Review of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

I’m going to list out the pros and cons of this show in bullet points versus a more typical review because I find this show came with a lot of high highs and low lows. Overall, I would recommend any shonen fan watch this and the tl;dr is the show is great with some missed potential along the way. The good -Stunning art direction. The show uses color to both brighten up a normally dark and brooding genre as well as emphasize character development with black and white scenes getting vibrant colors splashed into it. -Similar to above, this show is an upbeat version of your typical zombieshow/movie and is sorely needed compared to other zombie content.
-The opening is incredible and gives you and idea of my last point toward general positive energy.
-The show gives a cutthroat depiction of exploitative work culture in Japan. The presentation of Akari’s job in episode one makes your skin crawl with how awful it feels.
-Akari’s history of an abusive workplace is revisited and really fleshed out the anxiety he’s developed from it and breaks up the jovial episodes surrounding it.
-The motif of being unhappy in your work is explored with different spins on nearly every character we meet. It really gives a look into how everyone we’ve met has different perspectives on how worn has affected their outlook on life.
-Appealing character designs and synergy between the main cast that would make anyone smile.
-Seriously, the character interactions is everything in this show.
-Splashes of action scenes and other sakuga that add intensity to each episode.
-The show’s message of chasing your dreams is relatable and can motivate any viewer. Really adds a lot of gas to the show’s content.
-The romantic tension and shipping material of the main male and female are extremely palpable and very engaging to follow.
-I cannot stop gushing about how great the overall animation quality is

The bad
-The opening animation is mostly forgone and instead has a static graphic followed by a rehash of scenes from the last episode. This is corrected in the episodes released post-hiatus and is much more in tune with the music and vibe of the show.
-The narrative of working your dream job and filling out your bucket list is sweet but lacks any scrutiny from how this message would apply in a world that isn’t mid-apocalypse. Maybe it’ll be explored in future seasons?
-Kencho, Akira’s friend and second main male lead, has a getting naked joke that gets old quick.
-Shizuka, the main female lead, initially presents a foil to Akira with the classic survivalist zombie protagonist but seems to hold up her behavior inconsistently after joining the gang. I think the show wanted to show her cold exterior melting away but it just fell apart entirely for the sake of comedic relief scenes and is really jarring to watch.
-Beatrix, the second female lead, has no real character and fees like walking boobs. Fan service with no character behind it is beyond frustrating.
-We get our main antagonists in the back four episodes and they are absolutely incomprehensible. They fill the type of character that wants to get revenge on society but end up bringing up quickly hashed out backstories that hold little weight when you step away to think about it.
-The antagonists get their beliefs questioned by the main cast in revelations that feel like no brainers to any other adult watching the show.
-Some low quality CGI animation used at the end to cut corners.
-Action scenes in the end use more cuts to replace actual sakuga and action choreography