When we first got asked to do an interview and preview for Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, we thought we’d be previewing the debuting anime. Upon accepting the opportunity, we quickly found out that the preview instead would be for the live-action adaptation of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. Typically, live-action adaptations fail in comparison to their animated counterparts, with only a few acceptions (Full Metal Alchemist). Despite previously reading the manga, we were pleasantly surprised by the time and effort it seemed the production team had put into the live-action adaptation.

Looking back at the live-action and comparing it to the newly animated series, there are certain aspects that just feel better. Akira in the live-action feels less creepy; he’s still awkward but he doesn’t seem as stalkerish. Like any movie, the pacing just feels quicker. Now, one thing that it does lack in comparison is Akira’s notebook entries. In the anime, by the second episode, Akira has written over 30 tasks that he wants to complete before potentially becoming a zombie; in the live-action, Akira seems to struggle with what he wants to do barely reaching twenty before the movies end. The anime gives a better depiction of the other characters than the movie does. Ultimately, the movie is a good sample of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead but the anime is the meat and potatoes even if you can get past some of the color choices (blood).

Zom 100 Interview

After previewing the live-action adaptation of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (Zom 100), we had the opportunity to interview the movie’s lead actor who portrays Akira, Eiji Akaso, at Anime Expo. Rather than share this interview immediately, we wanted to wait until the Zombie Shark had been shared with everyone rather than ruin the surprise. Below is our Zom 100 Interview.

Matt – So how was working on the project? Working as the main character role and the rest of the production?

Eiji Akaso – Alright, so we spent four months filming just this movie, and taking four months is relatively you know, long in Japanese standard. So, I was able to focus on acting and how I can be able to portray Akira. So I was able to take time and be true to the, you know, Akira. And I was really grateful that we took this long period of time for filming. And for the friendship, we build a very good friendship with, you know, the director and a producer and other cast members. And we are able to, you know, go out and have dinner together. And whenever we have the chance, we are able to openly discuss how we can make this movie fun and interesting. So, four months, it was really fun and, you know, really a good time.

Matt – So how was working on the project? Working as the main character role and the rest of the production?

Eiji Akaso – Alright, so we spent four months filming just this movie, and taking four months is relatively you know, long in Japanese standard. So, I was able to focus on acting and how I can be able to portray Akira. So I was able to take time and be true to the, you know, Akira. And I was really grateful that we took this long period of time for filming. And for the friendship, we build a very good friendship with, you know, the director and a producer and other cast members. And we are able to, you know, go out and have dinner together. And whenever we have the chance, we are able to openly discuss how we can make this movie fun and interesting. So, four months, it was really fun and, you know, really a good time.

Matt – Now to follow up with that. Do you feel that the live-action adaptation was truthful to the manga?

Eiji Akaso – Yes. So, I wanted to be as truthful to the manga. So small details like hairstyle and the clothes I was wearing in the film were very truthful to the manga character. And any impressive one-scene or one-stop motion. I had to be very truthful to cater to the manga, but thanks to you know, just the opportunity to arrange a real action film I think I was able to make Akira more relatable more human, and more realistic to our viewers.

Zombies and the Shark

Matt – So when they were filming the shark scene did they have a human just running around or an artificial shark prop?

Eiji Akaso – Right, so there was an artificial shell you know, they created the fish shell portion of the shark only, and actually somebody was holding that face and pushing against me. So that’s how we created the scene.

Matt – How do you feel about kind of the killing of the zombies not really being that actively present in the movie?

Eiji Akaso – So the only scene that I actually fight with a zombie was the one with shock. It was like you know not that good feeling though because I had to you know kill the zombie and kind of scaly.

Matt- Outside of your character, who is your favorite character from the series/ movie?

Eiji Akaso- You know Kosugi, Akira’s boss at the company. We call him a calm leader. And you know, he was portrayed as a mean demanding you know boss for Akira but you cannot really hate him he has a little charming a nice thing in this character in his heart. So after the movie, you probably wish he will be happy at the end. No?

Matt- Are we talking about the aquarium boss or the other boss? 

Eiji – The Aquariam Boss

Matt – I wanted him dead. Have there been future talks of continuing the series outside of this one-off?

Eiji Akaso – So in this movie, we already showed how Akira grew as a human and it kind of completed as just a one-off. So that will be a little difficult how you can bring the sequence but if you’re going to make Zom: 100 2 I will definitely be in it and act Akira again.

Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead debuts on August 3rd, 2023. A special thanks to Netflix for giving us the opportunity to preview the live-action depiction and interview the lead.