Zombie this, zombie that, Nazi zombies, “zombies” that aren’t actually zombies. The zombie apocalypse genre was, at one point in time, just about everywhere you looked. Zombie blockbusters, zombies in Call of Duty, zombie survival games, zombie books, and even reworks of classical fiction with zombies in them were all the rage. Now, in 2023, it all seems like a distant memory. Zombies will always be a popular horror monster for their simplicity and versatility, but a new anime series coming this Summer aims to use them for something a little more upbeat.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is an upcoming Hulu-exclusive anime produced by Bug Films and distributed by Viz Media. The studio’s previous work includes production assistance for seasonal favorite Komi Can’t Communicate and Summer Time Rendering, but Zom 100 looks to be the first project that’s solely produced by them. Juxtaposing flashy colors with brain-munching monsters, Zom 100 looks like it’ll shine a bit brighter than other zombie shows.

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This is everything we know about Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead.

Zom 100: The Plot

The official plot synopsis for Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead provided by Viz Media is as follows.

We have an interesting setup: instead of simply surviving or trying to make the best of the apocalypse, Akira (Shuichiro Umeda) sees the collapse of society into flesh-eating monsters as a breath of fresh air. It’s a break from the monotony and tedium that afflicted his office life, seeing an opportunity that he really can’t afford to waste. Of course, his nonchalant reaction might be an indication of how he truly feels.

“After spending years working for a soul-crushing company, Akira’s life has lost its luster. But when a zombie apocalypse ravages his town, it gives him the push he needs to live for himself. Now Akira’s on a mission to complete all 100 items on his bucket list before he…well, kicks the bucket.”

In the show’s trailer, we get a brief glimpse at Akira’s home life, and it’s not exactly a pretty image: a depression nest made up of bundled garbage, food scraps, dozens upon dozens of bottles, strewn clothes, and the pasty glow of a television surround his bed. A brief glimpse of an office confrontation, with what is likely Akira’s boss shouting down a fellow employee, is only partially drowned out by his earbuds. Akira is likely depressed, which is shown visually in a few different ways.

Whether it’ll be reflected in the show or not, the trailer also employs heavy use of color filters. Upon first arriving at his office job, the smiling faces of everyone around him are fully colored. However, the scene described previously and the onset of the apocalypse utilizes a harsh black-and-white filter, with only the blood rushing from Akira’s temple keeping its signature crimson color. However, shortly after Akira makes the realization that the world is his oyster now, color makes a sudden return to the world.

Zom 100: The Cast & Crew

     Viz Media

So far, only a single cast member has been officially announced. Shuichiro Umeda will be playing the lead role of Akira. As a voice actor, Umeda has made a variety of appearances across a handful of recent anime shows, including minor roles in The World Ends with You: The Animation and Bocchi the Rock, as well as leading roles in My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog, The Dawn of the Witch, and Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie.

Character and zombie designs will be handled by Kii Tanaka and Junpei Fukuchi, respectively. Between the two of them, their prior animation credits include Flip Flappers, Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor, and Utawarerumono. An interesting mix of credits will likely result in the best of both worlds for character designs and those of the bloodthirsty zombies. We get a brief glimpse of them in the trailer, looking more like the horde-like zombies of 28 Days Later or World War Z than classic, shambling walkers.

The score for Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead will be handled by Makoto Miyazaki of One Punch Man fame, while “music selection” will be handled by Maiko Gouda. Gouda’s prior credits include the modern classic Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, as well as multiple entries from the Fist of the North Star franchise. The two will collaborate to create a soundscape that hopefully replicates the newfound freedom that a total societal collapse can offer.

Release Date

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead will stream exclusively on Hulu in the United States in July. Other streaming platforms are to be announced in the future.

Everything Else We Know

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead was originally written by Haro Aso and illustrated Kotaro Takata. If you’re a fan of Netflix’s Alice in Borderland, you may recognize Aso as the same author for the popular survival series. As for Takata, his previous works include the artwork for the manga series Hallelujah Overdrive! and I Am Sherlock.

In addition to this Hulu series, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is also receiving a live-action film adaptation that will air in 2023.