Making a bucket list at the height of a zombie outbreak seems ridiculous, yet totally reasonable when you've spent the last three years overworked and undervalued. In real life, our workforce already feels zombified as higher-ups enslave the working class to high production and insufficient pay, so it's nice to see Zom 100 exemplify that notion. Zom 100 also immediately captures that essential reminder to "live now," which has become especially relevant as the Covid-19 pandemic found most people rekindling old hobbies and discovering new ones as death and sickness felt ever near.

Though there isn't a lot of character-building in episode one, the titular 100-item bucket list promises an eye-opening, personal journey with our protagonist Akira. Thankfully, the opening didn't shy away from the gore and electrifying tension of the zombie attacks, making this an interesting horror/slice-of-life/coming-of-age/drama to keep an eye on. 

Although it feels like the series may go in a character-focused, self-discovery route, the introduction of the zombies immediately secures attention. The visual dynamism of setting a grayscale sequence against a shifting concoction of bright drawing styles and vibrant bursts of colors (which represents Akira's exhilaration) is the highlight of the episode. Even Akira's excitement to see blood feels oddly relatable as he only sees it an opportunity to reclaim his life. The choice to include fun paint splatters on the zombies seems non-sensical, but through Akira's eyes, "sense" comes second to feeling alive.