Highschool of the Dead

Highschool of the Dead is an action, adventure, drama, horror, zombie, harem, fanservice anime series. It's based on a manga series written by Daisuke Satō, illustrated by Shoji Sato, and published by Fujimi Shobo for volumes 6-7 and Kadokawa Shoten for volumes 1-5 for the magazine Monthly Dragon Age. It originally ran from September 2006 to March 22, 2017, when it had to end, presumably, due to the author's death, with 7 volumes in total. After that came the anime adaptation. It was directed by Tetsuo Araki, written by Yosuke Kuroda, musically composed by Takafumi Wada, and produced by Mitsutoshi Ogura and Studio Madhouse. It originally ran from July 5, 2010 to September 10, 2010 for 12 episodes in total. After the main series ended there was an OVA, titled, Drifters of the Dead, which came out on April 27, 2011. It was directed by Tetsuo Araki, written by Yosuke Kuroda, musically composed by Takafumi Wada, and produced by Mitsutoshi Ogura and Studio Madhouse.

Plot
Highschool of the Dead is set in present-day Japan, beginning as the world is struck by a deadly pandemic that turns humans into zombies, euphemistically referred to by the main characters as "Them" (奴ら Yatsu-ra). The story follows a group of high school students and the school's nurse as they deal with a worldwide catastrophic event known as the "Outbreak". As the cast tries to survive the zombie apocalypse, they must also face the additional threats of societal collapse, in the form of dangerous fellow survivors, and the possible decay of their own moral codes. Starting from high school, the students escape into town where they must deal with a corrupt teacher and his students. They check their homes for survivors, and pick up a little girl and a dog. Later, they hold up at a mall, travel through a police station, and eventually make their way to an elementary school that is supposedly a safe zone.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Excellent animation, especially during fight scenes, dramatic scenes, or a few scenes when the characters are just running.
 * 2) Creative usage of bullet-time in a few select scenes, which helps to emphasize the fanservice.  The biggest one is in episode 9 with the moment that fans have nicknamed "Matrix Boobs."  This is the most famous moment in the entire series.
 * 3) Amazing directing. The director of the show, Tetsuo Araki, also known for Attack on Titan, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, and Death Note, among others, is skilled with deciphering the main appeal of the source material, and making it the main point of the adaptation.  In this case, that was the fanservice.
 * 4) Great characters that are likable but flawed, interesting, and get character development.
 * 5) A satisfying romantic subplot.
 * 6) This is a harem anime that actually has an INTERESTING MAIN CHARACTER!
 * 7) A heroic dog named Zeke that aids the survivors.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The pacing can go a little too fast. (Depending on your view)
 * 2) Sadly, like many anime, this one doesn't have an ending. However, it gets worse here because the manga doesn't have an ending either due to the original author: Daisuke Satō passing away, so the story will likely never be completed, leaving it up to fanfiction writers.
 * 3) Massive uses of fanservices (which later made this anime infamous). Which caused many Ecchi Haters to review bomb it on Myanimelist. Though the fanservice is not as bad as Gantz.


 * 1) Saya Takagi may be VERY abrasive to others, even IF she means well.