The Top 15 Best Zombie Anime You Must Watch

Are you tired of the same old boring anime? Want to spice up your watchlist with some undead action? Look no further, because I’ve got the cure for your anime apathy – the best zombie anime!

Prepare yourself for a wild ride through a zombie-infested world. These anime aren’t about your average slow and groaning undead, but instead, they showcase ravenous ghouls with a serious craving for human flesh. In order to defend themselves against these brain-hungry monsters, survivors band together. So get some popcorn and get ready for a thrilling adventure that is filled with suspense and danger at every turn.

But wait, there’s more! Not only will you get the satisfaction of watching your favorite characters fight off hordes of the undead, but you’ll also get to experience the hilarity that comes with putting anime characters in zombie scenarios. From the absurd to the downright ridiculous, these shows will have you laughing and screaming in equal measure. So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive into the top 15 best zombie anime you must watch!

15. The Empire of Corpses

• Director: Ryoutarou Makihara
• Writer: Project Itoh
• Release date: October 2, 2015
• Characters: Nikolai Krasotkin, John H. Watson, Alexei Karamazov
• IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller 

The Empire of Corpses is a science fiction adventure anime film produced by Wit Studio and directed by Ryoutarou Makihara, based on a novel by Project Itoh. In an alternate 18th Century Britain, corpses are the main part of the labor force, and Necroware, an artificial soul that can be upgraded, is used to replace missing souls. John Watson, a medical student, creates his Necroware to resurrect his deceased friend, Friday, and agrees to become an agent for the British Empire to avoid a prison sentence. He is then tasked to find The Memorandum, Frankenstein’s original research on reanimating a corpse with a soul. The plot follows Watson’s journey to find The Memorandum, which leads him to Japan, where he discovers that the original creation of Frankenstein, known as The One, is still alive and seeking vengeance against humanity. The Empire of Corpses is a fascinating anime with a unique plot that explores the concept of artificial intelligence and reanimating the dead.

14. Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? (Is This a Zombie?)

• Director: Takaomi Kanasaki
• Writer: Shinichi Kimura
• Release date: January 11, 2011
• Characters: Ayumu Aikawa, Eucliwood Hellscythe, Serafimu, Taeko Hiramatsu
• IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
• Genre: Action, Romantic comedy, Fantasy

Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?/Is This a Zombie? is a Japanese anime that aired from January to March 2011. It tells the story of Ayumu Aikawa, who was murdered by a serial killer and then resurrected as a zombie by a necromancer named Eucliwood Hellscythe. Alongside Eucliwood, Ayumu is joined by Haruna, a Masō-Shōjo, and Seraphim, a vampire ninja, and together they battle demons known as Megalos while uncovering the mystery behind Ayumu’s death. The anime’s second season, Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? of the Dead, aired from April to June 2012. Ayumu is near invincible as a zombie, but he will dry out in sunlight. He also has the ability to absorb magic, which he gains from Haruna, forcing him to become a Masō-Shōjo. The anime has five different manga adaptations based on its universe. The show is known for its mix of humor, action, and supernatural elements.

13. Sunday Without God

• Director: Yūji Kumazawa
• Writer: Tomohiro Suzuki
• Release date: July 7, 2013
• Characters: Ai Astin, Hampnie Hambart, Julie Sakuma, Scar, Alice Color, Ulla Eulesse Hecmatica, Dee Ensy Stratmitos
• IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
• Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Drama

Sunday Without God is a supernatural, mystery, and romance anime series set in a world where humans have lost their ability to have children, and those who have died continue to exist despite injury and decay. Gravekeepers are those with the power to put the living dead to sleep. Ai Astin, a 12-year-old gravekeeper, embarks on a quest to save the world after Hampnie Hambart, a strange albino man, massacres the people who live in her village. Ai discovers the truth about Hampnie and her village while also making new friends, such as Julie, Hampnie’s childhood friend, Scar, a gravekeeper, an enigmatic boy named Alice, and Dee, a ghostly witch. This 12-episode anime television series produced by Madhouse and directed by Yūji Kumazawa aired between July and September 2013.

12. Tokyo Ghoul

• Director: Shuhei Morita
• Writer: Chūji Mikasano
• Release date: July 3, 2014
• Characters: Ken Kaneki, Touka Kirishima, Yoshimura, Nishiki Nishio, Renji Yomo
• IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
• Genre: Action, Drama, Horror

Tokyo Ghoul is a dark fantasy anime set in an alternate reality where ghouls, creatures that look like normal people but can only survive by eating human flesh, live among the human population in secrecy, hiding their true nature to evade the authorities. The main story centers on Ken Kaneki, a student who narrowly escapes a fatal confrontation with the ghoul Rize Kamishiro. After he has recovered, he learns that the surgery he had caused him to become half-ghoul. While trying to blend in with ghoul society, Kaneki keeps his true identity a secret from his human friends. Tokyo Ghoul was adapted into a 12-episode anime television series in 2014, followed by a second season, titled Tokyo Ghoul √A, which aired in 2015. The series explores the themes of identity, morality, and discrimination.

11. Zombie-Loan

• Director: Akira Nishimori
• Writer: Peach-Pit
• Release date: October 3, 2007
• Characters: Michiru Kita, Chika Akatsuki, Shito Tachibana, Reiichiro “Otsu” Shiba, Bekko
• IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
• Genre: Action, Horror, Supernatural, Comedy, Mystery

Zombie-Loan is a Japanese anime based on a manga series created by Peach-Pit. The story centers around Michiru Kita, who possesses the Shinigami Eyes, a power that allows her to see a person’s closeness to death. Two boys in her class, Shito Tachibana and Chika Akatsuki, both have black rings around their necks but are still alive. After an incident that was supposed to result in their deaths, the two struck a deal with Zombie-Loan. The two have to hunt zombies to repay their debt for keeping them alive. When they find out about Michiru’s ability, they want her to find people with rings to eliminate them. Shito and Chika leave Zombie-Loan after hunting zombies in an episodic fashion and travel to China to save Shito’s mother from the Xu-Fu. Shito is taken prisoner by the Xu-Fu, who intend to use his body as a vessel for their leader Lao Ye. After eventually defeating Lao Ye, the pair head back to Zombie-Loan. The Akashic Records are a central plot device in the show, and Michiru manipulates them to erase zombies and irregularities by turning back time. The series ends with a new timeline, and Bekko announces the reopening of Zombie Loan. The anime, licensed by Discotek Media, has 11 episodes with the final episode airing on September 11, 2007. Episodes 12 and 13 were released on the seventh Region 2 DVD, but no official word for television broadcast has been made.

10. Corpse Princess

• Director: Masahiko Murata
• Writer: Yoshiichi Akahito
• Release date: October 2, 2008
• Characters: Makina Hoshimura, Ouri Kagami, Keisei Tagami, Rika Aragami, Sadahiro Mibu, Hokuto, Akasha Shishidou, Rinsen Takamizo, Itsuki Yamagami
• IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
• Genre: Action, Horror, Supernatural

Corpse Princess, also known as Shikabane Hime in Japanese, is a manga and anime series that centers around Makina Hoshimura, an undead girl who transforms into a “Corpse Princess” after being killed. She uses two MAC-11 submachine guns to kill 108 additional Shikabane in order to enter heaven with the aid of a covert group of anti-corpse Buddhist monks. She is helped in this endeavor by Keisei Tagami, a monk with ties to the anti-corpse movement. Makina’s ultimate objective is to eliminate the Shikabane known as the Seven Stars in order to exact revenge for her family’s passing. The 25 episodes and one OVA of the action, supernatural, and thriller-themed series, which ran from October 2, 2008, to March 26, 2009, were broadcast on television. The anime is licensed for North American distribution and release by Funimation.

9. Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress

• Director: Tetsuro Araki
• Writer: Ichiro Okouchi
• Release date: April 8, 2016
• Characters: Mumei, Ikoma, Ayame, Kurusu, Biba, Takumi, Kajika, Yukina
• IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
• Genre: Action, Horror, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is a dark fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and steampunk anime television series produced by Wit Studio. The show takes place in an alternate world during the Industrial Revolution, where a virus called Kabane transforms infected humans into aggressive, undead creatures that cannot be defeated unless the glowing golden heart, which is protected by a layer of iron, is pierced, or an important body part is completely severed. The series follows Ikoma, a young engineer, who tests his anti-kabane weapon, the “piercing gun”, on himself, and resists the virus to become a Kabaneri, a human-kabane hybrid. He is assisted by Mūmei, another Kabaneri, and together they fight the hordes of kabane while seeking shelter. The series consists of 12 episodes, and two compilation films and a Netflix version were also released.

8. Sankarea: Undying Love

Sankarea: Undying Love is a Japanese manga series adapted into an anime television series by Studio Deen. The series revolves around Chihiro Furuya, a high school student who has a keen interest in zombies, and his encounters with Rea Sanka, a girl who has run away from home. After drinking a potion created by Chihiro from the poisonous Hydrangea macrophylla flower, Rea becomes a zombie who eats hydrangea leaves to survive. The series follows Chihiro’s life and relationship with his new ‘zombie girlfriend.’ Chihiro experiences becoming a half-zombie after he is stabbed with a fencing sword. The plot thickens as Rea’s father forces her to return home, and Chihiro tries to rescue her. The anime has been licensed and published in North America by Kodansha USA. Sankarea: Undying Love is a perfect addition to the list of the Best Zombie Anime You Must Watch.

• Director: Shinichi Omata
• Writer: Mitsuru Hattori
• Release date: April 5, 2012
• Characters: Chihiro Furuya, Rea Sanka, Ranko Saouji, Mero Furuya, Jogorou Furuya
• IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
• Genre: Romance, Comedy, Horror, Supernatural

7. Seoul Station

• Director: Yeon Sang-ho
• Writer: Yeon Sang-ho
• Release date: June 9, 2016 (South Korea)
• Characters: Hye-sun, Ki-woong, homeless man
• IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
• Genre: Animated horror, Drama, Romance

Seoul Station is a South Korean adult animated zombie film and prequel to the Train to Busan film series. It explores how the zombie epidemic began in South Korea. Released in 2016, the film stars Shim Eun-kyung, Ryu Seung-ryong, and Lee Joon. The story revolves around three main characters: Suk-gyu, a father who searches for his runaway daughter, Hye-sun, who he finds is alive and currently a prostitute; Ki-woong, Hye-sun’s boyfriend who intends to pimp her out again; and Hye-sun herself, who escapes into a police station with a group of survivors and is trapped in a jail cell. The film follows their attempt to survive the zombie epidemic that breaks out in Seoul. The film was awarded Best Animated Feature Film at the 10th edition of the Asian Pacific Screen Awards in 2016.

6. Zombieland Saga

• Director: Munehisa Sakai
• Writer: Shigeru Murakoshi
• Release date: October 4, 2018
• Characters: Sakura Minamoto, Saki Nikaido, Ai Mizuno, Junko Konno, Yugiri
• IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
• Genre: Comedy, Horror, Music, Supernatural

Zombie Land Saga is a unique anime series that combines the elements of horror, comedy, and music. The plot revolves around Sakura Minamoto, a high school student who dies suddenly and is resurrected as a zombie ten years later. Along with six other girls from different eras of Japan’s history, she forms an idol group named Franchouchou to revive Saga Prefecture’s idol business. The group’s performances are kept secret due to the fear of persecution, and they use makeup and aliases to hide their undead status. The anime was produced by MAPPA, Avex Pictures, and Cygames and aired in Japan between October and December 2018. It was followed by a second season titled Zombie Land Saga Revenge, which aired between April and June 2021. The series also has a manga adaptation and a spinoff series titled Zombie Land Saga Sidestory: The First Zombie.

5. GYO: Tokyo Fish Attack

• Director: Takayuki Hirao
• Writer: Junichi Fujisaku, Junji Ito
• Release date: February 15, 2012
• Characters: Tsuyoshi, Kana, Shuntaro, Erika, Kenji
• IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
• Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy

Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack is a horror anime adapted from a seinen manga written by Junji Ito. The story follows a couple, Tadashi and Kaori, as they try to survive a horde of undead fish with metal legs powered by an odor called the “death stench”. They encounter the strange fish while on a scuba diving vacation in Okinawa and return to Tokyo to find that the fish have taken over the city. The cause of the strange fish is revealed to be a virus that was created during World War II by the Imperial Japanese Army. As the story progresses, Tadashi and Kaori fight to survive against hordes of walking machines infected by the virus, and Tadashi joins a group of students in their research to defeat the virus and save humanity. Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack is a must-watch for fans of zombie anime who enjoy horror and suspense.

4. Gungrave

• Director: Toshiyuki Tsuru
• Writer: Yōsuke Kuroda
• Release date: October 6, 2003
• Characters: Brandon Heat / Beyond the Grave, Harry MacDowell, Big Daddy, Maria Asagi, Bear Walken, Lee, Bunji Kugashira, Dr. Tokioka
• IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
• Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Zombie

Gungrave is an anime series that tells the story of Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell, two friends who join the Millennion crime syndicate and rise through the ranks together. However, their friendship is tested when Harry betrays Brandon and has him killed. Brandon is then reborn as Beyond The Grave and seeks revenge against the organization that betrayed him. The series explores the circumstances that led to Brandon’s death and his transformation into a powerful undead warrior. Along the way, he forms his own elite sweeper unit within Millennion called “True Graves” and confronts Harry in a final showdown. Despite the betrayal, Brandon chooses to protect Harry in the end, showing that their friendship still meant something to him. With 26 episodes, Gungrave is a thrilling and action-packed anime that is sure to keep viewers engaged from start to finish.

3. Tokyo Majin

• Director: Shinji Ishihira
• Writer: Toshizo Nemoto
• Release date: Part 1 – October 1, 2007 / Part 2 – January 14, 2008
• Characters: Tatsuma Hiyuu, Kyouichi Houraiji, Aoi Misato, Komaki Sakurai, Yuuya Daigo, and others
• IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
• Genre: Action, Horror, Supernatural

Tokyo Majin is a Japanese anime television series that premiered in 2007. The story follows mysterious transfer student Tatsuma Hiyuu and delinquent student Kyouichi Houraiji, who team up with other students from Magami Academy to fight the ‘Reborn Dead’, people who die at night and return as corpses in the day. The group must also fight the powerful beings controlling the ‘Reborn Dead’ who seek to destroy the city and its inhabitants. The anime is based on a series of Japan-only video games and directed by Shinji Ishihira. The series has 26 episodes, and it was licensed by ADV and later transferred to Funimation. Tokyo Majin is a mix of action, horror, and supernatural genres and is one of the best zombie anime series to watch.

2. School-Live!

• Director: Masaomi Ando
• Writer: Norimitsu Kaiho
• Release date: July 9, 2015
• Characters: Yuki Takeya, Kurumi Ebisuzawa, Yuri Wakasa, Miki Naoki, Megumi Sakura
• IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
• Genre: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, School, Slice of Life, Supernatural.

School-Live! is a zombie anime that follows Yuki Takeya, a high school student and member of the Megurigaoka Private High School’s School Living Club. Yuki and her friends Kurumi, Yūri, and Miki are the only survivors of a zombie outbreak that overran their city. Yuki is always excited to engage in school activities and has created an idealized delusion for herself in the midst of the outbreak, where everything is normal and her classmates and teachers are alive and well. However, as she slowly comes to terms with reality, she becomes more useful to the group. Kurumi carries a shovel around to defend against zombie encounters and was once in love with an unnamed upperclassman who turned into a zombie and attacked her. The anime focuses on the girls’ struggle to survive while keeping Yuki’s fragile mental state in check.

1. Highschool Of The Dead

• Director: Tetsuro Araki
• Writer: Yosuke Kuroda
• Release date: July 5, 2010
• Characters: Takashi Komuro, Rei Miyamoto, Saeko Busujima, Saya Takagi, Kohta Hirano, Shizuka Marikawa
• IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
• Genre: Action, Horror, Supernatural, Ecchi

Highschool of the Dead is a manga and anime series that centers around a group of high school students and their school nurse as they try to survive a zombie apocalypse that has struck present-day Japan. The pandemic turns humans into zombies, known as “Them,” and the main characters must deal with the catastrophic event and societal collapse, as well as dangerous fellow survivors and the decay of their own moral codes. They must escape from their high school, find survivors in their homes, pick up a little girl and a dog, and eventually make their way to an elementary school that is supposed to be a safe zone. Highschool of the Dead is a horror, action, and supernatural thriller anime that is adapted from Daisuke Satō and Shōji Satō’s manga.

Did you know?

All 12 episodes of the first season of “Highschool of the Dead” are available for free on YouTube, making it easily accessible for fans to watch and enjoy the thrilling zombie-filled anime series.

FAQ

Final Thoughts

zombie anime is a thrilling and entertaining genre that is guaranteed to give you chills and excitement. From the unique plot of “The Empire of Corpses” to the mix of humor and action in “Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?“, there is something for everyone. “Sunday Without God” explores a world where death is not the end, while “Tokyo Ghoul” delves into the complex themes of identity and morality. And let’s not forget “Zombie-Loan,” which brings a fresh take on the concept of death. With so many amazing zombie anime out there, it’s no wonder why it has become such a popular genre. So, grab some snacks and start binging on this top 15 best zombie anime that are sure to leave you on the edge of your seat!