Highschool of the Dead anime review: Action and visuals overshadow storytelling

TL;DR

Highschool of the Dead is an anime that starts with exciting zombie action and a promising story, but quickly shifts focus towards high-end ecchi content, which undermines the plot and character development. It has impressive visuals and a great soundtrack, but overall, the narrative and characters fall short, especially if you’re looking for a well-rounded story.

What I liked

  • The animation is smooth, detailed, and captures the action scenes beautifully.
  • The atmosphere for the apocalypse is well-established through good shading and design.
  • The soundtrack is lively and complements the intense moments perfectly, with memorable opening and ending themes.
  • The initial story concept is engaging and fun for fans of zombie survival themes.

What I didn’t like

  • The story becomes overly focused on ecchi elements after the first half, which detracts from the zombie-related plot.
  • Numerous plot holes and sudden character introductions and departures make the story feel underdeveloped.
  • The cast, especially in the latter half, lacks proper growth, with many characters serving mainly to show skin rather than develop personalities.
  • The abrupt shift to ecchi content diminishes the overall tension and immersion for fans seeking a serious zombie survival anime.

Conclusion

Highschool of the Dead shows potential with its thrilling visuals and soundtrack, but it ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying narrative due to its heavy reliance on ecchi elements. If you enjoy action-packed zombie scenes and don’t mind the frequent fanservice, you’ll find some enjoyment here. However, for those seeking a deep story and well-developed characters, this series might leave you disappointed.

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