Review of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Zom 100 had no right being as good as it was, for essentially being a parody of the zombie genre, but boy is it a blessing on humanity that we were gifted with such comedy gold. What everyone commonly claims makes this show great, is its subversion of expectation regarding the zombie apocalypse genre. Every episode is packed with optimism despite the bleak circumstances of the world, and that provides a fun contrast throughout the entire show that never seems to get old. It is incredibly satisfying to watch Akira shrug off his old job, and start afresh with exuberant ambition. Not to mention, the artstyle and animation are excellent, and the story is excellently paced. However, my favorite part about Zom 100 is something I don't think gets talked about enough, and it has to do with the show's ability to handle serious topics.

Zom 100 is fun and perky most of the time, but when it wants to buckle down and get serious, it truly doesn't hold back. The narrative happily talks about how much freedom Akira has gained because of the apocalypse, but reminds also of how much has been lost, too. I have honestly never seen such incredible and artistic displays of what depression and isolation can really feel like. This story isn't afraid to show how everyone, no matter their personality, upbringing, or social status, can experience hardship and trauma. Zom 100 is fun, but it's also very grounded and real. We've all felt trapped at a dead-end job, or been belittled by our own family, or been surrounded by toxic friends at some point--and this show captures those emotions, and shows how they can shape people into either becoming stronger versions of themselves, or corrupting them to the point of near irredeemability. It was such an inspired writing decision, and as silly as it seems, I feel like I learned a lot from this silly zombie show.

For all that, I think Zom 100 is incredible as a casual watch. There isn't a ton in terms of plot, nor is it original when it comes to tropes, but it's fun and laid-back, which works well for the type of message it was trying to convey. It's the type of thing you could sit and binge with your friends on a Saturday evening. (Though there is a significant amount of censored nudity, so that could be a draw-back to some people.) The emotionally impactful stories of the main cast were also a welcome surprise, and I look forward to seeing how this show progresses.