High School of the Dead

About High School of the Dead

Meet High School of the Dead (学園黙示録HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD), an action, drama and ecchi anime by MADHOUSE (2010). Here is the premise in a nutshell. What the story covers: The lockers are splattered with blood, the pupil bodies are piling up and that's not mystery meat they're eating in the cafeteria… it's the faculty! And that's just the start of the worst day of school ever when a nightmarish virus is unleashed, turning humans into flesh eating zombies and converting Fujimi High School into a literal hell on Earth.

From there, now it's a crash course in survival, and the only test or skill that matters is the ability to keep moving, breathing and fighting. Because if nerds, jocks and the surviving staff can't find a way to work together to escape this carnal house of education, they're all going to end up on the menu. That's assuming there's anyplace safe left to escape to.

In an action series like this, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Miyuki Sawashiro as Saeko Busujima and Marina Inoue as Rei Miyamoto. If you count yourself among viewers who like fast, high-impact fights, put it on your list. At 12 episodes in total, it is easy to plan a viewing schedule.

Production & Appeal

MADHOUSE is the studio behind High School of the Dead, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Because it leans on action, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. With a 6.7/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. On the casting side, Miyuki Sawashiro voicing Saeko Busujima gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2010, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.