Review of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023) adapted from the manga by Haro Aso. Tells the story of Akira Tendo, an office worker trapped in a monotonous and stressful life. When a zombie outbreak hits Tokyo, instead of being scared, Akira feels liberated from his dull routine and decides to live life on his own terms. He creates a bucket list of 100 things to do before turning into a zombie. Along the way, Akira meets Kencho, his best friend who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian, Shizuka, a woman seeking to break free from a strict and structured life, and Beatrix, a quirkyGerman tourist fascinated by Japanese culture, who stands out in her samurai armor. Together, they embark on absurd and exciting adventures in a world falling apart.

The anime’s visuals are super fun, with vibrant and energetic colors that perfectly capture Akira’s newfound zest for life amidst the apocalypse. The action scenes are well crafted and impressive. If someone from the past asked what anime visuals in the 2020s look like, this would be the answer. However, despite the top tier visuals, the story in each episode feels pretty average. Rather than being engaging, it made me want to finish the series quickly because nothing felt particularly exciting.

The comedy which is supposed to be one of the main attractions, turned out to be one of its weaknesses for me. Many of the so called funny moments fell flat and ended up being cringy, like Kencho’s overused naked jokes, they just felt repetitive and gross. Even with its flaws in storytelling and humor, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is still in the "OKE" category for me.