REVIEW: ‘Sweet Reincarnation,’ Episode 1 — “Dreaming Of A Land Of Sweets”

A world-renowned chef dreamed of crafting a land of sweets for the people. Then one day, one of his giant confections fell upon him, ending his life. But as he slipped away, someone decided his dream would not die yet. Being reborn in a quaint medieval-style town, the young boy named Pastry once again dreams of making a land of sweets in the isekai fantasy Sweet Reincarnation Episode 1 from Synergy SP.

Upon hearing the initial premise for this series, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sold. The idea of this man trapped in a child’s body who just wants to cook sweets didn’t captivate my imagination with its storytelling potential. Happily, Sweet Reincarnation Episode 1 lays down some solid groundwork that looks to give viewers plenty of drama and conflict in Pastry’s story.

The first challenge that the show lays out before Pastry is his familial obligations. His father, Lord Casserole, is a small feudal lord responsible for several villages. As his only son, he intends for Pastry to follow in his footsteps as Lord of the land. Pastry does have a lot going for him that would probably make him a good Lord too, except all he wants to do is bake. While nothing directly comes of this tension point in this episode, you can clearly tell that this will be a significant obstacle for Pastry as the show progresses.

The other ongoing obstacle that Sweet Reincarnation Episode 1 lays out, though in a more mysterious way, is Pastry’s magical power. In this new land he has been reborn to, magic is real. During a coming-of-age ceremony, a child’s magical potential becomes unlocked. Exactly what this may mean is unclear — the only example of magic we see is Lord Casserole’s ability to teleport, but we are left with the understanding that whatever power Pastry comes into, it is significant. And while power may be helpful for the young man down the road, it also looks like it will draw unwanted attention to him in the near future.

While there is plenty of groundwork laid out for future struggles, Sweet Reincarnation Episode 1 also establishes a largely laid-back and goofy atmosphere for its setting. The family life that surrounds Pastry is a loving one that shows their little corner of the world as a happy place. The visuals bring out the joyous element of the show excellently, especially during the many moments that Pastry is dreaming of sweets he’ll one day bake. Anime has a long history of making mouths water with elegantly designed dishes and this series looks to carry on the tradition well.

Bringing it all together, Sweet Reincarnation Episode 1 delivers a pilot episode that establishes a fun, enjoyable setting while laying the groundwork for the struggles the series will highlight in the future. It left me far more intrigued than I expected to be going in. Now, whether it can follow through on its promise is the biggest mystery viewers will have to discover.

Sweet Reincarnation Episode 1 is premiering Monday, July 3 @ 11:30 AM PDTon Crunchyroll.