Top 20 Zombie Anime Series

Anime has explored zombies and the undead in many creative ways, from stories about surviving after the world ends to quirky tales about pop idols. This list collects series where zombies or reanimated bodies are central to the plot – whether caused by a sudden epidemic, a magical curse, or a science experiment gone wrong. You’ll find everything from intense action and scary school settings to dark humor and even satire about the music business. Each entry includes a summary of the story, its location, and what makes it unique.

‘Highschool of the Dead’ (2010)

The series centers on a group of high school students and a nurse who must flee when a zombie outbreak hits Japan. It follows their journey as they navigate a collapsing city, scavenge for supplies, and form uneasy alliances as society crumbles. The show features intense action sequences with characters using whatever they can find as weapons and building defenses, while also realistically portraying the challenges of surviving a fast-spreading disaster – like finding fuel, staying connected, and securing safe shelter.

‘Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress’ (2016)

This action series takes place in a steam-powered, industrial world where people struggle to survive against the Kabane – terrifying creatures infected with a virus that’s protected by their hearts. The main characters travel by armored trains, using unique weapons to battle their way across the country. Each mission focuses on strategic defenses, strict quarantine rules, and the challenges of governing settlements. The show also emphasizes the constant struggle to maintain resources like steel, bullets, and the steam needed to power the trains.

‘School-Live!’ (2015)

This anime initially seems like a typical school club story, but it’s set in a city overrun by zombies. The characters are students who’ve barricaded themselves inside their school to survive. The show focuses on their everyday routines for staying alive – things like growing food on the roof, reinforcing classrooms, and keeping watch. They use diaries and scouting trips to gather supplies and understand the dangers around them. A key part of the story is how the characters cope with the emotional toll of the situation, how they deal with denial, and how they maintain their group dynamic.

‘Zombie Land Saga’ (2018–2021)

A shadowy producer brings together a group of zombie idols, reviving girls from different time periods to revitalize a struggling region. Each member has a fascinating past – one was a famous motorcycle racer, another a childhood celebrity – and they perform as actual zombies. The show follows their journey as they train, build their brand, promote the local area, and navigate the challenges of performing live in smaller venues and at festivals. Being undead presents unique difficulties, like keeping their makeup in place, performing physically demanding stunts, and keeping their true nature a secret.

‘Is This a Zombie?’ (2011–2012)

A teenager who comes back to life as a zombie finds himself living with a group of supernatural housemates. He’s surprisingly tough and can temporarily gain powers, which often leads to wild and unpredictable fights. The show follows his everyday life – juggling normal teen problems with the strange occurrences and monster battles happening around town – in a series of funny, action-packed episodes. It also keeps track of all the unique rules, strengths, and weaknesses that come with being a zombie trying to fit in.

‘Sankarea: Undying Love’ (2012)

This story follows a teen with a passion for zombies who encounters a girl brought back to life—but not quite successfully. It explores the surprisingly complex challenges of keeping an undead body functioning, detailing everything from keeping the right temperature to figuring out what they can eat. The characters constantly try different methods to slow down decay and help her stay mobile. The series portrays zombification not as a sudden transformation, but as a long-term illness that demands careful planning, constant secrecy, and ongoing care.

‘Corpse Princess’ (2008–2009)

A young woman, brought back to life after being murdered, becomes a warrior who hunts vengeful spirits possessing corpses. She works with a monk who provides information, cleanses areas of spiritual corruption, and offers support during missions. They investigate strange deaths to find patterns and then battle the undead, using unique strategies for each enemy. The series establishes a system where spirits are revived by their unresolved regrets, giving each monster a backstory and reason for existing.

‘Gungrave’ (2003–2004)

This crime story takes a dark turn when a criminal organization starts using reanimated soldiers – known as orgmen – sparking an undead conflict. The narrative centers on the secret development, production, and deployment of these fighters as the syndicate attempts to control city areas. The series explores the logistics of creating and supplying this undead army, and contrasts the usual power plays between people with the devastating consequences of relying on these reanimated troops.

‘Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness’ (2021)

This limited series takes place within the universe of the popular survival-horror franchise and centers around federal agents responding to a bioterrorism crisis. The story jumps between an attack on the White House and events unfolding in a war-torn area. As they investigate, agents uncover clues involving suspicious lab purchases, fake companies, and manipulated data related to a dangerous, weaponized disease. The action emphasizes the challenges of containing the outbreak in tight spaces and the difficulties of maintaining order and communication during a high-stakes emergency.

‘Zombie-Loan’ (2007)

Two students find themselves in debt after surviving deadly accidents, and must hunt undead creatures to pay it off. Each episode focuses on a new case, where they track targets using unique clues and abilities. The jobs they take – and how much they earn – are dictated by strict financial and contractual rules. The show also keeps a detailed record of the different types of undead and the best ways to defeat them.

‘Gibiate’ (2020)

In a near-future Japan devastated by a virus that turns people into undead creatures, the story follows a group of survivors—including warriors pulled from different time periods—who are fighting back. These survivors live in mobile camps where they provide medical care, conduct research, and defend against the creatures. They spend their time learning about the different types of undead and developing new ways to fight them, both up close and from a distance. The main goal is to find those who carry the virus, keep the scientists working on a cure safe, and test new treatments while under attack.

‘Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’ (2023)

A man stuck in a draining office job finds unexpected freedom when a zombie apocalypse hits. He decides to finally live life to the fullest and makes a list of things he wants to experience. The show follows him and his friends as they travel across the country, finding supplies, improving their vehicle, and carefully planning their routes. Each episode presents a new goal – like seeing famous sights or assisting people in need – framed as a challenging mission. The constant threat of zombies forces them to consider everything, from what protective clothing to wear to having escape routes ready.

‘Princess Resurrection’ (2007–2008)

A teenage human is magically linked to a prince from the monster realm, finding themselves caught up in battles against undead and other dangerous creatures. The royal household is responsible for protecting their lands, providing safe havens, and having plans in place for unexpected attacks. They use everything from swords and bows to clever, homemade traps to defend their town. The story also details the different kinds of enemies they face, and how power structures within the undead armies determine who leads them in combat.

‘Hellsing’ (2001–2002)

This series follows a secret organization dedicated to fighting supernatural dangers, like ghouls that act similar to zombies controlled by someone else. They handle threats with quick-response teams, by sealing off cities, and using special weapons. The story also investigates how these mass reanimations are artificially created, tracks the supply chain for monster-fighting gear, and explores the political consequences when big incidents occur.

‘Tokyo Majin’ (2007)

In Tokyo, a group of students with special powers battles waves of zombies brought back to life through dark magic. They work as a team, with members specializing in scouting, fighting, and providing support, and they use familiar locations around the city to communicate. Each episode focuses on finding the person responsible for creating the zombies and stopping the outbreaks. The show details how to defeat the zombies, what protects them, and how to permanently end the threat.

‘Zo Zo Zo Zombie-kun’ (2020-)

This funny show follows a boy and his zombie buddy as they stumble through everyday life, but with a spooky twist! The humor comes from the zombie’s detachable body parts, how tough he is, and the weird ways they fix his problems. Each short episode showcases clever and creative uses of being undead, showing how zombie traits can actually solve little problems with simple tools and quick fixes.

‘Sirius the Jaeger’ (2018)

The series, while focused on vampire hunters, often includes zombies and similar creatures used as disposable frontline fighters. The central organization establishes secure locations, hidden weapon stockpiles, and intelligence-gathering systems. Combat scenes highlight teamwork between close-quarters fighters and snipers, taking place in urban environments like streets and docks. The story revolves around stolen supplies and illegal smuggling operations dealing in both supernatural technology and bodies.

‘Hitori no Shita: The Outcast’ (2016–2018)

This action-packed series blends martial arts with dark magic, featuring intense fights against zombies and those who control them. Hidden groups keep records of techniques for manipulating the dead, and investigations uncover crimes involving stolen bodies and forbidden experiments. The show carefully details the different powers and strategies used in both back-alley brawls and surprise attacks.

‘Junji Ito Collection’ (2018)

As a horror fan, I recently checked out this anthology film, and it’s a really interesting take on the undead – though it’s not quite your typical zombie movie. It presents several different stories, each with its own unique rules for how the dead come back and how people might survive. What I appreciated was the focus on the *how* and *why* of it all – the settings, from quiet towns to claustrophobic apartments, really build the tension. Each segment isn’t about the outbreak itself, but what happens *immediately* after – the desperate choices people make to escape, and the personal toll it takes on them. It’s less about grand-scale action and more about the intimate consequences of facing something truly terrifying.

‘Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre’ (2023)

This collection features various stories, many focusing on towns overrun by the undead. Each story shows how the outbreak begins, how it spreads, and how people become trapped. Characters try to survive by planning escapes, finding temporary hiding places, and carefully managing limited resources, all within fast-paced, focused situations. The series offers a close look at how people react and behave when facing a terrifying outbreak and extreme pressure.

Tell us about your most memorable scenes from zombie anime in the comments below! Also, let us know if there are any series you think we should have included.

2025-10-19 08:17