Anime Review: Zombie Land Saga Episode 1

Zombie Land Saga Episode 1

Studio: MAPPA

Genre: Comedy, Horror

Stream: Crunchyroll

With a name like Zombie Land Saga, I suppose I should have expected some horror. There was a lot of mystery leading up to this series, as it has been without a synopsis and isn’t based on any former material. Having MAPPA and Cygames attached to the project instantly makes the anime worth checking out. I don’t think anyone could have guessed what kind of anime this is.

Zombie Land Saga is certainly not a horror anime, but it still has horror elements. Following a traumatic event, Sakura finds herself in a home full of zombies. Each zombie is a unique character. One used to be an idol during life, another was a courtesan, while another was a child actress. All of these zombie girls must unite and save the Saga prefecture in Japan – With music.

It’s offbeat, and a mashup of several genres, but for some reason, it works. I really don’t want to spoil too much, but the show changes in tone several times throughout the episode. From horror to comedy, the show changes gears effortlessly. After it switches to comedy, it maintains the tone for the rest of the episode. The comedy sticks the landing throughout and had me laughing from beginning to end.

Zombie Land Saga is well animated, especially during a certain concert scene. The show is full of spectacular lights, colors, and crisp movements. As usual, MAPPA and Cygames deliver a visual spectacle.

The sound design is great as well. Every unexpected beat is exceptional due to perfect sound effects always hitting its mark. The death metal that accompanies the soundtrack suits the show, adding tension when it needs to. The soundtrack also lends itself well during the comedy scenes, especially towards the end of the episode.

Zombie Land Saga is an unexpected treat and comedy fans should absolutely check it out. It’s a show unlike any other, and perfectly embraces all of its elements. Horror fans will find themselves disappointed by the tone, but everyone else will find a lot to love.