Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon

A middle-aged man who loved vending machines more than anything doesn't get a quiet end in a car crash. Instead, he wakes up reincarnated as the exact object he adored, but in the worst possible setting: a monster-filled dungeon where he can't move under his own power or speak. Stripped of human agency, he has to use whatever indirect influence he can, relying on visitors, clever use of limited functions, and the unlikely bonds that form around him to survive. The show plays his odd new existence for laughs and small emotional beats, showing how a fixed, immobile perspective can still affect people and events in surprising ways.

Released in 2023 and created by Hirukuma, the anime features Jun Fukuyama voicing Hakkon and Kaede Hondo as Lammis. It premiered as a TV adaptation of the original concept and leaned on its unusual premise to draw attention during the season.

Audience reaction has been mixed but engaged, reflected in a 6.92/10 average from a modest number of votes. Viewers often praise the humor that arises from the setup and the show's willingness to stretch an absurd idea into different situations, while some critics note pacing issues. Recurring themes include purpose after loss, the value of small acts, and how companionship can form in the oddest circumstances.

Among fans of quirky isekai and offbeat comedy, the series carved out a memorable niche. Its oddball central conceit—an immobile vending machine protagonist in a dungeon—sparked online chatter, fan art, and lighthearted memes, helping it stand out in a crowded anime lineup even if it didn't become a mainstream hit.

The series didn't attract major industry awards or high-profile nominations; most of its recognition stayed within fan communities and online polls. It remains better known for its novelty and character interactions than for formal accolades.