Tired of the same old zombie stories? The new anime series ZOM 100: Bucket List of the Dead puts a fresh and funny spin on the classic zombie apocalypse setting.
With vibrant visuals, an optimistic protagonist, and plenty of over-the-top undead action, this series breathes new life not only into a stagnant Zombie genre but also into the ongoing anime season.
ZOM 100 follows Akira Tendo, a young anime artist who dreams of working for a major studio. He gets a job at one such company but soon realizes the harsh reality of excessive work, short deadlines, and soul-crushing office culture.
After three years of toiling at his job, Akira is depressed and desperate for an escape. Ironically, he gets his wish when a zombie apocalypse strikes Tokyo. With the collapse of society, Akira is finally free from the daily grind.
Seeing the outbreak as liberating, Akira gains a new lease on life. He channels his energy into pursuing a bucket list of dreams, starting with confessing his feelings to his office crush. Though zombies roam the streets, Akira maintains his upbeat spirit amidst the carnage.
Here are the top 3 reasons why you should watch the series.
Eye-Catching Art and Animation
The art and animation in ZOM 100 are very well done. The show uses different colors and art styles to match Akira’s changing emotions. When he’s sad at his job, everything is plain and grey. The office feels cramped and lifeless.
But when the zombies come, the world turns into bright, vivid colors and action scenes. There are wide shots of hordes swarming through neon-soaked Tokyo streets. The animators use lots of flashy, neon splashes of color to make the zombie attacks look creative and fun instead of just gross.
Makes Fun of Japan’s Overwork Culture
The show’s critique of harsh working conditions seems especially poignant given the staff’s history. ZOM 100 is produced by the relatively new anime studio Bug Films.
However, most of the show’s animators previously worked under OLM Studios, which faced heavy criticism for its demanding environment leading to employee burnout.
Reportedly, ZOM 100 makes sly references to OLM’s overwork culture through its portrayal of Akira’s high-stress office job. In one of the scenes, you can see that the company logo that Akira works for closely resembles the logo of OLM Studios.
A Main Character You Can Relate To
Even though Akira wants a zombie invasion, he’s still a character you can understand. Many people have felt trapped and lifeless working a soul-crushing job. Seeing Akira literally escape from his office life into an action-packed zombie adventure is satisfying wish fulfillment.
We’ve all probably jokingly thought a disaster might get us out of work we hate. So while Akira takes it to an absurd level, his motivation is relatable. And the show takes a comedic approach so you don’t have to fully agree with Akira’s extreme choices to still enjoy the wacky humor.
His optimism about the apocalypse helps make frightening zombies fun rather than scary. Despite the blood and guts, Akira’s buoyant attitude gives the show an uplifting spirit.
While the first few episodes of ZOM 100 are impressive, it’s important for fans not to overhype the series just yet. Often anime premieres have higher production values to hook viewers; then the quality declines as schedules get tighter.
ZOM 100 will need to maintain its creative voice and animation quality to truly deliver on its potential. The premise, characters, and style are compelling so far. But the studio still has to prove it can sustain that momentum over a full season.
Still, the first episode shows immense promise and talent. Fans should absolutely check out this fresh zombie twist and see if the rest of the season lives up to the high bar set early on. With strong enough storytelling and characters, ZOM 100 could become something special.
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