Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Anime » REVIEW: ‘Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon’ Episode 1 — “The Vending Machine Travels”

REVIEW: ‘Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon’ Episode 1 — “The Vending Machine Travels”

Kyle FoleyBy Kyle Foley07/05/20234 Mins Read
Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 - But Why Tho

The isekai genre has quickly become one of the most popular anime genres worldwide, but it takes a lot to stand out in a crowded field. With so many characters being reborn into a new world with extraordinary powers, Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon sets out to turn the premise on its head. Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 introduces viewers to Hakkon (Jun Fukuyama), a young man who tragically dies in a motorbike accident and awakens in a fantasy world as, you guessed it, a vending machine.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 starts by showing Hakkon waking up in his new world and slowly discovering he isn’t dead, but he isn’t quite himself either. He quickly realizes he has been reborn as one of his greatest loves in life, a vending machine. The comical introduction quickly establishes the series’ aim to take a more comedic approach to the isekai genre. Instead of making him extremely powerful or good-looking, his very first interaction with another character shows just how weak he is in his new form. Confronted by an anthropomorphic frog trying to destroy the strange machine, Hakkon learns how his machine works and what he will need to do to make it in this new world.

The systems introduced in Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 are straightforward. Hakkon needs to sell items in order to convert the currency into points that he can use to maintain himself, as well as upgrade things like what he has in stock and what kind of defenses he has. Since he is in a fantasy world and not, say, an arcade or a mall, he is going to need to be smart about how he allocates his points so he can make money in this new world while also protecting himself from any danger. Coupled with the fact that he can’t move or speak outside of a few pre-recorded lines built into the machine, it makes for a really interesting premise.

The first human character Hakkon meets is a young woman named Lammis (Kaede Hondo). Lammis is on her way to find and defeat the frogs so she can eat but finds that Hakkon has already driven them away. She instead ends up buying items from him and is overwhelmed with how delicious they are. This leads to her taking him back to her village to introduce him to her friend Hulemy (Shiki Aoki) and also establishes that Hakkon and Lammis are going to be tied at the hip going forward. She is an interesting character, herself not being someone who is all too powerful or respected, and it makes for a partnership that I am really looking forward to seeing more of.

The bits of worldbuilding in Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 help establish the magical rules and the way things run. Nothing introduced so far is entirely game-changing or unique, but it is presented in a tidy way that makes a comedic premise more interesting. I’m not just invested in how he will function as a vending machine. I actually want to learn more about the world and see how he can navigate it alongside Lammis. She gives Hakkon the nickname Boxxo, what he will be known as throughout the rest of the series, as they set off on an adventure that can go in a number of different and intriguing directions.

Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 manages to take a silly premise and make it more interesting than one would think. A magical world and compelling characters set up what could be a much better series than the whimsical title would make people imagine. I can’t wait to dive into more of Boxxo and Lammis’ adventures to see what happens next.

Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon' Episode 1 — "The Vending Machine Travels"
  • 7/10
    Rating - 7/10
7/10

TL;DR

Reborn as a Vending Machine Episode 1 manages to take a silly premise and make it more interesting than one would think. A magical world and compelling characters set up what could be a much better series than the whimsical title would make people imagine. I can’t wait to dive into more of Boxxo and Lammis’ adventures to see what happens next.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Thor Annual, #1
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Celebrity’ Loses Steam but Compels with Its Mystery
Kyle Foley

Kyle is an editor, writer, and musician from Orlando, FL who primarily covers soccer as well as video games and anime. He also believes mayonnaise is the best condiment for hot dogs, which are sandwiches.

Related Posts

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11
8.5

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 11 – “Hey, It’s a Kaiju”

09/11/2025
Sakamoto Days Episode 20
6.5

REVIEW: ‘Sakamoto Days’ Episode 20 — “Mutual Fans”

09/08/2025
Tougen Anki Episode 9 still from Netflix
4.0

REVIEW: ‘Tougen Anki’ Episode 9 — “Momotaro Spirit”

09/06/2025
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 10 promotional image from Crunchyroll
10.0

REVIEW: ‘My Dress-Up Darling’ Season 2 Episode 10 — “So We’re Gonna Do It All Right Now?”

09/06/2025
Arknights Rise From Ember Rosmontis

REVIEW: ‘Arknights: Rise From Ember’ Is Phenomenal But Drags On Too Long

09/06/2025
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Episode 1
7.5

REVIEW: ‘The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity’ Episode 1 – “Rintaro and Kaoruko”

09/05/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Gojo Jujutsu Kaisen - But Why Tho (2) Features

Everything To Know About Satoru Gojo

By Kate Sánchez09/07/2023Updated:02/16/2025

Satoru Gojo is the heart of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 — now, heading into Cour 2, here is everything you need to know about the character.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here