Mixed Feelings
"If you’re gonna waste the limited amount of reality at your disposal, who cares if someone tries to stop you? You gotta cleanse your brains. Your life isn't fast food" - Song of the Dead, Kana-Boon Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead burst onto the scene with an explosive and brilliantly captivating introduction, leaving no room for doubt. Starting with a metaphor that likens working in a black company to becoming a zombie, which also serves as a powerful reflection of a somber Japanese reality, underscores the depth of the issue and offers an impactul entry to explore this theme in the anime, and soit does, as Akira, the main character, unfolds his journey as he resigns by throwing his boss out of the window, a symbolic act of breaking free from his own limitations.
The anime's premise is remarkably simple. A zombie apocalypse serves as the unexpected catalyst for the protagonist's liberation, enabling him to fully embrace life. What truly captivates in this narrative is the paradoxical and extravagant juxtaposition it presents. The essence and beauty of the anime stems from the very contradiction of a zombie apocalypse becoming a conduit for the protagonist's freedom and happiness. However, this uniqueness is not the only characteristic that defines it. The animation's vibrant colors and lush palette add a startling contrast to the morbid and frightening scenario that often accompanies a zombie apocalypse. This fusion of disparate elements creates a unique synergy, providing an experience that is both fascinating and unpredictably fun. Ultimately, this combination of factors results in a perfect formula for a genuinely captivating and entertaining work.
Undoubtedly, the creativity and expressiveness Akira presents find a unique harmony with the general atmosphere of the anime. From using a rugby ball strategically attached to a horn to attract the zombies' attention through sound, to the audacious choice to wear an anti-shark suit to avoid being bitten by the undead, are examples that reward the audience in a gratifying way. The absurd caprice of these unconventional solutions lends a humorous and ingenious touch at the same time, adding undeniable value to the narrative. Finally, this dose of improbable wackiness proves to be not only funny, but also exceptionally beneficial to the experience as a whole.
Addressing the negative aspect head-on, it's paradoxical but also evident that the protagonist, ironically, bears significant responsibility for almost erasing the qualities that could have enriched the anime. His negative influence is so pronounced that it becomes difficult to ignore how his presence significantly affects the overall appreciation of the work. Regrettably, Akira is remarkably inconsequential as a character. His eccentric behavior and extravagant actions can certainly be considered an attractive aspect of the anime; however, as a whole, it appears that his personal evolution is at a standstill. Just when you expect him to be developing self-awareness, he goes back to where he started. This regressive dynamic is constant throughout the narrative, noticeable in practically every episode.
Q: A zombie apocalypse has just happened, what to do first?
A- Worry about your own family (just saw a family turn into a pool of blood) ✕
B- Going out with a stewardess ✓
C - Make dreadlocks ✓
D- Have a cool beard ✓
...
Bluntly, what's truly disheartening about the introductory part is how the protagonist dismisses the gravity of the world situation, listing thirty trivial matters to his bucket list before recalling the existence of his own family. This glaringly illustrates the character's inherent shallowness and emptiness. What is the real purpose of stating that "the most important thing I want to do right now is see my parents", when at no time before that has he shown any regard for them? The irony deepens even further when we realize that, instead of immediately acting on this desire, he chooses to prioritize trivial acquisitions, such as a new television to play video games. This sheds light on Akira's true priorities and underlines his disconnect with the claims he makes, reinforcing the contradictory nature of his actions and words. Regardless of whether it was the author's intention or not, the fact remains that it's indeed frustrating to follow the story of a character like that.
Essentially, the majority of the issues raised would have become almost irrelevant if the author had promptly addressed the family matter, allocated screen time for the character to express genuine concern for his parents during his adventure to find them or, even more ideally, refrained from introducing them so early on the story. And this indirectly creates an identity problem in the anime: After all, what does it propose to be? An episodic comedy? A comedy that uses elements of dark humor to, in the end, convey an impactful message to the audience? The feeling that permeates the anime is that the author faced difficulties in clearly defining his direction. The interaction between the zombie plot and the development of the protagonist ends up creating a web of intentions that sometimes becomes somewhat confusing. While hilarious moments and enjoyful situations predominate, the deeper content that could have been explored seems to give way to the comedic aspect. In this sense, the narrative resembles a puzzle with scattered pieces, some of which fit together perfectly, but others seem somewhat out of place.
As previously mentioned, there are no apparent issues with the protagonist's eccentric behavior and unpredictable actions. Quite the opposite, these aspects contribute to the charm that this anime brings forth. My concern lies in Akira's lack of emotional growth and priorities; he fails to navigate loss, fear, and the repercussions of his choices in the way one would typically expect. The protagonist's lack of self-awareness is notable, as he rarely reflects on his actions or consequences. This lack of introspection prevents him from growing as a character. In short, every dramatic part of the show involving Akira ends up becoming a wasted opportunity, as he does not extract learning from the situations in which he finds himself. Not only is this a fact, but one often witnesses him transitioning between emotions in an unusual manner: he appears worried, then, seconds later, he reverts to the same personality of "look the crazy stuff I do in a zombie apocalypse." As a spectator, feeling uncomfortable with certain situations becomes the only viable option due to the protagonist's utter lack of awareness and empathy. It's not inherently problematic for a character of this nature to exist. The real issue lies in the fact that this character is precisely protagonist. With the anime's proposal, witnessing someone like Akira being consistently rewarded, despite the decisions and actions he undertakes, makes it progressively challenging to wholeheartedly support each achievement. In essence, the lingering sense of injustice ultimately overshadows any sense of triumph.
Then, when it comes to priorities, it's a recurring theme that Akira tends to prioritize trivial and mundane matters over recognizing the genuine significance of what truly matters. While this contributes to the comedic aspect the narrative aims to convey, there's another dimension to this behavior. At various points throughout the anime, there will be instances where grappling with the idea that "A" should take precedence over "B," or vice versa, becomes a challenge. Addressing immediate concerns that can be easily done is one matter, but sidelining a clearly more important goal for the sake of frivolities presents a different scenario altogether. Without intending to be overly critical, Akira serves as a prime example of how a slightly disproportionate protagonist can negatively impact a work, regardless of the quality of the story and world-building.
Regardless of the previous issue, the second negative point has nothing to do with the work itself but it's crucial to address the issue of how problematic the anime's postponements were. This situation carries a tremendous irony and frustration, given that in its opening episode, Zom 100 critiques capitalism, particularly the Japanese black companies, yet ends up experiencing the very setbacks it aimed to criticize. Placing the protagonist in a setting reminiscent of the current anime staff's former studio, and witnessing the anime succumb to the same issues the animators had indirectly highlighted, presents a truly unfortunate twist of fate.
In fact, the delay is a double-edged sword: while serving as a significant irony regarding its critique, it also provides relief for animators by easing the burden of a heavy workload that would have accompanied the original schedule. Nevertheless, this regrettable situation will undoubtedly leave its mark in the records of anime industry. Luckily, the fact that the anime is more focused on an episodic comedy, the postponement issue actually doesn't affected the enjoyment of the story too much. Aside from this and from the protagonist, the anime still managed to captivate its audience with a surprisingly fun character: Beatrix.
Xenophile girl injects new life into the anime as the final addition to the main group of characters. Her interactions add an extra layer of unpredictability to the group dynamics. She can transition seamlessly from being a badass samurai with a stylish soundtrack to an incredibly friendly and extroverted individual who pays no heed to societal norms. Her relationship with the rest of the group creates delightful moments of shared camaraderie, often giving the impression that they share the same braincell. For me, she is the greatest of all time and the one who carried and saved a lot of things from this show.
Unfortunately, this show is a love or hate choice: If one ignores the protagonist decisions, way of thinking and actions throughout the anime, it will end up being an actually funny watch. If not, Akira will most likely break the viewer suspension of disbelief and every scene will feel forced.
Therefore, despite its promising potential for a highly captivating story, "Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead" is notably undermined by both its controversial production issues, identity crisis and a protagonist lacking emotional depth. Sporadic delays, an incomplete opening theme, and drops in animation quality collectively diminish the overall enjoyment of the work. Yet, despite the challenging schedule, the production team still managed to deliver something remarkably compelling, even amidst unfavorable working conditions. In the end, despite its enjoyable and compelling narrative elements, this show has its potential severely limited, rendering it unable to achieve the impactful and lasting status of a truly memorable story.
