PROS
I think anyone who watches HOTD will first notice the beautiful animation in the series. From the very opening credits, all the way to the closing credits, each episode looks like a moving painting. This should be no surprise to those who know of Madhouse, the studio involved in making HOTD. There previous efforts have been of great quality and continues here. Honestly, the animation is flawless. I have no problems with it at all.
With the great visuals comes a fantastic soundtrack. Just a great way to spend watching an anime like this. It fits perfectly with every situation and never lets go. I think, alone, the soundtrack would be a waste, but going hand in hand with the anime - it is fantastic.
Lastly, the gore in this series is over-the-top. Everything you would want, if you're a gore hound, is in this anime. Bones broken, head exploding, etc... It's all there and quite amazing. I was surprised just how bloody the show was as it went along. Great stuff.
CONS
There has been a lot of debate about the fan service in this anime. My thoughts on it are simply this. Does it distract a lot from the story? Yes. Does it make the anime unwatchable? No. It shows up a bunch of times throughout the series, but I think some people are over-exaggerating it a bit much. It's not as bad as other anime shows that have come out the past few years, but it is a bit much.
The story to this anime simply sucks. Don't expect any twists or turns in HOTD. There are none. It's pretty straightforward from start to finish. But again, I watched it to have fun, not for a great story. With a title like High School of the Dead, I am surprised that some viewers predicted a deep story.
Character development is really poor too. Once you learn about a character, they stay the same throughout the series. No characters evolve or become different people by the end. Surely though, that is not why anyone would watch this anime.
OVERALL
HOTD is a stupid anime for people who want to lay back and relax. The story isn't interesting at all and the characters are completely bland. Yet, the over-the-top action makes this anime worth it, despite all of this. It's just a fun anime that knows that it wants to be and succeeds in every aspect.
