📚 Origin & Publication
Zombie Land Saga (ゾンビランドサガ) is a Japanese original anime series created by MAPPA, Avex Pictures, and Cygames. It first aired in October 2018 and took everyone by surprise with its bizarre yet heartfelt blend of zombie horror and idol culture.
Set in Saga Prefecture, the story follows Sakura Minamoto and six other legendary girls resurrected as zombies by the eccentric Kotaro Tatsumi. Their mission? Save Saga by becoming the ultimate idol group—Franchouchou.
- Original Concept: MAPPA, Avex Pictures, Cygames
- Animation Studio: MAPPA
- First Air Date: October 2018
- Seasons: 2 (plus a movie in production)
- Status: Ongoing (movie upcoming)
Zombie Land Saga Volume 1 Cover
🎨 Manga Adaptations & Themes
Zombie Land Saga later expanded into manga, novelizations, and stage plays, but the anime remains the core. The series cleverly mashes up idol show clichés, slapstick comedy, and surprisingly emotional backstories, all framed through an offbeat, zombie-fueled lens.
- Serialized Manga: Cycomi
- Notable Themes:
- Dreams after death
- Self-identity and acceptance
- Regional revitalization
- Comedy and absurdity meeting heartfelt emotion
🎥 Anime Adaptation
The anime is known for its wild tonal shifts, hilarious performances, and emotional arcs that hit much harder than you’d expect from a show about zombie idols.
Zombie Land Saga – Franchouchou Group
- Studio: MAPPA
- Platforms: Crunchyroll, Funimation (now Crunchyroll)
- Music: Yasuharu Takanashi
- Dub: Available in multiple languages
Sakura Minamoto
📺 Seasons Overview:
| Season | Highlight Moments | Aired |
| Season 1 | Sakura’s resurrection, Lily’s backstory, rise of Franchouchou | Oct 2018 – Dec 2018 |
| Season 2 (Revenge) | Financial struggles, expanded fame, deeper arcs | Apr 2021 – Jun 2021 |
| Movie (Upcoming) | Franchouchou takes the next big stage | TBA (2025) |
🧙♂️ Main Characters
| Character | Role | VA (JP) |
|---|---|---|
| Sakura Minamoto | Optimistic center of Franchouchou | Kaede Hondo |
| Saki Nikaido | Rebellious biker legend | Asami Tano |
| Ai Mizuno | Ex-top idol from Iron Frill | Risa Taneda |
| Junko Konno | 80s idol adjusting to modern times | Maki Kawase |
| Lily Hoshikawa | TV child star and eternal kid idol | Minami Tanaka |
| Yugiri | Courtesan from the Meiji era | Rika Kinugawa |
| Tae Yamada | The untamed “Legendary Tae” | Kotono Mitsuishi |
| Kotaro Tatsumi | Over-the-top idol producer | Mamoru Miyano |
🌍 Global Impact
Zombie Land Saga became a cult favorite, blending satire, idol tropes, and surprisingly emotional themes. It even boosted tourism in Saga Prefecture!
- 📈 Hugely popular among idol and non-idol anime fans
- 🔥 Lily’s character praised for LGBTQ+ representation
- 💥 Inspired real-world idol concerts and café collabs
- 🌐 Big presence on Twitter, TikTok, and anime forums
🎮 Games & Merchandise
- Mobile Collabs: Grand Summoners, idol rhythm games
- Merch: Animate, Premium Bandai, Crunchyroll Store
- Concerts: Live shows performed by Franchouchou’s VAs
📖 Where to Read & Watch
- Read: Manga adaptation available on Cycomi
- Watch: Crunchyroll
- Buy DVDs/BDs: Amazon, RightStuf, Animate
💬 Fandom Reactions
“It starts like a joke—and then it breaks your heart.”
“Franchouchou deserves to be real idols!”
“I didn’t expect to cry this much over zombie girls.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.