Zombie stories have always thrived on one central idea: the end of the world strips everything away. Civilization collapses, the rules disappear, and humanity is forced to confront the darkest parts of itself. For years, no show embodied that philosophy more powerfully than The Walking Dead.
It popularized zombie television. The beloved series turned the undead apocalypse into a haunting meditation on survival, grief, and the fragile nature of morality when society’s structures fall apart. Because of its influence, the zombie genre has largely followed the same emotional path ever since. Apocalypse equals tragedy, and survival equals suffering. And the question is always the same. How do people endure when everything they once relied on disappears?
But every once in a while, a story comes along that refuses to play by those rules. Maybe you've heard of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead? There's a live-action movie and an anime series, but we're talking about the 2023 anime in this article.
Based on the manga series of the same name, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead takes the familiar DNA of the zombie apocalypse and gleefully turns it inside out. Instead of drowning viewers in despair, it injects the genre with color, energy, and an almost rebellious sense of optimism. Where most zombie stories see the end of the world as the ultimate nightmare, Zom 100 treats it like an unexpected second chance.
That shift starts with its protagonist, Akira Tendo. Before the outbreak even begins, his life is already suffocating under the weight of endless work and emotional burnout. Long hours, toxic corporate culture, and the quiet erosion of personal joy have drained him completely. So when the zombie apocalypse erupts and society grinds to a halt, his first reaction isn’t terror. It’s relief.
That single twist instantly flips the entire genre on its head. In a landscape where characters usually mourn the collapse of civilization such as in The Walking Dead, Akira celebrates his escape from it. There are no alarm clocks, no bosses, and no crushing routine. The world may be overrun with the undead, but for the first time in years, he feels truly alive.
From there, the zombie series leans fully into that radical perspective. Instead of obsessing over how long people can survive, Akira decides to focus on something far more personal. He chooses to live out everything he’s ever wanted to do. His solution to the apocalypse isn’t building a fortified community or endlessly scavenging for resources. It’s writing a bucket list of experiences he refuses to miss before his time runs out.
It’s a premise that injects fresh life into a genre that has often felt defined by misery. The zombies are still there, and the danger is still very much real. But the emotional core is completely different. Zom 100 isn’t about clinging desperately to the past. It’s about rediscovering joy in the present.
That’s what makes it stand apart. It doesn’t reject the zombie genre’s traditions outright. Instead, it reframes them through a wildly different lens. Where The Walking Dead asks what humanity becomes when everything collapses, Zom 100 asks something far more hopeful. It asks what if the end of the world finally gave you the freedom to become who you were always meant to be? And in doing so, it proves that even in a genre built on decay and despair, there’s still room for a story that feels vibrantly, unapologetically alive.
If you haven't seen this critically acclaimed zombie series, the entire first season is available to stream on Netflix. That's 12 episodes of nonstop thrills, outrageous zombie encounters, and hilarious, heartwarming moments that will keep you invested throughout.
While the first season doesn't end on a cliffhanger per se, Zom 100 season 1 wraps up in a way where a second installment could pick up seamlessly. Unfortunately, Bug Films (the show's production company) has not said anything about a Zom 100 season 2 just yet. However, we're keeping our fingers crossed that we haven't seen the last of Akira and his bucket-list-fueled adventures!