While the Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead anime is heading to Netflix in July 2023, the series’ first live-action movie will also make its worldwide debut on Netflix on August 3. At today’s From Japan to the World — Netflix J-Content Presentation held at Anime Expo 2023, a new teaser trailer for the Zom 100 live-action was revealed to showcase exactly how the zombie apocalypse world was brought to real life.
Eiji Akaso, who stars Akira in Zom 100 live-action, described that it was a zombie work that you’ve never watched before. “Akira is so positive that he seems to turn every desperate moment from an apocalypse world to an exciting adventure that no one shall miss. You may want to make your own bucket list too after watching this unique comedy,” he said on the Netflix Stage at Anime Expo 2023.
Also joining him on stage is the Zom 100 manga’s original illustrator Kotaro Takata, who praised Akaso’s performance as Akira. “He is the perfect person for the role. I can’t imagine any other actors taking the role,” he said.
Takata also mentioned that he and writer Haro Aso created this positive vibe to convey the message that life is too short to be wasted. “Regardless you live for three months or 60 years, there is still not enough to accomplish everything in one life. I guess it is a timeless and universal message that not just relates to people in Japan, but also around the world.
Mai Shiraishi is also joining the cast as heroine Shizuka Mikazuki, a girl whom protagonist Akira meets during a supply run at a convenience store. Shuntarō Yanagi plays Kenichirō “Kencho” Ryūzaki, Akira’s close friend. Kazuki Kitamura plays Gonzō Kosugi, Akira’s emotionally abusive boss at an exploitative company.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead centers on Akira Tendo, who works at an abusive company where he suffers endless late hours, power harassment from his boss, and illogical tasks. He spends his days feeling more dead than alive. One morning, the town is overtaken by zombies, and the familiar landscape is already devastated. Seeing such destruction, Akira shouts with glee that he doesn’t need to go to the office anymore. Showing his innate positivity, Akira comes up with a list of 100 things he wants to do before he becomes a zombie, including cleaning his home and camping on his balcony, and sets out to complete his bucket list.
▍Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Live-Action Movie Staff & Production
Director: Yusuke Ishida
Screenplay: Tatsuro Mishima
Original Music: Yoshiaki Dewa
Music Producer: Kohei Chida
Director of Photography: Taro Kawazu
Production Design: Ryota Eguchi
Action Director: Yuji Shimomura
Sound Recordist: Masaharu Tanabe
Sound Design: Hiro Ishizaka
Editor: Eri Usukine
VFX Supervisor: Jeffrey Dillinger
VFX Producer: Ryo Takatama, Tomofumi Akahane
Stylist: Haruki Kouketsu
Hair and Make-up Direction: Rie Suda
Special Makeup Director: Soichi Umezawa
Executive Producer: Shinichi Takahashi
Producer: Akira Morii
In Association with: Plus One Entertainment
Production Company: ROBOT