Zombies, once a fringe element in the world of horror, have permeated global pop culture, inspiring countless books, movies, and anime. Propelled into the mainstream by George A. Romero’s films, these reanimated corpses symbolize fear, societal decay, and even comedy.
Anime has embraced the zombie genre in unique and compelling ways. There are the high school battlegrounds in Highschool of the Dead, there’s the steampunk-infused Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, and even the comedic idol performance in Zombie Land Saga, among so many others. The anime world offers a wide range of zombie-centric stories, each with its intriguing twist on the enduring trope. Here are some of the best examples fans can watch.
10 Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic
Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic is a thrilling anime movie that is part of the renowned Black Butler series. The story unfolds on a luxury liner, the Campania, which is embarking on a journey across the Atlantic filled with aristocrats who carry dark secrets.
However, chaos ensues as the dead are mysteriously resurrected, creating a zombie outbreak on the ship. Ciel Phantomhive and his monstrous butler, Sebastian, must navigate the pandemonium and uncover the truth behind the resurrection experiments. It’s a suspenseful mix of action, mystery, and supernatural elements, sure to keep viewers gripped throughout.
9 Zombie Land Saga
Zombie Land Saga is a unique twist on the zombie genre, blending horror, comedy, and music into a fascinating spectacle. The story revolves around seven people from different eras who are mysteriously resurrected as zombies by a man named Kotaro Tatsumi.
Rather than a gruesome zombie apocalypse, the focus is on their transformation into an idol group, Franchouchou, aiming to revitalize Saga Prefecture. It’s a humorous and heartwarming tale about overcoming the odds, dealing with one’s past, and unity while navigating zombie idols’ complex life (or afterlife).
8 Hellsing Ultimate
In Hellsing Ultimate, zombies aren’t the traditional undead; instead, they’re ghouls. These monstrous beings are created when a vampire drains the blood of a human. They lack any human intellect or will, becoming subservient to the vampire that created them.
Ghouls display typical zombie behavior: They mindlessly attack humans and are practically impervious to conventional damage. The Hellsing Organization, led by Sir Integra Hellsing and the powerful vampire Alucard, battle these ghouls to protect humanity. This anime blends horror, action, and the supernatural into a show quite unlike anything else.
7 Sankarea: Undying Love
Sankarea: Undying Love combines romance, comedy, and horror, and zombies serve as a crucial plot element. Chihiro Furuya, an obsessed zombie fan, accidentally turns his crush, Rea Sanka, into the undead using a resurrection potion. Instead of being horrified by what has happened to her, Rea embraces this chance to escape her oppressive life.
Despite the drastic change, their relationship blossoms, revealing a heartwarming and quirky love story. The series explores the struggles of love, humanity, and the challenge of living as a zombie, making it an unforgettable addition to the zombie-themed anime roster.
6 School-Live!
School-Live! first appears to be a light-hearted, slice-of-life anime but quickly reveals a darker reality. Yuki Takeya and her friends are part of the School Living Club, where they live full-time at school. Unbeknownst to Yuki, who’s blissfully oblivious, they’re survivors in a zombie apocalypse, protected within the school’s barricades.
As the series progresses, the children must deal with the stark contrast between their everyday school activities and the grim, relentless threat outside. This anime tackles some of the deepest and most painful elements of horror, exploring trauma, survival, and the desperate importance of friendship in the darkest times.
5 Is This a Zombie?
Is This a Zombie? is an unconventional fusion of comedy, fantasy, and horror anime based on a Japanese light novel. Ayumu Aikawa, the protagonist, is a high school student who was turned into a zombie by a necromancer named Eucliwood Hellscythe after being murdered.
Now immortal, he spends his afterlife battling Megalo, creatures from the underworld. The action is interspersed with various comedic scenarios. The anime is predominantly light-hearted and humorous, focusing on Ayumu’s daily adventures and interactions with a growing cast of eccentric, supernatural housemates.
4 Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a South Korean animated prequel to the live-action horror film Train to Busan. The story starts as the homeless at Seoul Station become afflicted with an unknown disease, turning them into rabid, zombie-like creatures. The outbreak quickly spreads, causing panic and chaos throughout the city.
Amid the horror, the plot follows a young woman, her estranged boyfriend, and her father as they navigate the nightmarish landscape. With its social commentary and intense horror sequences, Seoul Station provides a glimpse into the world before the Train to Busan. Like the movie, it’s very intense but always engrossing.
3 Zombie-Loan
Zombie-Loan is an unusual take on the zombie genre, blending action, mystery, and all things supernatural . The story revolves around Michiru Kita, a girl who sees Shinigami Eyes. These are rings around a person’s neck, indicating impending death.
She encounters two classmates, Chika Akatsuki and Shito Tachibana, who are zombies kept alive by a contract with a mysterious organization known as the Zombie-Loan. In exchange for their continued existence, they hunt down other zombies. Michiru gets entangled in their undead affairs, leading to a series filled with suspense and adventure. It’s a bleak concept and a bleak show, but one that zombie fans won’t want to miss.
2 Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, by the hitmakers at Wit Studios, presents a post-apocalyptic world where humanity resides in fortresses to protect themselves from Kabane, zombie-like creatures with steel-coated hearts. The plot follows Ikoma, an engineer who becomes infected but maintains his human consciousness, becoming a hybrid Kabaneri.
Along with fellow Kabaneri Mumei, they navigate the dangers of their armored train, the Iron Fortress. With its stunning art, intense action, and steampunk-infused setting, the anime creates an atmospheric, thrilling narrative exploring survival, bravery, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of a seemingly unstoppable menace.
1 Highschool of the Dead
Highschool of the Dead is an adrenaline-fueled horror anime series that mixes action and high school drama in a zombie apocalypse setting. The story follows a group of students led by Takashi Komuro and a school nurse, as they fight through hordes of undead, societal collapse, and the worst facets of human nature.
They struggle to maintain their humanity and hope in a world overrun by the dead. Known for intense action sequences, compelling characters, and mature themes, Highschool of the Dead provides another thrilling foray into the zombie genre.
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