Fans of the manga have long been clamoring for Highschool of the Dead to get its own anime series and this week, they were finally rewarded. The first episode, entitled Spring of the Dead, aired this week and it looks like we’re in for a treat.

Highschool of the Dead is a zombie apocalypse series which features highschool students fighting for survival against hordes of the undead. The first episode was fantastic and we’re really looking forward to seeing more.

The debut episode begins with 17 year old Takashi Komuro moping about his childhood friend and love interest, Rei Miyamoto. The two apparently had some kind of argument and now Rei is dating Takashi’s long-time friend Hisashi. While getting some fresh air outside, Takashi witnesses a strange man approach the gates of the school grounds. When a teacher tries to rough up the man, all hell breaks loose! The man is a zombie – surprise! He bites and infects the teacher who in turn bites and infects others around him. It’s not long before complete chaos engulfs the entire school.

Takashi grabs Rei, and along with Hisashi, they attempt to escape. Along the way they encounter an infected teacher. Rei just happens to be a martial arts badass and attacks the teacher with a broom handle. She stabs him right through the heart, but he’s zombie, so naturally he just keeps coming. Hisashi jumps in to save Rei and gets bitten before the fight is finished.

The students formulate a new plan to get to the roof and barricade the stairs. Once they make it to the rooftop, Hisashi begins to succumb to the wound and turns into a zombie. Takashi bashes his skull in with a baseball bat and a frustrated Rei accuses him of enjoying it because he’s jealous that the two of them were dating. Takashi then makes for the barricade and says he’s going to go take out as many zombies as he can, but then Rei changes her tune and begs him to stay; he does.

The first episode displays a lot of promise for the series as a whole. The characters and animation style look fantastic and we are treated to plenty of action as well as copious amounts of fan service; buttcheeks ahoy!

If you haven’t seen it yet; you can check out the first episode here!