Zom 100: Zombie ni Naru Made ni Shitai 100 no Koto
Short Synopsis (Anichart): Surviving a zombie apocalypse beats being a wage slave any day! After spending years slaving away for a soul-crushing company, Akira’s life has lost its luster. He lives in a trash-filled apartment, his pay is abysmal, and he can’t even muster up the nerve to confess his love to his beautiful co-worker. But when a zombie apocalypse ravages his town, it gives him the push he needs to live for himself. Now Akira’s on a mission to complete all 100 items on his bucket list before he…well, kicks the bucket.
Lenlo: Zom 100 was just about everything I was hoping for. It’s a fun, colorful romp that’s all about pushing back on the work-obsessed culture of the modern world and retaking that which makes us human. It’s disgusting in a few ways, has some really gross body horror with the zombies. But the bright colors and, at times beautiful, animation really helps offset that. I have some concerns with how the female interest was handled, but that seems like a one-off episode specific plot and I’m more then willing to overlook it. Overall I just loved this episode, from the monotone work life to the MC breaking through the very color palette/bars that constrained the entire episode. Easily one of the most interesting premiers of the season
Potential: 90%
Helck
Short Synopsis (Anichart): A certain country in the demon world. The Demon King was defeated by the hands of one of the heroes, and a competition was held for the title of the New Demon King. The Imperial Four Heavenly Kings Vermilio, who is in charge of the tournament, is furious at the participation of the human hero Helck, who is supposed to be her enemy. After receiving news of the fall of the castle of Urum before the final, Vermilio sets out to retake Urum Castle with Helck and other finalists. With a smile, Helck says, “Let’s destroy humans.” Are those words true? The truth behind the smile is…
Lenlo: Unsurprisingly, Helck was about as fun as I thought it would be. It has the good natured fun I initially enjoyed but is already laying the groundwork for the more serious, or well serious by a comedies standards at least, story that kept me reading. The production wasn’t all that great sadly. But I think that Helck has enough going for it to be worth enjoying.
Potential: 65%
Helck was nice, but the character designs are not my favorite. The animation was barely passable, which is concerning on episode 1.