Few anime combine both shounen- as shoujo-roots in their premises. I’m not sure why there are so few of them, because Zombie Loan shows that this can become pretty successful, as it combines the good points of both styles. The personalities of the characters are those typical in shoujo-anime. A female is surrounded by two bickering guys, there’s one guy who has a lot of similarities with Ensei from Saiunkoku Monogatari (they also share the same voice-actor, and you can recognize Shuurei in the main female character as well), and the dialogue is written in a very shoujo-esque way. And yet, the entire premise of the show revolves around busting zombies and there are a few Yuri and shoujo-ai scenes once in a while.
The shoujo-roots become even more welcome when they provide good and well-defined reasons for out characters to be involved in the story. Unlike shounen-series, none of the characters are plot-devices to become the best X in the world. The two main guys are just zombies that try to pay off their debts by killing other zombies (the anime explains this better), and the main female, while she does have hidden powers, they’re not some strange hidden powers to kill off zombies in an instant at the last possible moment. She’s just got a talent to spot zombies, something the two main characters can’t do for themselves, so the three of them come together.
In addition to this, Zombie Loan manages to deliver some powerful character-studies throughout its episodes. Shito, Michiru and Chika’s characters have all their unique and well-written problems that make you think for once. On top of that, it knows exactly when to be funny and when to be serious, resulting in some hilarious banter between the different characters.
I wish I could keep raving about this series, but unfortunately it’s got its flaws. It’s too damn short!! The length is only 11 episodes, and a dvd-only episode will be released in a few months (I may edit this review after seeing that one), and that’s all there is to this series. This series could have been so much more, and it would have easily had enough material for 26 episodes. Right now, Chika, Shito and Michiru may have had enough background, but there are so many threads left open and worst of all: nearly none of the side-characters gets any decent form of screen-time, while they’ve all got really interesting personalities and so much potential. I would have loved some in-depth look at their own cases. Isn’t there really going to be some kind of second season?
Then there’s a second flaw, which is more on the technical side. Zombie Loan has awesome-looking art, but the animation has issues on so many levels. The entire series looks so stylish, but the pictures we see are often still frames or unnatural-looking movements. Even somebody like me who knows almost nothing of animation can see that a lot of corners were cut in this department.
You could say that if I want to see the rest of the story, I should just go and read the manga. But when I watch an anime, I want to watch an anime; not promotion-material for a manga. Here’s hoping that a second season will be arriving someday.]]>
Zombie Loan Review – 81/100
I totally agree with you. The animation has never been extraordinary in this show (take the “running” in episode 11), but I tried to ignore those flaws after awhile. I actually found the story to be very interesting after I got past the cliched premises in the beginning, and 11/12 episodes is just way too short. They haven’t even began to touch on anything! Zombie Loan also seems to be one of those shows that isn’t noticed by many people this season. I guess the unpopularity could be a good reason for the cutting short of the series. =\
Sorry if I sound offensive, just wanna express my opinion ^_^ but I think this is one of the worst shows in summer season. Despite all my love for the seiyuus who appeared in this anime like Suwabe-san, I can’t really bring myself to appreciate it. It’s a very very very typical shoujo anime with nothing original , nothing exciting, a little character development and you can see the plot from thousand miles away. It’s the pure fan-service with a little yaoi or yuri implied which I often like if it is done in other animes but in this one I feel like it ‘s forced. The only good thing I found in this anime is actually the top-name seiyuus which attracts many fangirls’ attention to keep watching. Other seiyuu fans like me also said this show is boring as well but they just keep watching it because of their beloved seiyuu are in it.
I feel the same way; until I read it on a blog after I had watched the 10th episode, I didn’t even realize this was going to be an 11/12 episode series rather than a 24 or 26 episode one. I wouldn’t say Zombie-Loan has been fantastic, but it has been alternately interesting and funny and engaging, and the last arc felt like a middle of the series arc rather than an end of series one. There’s obviously a lot more of the story still to be told, and if a second season isn’t in order, then *sigh* I think I will have to dig up the manga.
like Senna i didn’t realise there was only an 11 episode until recently,though seeing i’m not alone doesn’t make me feel so stupid lol.
Personally, I got a kick out of this series. It seems bizarre to end it at 11, when at least 3 major plot threads open in the last 5-7 minutes. For me, I’ll definitely buy the dvd of the series and the next “episode”, and hope to hell it’s a 2 hour movie, not another 22 minutes. Yes, it’s got flaws, but what doesn’t? It’s a fun and hopeful series about people who want to live. I think thats a good thing and a darn sight better than some of these shows that kill every character off at the end.(hope that doesn’t happen in the dvd). Again, 26 eps makes sense. maybe even 16-18 (I could see dozens, if not hundreds of eps depending on who’s background and what you want to go into) but 11 episodes… wtf?!?!?!
I just watched finish this anime and I loved it. It’s just too bad there’s only 11 episodes. I can’t wait for the DVD to come out >.
I just watched finish this anime and I loved it. It’s just too bad there’s only 11 episodes. I can’t wait for the DVD to come out. Oh and btw, I love the cast of seiyuus that they put together. Their chemistry enhances the show and gives it life. I feel that the anime could have expanded more especially with the amount of material given. If possible I’d really wish for the second season. I hope to be looking forward to it. Thx I do believe they just cut my comment…
I totally agree that the serie was too short and hoping for a 2nd season. I didn’t really notice the flaws of the anime, probably ’cause i was so into the “story” lol. But i loved it. Its amusing, funny, and interesting.
Yup, I totally agreed everyone we should says to the animators that they should produce a second season of zombie loan and i believe you people knows that the ending 11 episodes is only the begining of the manga series. That’s what my friend told me. And this is going to be waste if they stop here. I heard from someone that if in JAPAN they Demand on this matter then the animtors will take action on the continuing of zombie loan second season. So if any of you stay in Japan Voice out man, and if you have friends staying in japan should ask your friends in japan Voice out about this matter says we want zombie loan second season. But then we need a Voices of 100,000 people or near to that figure of peoples to Voice out about this matter so people pass the message to the animetors ok.
can anyone tell me where i can read all the manga, cause i’ve only seen up to number 16, and the anime as well… online that is.?
where can i find the manga that is closely keeping with the most recent updates?
I loved this series I was like woah! An anime series about Zombies woooooah! But then the downfall was the sudden endings. I haven’t read the manga but I have a feeling I’m going to start going against the Anime o.0
sorry to ruin the hunt guys but zombie loan doese continue the 11 epesode is the final episode of the first season if you do not belive me go check the website http://www.animecrazy.net
that is were it continues but sadly no one knows that it continues cause it dose an in the seconde seasone it gets way better so spread the news tell evyone theres is a continueing.
I wanna see the second season too. But manga is pretty interesting so I recomend it^-^