Gakkougurashi!

If you have no idea what this show is about, you’re one of the lucky few that can still dive into this quirky ‘slice of life at school’ show blind. It’s mostly centred on antics and club events thought up by Yuki, guided by the athletic Kurumi and motherly Yuuri. You’ll either love Yuki, (she’s so crazy~) or empathise with Miki’s level-headed reactions to her; Miki acts as a foil to Yuki, providing some gravitas to the show. After one episode you will likely either want to drop it or watch the rest. If you don’t know anything about it, watch an episode before you ... read the rest of the review.

If you’re reading on past this paragraph I’m assuming that you’ve either finished the first episode or at least know what happens in it. It’s pretty much impossible to describe the show without giving away things that happen in the first episode, but I’ll avoid spoiling anything beyond that.

If someone had come up with the idea of ‘moe horror’ I would have regarded it with the same suspicion that I would regard a ‘death-game harem’, or a ‘mecha romance’. It’s all well and good in theory, but if you try to keep a consistent tone while staying true to the concept you’re inevitably going to wind up with too much ‘harem’ and not enough ‘death-game’, or too much ‘moe’ and not enough ‘horror’ (or, to continue with the analogy, some really inorganic character development). To balance out the conflicting themes in this instance you really need some sort of excuse to violently flip between a light-hearted slice of life show and a dark post-apocalyptic horror without breaking the audience’s immersion. Fortunately, one method to making this strange transition between completely different tones work resides under Yuki’s cat-ear beanie. With what comes across as either complete insanity or a pathological determination to keep things happy and light-hearted, Yuki manages to get the other characters to forget about their situation, which in turn lulls the audience into that same sense of security. With such a setup, flipping the show back into a horror is as simple as cutting away from the mood Yuki has created.

We soon discover that the show’s title is a clever pun in more ways than one. ‘Gakkougurashi’ follows the daily lives of a cast of mostly schoolgirls that are quite literally living at a school, flipping between their attempts to have fun and enjoy their lives on a day-to-day basis, on the one hand, and showing how each of them found themselves in such a situation, on the other.

A significant portion of ‘School-Live!’ is spent on flashbacks, showing events that led up to their current situation. This approach takes away from the tangible sense of threat, but has the advantage of bringing the oh-so-rational Miki into the first episode (which is an amazing thing for people that aren’t a huge fan of Yuki). It’s a trade-off and a departure from the source material, which unfortunately leads to a few minor plot holes being ripped open from the fabric of the narrative. Given the context of the narrative presented, I was happy for them to spend plenty of time showing how the situation had come to be the way it was. That’s where most of the excitement of this setting should reasonably come from given the nature of the show. Once our protagonists have managed to find safety, the plot as it is generally needs to rely on their desperation or stupidity to inject any new threat into the narrative without the audience losing immersion, so focusing on the lead-up to their situation was a good idea overall.

The characters vary widely in personality traits and outlook, and you’ll likely find that at least one of them has a mentality you can gel with. The power dynamic and relationships between the girls are multifaceted and interesting mainly because of what they represent. Yuuri holds an unspoken and uncontested authority over the group as a pre-designated maternal leader, Kurumi is a hot-headed badass that quickly resorts to violence, Yuki is a psychotic and emotionally manipulative idealist, Miki is a stoic and cold-shouldered pessimist, and Megu-nee is very similar to that clumsy yet lovable substitute teacher you likely once had: she panics, falls over, and drops things, and is ignored far too often by her students when they don’t need her help. From that melting pot of conflicting ideals and character archetypes comes a series of friendships built from necessity; built upon the cornerstone that is the hardship of their desperate situation.

There’s a sense of self-awareness maintained in the writing throughout, whether it’s (quite literally) pointing to other works that it has drawn inspiration from (such as the movie ‘I am Legend’ and the novels of Stephen King), or lampshading apparent plot contrivances by having the characters ask questions the audience were themselves wondering about (viz. why is this school so oddly well prepared for what happened?). This is one of the biggest strengths of the show and a huge part of why I’m comfortable giving it a high score. The writers clearly knew the artistic context of what they were doing and had a reasonable sense of how the audience would react to what they were seeing.

The art of ‘28 Moes Later’, however, was an unfortunate stumbling block that marred the show in some respects. I’m not against the ‘moe’ art design and see nothing intrinsically wrong with it (except that it’s being used so often in modern anime that any departure from it feels like a breath of fresh air). The problem is moments of laziness and inconsistency that were obvious enough to be distracting: the characters are occasionally drawn out of proportion or with slightly misplaced features. It’s not something I would normally bring up, but it’s an obvious bad sign when such mistakes are even apparent to people that aren’t looking for them.

I briefly mentioned before that this show had departed from the source material in several respects. Some of these changes were worse than others. The inclusion of Miki in the first episode was a reasonably appropriate change from the manga; however, cutting out most of Miki’s character development by simplifying her backstory was a strange decision. If only they hadn’t included multiple episodes worth of drawn out sequences of events that did nothing to further the plot (viz. filler), we could have at the very least blamed the restrictions in episode length and number for biting the source material in the backstory! Speaking of backsides, that’s about how abruptly (and awkwardly) this show segues into fanservice. The artistic direction panders to its audience in this regard to the point where it gets in the way of the plot; the writers of the show seemed to hold contempt for the idea that there are only so many appropriate times and places for panty shots or getting changed into bikinis. Fortunately these moments don’t tend to occur in conjunction with the more ‘dark’ scenes, a plot contrivance that I’m more than happy to forgive when faced with the alternative (a brutal deconstruction in more ways than one). Suffice to say, if you’re put off by unnecessary fanservice you may find a few scenes cringeworthy. Most of it is well within the bounds of plausible deniability though, so it’s fair to bet that you won’t find it worth dropping the show over.

Back to the positives, the OP of this series is a blast! Each episode the opening video is slightly (or dramatically) altered so that it’s full of Easter eggs and little pieces of foreshadowing. One of the fun things about following along with the show week by week as it aired was seeing the community pore over all the minor details and changes, most of which I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise! The ending songs ranged from ‘boring enough to skip’ to ‘delivering emotional crits’, depending on how well you’ve connected with the characters.

‘Night of the Living Lolis’ is in some respects what you make of it, which is fitting given that one deeper theme brought up in the show is about the extent to which one can construct their own reality, and to what extent this functions as a tool for overcoming adversity. It’s a theme that’s there, but the onus is on the viewer to engage with that theme if they want to. No direct questions and answers about these things are thrust in the audience’s face, but how you engage with the aforementioned ideas will be made clear from what you think of the characters that espouse respective opinions on those same ideas through their conduct.

After a middle arc easily described as wading through treacle, the final arc of ‘GG’ regains focus and the plot starts to lunge forward to an exciting conclusion, quelling any fears that the setting had been forgotten about. How much of an impact this show will have on you will come down in part to how willing you are to forgive plot contrivances due to being invested in the characters, although in your judgement of such things you’ll often be less disappointed if you give the writers the benefit of the doubt. For what it’s worth, rape alarms are that loud, rusty metal is that weak, generators do make noise, and shovels are heavy.

If ‘not judging a book by its cover’ has equivalents in anime, one could be ‘not judging a show by its genre’. And while it certainly wasn’t many of the animators, at least someone from Lerche genuinely tried to make this work. At a first glance, Gakkougurashi! looks like the result of moe creeping into ever more unfitting genres and settings, but thanks to the great writing it truly showed signs of life even when it should have by all rights been dead on its feet.

Some people like school. Some people dreads it. Then, there are some others that just goes there to get an education and nothing more. What about Takeya Yuki, a petite girl who just happens to be in love with school? If you think about it, there’s nothing really wrong with liking school. What’s wrong about this show is that the school Yuki is attending isn’t exactly what it seems. Welcome to Gakkou Gurashi (School-Live!), a show that comes with a bizarre twist. And by all means, it’s not exactly what it looks like…

Or maybe it does at first. The animated series adapted by Lerche comes ... from the manga of the same name. The series takes place in a school life setting where everything seems really normal at first. Or perhaps too normal. The first 20 or so minutes of the pilot episode establishes a school life style where Yuki is enjoying every minute of it. And really, why shouldn’t she be? She is with her friends, having fun, making memories, and just being a kid. Anyone who have trouble investing time into the typical slice of life with ‘cute girls doing cute things’ factor will likely feel annoyed. That is…until the ending. The twist comes with a zombie apocalypse. In essence, Gakkou Gurashi fuses together a bunch of oddball genres that includes school, slice of life, supernatural, and a bit of survival horror. Don’t take this the wrong way though. The show still retains its cuteness but explores a dark side of it that’s nothing like what your school may be.

The storytelling of the show is structured in somewhat of a controversial way. As a manga reader, I will say that it is entertaining but still sways from faithfulness. The first episode makes changes while also introducing certain characters far too early than they should be. The overall tone of the story flows somewhat well in terms of content despite pacing issues. It shouldn’t be hard for anyone to figure out that something may be wrong through careful analysis. The background foreshadowing such as the bizarre words on the school’s chalkboard or gravestones should make the viewers scratch their head. Also, isn’t it just strange that everything seems a bit too simple at their school?

A main part of the show also consists of the character cast. Yuki is the most prominent character in the series not because of her personality but because of some of her delusions. The show establishes an eerie message that perhaps she is hallucinating or building a delusional barrier around herself. The reality is that there are zombies are school, the classrooms are in shambles with windows shattered, hallways are barricaded, and death is a quite real. Yuki’s personality is also quite cheerful and sometimes is distracting for the audience. Similarly, some of her friends also plays along with her despite knowing the truth. They include Kurumi, Yuri, and Miki and all of them shows various skills when needed for survival. Their personalities ranges although all of them gets along quite well as friends. Kurumi is more of the fighter for the group with her handy shovel while Yuri plays more of a supportive role (the older sister type). Miki also adds support to help the other girls and even plays alongside Yuki as “Mii-kun”. As cute and colorful as this group is, the audience is still often reminded of what’s at stake. By the time the first episode ends, I think any anime original viewers will find it surprising in some ways by the false advertising and bait.

On most terms of the show, it blends in a form of dark comedy. Sure on the surface, everything seems cherry but the reality is not so cute. The comedy on most part is what you will typically see from series about “cute girls doing cute things”. In essence, the show actually masks its true visage somewhat well with its humor if a viewer is unaware of the premise or coming into the show completely fresh. Meanwhile, Gakkou Gurashi exploits its darker elements with Yuki’s state of mind. Other characters also gets some of their background story told including Yuki’s friend “Mii-kun” and her teacher, Megumi. The show establishes fairly well that Yuki is overly fond of them. As such, it creates the false barrier about her state of mind. Throughout the show, it’s almost like Yuki is in a world of her own. Yuki continuously shows how much she loves school while the audience knows it’s more than just that. And by this execution, I guess it can be a hit or miss. Some people will find the series overly repetitive after a few episodes. Others may think that the comedy doesn’t mix well with the overlay of the story. Despite this, Gakkou Gurashi succeeds in keeping a thrilling story by adapting with the characters. The style of the show is obviously more than just a slice of life so it often crafts plot twists to make the audience anticipate for more.

When it comes to artwork, there should be no surprise that the girls are designed to look cute. They all wear their regular school uniform with some variations. For instance, we have Yuki’s cat-like hat or Kurumi’s arm-warmers. Overly cute may sometimes become evident throughout the show especially with character expressions. In reality, the setting of the school is designed to look like it was the aftermath of an apocalypse. It conveys the message to the audience that nothing is normal. The zombies are designed to look horrific with their mindless rampage. Fan service also exists with swimsuits although most of it downplayed. Instead, it’s replace with violence with vague censorship. It’s also noticeable that the body language of the characters shows the audience of their conflicting feelings. Finally, I have to say that the show has a clever way of decorating its OP and ED theme songs along with its symbolisms.

I can’t say the soundtrack is overly impressive but neither is it lacking. Somewhere in between, I think the soundtrack works especially to deliver that eerie feeling when it’s needed. Other times, its recycled usage of the lighthearted harmony is hardly memorable. Perhaps the most distinctive thing related to sound is the voices of the characters. Yuki is portrayed with a very energetic voice who is often on the lookout for fun at school. She genuinely loves school so her presence along with her voice brings in a cheery atmosphere. That is…there are moments when her breaks down in an almost mental-like state. For that, I’d say that her character is adapted well in terms of voice mannerism. Others in the show includes Kurumi’s tomboyish voice and Yuuri’s mature personality with a matching voice tone that is acceptable.

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of school. For someone like Yuki, that’s an understatement. And for a show like Gakkou Gurashi, it’s about much more than the girls having fun and getting an education. Ever heard of the phrase, “when it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t?” That’s what the show feels like. As such, don’t expect Gakkou Gurashi to be the typical slice of life with cute girls having their happy endings every episode. This is not a happy show. If you take a look at the physical attributes of their real school and environment, then it’s easy to see why. If you thought that Gakkou Gurashi is like colored rainbows with smiles and laughs, think again.

First things first. If you haven't watched this, Don't read any reviews, don't read the synopsis, don't read the genre tags. Don't read any more of this review. Just watch it! At least the first episode. Twice. Now! BEGONE! No questions, go just watch it!

OK!

...Are they gone? Ok.

Story:
I was hooked after episode one. Weren't we all? It's not my typical anime, at. all! But I couldn't not watch it. Even when I got a bit freaked out by the library scene in episode 2. Usually I can guess the twists and turns but maybe since I was so scared out of my wits, I ... couldn't. Cleverly written. Top notch. It's given me a new appreciation for more darker animes.
(Even in spite of the one thing that happens later which makes me hate any film, book or series.)

Art:
Really cute and simplistic, though you could tell the animators are talented artists, lots of little subtitles.

Sound:
Love the theme song, so upbeat. Just like Yuki, I think the opening she'd want to have, Cute VA's.

Characters:
Really play well off each other, the perfect example of a gang.

Enjoyment/Overall:
Wow. Definitely become one of my favorites. I'd rewatch if I wasn;t a ridiculously jumpy person. Can't wait for a second season though the mind boggles how they'd follow it up on par with the first season.

I am not english, so i apologize if i make mistakes.


Gakkou Gurashi is surely not your typical Slice of Life anime. The first thing that you can think after seeing its genres will be: "Slice of Life + Horror? What's that troll?", and it's here that you are wrong, my friend; Gurashi Gakkou is probably the second anime (Puella Magi Madoka Magica the first one) that manages to use 2 genres completely different so well. It could be called Slice of Horror. The new generation of anime has begun! ╰༼=ಠਊಠ=༽╯
That is why i like this anime so much, unique genres and characters. Don't get fooled ... by the first 20 minutes of the anime, You will see only a group of girls who live at school and look for a dog dispersed in the school with moe moments/reactions, In any case i definitely do not recommend dropping the anime before the real story starts (at the end of the first episode you'll understand what i am talking about).
Go to watch the first episode because from now on there will be spoilers.

-Story: 9/10

The story of the anime is great. The first thing you notice is this "School-living club", and here comes the mindfuck. The main character is mentally unstable, does not see what she has in front of her eyes. The anime is set in a post-apocalyptic world, oh wait, most of the characters "are" in a post-apocalypric world, Our Yuki is in a world friendly with her, where all are her friends and the school is perfectly normal. Obviously nothing of what she sees is true, yes, the school is surrounded by zombies. Here starts the adventures of our protagonists in a cruel world, Where errors are not allowed, only courage. Obviously, there's some mystery here and there that makes the anime more interesting.

-Art: 8/10

Not a lot to say here. The art is great, it works very well with the atmosphere of the anime. It's moe when there's the Slice of Life and scary when the horror scenes arrive. The zombies have a unique art, seem to be more shadows than zombies sometimes, but don't worry, there is a reason
Tho the animation is not really great, just normal. It has a lot of issues, and you can see the frames sometimes but it doesn't matter, because it fits perfectly with the anime's atmosphere. Don't expect something Ufotable-like animation, Lerche had 3 shows this season so you can imagine...

-Sound: 10/10

Absolutely perfect. The OST fits perfectly with the anime. Outstanding in the horror moment, it's not your usual sound that you hear. The OP sequence is genial, cheerful music with zombies in the background, you don't see it everyday (i think). The ED sequence is more quiet, it could have been better, i don't deny it. The OST...reminds me sometimes a film, really great the concept, what you are watching: an anime; what you are hearing: a soundtrack of a film. It does a great job again because it shows the state of mind of the protagonist. It makes you feel anxious, happy, etc...

-Character: 10/10

This group of girls is perfect. There's the leader "Yuuri" that thinks about cooking, giving orders And the remaining resources, she has some interesting clothes that she puts on the uniform. Then there's the courageous "Kurumi" that kills zombies and rescues her friends. There's the quiet "Miki" that loves reading post-apocalyptic stories (especially of Stephen King), why not? And lastly we have our cheerful Yuki that lives in her world. Then there's Taroumaru...Taroumaru is a dog who cheers up the girls, play with them and has a great development with Yuki and Kurumi. He is not a character that you will love for sure but i think i like him...
Oh wait! how could i forget about Megu-nee! i-i mean, Sakura-sensei. She is the closest person to Yuki and a good teacher that gives advices to students. Megu-nee is a character that everyone love.

-Enjoyment: 8/10

Fun and cute moments followed by scary moments. Even if there are zombies, in a dead city, this show sometimes makes you forget there are all these scary things, because nothing is better than a good comedy. IMO, the comedy/moeblob doesn't have always a good tempism, but...Oh well, in poor words, you'll have fun watching this show.

-Overall: 9/10

If you like Slice of Life, go to watch it, if you like Zombies and mysterious circumstances go to watch it, if you like both, why are you reading this review? Run! You will not regret watching this show. Gakkou Gurashi is an anime that has a new whole concept of a post-apocalyptic world.
This show makes you smile and scares you at the same time, unique setting, don't you find it unique? I do.
I am definitely enjoying Gakkou Gurashi a lot. AOTS (summer 2015) IMO.

I hope you found this review helpful 〜(^∇^〜）

The idea of having cute girls in dark settings is nothing new to the world of anime, but especially after the record-breaking commercial success of Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica way back in 2011, there has been a particularly big outbreak of new anime trying to ride the same wave and get a good bang for their buck. But the problem with that is that it generally only results in the final product feeling similar yet inferior in comparison to earlier works following the same idea, as was made evident in shows like Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru and Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou for example.

Gakkou Gurashi ... is to me the first anime which actually succeeds in doing this in the last few years. It manages to provide the exact same kind of contrast between moe and despair that tugs on your heartstrings and keeps you on your toes, yet it does it in a completely different setting and an incomparable storyline.

Now if you have not yet watched this anime, I would highly recommend you to at least watch the very first episode to its end without reading any further or getting yourself spoiled. It is something that you should really experience first-hand for yourself.

Case in point, Gakkou Gurashi is initially shown from the eyes of the energetic high-schooler Takeya Yuki as a very stereotypical slice of life moe comedy following her and her friends living inside their school. And yes I literally mean living in, as their School Living Club's activities consist of always staying inside the school with the intention of "growing closer to the school's many departments, foster self-governance and independence, and set an example for all to follow". Thus they sleep in the school, take classes in school and play in school. Pretty straightforward. However as is revealed at the end of the first episode, this is nothing but a huge deception. Because in reality, the world which Gakkou Gurashi takes place in has already fallen to a zombie apocalypse, all the students other than the members of the School Living Club are already dead, and Yuki is completely mentally unstable and thus incapable of seeing the truth of her newfound reality for what it is. What makes this so great is the presentation. They manage to build the whole situation up so cleanly, so smoothly and with such perfect precision that it eventually hits you like a hammer when the truth is finally revealed. And you can't say it came out of nowhere either; the clues are clearly spread out throughout the first episode if you're paying attention.

As fascinating as this opening was though, the real question following it was whether the story was actually sustainable from that point onwards. After all, when you drop that kind of bombshell in the very first episode, you better have something to offer for the remaining 11 episodes of the anime. Does Gakkou Gurashi accomplish this then? Well... yes and no. The rest of the story doesn't really rely on shock value quite as much, but instead takes a slower approach. The girls continue to live out their lives inside the barricaded school as they do their best to keep up the act that everything is fine and dandy in Yuki's presence in order to not break her mentally, try to find information about the zombie apocalypse and why/how it occurred, as well as simply staying alive. Occasionally they'll venture outside the safe zone and into hostile territory, but they never stay there any longer than necessary and they try to avoid direct combat if possible due to the risk of infection. So there isn't much in the way of bloodthirsty zombie bashing carnage in this show, but honestly I'm very thankful for that because I find that to be one of the most mindless concepts in fiction. Don't expect Gakkou Gurashi to play out like Highschool of the Dead, because it doesn't.

In theory I think this is a good decision, but if there is one thing which Gakkou Gurashi fails at, it is a certain aspect of its execution. You see although the contrast between the slice of life segments inside the school and the darker elements are very cool to see, it sadly doesn't balance them properly. Simply put, there is *way* too much focus on the slice of life part of the equation. As much as I like that kind of content in general, in Gakkou Gurashi's case it feels more out of place than anything else more often than not. When you've just gotten some dramatic plot twist at the end of an episode, it feels rather annoying when the entirety of the episode thereafter is spent doing nothing at all. I mean yes, of course it's important to show off how the girls are trying to keep their spirits up in the desperate situation which they find themselves in, but it does it too much. It doesn't just come across as fleshing out the characters, but also quite frankly as wasting time. Especially when you put in an entire episode showing off the girls in their bikinis by the pool on the school's roof and even take the extra time to have the camera zoom in on their tits one by one, then it no longer classifies as contrast; it's purely fanservice. At that point there's just no room for sugarcoating it anymore.

Now personally I don't really mind that part too much per se, but it doesn't change the fact that it is taking up a huge amount of time which could have been spent on actually progressing the story instead. As a result, when you look at the anime as a whole... it doesn't really advance very much from start to finish. About half the story lies in the last three episodes alone, and although those were certainly top tier, it doesn't excuse all the random stuff that happens (more like not happens) in the middle of the season. I mean imagine if the latter parts had been the middle ones instead; they'd have had room for like 4 or so more episodes before the end. Though of course you can always pick up the manga instead if you want more content, but that's a different matter altogether and not really a valid excuse.

In the end, Gakkou Gurashi is a thrilling anime which is sadly dragged down quite a bit by a single flaw. It stands out from the crowd due to its original combination of setting and execution; it has occasionally stellar directing, nasty cliffhangers, and interesting characters, but at the same time it doesn't focus on its own strengths properly which leads the viewers to just want the show to "get on with it already" a lot of the time. Even so though, the pros still heavily outweigh the cons, and the good points are what the anime will primarily be remembered for. And really, any series which can manage to leave such a solid impression on you as a viewer is a noteworthy anime in my mind.

After Watching School Live, I noticed that in terms of story and characters, it's just like watching a cute, less violent & graphic, less erotic, but most importantly, more annoying version of High school of the dead. In addition to that with the story, it's sort of like School Live borrowed lots of the shock and suspense elements from High School of the Dead and dulled it down a few levels to make it easier to watch. I think it was done that way so everything is not all in your face at once. School live takes things one step at a time and that's ... what helps build up suspense. Moving on to arts and Characters, nothing too unique stands out about the characters, they are sort of like your generic anime girls. The typical stupid hyper girl and with pink hair purposely made to be cute and "a hit with the fans." The one mature classmate whose job is to look out for everyone. The tough girl with the tom-boyish personality but is really a big softie, etc. School live isn't too bad, like all anime it has its obviously faults, but I'm sure if you love cute girls trying to solve mysteries, plot twists, and violence then you're going to love School Live!

I am extremely disappointed with the way this show ended. Seeing as that is the case, this review will basically be all spoilers, so read at your own risk.

I'm gonna admit, this was one of the more enjoyable shows for me this season. I rate heavily on personal enjoyment, so for the most part, this series was high up on my seasonal watch queue. No, I did not like the characters although I do understand that they were meant as a contrast of the world they were living in. No, I didn't like the sudden, out of the blue tone shifts that the show presented. ... No, I didn't think that this show was tapping into the full potential of what it could have done, but hey, it was enjoyable, so I kept coming back.

Now let's go to episode 11, shall we? This was, by far, the best episode School-Live! had put out. It felt like the characters were truly desperate, they were genuinely terrified, and that all hope seemed lost. They were struggling with just about everything and on the brink of death throughout the entire episode. Not only that, but holy shit was the music in this episode good. I'd say around the 9 minute mark when the portable radio was played and the soft, enchanting singing started drifting out as you see the character's struggling to stay alive was phenomenal. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was extremely excited to see what episode 12 (the grand finale) would bring us.

And it completely let me down. It was bullshit. I'm about to list all the things awful about this episode, so be prepared for a shitstorm of complaining.

First, it's not possible that Taromaru remembered Yuki and saved her life. It's a zombie. Everything leading up to that point would have suggested that, while the zombies are relatively aware, they do not have control over their actions, they act to kill. Taromaru saving Yuki would blatantly state that the zombies can control themselves and enact self-restraint, of which none do, let alone a dog which has about 1% of the mental capacity humans do.

And then all it fucking took for the whole problem to solve itself was to say "School's out, go home"?! Are you fucking kidding me?! That's just bullshit and I refuse to accept that. It was almost comical it was so overly simple and stupid. That is in no way how a zombie apocalypse story should end. Not only is it just utterly off tone with how the entire series went, it's just illogical. I cannot stress to you enough how bad this ending was. I'm a perverse person. I wanted them all to die and for the series to end. I would have easily given this show a 9 and called it the best of the season. Unfortunately, School-Live! decided that they just weren't going to do that and instead opt for a cop-out.

How were they to know that there was another dog down there? If I were in that situation I would've just assumed the dog heard a noise and went down there because, let's be honest, it's a dog. That's what dogs do. There is no reason for them to have assumed that, and yet they did, so whatever.

And the graduation ceremony. Oh man, the graduation ceremony. Don't even get me started (it should be evident that I'm about to get started, it's an expression, leave a "Helpful" on my review please). Basically, they just decided that instead of closure, they were gonna go the Angel Beats! route and try to just make you cry as their way of forcing people to like the show. It was disgusting watching high school seniors cry at every slightly inspirational thing people said. And it dragged on for so fucking long. A solid 10 minutes were spent just saying goodbye and whatever else they felt like crying about.

And finally, the last main problem I have with episode 12 is the lack of closure. So many things left unexplained. How did the outbreak first happen? What was Megu-nee's connection with it? Why did the girls in the school not just construct a ton of weapons so they wouldn't have to rely on that damn shovel for everything? Did they ever get to a safe-house? How do the zombies not starve and rot away? Why has nobody made any attempt to establish long-distance contact? Is the infection localized or is it on a global scale? Where are all the zombies in that final scene where they're just cruising down the highway and there's no one to be seen? And where the fuck are they going?

This show just made me so mad after how well it set itself up to just dissolve into a mess of emotional crap that I cannot give it a recommendation and the only reason I give it a 7 is because of episode 11.

Thank you for reading, and as always, feel free to tell me what you thought.

Gakkougurashi! (School-Live!) is not your average Slice of Life style anime. Following the life of Yuki Takeya, it seems that this would appear to be your average anime of a cheerful girl who enjoys school. However, this is but an illusion. In reality, society and humanity has fallen due to a zombie apocalypse. Four girls have banded together in their school to survive this ongoing nightmare, while trying to maintain their daily lives of being students. As the story progresses, each episode will mess with your thoughts and emotions gradually until the very end where it destroys you. The art is graphic in some scenes, ... but overall very well made, as is the soundtrack. Each character is given their own ideals and ambitions, while at the same time keeping the similar to one another. Yuki is the playful, cheery girl. Miki is the quiet, stoic type. Yuuri (Rii) is the big sister and caretaker of the group. Kurumi is brave and adventurous, being the group's defender (thank you, Shovel Knight). After each episode, you'll be left with wanting more and more, trembling at the thought of what might happen next. Overall, Gakkougurashi! is a great (9/10) anime that deserves high recognition in being unique while not differentiating too much.

i stumble upon this anime because of the hype. i must say this type anime is not what i usually watch, and i cringe for 90% of the first episode, until BAM it hits me in the end.. such plot twist, much wow.. and the curiosity just wont stop.. it's like watching the kawaii version of the walking dead to be simplified.. i havent read the manga but from the 12 eps, the story can be finished like this and i can be satisfied enough.

some eps can stir up your emotions; it has many moments of thrill, sad, funny, and relieve..
the opening and ending ... intro clip changes according to the development of the story..

i really enjoy watching this anime and i think it has unique take on the theme that has been told several times..

*THIS REVIEW DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS!*

Video Review Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBsGvIUuBW8

Quick Synopsis:

To give you a brief overview of this Anime’s dimension, the story starts off with a calm, and peaceful setting, as most programs do. The main characters given to us are as flat as Paper Mario, and show no sign of difference to them, while being compared to the MOE narrative form of “cute girls, doing cute things” for some explicit reason. These characters are also a part of School Club called “the School Living Club.” (Let that sink in for a minute or so.) However, ... as you continue watching, small hints of oddity can be gathered by the chilling sound effects and the dark iconography hidden in the show, which in turn, becomes the show’s staple force. To top it off, at the end of the first episode…when you least expect it, BOOM! The story reveals to you that this is not your ordinary MOE show, but a show of the dead, featuring, FOUR GIRLS, A DOG, AND 1 ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! Did I forget to mention that one of the main characters is shown to be a crazy nut job who thinks everything is fine and dandy…if not…well you KNOW NOW! However, after completing the series, there are a few questions that may leave you in a questionable state including?
Why was the building so well-prepared for the outbreak?
Are there any drawbacks from the medicine used for Kurumi’s wound/who created it?
During the club outing segment, after saving Miki, why didn’t they just leave?
Why weren’t the Zombies formidable antagonists for the girls in the story?
Why would they bring Yuki, if she was undergoing this emotional trauma?
Why didn’t we get to know any information about Yuuri’s intake/past events with the Zombie Apocalypse?
Well, I believe it’s time to jump into what I find to be the pros and cons of the ANIME adaptation of Gakkou Gurashi!

Story-line:

After revealing the true nature of the Anime’s plot after episode one, I wanted the story to focus on the character’s attempts to fight through the consequences or problems the story would inflict upon them while having the desire to escape because of the Zombie Apocalypse. For the most part, the story was able to balance the MOE traits with the horror aspects well, but there were some slight problems in the Anime where the peaceful, and light-hearted tones conflicted with the story’s horror side. A few examples would include:
Example 1: Episode 2 - Where Kurumi is conflicted about something, and Yuki breaks the tension with the Test of Courage idea.
Example 2: Episode 9 - Where they lose sight on the emergency manual situation to have some pool time.
However, the instances where the combination was executed brilliantly would include:
Example 1: When they were investigating the broadcasting room area in episode 8.
Example 2: Now this is kinda a combination, but at the end of episode one with the camera angles on Yuki as we are revealed that the world is not what it seems to be – Episode 1

In light of the events leading up to the climax of the series, I found it to be entertaining, but odd to some degree. The sequence of events are in no particular order, but seem to follow your standard narrative structure quite well. We are given an exposition that informs us about the situation the ladies are in, and then we’re given a few episodes which give hints of foreshadowing to various deaths, and some perspectives from at least two of the girls, being that of the bookworm Naoki Miki and our action girl Kurumi Ebisuzawa. The light-hearted moments with the girls having fun on the activities were adorable/enjoyable to watch, but sometimes it felt like they were dragged on to the point where I just wanted to see the gruesome, and darker elements which stem from its psychological portion! HECK, it’s labeled as a SEINEN Manga series for a reason now!

However, the rise in suspense in episodes 10-11 were done well since they were able to capture the horror from the girl’s situation internally, and externally with the visuals, soundtrack, and the character’s facial expressions! Others and I may agree that the resolution of the show could have been a bit better, whether it be, one of the girls dying alongside Taroumaru, or that all of them could have died period. But, it makes sense by the logic given to us within the show, stating how the Zombies remember their previous lives/roles in society. Also, the fan service…and I will say no more on that note. Overall, the storyline had its cons and certainly had its pros, but it could have been better if the story focused heavily on the darker plot lines, while incorporating some interesting material from the Manga…*COUGH* Miki’s refusal to believe in Yuki’s dilemma! *COUGH* *HELICOPTER ARC*

Characters:
If I had to choose what character to talk about first, I’d choose Yuki Takeya. Yuki is the most energetic, airheaded, and surprisingly the oldest girl from the batch. To some, she could be viewed as bait for their zombie fishing rod because of the way she is presented in the show, but since she views the world to be equivalent to that of a bowl of Lucky Charms, instead of a walk on Elm Street, it transforms her from being the typical stock character to that of a more dynamic individual as the story progresses. Examples of this progress can be seen during:
Example 1: Use the carefree Yuki bits from episodes one and two here to explain her beginning! (Put In Small Box)
Example 2: Then use the bits in episode 5/6/7/10/11/12 where Yuki is shown to have some type of change throughout each episode in terms of her internal structure.

She may be a stereotypical girl fit for the Moe genre, and her joyful prescience in the Anime may have its good and bad instances during the important moments in an episode, but toward the second half of the show she starts to grasp the concept of reality as we draw near to the show’s resolution. A quick pro or con for this character would include, strong character development and how her personality keeps the others from going insane. Though, through some eyes she may be shallow/annoying during the critical moments of the show, and that she may not hold any defining characteristics to her character other than what’s given to her.

Alright, for the next character we have Mrs. Shovel Knight, Kurumi Ebisuzawa. Kurumi is the most athletic, thick-headed, and active member of the club. To some people she could be classified as the “best girl” due to her tomboyish appearance. She’s also one of the only members, who actually fights off the Zombies in every situation, but one. In terms of characterization, Kurumi is very reliant and calm in desperate situations, but could be classified as an emotional character since she typically believes she can handle every situation on her own which later bites her in the arm…hehe. However, I found her backstory/flashback rather lackluster compared to another main character in the series. Her flashback included a love interest for a male character during her high-school track team days. Although it was able to bring out the action hero we know today, I felt that if the minor character was given more depth as the one I shall mention later on, then her flashback could have been a tad bit better. Overall, Kurumi is given great development after the fact, and thankfully, behind her shovel-like armor, she has emotional weaknesses to bring out the realistic quality to her character.

If I asked you the question of, “Who do you think is Mecha’s Favorite character from the club,” and you answered Naoki Miki, then you will definitely be getting some goods in your stocking this year! Miki or Mii-kun as Yuki likes to call her, would have to be the most fragile, skeptical, and reserved member of the club. In terms of characterization, Miki can be looked as the foil or sidekick to Yuki’s character, since they both have differing viewpoints on the zombie infested world, which enhance the qualities of Yuki’s character largely. Miki’s flashback would have to be the best one throughout the entire run of the series, since we are able to understand her personal emotions rather than her being a yes woman. Being able to see who she was before the outbreak occurred, and having lost her friend Kei to the Zombie apocalypse. Plus, with the additive of the symbolic CD player of friendship, I was able to feel sympathetic toward her character more than the other club members. An example of this could be seen throughout episodes 4-5 during the Miki retrieval mini arc.

{However, there’s a slight note I have to mention that most Manga fans would discuss as well and that’s after she is included. Miki isn’t shown to be as resilient as she was in the Manga, and in this case I would have loved to seen more personal conflicts between Yuuri and her rather than what was shown in the Anime. Was this scene that big of a deal,…not really? But it would have brought her character to life a tad bit more, but I’m pleased with the ending result that was portrayed in the Anime.}

Now we reach the club’s final member, and that is Yuuri Wakasa aka OPPAI JUSTICE! Yuuri is the most mature, kind-hearted, and resourceful member of the group. She normally plays the big sister role of the club, but when all heck breaks lose, she loses her calm nature and begins to break down emotionally. As far as characterization goes, Yuuri really doesn’t have a backstory to go along with her character sadly, and some may consider her to be the worst of the group because of this. Yuuri does go through some emotional break downs near the ending of the story, but throughout the entire run of the series not much comes from her other than the stereotypical big sister traits seen in most Anime. However, she played her role quite well in the series, which didn’t bother me at all. Hopefully, a second season, if given, will be able to bring life to this character, than what was portrayed in this season.

In terms of the minor characters including the clumsy, lovable teacher Sakura Megumi (Megu-nee), the animal mascot, Taroumaru, and Miki’s best friend, Kei, they all played key roles in supporting the characters and story, as it progressed. With the incorporation of Megumi’s character in the story, the series was able balance the peaceful and gloomy scenarios well. Also, Yuki’s character was driven by the fact that she didn’t want to remember the character’s death, and without it, I believe she would just be a female with no inner emotions. Her impact on the rest of the cast including Miki was strong, since she was an integral piece to their puzzle of compassion. Though, the only down side to Megu-nee’s character was the way her death was structured. If you’re the type of person who likes a death that is straightforward than you may have complications with this specific character

With regards to the other two characters they share similar traits to that of one dimensional characters since they seem to be placed in the story, to satisfy the viewer or to enlighten a character trait for a member of our main cast. Spoiler, they both die, but Taroumaru’s death was better in my eyes.

Sound-Track:

The soundtrack for the series was standard, but memorable to my ears. The opening theme titled, “Friend Shitai” by Gakuen Seikatsubu is amazing and honestly catchy. It’s a great refresher and kick-starter for Gakkou Gurashi, even though the soundtrack doesn’t match the story’s premise in any way. Another highlight for this opening would be how the voice actresses who play the characters in the JP dub are actually the one’s singing the song.

Speaking of the actresses, I found the JP voice acting to fit well with the characters. During the intense and joyous moments of the show, the voice acting seemed to be on point from what I recall from the program. Although when comparing the voice acting to other shows, it could be standard at most. However, I was able to obtain the general feel for each character, and I can’t really complain there.

In regards to the three ending themes for this series, they fit perfectly, but are not really special or mind-blowing. Although, they grasp the sadness and happiness of the series, they don’t seem to memorable, unless, your like myself who downloads the song and consistently listens to it during the random times of the hour. However, if I did have to choose the best track out of the three, it would have to be “Afterglow” by Maon Kurosaki. While listening to the vocal cover and instruments play in the background you could feel the sadness obtained during the reveals in the show.

On the other hand, there are some instances where the sound effects in the Anime are used during the most random moments. One to note would be in episode four when Miki suddenly notices Taroumaru fled the room, there’s an instance where a wind sound could be heard. Now it’s quite miniscule I know, but it seemed rather odd to me at the time. However, the OST for the critical and light-hearted moments fit well for the series.

Example: Episode 6: When Miki asks Yuki, who’s Megu-nee?

Animation:

In terms of the art quality in Gakkou Gurashi, there wasn’t really much that bothered me, besides two things, and that would be the misplacement of certain facial features and the lovely use of computer animation or as the cool kids say CGI.

What I mean by the misplacement of character features would include scenarios where the children are given no eyes, or are losing parts of their appearance. This can be shown during Yuki’s delusional moments. I understand it’s a part of the child-like art form, but in most instances some of the background characters are given features that show them as dolls or figurines. Now the only time I found this to fit well would be during the comical and embarrassing moments for the characters, but that’s about it.

Example: The character bubbles seen during the child-like moments of the show and during the instances when they tell each other off, in a humorous manner.

In terms of the use of CGI, the only complaint I have with it would have to be the zombies and sometimes the background character designs. The cars, buildings, scenery, etc. didn’t seem to bother me in any fashion, since they never change to the traditional animation style. Some series like Rwby, I feel, use computer animation well because their series started as CGI and remained CGI. However, with the zombies and people they often change from the computer animation and traditional animation style frequently, and I felt that it should’ve stayed true to one animation style.

On the other hand, I didn’t seem to find any problems with the background elements of the series, or the artwork on the character’s appearances since they clashed well when the series decided to flip the mood, occasionally. Heck, even the dark color pallets on the zombies and the red bubbles that surrounded Kurumi and the other characters during their quarrel with the dead made me shiver in excitement. The animation was standard, but interesting in the slightest. The camera angles used in some of the scenes really hit home during the emotional and climatic moments of the show. A few examples would include:

Example 1: The zoom in features on the faces of Yuuri/Yuki/Miki during their encounter with the zombies. – Episodes 5/6/10/11

Example 2: The glass as it is falling down from the building because of the zombies gaining access into the school building. – Episode 10

Don’t even get me started with the awesome foreshadowing elements they placed into the opening sequence of the series, because I believe I would like to take a deeper look into that predicament, in the near future of my YouTube Channel. (Why did you have to steal my thunder, Mother’s Basement!)

Although I would have loved for there to be more fluid animation in the action scenes rather than some elongated still frames, I still felt the series had pretty decent animation, nonetheless.


Enjoyment:

Personally, while watching this series I was rather stoked to find out what would happen next, and re-watching the previous episode to find out the hidden artifacts of the real world was fun in itself. Does the series have its flaws? Absolutely. Would I recommend people who are new to Anime to watch it? Certainly. If I had the power to change anything from this series, what would I change? Honestly, the only way to fix the issues for this series would be, by stretching the series to at least 18 to 21 episodes to fit the source material in perfectly. Keeping true to one type of animation style rather than mixing both of them together, and maybe giving some of the characters a little more depth to make them connect with the audience more.

Nevertheless, the series was able to provide the entertainment I was looking for in a show at the time, and I would definitely give it a re-watch sometime in the near future.

Gakkougurashi is an anime that takes two aspects from opposite spectra and juxtaposes them side-by-side, hoping to blend them together well. The two aspects being zombies and moe.

However, in just the first episode, it shows how hard it is to coalesce moe and zombies together. Heavy symbolism and foreshadowing come into play to show just that. The star character, Takeya Yuki, cracks jokes and makes a fool. The other characters laugh at her as if they aren't in their current condition. In fact, the entirety of the cast doesn't show realistic reactions to their situations until late ... into the series. This is not a plus because for a show that has characters facing psychological situations, what the viewer wants is to watch the characters in their realistic state of mind. Either that, or something that has a lot of action or horror, or similar subgenre.

What I'm getting at is that Gakkougurashi is too flip-floppity with its storytelling. It lacks focus on what it wants to convey. There are scenes and complete episode setups that focus on the survivors' lives, playing and having fun, even though there's a constant struggle dealing with the zombie apocalypse they live in. Some of my favourite scenes with Yuuri talking with another character about the apocalypse were immediately followed by Yuki and her ridiculous moe, toning down the scene's serious mood.

The art ε animation of the show is average of your typical moe anime. Sometimes the animation is lazily done with slide motions but that's not often. Other than that, there weren't many problems although I did see saw some slight computer animation (for the zombies) in the final episodes that were aesthetically odd.

Personally, I thought the background music was exceptionally done and very fitting to the atmosphere. Sound effects weren't anything special but the voice acting was paired well with their respective characters, especially Yuuri and Miki. As for the ending songs, they were nice and gentle, bringing out the atmosphere of the series; there's not much to say about the opening.

The characters, at first, were nothing too amazing but were actually the opposite: empty shells that didn't quite have personalities. However, as the series progressed, so did the characters. Growing goals and battling with internal conflicts. Yuki too, began to bud intentions and objectives. This was a huge bonus for a show that began to lose my interest.

After finishing, I viewed Gakkougurashi as a worthwhile watch that attached me to its characters and made me want to watch more. Although I said that zombies and moe don't mix well, the first episode was full of necessary cliché moe scenes, successfully setting up the show with the reveal at the end. In fact, I almost cried at the end (poor Taroumaru!).

To wrap up, the main problems I had with Gakkougurashi were its rather inappropriate usage of moe and unrealistic characters. Other than that, the show was mostly enjoyable up to its end.

Final Score:6.5/10

If no one has spoiled you yet, PLEASE go into this anime BLIND! Just finish EP1 and you'll be completely surprised. It's just not what it seems to be.
The character development and plotline are pretty interesting, especially towards the end. The way the anime handles the perspectives of the different characters is very well done and makes it clear what they experience compared to the others.
It's really hard to properly reccommend this without spoiling it.. The only way to know if you like it is just to try EP1 and go from there.
This anime is SO worth the watch, especially going in blind! Just go ... watch it!

Hope, a bright warm light shinning across a dark room where freezing water is flowing. Sometimes the light grows weaker or stronger. What makes it change is the will of mankind, the will to believe that it is not over or that are things in this world worth struggling for everyday.

If i were to compare our tale to a scenery I would say, an ocean of tears moved by a gust of happiness and laughter and lighted by the rays of hope that come and go as the day-night cycle goes on.
Our protagonists are trying to resume their normal lives which they had ... before the disaster had stricken. Each of them with different personalities support themselves on these hard times.

Artwork is pretty standard. Nothing out of the ordinary with the slim and edgy characters being a bit of an eyesore, but that's just my taste. Same is to be said about the Soundworks, nothing stings the eye or enchants it.

Characters are all different in most ways but they are all supportive, talkative. There is a noteable lack of an antagonist on this series, the only concern about their actions being their own feelings.

Overall the combination of comedy,drama and tragedy make this a well made story, easily enjoyable and somewhat pleasant. I recommend it especially for people that have only started watching anime.

*THIS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE FIRST EPISODE*. So watch it if you haven't. It might seem boring and stupid at the start, but trust me, it's worth.

Gakkougurashi was an anime that I had to finish. It was underlyingly twisted, which made this anime quite enjoyable, for the most part.

Story: 7.5-ish
Well the concept of the anime was pretty basic, however, it sure as hell did not start off that way. I was trolled really bad. But breaking it down, when you do get past episode 1, it's pretty much a zombie apocalypse and a bunch of girls trying to survive. What ... makes this anime really interesting though, is the individual stories following the characters. It messed with you a bit, with all the plot twists. This was all really well done. They showed us how each character dealt with the whole situation in their own way, which is defs a plus.
BUT
Unless you really like slice of life, the 'slice of life parts in between really distracted from the good creepy stuff about handling the zombies. This, and the comedy element of the anime. It was alright at times, however I don't think I ever really remember laughing out loud. It lightened up the anime for sure, but when the anime was really good, it was when they focused more on the disaster that these girls are constantly living in DANGER. Like, for a bunch of school girls who are really young, they act pretty calm (despite some being psychologically disturbed, I guess). But what about their family? Never touched that subject.

Art: 7
Not too shabby. What I really wished though, was to actually see some more gory elements of the zombies. They would seriously be so much scarier if they actually showed their faces at least once.

Sound: 7-ish
The soundtrack itself I would give a 6. It wasn't memorable at all. The OP was really good. Had me trolled from the beginning.

Character 7.5
I liked all the characters in the anime, just the main, I had to warm up to her. At times she really got on my nerves. I didn't understand her happy-go-lucky personality and found it occasionally annoying, as it kind of just distracted from the really interesting bits. I get that she is just meant to be kawaii and silly to block out her fears and pain, but still, having to watch at least 10 episodes of it, I couldn't bear it very well. I just wanted her to FACE REALITY, and it was so frustrating when she couldn't.
BUT.
when she did, she was so much better. Her character development was a slow one, but by the end of the season, I did understand her situation. I did not hate her, despite her overly happy nature, but by the end of the anime, I still cared about her as the other characters always had. The other girls, I liked them all for different reasons. Their personality types were pretty standard, however all the decisions they had to make always left me on edge.

Overall: 7
If this anime had just cut the crap and focused solely on the psychological effects and of the apocalypse, they would have a much stronger story, However, it wouldn't really be the same. The slice of life put into this anime, juxtaposed with the deadly zombie apocalypse created quite disturbing concept. Overall, I did enjoy this anime and the ending opens up so many doors for new characters and uncovered secrets that still haven't been answered. The world is much larger than just the school.
I would be excited for a second season, but if they didn't, I don't think I would be that upset either.

Summer was certainly a busy season for Lerche, seeing as this is just one of their three shows to air during it's course (The other two being Monster Musume and Ranpo Kitan: Game Of Laplace which I also reviewed right here). Out of them all though, School-Live! quickly became the most critically acclaimed, boosting sales of the manga by a massive 1000% following its animated premiere. This becomes even more impressive when you consider that director, Masaomi Ando, only has a couple other directorial credits to his name (Muv Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse/White Album 2). But does School-Live! live up to the hype? (No pun ... intended, I swear.) That's of course up to you decide -- but I'll weigh in on it in just a few minutes.

The anime, and a hefty portion of the manga, is mainly centered on the pink-haired, bubbly Yuki Takeya, who is so torn up by the event of a zombie outbreak that she has created a world in her head where literally nothing has changed. The first episode sets the stage for this anime absolutely perfectly, disguising the entire episode just how it would look from the perspective of Yuki. It isn't until the very last scene where we find out that everything we just watched was a gigantic hallucination and that the majority of the characters we saw were dead and...well, not gone. But you know what I mean. Everything from that point onward takes on a complete tonal shift. This is no longer the bright, joyous show we expected (Considering you went into blind, without any knowledge of what it really was). Instead, it's a psychological mess of how teenage girls handle being the last few people on what could be the entire planet. We don't really know yet.

Each member of the School Living Club plays an important part in keeping the group a well-oiled machine. Take one of them away, and everything starts to fall apart. Yuki keeps the group motivated and hopeful. Yuuri is the wise, motherly figure that everyone looks up to. Miki brings reason and logic into the mixture. And Kurumi kills zombies with a shovel. (Needless to say, she is best-girl). The girls are dependent on each other for this entire series. I mean, how can you not when your friends are trying to kill you and eat you? That dependence, however, is great under these circumstances because the result winds up being packed with wonderful chemistry and sort of developmental paradox where each girl helps the next find something out about themselves. Not to mention, each one's style and attitude is so well-contrasted with the others that all viewers will be able to easily choose their favorite. There's none of that whole "Otaku-Inner-Struggle (OIS for short, which is a disorder I just made up)" where we have to fight between girls to decide on who the superior one is.

The story starts off as just a tale of survival, but slowly builds up until more and more backstory in uncovered. The pacing, as far as this is concerned, is spot on. We get a ton of exposition and learn a little bit about each character before things start to get really weird. And I mean really weird. Not to mention, each doubt that viewers have -- each "Well why is there still electricity?" type question will not go unanswered. The story is well-written with those concerns in mind. I don't know if I've ever watched something before where literally every single loophole is filled in. It's actually quite spectacular when you really think about it. There are so many skeptical notions you think up while watching this series, and all of them come to a satisfactory close just episodes later. In addition, the usage of suspense and subtle details hidden in the background will keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire twenty-something minutes of each episode.

This paragraph might get spoiler-heavy, so skip it if you haven't watched the series and still intend to do so. Up until the halfway-point of this series, when we find out that Megu-Nee has been dead this whole time (Which I totally called, by the way), the show is just pretty good at best. But when we find out that some of society knew this was coming, that's when this show gets great. It's not just school girls trying to survive and fend off zombies anymore. It's a thought provoking tale of how we might handle a situation like a zombie outbreak -- what we would do if we had reasonable suspicion that one might occur. And that raises thoughts like, "Well, if we knew this might happen, why didn't we prevent it? What happened to everyone else? Why these four girls?" Life or death situations in anime are great no matter what. But when those situations involve adolescents in a world where adults aren't even there for guidance, those are the times when that life or death stuff really shines. Seeing adolescents forced into growing up quicker just to conserve and fight for their own lives is significantly more impactful than having some huge, burly mech-fighter dude fighting another giant mech-warrior with his life on the line.

In Summary:
This is a damn good show. It's much better going into it like I did (Without any idea of what it's about) than going in with the knowledge that it will turn into a psychological thriller, but I guess that is now impossible considering you just read this review. Regardless, this easily snuck its way into my "Top 10 Anime Series 2015" just as I'm sure it will for a lot of others. So to answer the question of "Whether or not it lives up to the hype," the answer is yes. Yes it does. Pick this or the manga up, and allow yourself to go on a journey filled with cute-girls on the brink of death and lots of bloodshed. Lots and lots of bloodshed.

SPOILER FREE!!SPOILER FREE!!SPOILER FREE!!

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INTRO
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I don't usually read the synopsis when starting a show and I started this believing it's another generic moe blob but gave it a chance because the twin tail girl in the poster looked kind of charming. I was not disappointed and it truly was a moe sol show---at the start. I noticed some out of place scenes but didn't pay much attention because I thought it was just an average studio making average mistakes.

Then it happened....

...
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THE REVIEW
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The studio has done a brilliant job in hooking its viewers with the 1st episode. The show's symbolism and subtle camera pans are done really well all throughout the series. I am usually someone who does not watch moe shows but the 1st episode really pulled me in. Sadly, the show suffers from poor pacing starting from Episode 3 instead of building up on the foundation that the 1st episode laid.

The show switched to a 4-5 episode back story of an uninteresting character with an uninteresting past (except for Taroumaru!). Almost half of the show was used up for her. The backstory of Megu-nee and Yuki, 2 pivotal characters, was also bare bones to give way to that flashback. It also felt like they overused the moe-sol segments for too many episodes. I think they could have used more episodes during their first few days so we could get invested in their relationships but they just used a "tell do not show" style which was kind of cheap.

Fortunately, they got back on track during the last three episodes and it was a great roller coaster of emotions. Murphy's Law be damned!

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CHARACTERS
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The twin tail girl charmed me into watching this show and boy, was I not disappointed. Shovel girl--ahem--Kurumi is definitely best waifu material (did I do it right?). She is literally and figuratively, the group's guardian. She is a strong-willed dependable badass that supports the group from the frontlines. PTSD? Ha! Kurumi laughs and fights at the face of adversity!

Yuki is the emotional support and Rii-san the stomach support (LOL). Really, all the characters are archetypes and it's pretty good how they leave and evolve as a character except for Rii-san who does not get any backstory at all. Well, at least she's good as a housewife.

I'm not even going to dig deep for Miki as I'm still bitter about her abundant screentime. For taroumaru, that little ball of cuteness deserves pet of the year!

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VERDICT
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SPOILER!!!

The show is a pretty good depiction of the anxiety and fears that teenagers feel as they take that first step into society. Replace the zombies with Adults trying to get the characters to conform to the norms; Megu-nee as that fond memory in your childhood that you cannot just let go; Taroumaru as a reminder of your innocent days; the Apocalyptic zombie world as society full of uncertainties, disappointments, and despair; and the Graduation as a sign of that bold first step outside of your comfort zone and into a new world of unknowns.

The first episode and the great attention in details makes me want to give this show a 10. Unfortunately, the flaws are glaring and it felt like it would be too unfair to give it my bias.

so in the end I give it...

7.4/10


A show with great potential hampered by poor pacing, little character development with some characters, and too many moe-sol segments.

- From the beggining I recomend to don't read any spoiler, so you could enjoy the finding game from the first episode.
The anime starts showing you the normal life of a kawaii group of students, but there are some clues that will make you guess that something isn't normal...

- This anime is capable of making you understand the menning of losing something important. The characters will make you laugh and in others time feel their pain, you probably will feel like you're surviving with them and hoping that everything is gonna be all right.

- Story: A apocalyptic world with kawaii girls that are surviving. The ... story follows their way, so you could wait some losts and some survings. Except one detail from the end, everything is was good.

- Art: Kawaii and they put some computers effects to move the secundary characters, freak sometimes and necessary others.

- Sound: If you don't like some little girls voices trying to sing, you should skeap the opening!

- Character: Beautiful and heart touching! There were some ways that I could feel what is to be crazy and sad and fooled and beguiled and all the fucking feelings at the same time!

- Enjoyment: I saw in one night, it was goood...

- Overall: 7, because of the detail in the end, it shouldn't happen e.e

- So it's that, I try to note the any spoiler and I hope that you enjoy it!

** WARNING : Contains Spoilers **


One of the best Zombie Apocalypse Anime I have ever seen. It is about a group of girls, trying to live off in the world affected by zombie Apocalypse.

This Anime starts off as a Moe Anime, but gets dark in the First Episode itself. It isn't the zombies that make it dark.

The only thing that sets it different from other Animes, is Yuki (Main Character) who refuses the accept the zombie Apocalypse and pretends everything is fine.
She talks to her friends as if they are present, alive, and attending school just like she is. Unfortunately, they have all turned to ... zombies.

We see the reason for this peculiar behaviour explained in the last few episodes. The reason is sad and depressing. Although one might speculate it as a reaction to having lost her friends, there is something else to it.


** Spoilers ahead : Don't read if you haven't watched the anime. 100% Recommended to watch **

I haven't cried for so some time. After binge watching Your Lie in April, Clannad, followed by Violet Evergarden etc.., this Anime adds to the list.

Characters:

* Yuki : (Main Character) She has lost her friends, and someone really close to her. Megu-nee held her with love. She tries to keep her promise to Megu-nee of "never losing the smile", and thus ends up pretending everyone was alive and OK. Her loss drove her into insanity and thus she began to refuse the reality, and the moe nature originates.

Though she might seem as a burden, It is important to remember, that we are trying to save humanity. If we were to ditch a non infected human, It won't make us different than the zombies.

* Kurumi : She knows how to wield the sword (shovel in this case :p), and fight. She is only one who had thrown out her feelings and fear for the zombies and was able to kill them.

* Yuri : She does practically nothing, but is the brains of the school-live! club. Her uncanny resemblance to Megu-nee is gradually revealed though.

(!Spoilers)
* Miki : She is the only person not to have met Megu-nee. Atleast not till the end.

* Megu-Nee : Teacher at this school.

Ex Teacher at this school.

Initially, she pops out of nowhere and only talks with Yuki. She can't hold stuff and says they are too heavy. No one else talks to her. Her teleporting herself into the car (Ep 4) was creepy. One can foresee, she isn't alive, and is just a mental image created by Yuki.

She plays an important role in creating the school-live club and guiding it in the initial stages. She gets infected protecting the children, and turns into a zombie. Yuki was the only person, who could not accept it, and began her hallucinations.
She tried to keep her promise of "always smiling".
She was the guide in life and in death.

I lost it when Yuki says "Bye-Bye Megu-nee".. :'(

Honourable Mentions:
* Taroumaru : A dog, a friend and the second zombie to have helped the club. RIP. You shall be remembered for your bravery and loyal nature. RIP, my friend.

* Zombies : They play a important role too. Zombies tend to remember the memories. The reason they hang around near school is that they loved to come to school. This love had been etched into their memories, and is the reason why they came to school everyday.



Plot : This Anime is not much of Horror, but of Psychological and Slice of Life Genre.
Both these elements are strong enough to make a good plot.

The group of girls take shelter at the school, which surprisingly had lot of amenities like Solar powered electricity, rooftop garden (vegetables were grown), and what not. Perfect for taking shelter in a zombie Apocalypse.

Is this a coincidence? No. The reason is also revealed later as to why the amenities were there in the first place.
The girls spend their days living in the school, cooking food, cleaning, and routine checks and trips for rations etc.
Yuki spends her time in classroom, being tutored by a delusional Megu-nee.

Yuki's memory return gradually. And accepts the reality. Although she saw it with her own eyes, she refused to believe it. It was sad and depressing when Yuki talks to that door. :(

It is ok to be sad for one's death. The important thing is to let go
and not let your emotions take over to the extreme that you refuse to accept reality.
(A similar message was given in the Anime : "Another" )


*Episode specific*
For people who feel they are just doing nothing, there isn't much to be done. A school is NOT equipped with killing equipments.

Also, for those who say, why they returned to school, instead of going away, that's becaue
- the school had electricity, water, food supplies.
- Power was cut off at other places
- They realized the potential of the school in keeping them alive. Any other place, they would have died earlier.
- They thought the infection had spread to a very wide range. They might not be able to travel that distance with a car without getting out of fuel. (Remember power is cut, so gas stations are useless), unless they find a way to dig into the underground fuel tank.
- They didn't knew of any other shelter places.

So, it made sense to return back to school.

Also, many people feel why they didn't go on a killing spree. It is important to remember that they are children. Murder is not a native instinct, especially not for a child.

The story is excellent. And one of the unique zombie apocalypse. Personally, it is the best one. I cried the last 2-3 Episodes (the whole episode) :'( .

Overall : 10 / 10 (A recommended watch)

~Recoder

* This is one of the most deceiving thing ever made.How to use Moe right 101 "
For Gakkou Gurashi! We will start talking about the art. It is mainly made using too much moe and loli characters.Well that isn't so bad.The bad thing is the fact that the characters are around 17~18 yo ... yea... after you watch 5 mins you will wonder too "Are they actually highschool students?" Wtf is this bullshit?!?! In other words is kinda annoying if you see what the genres suggest this show will be about. . . Well other than that problem the background is really well made and ... this anime has proved that they used this art style in order to attract the viewers easier to the story and make them relax.
Continuing with the characters which are outstandingly made. Not that they are unique , not that they are special. They are just incredibly realistic and natural that perfectly fit and don't do stupid things out of their character! This show perfectly introduced you characters and their background how they ended in their situation and their problems which made them advance in their life.Additionally, not only it features their good and strong aspects but their opposite weaknesses.For example, A leader which is very kind,strong willed and with great influence to the followers has the fear of what future holds and if his plans succeed ! Let's not forget about the MC and its situation,but instead of me talking about this, i will let you find out for yourself!
The music on the anime was great.Maybe one of the few anime that you carefully stayed and watched the OP and ED cause of the numerous of hints and hidden messages it had and you MUST discover them!!At the start, you will really question this anime? Like wtf is going one?
THIS AIN'T RIGHT!! yes. . . that will happen a lot dear friend. . .Each and every episode there will be more things to search for in order to "unravel" the mystery. In other words, the OP and ED was really interactive and very well though and deep. . .
The story was really not something unique but not cliche either. It had its own aspects and authentic parts. What made it even better it was the details and the ways it was introduced. Really well written one. Worth praising and unforgettable! All the dots were slowly connected!!
It had its twists and its bullshit moments.Magnificent setup! It has pretty good ways of drawing out emotions and it definitely contains Horror,Psychological and mystery as it suggest. Don't be fooled mongrels!! This is masterful at deceiving !!
Moreover, this anime has many metaphoric scenes in order to pass some deep messages which is something you don't normally see and requires hard work in order to be used right !!
------------------Personal Opinion and weakness-----------------------
This anime planned everything out, foreshadowed, suggested, gestated, and culimated... but all of that setup leads to a series of serrendiptious contrivences. I feel a little gyped. It's like 28 weeks later all over again. Fabulous setup... and then everyone just goes stupid.
Also the flashbacks and shinanegans? Like waddaEf. IS that needed? For the time being?
Another spicy thing is that it had its "Fan Service" moments. Tho. . . no matter how annoyed it wasn't so bad... Why? Cause the moments lasted lower than 1 mins each and there were no ecchi jokes or meanigless unrealistic "Ecchi" scenes!! But there was they all time cliche Swimsuits episode. . .Yea fuck that obligatory "Swimsuit" episode. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE! Last but not least, there were moments when anime went complete retard mode and deactivated all kinds of logic it had. . . Especially in the last 2 episode. I don't imply that nothing made sense. I imply that the last 2 episodes were full of miracles and plot conveniences!! Not so bad as it sounds tho... no major flaw or something. . .

All in all, this was a hell of a ride.The only problem is that it starts pretty slow and questionable and it selflessly destroy its image in the beginning! I mean it presents itself as SHIT,but inside there is gold!!This series is definitely one of the genuine and prototype series out there.
Therefore im recommending it blindfolded to anyone.
Personally this anime finished in 11 episodes for me. If you want max enjoyment i suggest you doing the same and ignoring ep 12 !!
Reasons to watch it:
-Exceeds at almost anything ! Music/art/story/chars!
-Moe art used for the right purposes!
- A really good ride!

This was my Shameless review.
I am leaving without remorse!

Spoiler Free Review for all Episode:

This is one of those incredible anime that you rarely come across when you ran out of mainstream series to watch. It completely attaches you to it's world and characters then leaves you hanging and feeling broken and empty right at the end because there's no season 2.

The anime itself is imperfect but the execution of it is impeccable and that in itself is deserving of a masterpiece title. I am one of the lucky viewers that went in blind and was just searching for something decent and light hearted but got something else.

Seriously if you have no idea ... what this anime is just give the first episode a shot and see for yourself how much this hidden gem will shine if you give it a chance.