The appeal and reviews of "Sankarea": ​​A new frontier for zombie x romantic comedy

Sankarea: A strange intersection of zombies and youth

Sankarea is a TV anime series based on the original manga by Mitsuru Hattori, which aired from April 6 to June 28, 2012. This 12-episode series tells a unique story that combines the extraordinary existence of zombies with the everyday life of young people, surprising and moving viewers in a fresh way.

Overview

Sankarea begins with a zombie-loving boy, Chihiro Furuya, attempting an experiment to revive a zombie after the death of his pet cat. During the course of the experiment, a girl named Reiya Sanka is resurrected as a zombie, and the two begin a strange life together. Through the existence of zombies, the story depicts relationships with family and friends, as well as personal growth.

Broadcast information

"Sankarea" was broadcast on TBS, MBS, CBC, and BS-TBS. The broadcast time is 30 minutes, and on CBC, the broadcast time was changed to 2:42 a.m. on Thursdays from July 12th.

cast

The main characters are voiced by:

• Sanka Rea - Maaya Uchida
• Chihiro Furuya - Ryohei Kimura
• Ranko Saouji - Sayuri Yahagi
• Mero Furuya - Yuka Iguchi
• Furuya Jogoro - Shiro Saito
• Furuya Doon - Haruo Ogino
• Sanka Dan'ichiro - Unsho Ishizuka
• Sanka Aria - Mayumi Asano
• Mogi - Saori Hayashi
• Yasutaka - Shuhei Iwase
• Barbe - Misato Fukuen

Main Staff

The following people are involved in the production of this work:

• Original author: Mitsuru Hattori (serialized in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine)
• Director - Mamoru Hatakeyama
• Series Composition - Noboru Takagi
• Character design - Sakai Kyuta
• Sound Director - Tatsuhito Nakagawa
• Music - Yukari Hashimoto
• Music Production - Lantis
• Animation production: Studio Deen

Main Characters

The main characters of Sankarea are:

• Sanka Reiya (CV: Uchida Maaya) - A first-year student at Sanka Girls' Private Academy. A pure and innocent young lady by birth. She dies trying to escape her father's excessively restrictive hands, but is resurrected as a zombie girl!
• Chihiro Furuya (CV: Ryohei Kimura) - A first-year student at Shiyou Prefectural High School. A strange boy who has loved zombies since he was a child. He is the son of a temple priest called Shiryoji. After his pet cat dies, he decides to experience becoming a zombie.
• Ranko Saeoji (CV: Sayuri Yahagi) - Chihiro's cousin and childhood friend. She is a year older than Chihiro and is a second-year student at Sanka Girls' High School. She is a lively and energetic girl. Her nickname is "Wanko".
• Moeru Furuya (CV: Yuka Iguchi) - A first year junior high school student, she is a reliable person who manages the household chores of the male-dominated Furuya household. She loves reading the Heart Sutra and wears a white apron and white robes with style. She calls her brother "Nii".

episode

The subtitles and broadcast dates for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: "What if I became a zombie?" (2012/04/05)
• Episode 2: "It was a success..." (2012/04/12)
• Episode 3 "Trivia" (2012/04/19)
• Episode 4: "A normal... girl..." (2012/04/26)
• Episode 5: "Zombies... What They Are..." (2012/05/03)
• Episode 6: "Because I Met You" (2012/05/10)
• Episode 7 "Childhood... Familiar..." (2012/05/17)
• Episode 8 "False...Freedom..." (2012/05/24)
• Episode 9: "Mother's... Hands..." (2012/05/31)
• Episode 10 "Strong... Feelings..." (2012/06/07)
• Episode 11 "It's Not...Special" (2012/06/21)
• Episode 12: "At that moment...I..." (2012/06/28)

Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

• OP1 "Ekagoto" - Sung by nano.RIPE, Lyrics and Composition by Kimiko
• ED1 "Above your hand" - Sung by: Annabel

Appeal of the work

"Sankarea" offers viewers a new perspective by incorporating the horror element of zombies into a coming-of-age drama. In particular, the story centers on Sanka Reiya's life as a zombie and her relationship with Furuya Chihiro. As Reiya's growth as a zombie and Chihiro's love for zombies intertwine, the story also depicts her relationships with her family and friends, deeply moving viewers.

The individuality of the characters is also one of the attractions. Each character has their own charm, such as Chihiro's unusual hobby of liking zombies, Reiya's contrast between her pure and innocent appearance as a zombie, Ranko's lively nature, and Moeru's reliable side. The story woven by these characters has the power to draw the viewer in.

Background

Sankarea is originally a manga by Mitsuru Hattori, serialized in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine. Due to the popularity of the original work, it was decided to make it into an anime, with Studio Deen in charge of animation production. The team, which includes director Mamoru Hatakeyama and series composer Noboru Takagi, has brought together a team of experienced staff who have succeeded in bringing out the best in the original work.

Viewers' reactions

"Sankarea" was popular with many viewers when it was first broadcast. In particular, the innovative setting of incorporating the extraordinary existence of zombies into a youth drama became a hot topic and sparked much discussion on social media and the Internet. The appeal of the characters and the development of the story were also highly praised, and the series received high praise from viewers.

Recommended points

"Sankarea" is a unique work that combines the horror element of zombies with a coming-of-age drama. Its appeal lies in its moving story of the bonds between family and friends, and personal growth, told through the relationship between a boy who loves zombies and a girl who is resurrected as a zombie. The individuality of the characters and the development of the story are also not to be missed. It is a work that I would like to recommend to many viewers, as it depicts the extraordinary existence of zombies, but also the warmth of everyday life and the depth of human relationships.

Related Titles

Other related works that we recommend for fans of Sankarea include:

• "Shiki" - A zombie-themed horror film with an appealing story that depicts human relationships and family ties.
• "Tokyo Ghoul" - A work that depicts the relationship between humans and ghouls, it shares with "Sankarea" the intertwining of the extraordinary and the everyday.
• Blue Exorcist - A work that depicts the relationship between demons and humans, it is a wonderful blend of coming-of-age drama and the extraordinary.

summary

"Sankarea" is a unique work that combines the extraordinary existence of zombies with the everyday life of adolescence. Its appeal lies in its moving story of the bonds between family and friends, and personal growth, told through the relationship between a boy who loves zombies and a girl who is resurrected as a zombie. The individuality of the characters and the development of the story are also not to be missed. It is a work that I would like to recommend to many viewers as it depicts the extraordinary existence of zombies, but also the warmth of everyday life and the depth of human relationships.