At manga Barcelona 2025, food illustrator Mao Momiji sat down with anime Corner to discuss his artistic journey, influences, and contribution to the Delicious in Dungeon anime. Momiji, a graduate of Musashino Art University’s Oil Painting Department, gained international recognition for his food illustrations in the Delicious in Dungeon manga and anime adaptation. While the original manga was penned by Ryoko Kui, Momiji was tasked by the anime production team to bring the story’s delectable dishes to life.
Momiji’s ultimate dream is to showcase his artwork on all five continents and to experience and illustrate the vast array of delicacies the world has to offer. Currently, he shares a new food illustration daily on his Instagram account, surpassing over 2500 illustrations to date.
In an interview with Anime Corner, Momiji shared insights into his creative process and inspirations. He attributes his specialization in food illustration to his love for food and positive feedback from fans during his time as a mangaka. When it comes to finding inspiration for his daily illustrations, Momiji expressed that the abundance of food options makes it easy, but time constraints can pose a challenge.
Tatsuya Tanaka, a miniature photographer, serves as a significant influence on Momiji’s artistic style. The artist prioritizes light in his illustrations, drawing inspiration from Claude Monet’s use of light in painting. Momiji believes that light and highlights are crucial in making food illustrations appear appetizing.
Reflecting on the anime industry’s attention to detail in animating food, Momiji credits Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli for setting a high standard in depicting food in their films. He believes that this focus on food illustration has become a trend in the industry.
When discussing his work on the Delicious in Dungeon anime adaptation, Momiji expressed joy in interpreting the original mangaka’s ideas in his own style. While some consultation with the director was necessary, Momiji found the process enjoyable and rewarding.
Among the numerous dishes he illustrated for the anime, Momiji highlighted a pumpkin soup with a face and a jewel-inspired jelly as particularly memorable and challenging projects. Overall, Momiji’s passion for food illustration shines through in his work, captivating audiences with his mouth-watering creations.
Un final satisfaisant
À la fin, j’étais content du résultat.
Q : Si vous deviez essayer un plat de l’anime Delicious in Dungeon, lequel choisiriez-vous ?
R : Le tout premier plat de tous : le pot-au-feu géant au scorpion [scorpion nabe].
Q : Y a-t-il un pays ou une région du monde dont vous n’avez pas encore goûté la cuisine mais que vous aimeriez essayer ?
R : Je ne suis pas encore allé en Allemagne, donc j’aimerais essayer les bières et les saucisses allemandes.
Q : Avez-vous déjà goûté la cuisine péruvienne ? [L’interviewer est péruvien]
R : Oui, le ceviche. Et le cochon d’Inde [cuy], quand j’étais à Machu Picchu.
Nous tenons à remercier Momiji-sensei d’avoir pris le temps de parler avec nous lors de l’événement. Son travail a laissé une marque indélébile sur l’anime Delicious in Dungeon. Nous suivons également ses publications quotidiennes sur Instagram !
Vous pouvez également lire nos interviews avec d’autres membres de l’équipe de l’anime Delicious in Dungeon, tels que le réalisateur Yoshihiro Miyajima, et les acteurs de doublage Sayaka Sembongi (Marcille) et Kentaro Kumagai (Laios). Si vous n’avez pas encore regardé l’anime, vous pouvez avoir un aperçu à travers la critique d’un membre de notre équipe.
Et ne manquez pas l’occasion de participer à la prochaine édition de Manga Barcelona ! La convention est confirmée du 5 au 8 décembre au centre de conventions Fira Barcelona Gran Via (Barcelone, Espagne).
Un grand merci au personnel de Manga Barcelona d’avoir rendu cette interview possible.*
Source : Dossier de presse
©Ryoko Kui, KADOKAWA/Delicious in Dungeon PARTNERS
Le contenu de l’article a été réécrit pour en améliorer la clarté et la fluidité.
