English Dub Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil: Operation Desert Pasta

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Overview

The 203rd Air Mage Battalion, led by Tanya, is forced to fight in the southern desert, the front line. In an effort to provide some food for the harsh conditions, Colonel Rerugen sent dried pasta to the battlefield. Will Tanya and the others be able to eat the delicious pasta under the conditions of water shortage?

Our Take

I honestly didn’t expect this special to arrive so soon after Season 2 was announced, but I’m certainly not complaining. “Operation Desert Pasta” takes place after Season One, but follows Tanya and the 203rd Air Mage Battalion as they find themselves fighting on the southern front under harsh desert conditions, where food and water are in short supply. When the troops finally manage to cook their dried pasta, they discover it’s practically tasteless, leading Tanya to come up with a rather ridiculous solution: launch “force recon” missions against enemy outposts to gather ingredients for a proper sauce. The contrast between the 203rd’s actual intentions and how seriously the enemy forces interpret their attacks makes for some genuinely hilarious moments.

Despite its goofy premise, the special still maintains the subtle sense of danger that makes the show consistently work. The soldiers may be having fun with their little food-related operation, but they’re still on the front lines of a brutal war where death is never far away. That brief shift toward a more somber tone serves as a nice reminder that something as simple as a decent meal can mean a lot to people living under such harsh circumstances. It was also great hearing the familiar ending theme again, adding an extra bit of nostalgia to this short return.

Overall, this is a simple but highly entertaining little special that gives fans a fun dose of Tanya and the 203rd while we wait for Season 2. It doesn’t need to advance the larger story to be worthwhile, because its ridiculous premise and clever comedy are more than enough to carry it. There’s even a fun post-credits scene that serves as the perfect punchline to one of the episode’s clever jokes. Short, silly, and surprisingly charming, this was a great little appetizer for what’s to come.