the meal scenes to maximize the viewers' emotions.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"Solitary Gourmet" has been highly praised by viewers. In particular, Goro's realistic character and the depiction of the meal scenes have resonated with many viewers. In addition, the story, which is deeply moving in a short time, has captured the hearts of viewers. On social media, many viewers have taken to imitating Goro's meal scenes and enjoying delicious food themselves.

Furthermore, the theme of the show, "Tasting life through food," struck a chord with many viewers. Goro's meal scenes had the power to make viewers think, "I want to enjoy meals like that," and many viewers empathized with Goro's life. In particular, many middle-aged male viewers commented that they "could see themselves in Goro."

Recommendations and related works

"Solitary Gourmet" is a very unique work that depicts the taste of life through eating scenes. In particular, the attention to detail and the joy of eating resonate with many people. The story that deeply moves the viewer and the realistic depiction of eating scenes make it a must-see.

For viewers who enjoyed "The Solitary Gourmet," we also recommend the following related works:

• "Oishinbo": A long-running gourmet manga that depicts social issues through food. The realistic depiction of eating scenes stimulates the viewer's appetite.
• "Cooking Papa": A heartwarming gourmet manga that depicts the daily life of a businessman who is a good cook. The realistic depiction of the meal scenes warms the hearts of viewers.
• "Delicious School Lunch": A heartwarming gourmet manga that depicts the growth of children through school lunches. The realistic depiction of the meal scenes will warm the hearts of viewers.

Like "The Solitary Gourmet," these works are also very unique in that they depict the flavor of life through food scenes. The stories that deeply move the viewer and the realistic depictions of food scenes are definitely worth watching.

summary

"The Solitary Gourmet" is a very unique work that depicts the flavors of life through eating scenes. In particular, Goro's realistic character and the depiction of the eating scenes resonated with many viewers. Also, the story, which was deeply moving in a short time, captured the hearts of viewers. On social media, many viewers imitated Goro's eating scenes and enjoyed delicious food themselves.

The theme of the show, "Tasting life through food," struck a chord with many viewers. Goro's meal scenes had the power to make viewers think, "I want to enjoy meals like that," and many viewers empathized with Goro's life. In particular, many middle-aged male viewers commented that they could "see themselves in Goro."

"The Solitary Gourmet" resonates with many people with its depiction of Goro's dedication to food and the joy of eating. The storyline that deeply touches the viewer and the realistic depiction of the meal scenes are definitely worth watching. Please watch this work and enjoy delicious food with Goro.