↓ Skip to main content
Is the Anime Finished?
Is the Anime Finished?
  1. Animes/

Is Highschool of the Dead Finished? Everything You Need to Know Before Watching

Action Horror Supernatural Thriller Zombies Ecchi Adaptation
Table of Contents

What is Highschool of the Dead?
#

Highschool of the Dead (also known as Gakuen Mokushiroku) is a high-tension series that blends action, drama, horror, and supernatural thriller elements. The story takes place in Japan, where a deadly “disease” has turned the population into the living dead. The plot follows a group of students and their school nurse as they struggle to survive the widespread chaos and fight their way through the zombie apocalypse.

Given its themes of survival and its inclusion of ecchi elements, this series is best suited for audiences who enjoy zombie-themed horror with a strong edge of action and mature fan service. If you are looking for a thrilling ride through a collapsing society, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.

Is the Anime Really Finished?
#

When asking “Is the anime finished?”, it is important to distinguish between the animated series and the original story. The anime adaptation aired from July to September 2010. While it provides a visceral experience of the outbreak, it is an adaptation of the manga which began serialization in 2007.

Because it is an adaptation, viewers who watch only the anime may find themselves wanting more. To get the full scope of the narrative and the original vision of the story, we highly recommend continuing with the source material. You can buy the Highschool of the Dead manga to see how the story unfolds beyond the screen.

If you find our research helpful in saving you from cliffhangers, consider supporting us on Ko-fi!

Recommended Watch and Read Order#

Navigating the releases of Highschool of the Dead can be confusing due to the mix of the main series, side stories, and spinoffs. You can refer to the relationship tree below the article for a visual guide, but here are our recommended paths:

The Release Order
#

For those who want to experience the franchise as it was delivered to the public:

  1. High School of the Dead (Anime) - The main adaptation (2010).
  2. Highschool of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead (Anime) - A side story released in 2011.

The Completionist Order
#

If you want to consume every piece of media available in this universe, follow this path:

  1. High School of the Dead (Anime)
  2. Highschool of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead (Anime side story)
  3. Highschool of the Head (Manga spinoff) - A separate story serialized between 2010 and 2011.
  4. Highschool of the Dead (Manga) - The original source material.

The Source Material Path
#

For those who prefer the original manga or don’t mind reading to get the full story:

  1. Start with the Highschool of the Dead manga (2007) for the most complete narrative experience.
  2. Supplement your reading with the anime and the Drifters of the Dead side story for the visual and auditory experience.

Other Useful Information
#

For fans looking to dive deeper into the series, there is a variety of Highschool of the Dead merchandise available to commemorate this zombie survival epic.

It is also worth noting that the series has had a varied international reception; while it has seen multiple North American releases over the years, it was notably blacklisted in China alongside other popular titles like Attack on Titan and Death Note.

Highschool of the Dead • manga • 2007-03-01
  └─(adaptation)→  High School of the Dead • anime • 2010-07-05 to 2010-09-20
   └─(side story)→   Highschool of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead • anime • 2011-04-26
  └─(spinoff)→  Highschool of the Head • manga • 2010-09-09 to 2011-03-09 (serialized in Dragon Age, Oct 2010-Apr 2011)

Related