Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Zombies, everyone's favourite bad guys in the previous decade but over time, it lost its charm as more and more titles started blending together, making their existence entirely about its setting rather than using the setting to tell a good story.

This is exactly where Zom 100 succeeds. With just one episode, it has started a great story which has me keen and excited for what's to come. Going into the anime, knowing little to nothing about it, I was caught off guard by how good it was. Seriously, one of the best anime openers of all time.

The show packs a stylistic punch unlike any other Zombie media I have seen. The anime really used its format to play with the visuals and elevate the source material and oh boy, did it work.

Really good stuff.

This series starts off really, really strong. A genuinely compelling first two episodes. But the more the show goes on, the weirder it gets.

Our protagonist, Akira, is driven by his desire to live his life. Now that the zombie apocalypse freed him from his abusive job. A great premise. However, it's not executed well. Is this a comedy, drama or action series? Well, in a way it's all of them, but it's more fair to say that it's none of them. The drama never hits. The action looks good, but is out of place and ridiculous (not in a good way). The humor is funny at times, but it's very hit or miss. Our side characters are incredibly one dimensional with one or two gags that remain the same for the entire season. Not too mention glaring plot holes and incredibly stupid character decisions.

I can't recommend this series.

This animation is pure CINEMA. I was really surprised by this anime, which I had been waiting for a long time. The cinematography is amazing, and the animation and art are also superbly done. Every episode has an incredible direction. The first episode is amazing, thrilling, and enjoyable. It features one of the greatest opening episodes ever, I think I can state with confidence. This zombie comedy masterfully shows you how the end of the world impacts you and how individuals may steal your passions and aspirations by using the apocalypse. An incredibly fascinating masterwork that encourages you to break free from these influences in order to fully live your life. Memoriam mori!

No exaggeration this anime is a complete disaster.

The premise could have worked: a guy finally feels free after a zombie apocalypse, goes off to complete a bucket list. Sounds cool, right? But the execution is some of the most pathetic I've seen in recent anime. It's not even mid it's below rock bottom.

The characters are paper-thin and unbearably annoying. Akira is just loud with no real growth. Every "quirky" moment feels forced and desperate. It's like the show is constantly screaming "LOOK AT ME I'M FUN" while having nothing remotely fun to offer. The writing is shallow, the pacing is all over the place, and the tone shifts so awkwardly it's like watching multiple bad shows stitched together.

The humor is unbearable. It doesn't land - at all. Not once. It's not edgy, clever, or even dumb-fun. It's just empty noise trying to fill space. It feels like they had no idea what they wanted this show to be, so they threw in colors, yelling, and weird edits to distract you from how hollow everything is.

Animation? Flashy, sure but it's wasted on absolutely nothing. It tries to hide the lack of substance with bright visuals and random chaos, but it falls apart the moment you realize there's no soul in it.

I don't care how hyped it was when it dropped. This anime is a complete failure from start to finish. I don't recommend it to anyone. Don't waste your time.

I've really appreciated what this show has done for the zombie genre. It's first episode sets the tone for the entire series and establishes that this is really not a zombie show, it's a show about finding happiness. I love all the comparisons to a toxic work environment and I think it really adds to the colorful fun escapism that they make the literal zombie apocalypse out to be. I've looked forward to every episode they've released and I'm just as excited for the next one. I love the feeling of a friend group just doing goofy stuff on a road trip in the middle of what many people would describe as hell.