Highschool of the Dead

[Red Frost]

Apparently this series just started not too long ago. Being somewhat of a zombie fanatic, and the thought to look for an anime/manga series about zombies never crossing my mind before, I just HAD to check this out.

So far it's got me hooked.

You always think that people in a movie or series about zombies will actually understand what the situation is after a few minutes... but very few, if any, do. Stupidity is one of the movie industry's greatest plot points. The main character (Takashi) seems to understand the situation pretty well when he sees the first "zombie attack" at their school's front gate, and manages to grab his childhood friend/love (Rei), along with Rei's boyfriend. The school falls into a panic, lotsa people die/become infected, and thusly we have the 3 characters stuck on the rooftop of their school. I left out quite a few details, and like all standard zombie stories, there aren't too many to begin with.

I will warn you, the anime is pretty gore-y. I can usually tolerate zombie/Silent Hill/Dead Space stuff, but I'll admit, I felt a little queasy watching this. It might be because some of the victims were cute, anime girls, though...;; Speaking of which, this series seems to have quite a bit of fanservice (not like I'll ****, I AM a guy, afterall). Not even 2 minutes in and I think "Oh awesome, he hit it with a bat! Whoah, pantyshot...... I like it." Some people don't like it since it can ruin the mood, but I'm sure a lot of people won't mind it. The animation is really great too... the actions and fight scenes seem really fluid (don't mind the CG zombies at times, though) I was actually reminded a lot of Toradora! when I saw Rei fighting one of the zombies... but that might be because I think Rei looks like an older, bustier version of Taiga.

Oh and the music... when I found out Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets were doing the opening, I KNEW I had to watch this. I fell in love with the band after hearing their rendition of Retrospective Kyoto and Necrofantasia (Touhou songs). One of the insert songs seemed extremely familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it... I think it reminded me of 28 Days Later (not Weeks, that one sucked), when the main character was saving the 2 girls at the end. Anyways, enjoy the opening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMqIv53Kd98

I always loved the survival aspect of these things, but I also enjoy some good ol' fashioned zombie killing. I'm really hoping this series shapes up to be something quite awesome.

[MizuTakishima]

Oh wow, that's one awesome opening It gives the show a really cool feel, and the girls actually seem kinda cool. (When I heard cute anime girls + violence I automatically thought Guro-moe-desu) Not to mention I love violence!

But I think I'll sadly pass on this series, just 'cause I'm not a huge fan of fanservice (unless of course it's reversed, since I'm a chick xD) I mean..I could barely stand it in Basquash, and it didn't even have that much in it xD; Same for Code Geass..

Nothin' against the series/characters/plot, and I'm sure the music and action totally rocks ;u; but...yeah xD

[TheSorrow]

Zombies? Cute anime girls? Guro? Weaponz and stuff? Zombies!? Pantyshots!? All in one!? WITH ZOMBIES!? HOLY **** I GOTTA SEE THIS!!!! O-O
...
Of course, it's been like 5 months too since i wanted to watch Umineko...and i haven't even started it yet, so when i start watching this series it'll be probably over since long. Oh well XDD

I'm actually not the greatest fanservice fan. Not to complain either since i'm a guy, but i hate it when they give too much "focus" to it...such like in Code Geass, rather than as just funny, or even realistic additions (if you're blown away by a shotgun and are wearing a skirt, you WILL fall back and your panties WILL show, and whether you are the shooter or shot your LEAST worry will be the intimacy of it). Guro is great though, and so are zombies, and this series give me a "Gunslinger Girl" feeling, with the cute girls all armed-up with weapons. And putting ALL of that together into a single series definetly makes it one worth to watch. And even the opening is quite great itself XD
So, yeah, this is the first new anime in quite a while that i have some great expectations on and would really want to watch. All i'm hoping is that the characters and the story develop up quite well, and it doesn't end up being a mindless anime only about seeing cute girls shooting zombies to no end. Since even that'd get boring after 6 episodes ~3~

[AuraTwilight]

I've read the manga, and it's pretty f*cking badass. I'd watch the anime, but I plan to watch it with my boyfriend and we have some shows to finish first.

[Tolby]

The manga is actually been around for a nice while. It was on hiatus for over a year, came back early this year with the anime announcement. I wasn't aware it had started though. The manga should pick back up in August. But yea, I love this. Anime mixed with 28 days later/New Dawn of The Dead style survivability.

I love how at the end of manga volumes it shows various zombified characters in their life before the infection started. The anime looks at lot more booby then the manga, but I guess thats because pictures don't move. Thanks for the heads up that the anime started.


I didn't like the latest chapter. It seemed kind of pointless. Stupid kid. I loved me some this policewoman.

[Red Frost]

After a bit of curiousity and Wiki-ing it, I searched for the manga and have read 3 volumes so far. The scanlations I found (if this ever gets released in the states I will more than happily buy it) are a little hard to follow at times, but I think it’s because I’m not used to reading manga/scanlations on the computer, so I get a bit disoriented. That and some of the more political talk goes over my head for the most part;;

At first it didn't seem like it'd be super fanservicey, buuuut all the girls got together and took a bath during one scene, so yeah... there's quite a bit of emphasis on the fanservice. We always need a bit of comedic relief, though. And hell, this is “End of the World” type stuff, I think a good moment’s reprieve and some stupid fun-time is allowed. People DO need to keep their sanity in check and morals high. It’s one of the things people forget to take care of when they’re roughing it… though a lot of precious time is spent gathering basic necessities for living and stuff… but I think I’m rambling now.

Fanservice aside, I think this series is still very deserving of a try. It’s just… awesome. It’s something I have trouble stopping reading. The action isn’t too over the top, and it’s also very analytical of the whole Zombie Outbreak type situation. I always watch a movie and think “Why didn’t you think of that!? YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG!” It’s one of the reasons why I’m loving this so much.

Oh yeah, and you know these people did their research when they include a cameo of Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) in the manga. That made my f*cking day. Oh, and apparently I WAS right when I thought the insert song sounded a lot like the one that played near the end of 28 Days Later. It said so in the Wiki, and if you can’t trust Wiki, you can’t trust no one.

[MizuTakishima]

At first it didn't seem like it'd be super fanservicey, buuuut all the girls got together and took a bath during one scene, so yeah... there's quite a bit of emphasis on the fanservice. We always need a bit of comedic relief, though. And hell, this is “End of the World” type stuff, I think a good moment’s reprieve and some stupid fun-time is allowed. People DO need to keep their sanity in check and morals high. It’s one of the things people forget to take care of when they’re roughing it… though a lot of precious time is spent gathering basic necessities for living and stuff… but I think I’m rambling now.

So fanservice = comedy? ARE BOOBIES A JOKE TO YOU RED?? (well there is such a thing as gag boobs, and fanservice moments can be funny when "it's not what it looks like!" happens XD)

lol don't worry, for some reason after reading that I just felt like saying it/messing with ya Prior to Twilight's popularity I always thought "Vampires > Zombies" (mostly thanks to Alucard from Hellsing) but now...*rubs between her eyes* maybe I should give Zombies another chance. Maybe >A>'

[Red Frost]

Well... they DO amuse me greatly, so yes. I was watching episode 2 last night and the nurse ran by and hit the gun nut in the face with one of her boobs and knocked him down. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to wake my dad up.

Yeah, you don't find as many cool zombie characters as you do vampires... Only 2 zombie-like characters I can think of are Harvey (Kieli) and the main frankenstein-like character from a new series by Nobuhiro Watsuki (Rurouni Kenshin/Busou Renkin guy). I forget the name of the series and the character, though... but he can shoot blood-bullets out of his hand! It makes sense though, vampires aren't usually portrayed as mindless-feeding machines like zombies are. Can't express much character when you can barely walk and talk. =/

[Admilu]

God, so much unnecessary fanservice. I can appreciate it if it is not so blatantly common.

Edit: Okay, so I started reading the manga and it does not have seven tons of fanservice per chapter. It actually reminds me a lot of my favourite manga , Gantz. So I think I will check out the anime when it comes out.

[Tolby]

New chapter. I was half expecting the Nurse to say "Steers and queers", lol. Whoever was talking about fanservice and comedy should read this chapter.  Doggy trapped in boobs.

[Erranty]

I just saw episode 1. I just can't, its killing itself! One minute it tries to get you hyped about zombie killing, then it completely diffuses you with some sexy fan service, and then not even a second later it kills that mood with gore! It's blueballs in cartoon form!

[Tolby]

Its always like that. Like when a guy grabs a gun and the straps squeeze and bulge the boobs of the girl wearing it. Or a naked lady thats really a **** up and gorey zombie. But the plot, story, characters, and survival aspect definitely get better as it gets underway. Assuming it stays close enough to the manga.

[Red Frost]

Huh, people seem more disturbed by the huge breasts than the rampant face-eating. Back in my day, we liked a big, bouncy, sopping-wet pair of-nevermind.

Anyways, from one source, which I shan't name, I heard that HOTD was licensed by Yen Press (I love them, though I just lost a little respect for them when I saw a Twilight Graphic Novel). Checked the site, didn't see anything, so I went and got the information straight from the horse's mouth.

"...during Comic-con 2010 Yen-Press officially announced that it will release the manga to the United States." - wikipedia

I'm quite happy now.

[MizuTakishima]

ooh Yen Press- I heard nice things about them =u= Sigh...I wish they could have licensed a certain series I like instead of f*cking Tokyopop having gotten to it first OTL

[Erranty]

ooh Yen Press- I heard nice things about them =u= Sigh...I wish they could have licensed a certain series I like instead of f*cking Tokyopop having gotten to it first OTL

Yen Press is amazing with their choices. Sundome and Spiral are some of my favorites!

[MizuTakishima]

ooh Yen Press- I heard nice things about them =u= Sigh...I wish they could have licensed a certain series I like instead of f*cking Tokyopop having gotten to it first OTL

Yen Press is amazing with their choices. Sundome and Spiral are some of my favorites!

Well, it's not so much the choices being good, I just heard that they publish on good quality paper, sometimes in color when need be, and that their translations are usually pretty good and consistent

[Erranty]

ooh Yen Press- I heard nice things about them =u= Sigh...I wish they could have licensed a certain series I like instead of f*cking Tokyopop having gotten to it first OTL

Yen Press is amazing with their choices. Sundome and Spiral are some of my favorites!

Well, it's not so much the choices being good, I just heard that they publish on good quality paper, sometimes in color when need be, and that their translations are usually pretty good and consistent

Well, I have noticed the occasional spelling error, and maybe one grammatical error in just Sundome itself that actually made it through in the published versions. But yeah, the books are made of some pretty good paper and the pages are in excellent detail. I've never really read one of their color ones though.

Another thing I though about was "why" it was picked up by Yenpress. Its mainly because they don't censor any visuals and other companies do. Sundome is full of cameltoe, see through shirts, direct full frontal, boners, dripping wet panties, and many other perverted things I never see in TokyoPop stuff. And since HotD is full of gore and nudity it makes sense that they would be the ones to pick it up.

[MizuTakishima]

ooh Yen Press- I heard nice things about them =u= Sigh...I wish they could have licensed a certain series I like instead of f*cking Tokyopop having gotten to it first OTL

Yen Press is amazing with their choices. Sundome and Spiral are some of my favorites!

Well, it's not so much the choices being good, I just heard that they publish on good quality paper, sometimes in color when need be, and that their translations are usually pretty good and consistent

Well, I have noticed the occasional spelling error, and maybe one grammatical error in just Sundome itself that actually made it through in the published versions. But yeah, the books are made of some pretty good paper and the pages are in excellent detail. I've never really read one of their color ones though.

Another thing I though about was "why" it was picked up by Yenpress. Its mainly because they don't censor any visuals and other companies do. Sundome is full of cameltoe, see through shirts, direct full frontal, boners, dripping wet panties, and many other perverted things I never see in TokyoPop stuff. And since HotD is full of gore and nudity it makes sense that they would be the ones to pick it up.

...note to self- stay the heck away from Sundome XD;;;; But yeah, I wish Yenpress got their hands on one of my favorite manga's instead of Tokyopop; and now that Tokyopop has it I'll die a little inside OTL