Highschool of the Dead [Anime Review]

Title: Highschool of the Dead
Season: 1
Number of episodes: 12 + OVA
Running time: 24 minutes
Released date: July 5, 2010
Summary taken from Anime News Network:

Takashi Komuro is a normal high school boy, until an infection breaks out that turns people into zombie-like creatures. Along with his friends & the school nurse, they fight their way out and continue their journey to find out what exactly has happened to the world.

4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT

MY REVIEW:

Okay, so I watched this anime a year ago, so I'm kind of fuzzy on the details, but I remember really liking this series for a lot of reasons.

First of all, you should know that there is quite a bit of fanservice in this series, both the manga and anime. However, once you get past the bouncing boobs and panty-shots and focus the actual storyline and characters... it's awesome.

While most of the characters seem very 2D in the beginning, like typical overused stereotypes that you see in most anime, all of the characters evolve as the series progresses. It's like, once they stop being scared and start trying to survive, they all have an awakening. Hidden skills and abilities that everyone never bothered telling about themselves start revealing themselves as they fight to survive. And I'm not talking about supernatural powers either; I'm talking about those latent abilities that you don't realize you have until the situation changes, and it could be the one thing helping you survive.

The main character, for instance, really doesn't care about school or anything really for the matter. But he cares about Rei and in the process of trying to escape their zombie-infested school with her, he winds up teaming up with some other classmates and teachers. And he's the unspoken leader. The guy who liked being alone ended up being the one who lead the way to their safety. Even though he doesn't like the burden of having to look after others now, he knows that he can't just leave them and does everything that he thinks is right.

Obviously, in this time of turmoil, there are other characters who also want to be in charge. I was kind of disappointed that there wasn't much of  a power play going on, but it was interesting nonetheless, since it showed just one aspect of how quickly people can turn into such sinister people due to certain situations. The tension between everyone was also riveting as well as thought-provoking.

I think that's what I really liked about this series. Instead of focusing on love or politics, it focused on survival and the slow disintegration of humanity as their world slowly collapsed. It makes you wonder what you would do if you were put into that situation, if everything that you've done in your life has helped you be prepared for the end of the world, if you are a leader or a follower...

Also, the suspense and action were really went well with the theme. And the art was also really well done. Those three elements combined to make a riveting anime that had you hooked to the beginning and didn't let you go even after the last episode was over.

Which reminds me... WHEN IS THE SECOND SEASON COMING OUT?! I'M SO READY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

(Of course there is no news. ;__;)

In conclusion, if you're a zombie fan or like watching psychological anime, I definitely recommend watching this series.


Here's a trailer to get you even more interested. :)