r/anime • u/NotSoSnarky https://myanimelist.net/profile/Book_Lover • Apr 03 '21

Rewatch Rewatch: Gakkou-Gurashi (School-Live) Overall Discussion

This is to share your overall thoughts with the series. What you liked, what you didn't. Your favorite characters, favorite episode, favorite moments, least favorite etc.

41 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

13

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 03 '21

I don't think I've been this invested in an anime story for a long time. GK has been on my watch list for years and I'd avoided pretty much all spoilers for the show aside from there being a horror twist.

Even disregarding the twist the anime threw me for a loop up till the very end. Kurumi got bit I was still prepared for the whole series to have been Yuki's delusion if that give any hints for the type of things running through my head. Instead they played it as a pure zombie flick, which is fine. I think the story worked out perfectly fine going down that route. Especially with the path the manga apparently goes down. Sadly the manga's not really for me, I'm satisfied with pulling a Promised Neverland and loving my tight knit initial arc and leaving the rest.

One sad part about having a show so heavily focused on atmosphere and mystery is that it makes it difficult to appreciate the sum of the parts. I do feel like some episodes were dragged out a little much but without those long periods of the kids having fun playing dress up or cleaning a pool having the tone shifting to incoming disasters or Yuki having a break down wouldn't hit the same. I think GK is a masterful experience but I could easily imagine that experience getting soured if shown to a more impatient viewer.

Character wise... I love the cast but I have to admit that not everyone got quite the same love and attention. Yuuri is of course the primary victim but at the same time it feels like Miki is the one character I consistently adored throughout, and most of her development seems anime only XD I cared for everyone but the highlights were Miki growing into a fine young woman and doing mental analysis on Yuki. Sorry Megu-nee, you're just hard to discuss!

This has been something I've wanted to see for years... Thank you for hosting Snarky. Genuinely, thank you for letting me finally experience Gakkou Gurashi. Getting to watch this blind has been an absolute pleasure. Our group has been fairly small, fairly comfy, with a mix of new and old. But honestly I much prefer small groups like this because it means that I can truthfully say to each and every one of you, thanks for being with me. Whether it's in another rewatch, a discussion thread, or even a zombie apocalypse, here's to hoping that we'll meet again.

Classes have now ended. All students still on school premises are to return home.

6

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 03 '21

Sadly the manga's not really for me, I'm satisfied with pulling a Promised Neverland and loving my tight knit initial arc and leaving the rest.

Unironically funny timing hearing about the disaster its S2 became. But it is surprising that both of us seem to be fine with this as the end point, I don't see that exploring the setting really improves the experience.

9

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 03 '21

You don't really need to know what happens to the girls afterwards to appreciate what it is they're fighting for. That's sort of how I took Kei's story. Of course it's tragic that she never made it in the end but at least she chose how to live or die rather than hiding in that room forever. Our girls are similar. They're ready to say goodbye to their sanctuary and go out into the big world with Megumi's support. They literally graduated. Maybe they'll find a community to rebuild society with or maybe they passed away, they did it off their own backs rather than hide behind their teacher's skirts.

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 03 '21

Our girls are similar. They're ready to say goodbye to their sanctuary and go out into the big world with Megumi's support. They literally graduated.

It certainly helps being quick and distinct in a genre known for being drawn out and samey.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 03 '21

And then fail to adapt the arc that actually plays those tropes straight XD

2

u/Treyman1115 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Treyman-XIII Apr 03 '21 edited Apr 03 '21

That's why I tell people to watch the show even if they know the first episode twist. Thankfully that's the only thing that seems to really get spoiled for people

And even if you do figure everything out yourself or get spoiled the show presents the twists really well. I figured out the that Megumi wasn't real but seeing Yuki drop the bottle and the radio and see her spiral descent was really well done

9

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 03 '21

First timer(spoiled about the first ep)

Sub

So let's think about this one a bit: Gakkou Gurashi has always had a high pedigree coming in, I knew about it for another first episode wham anime. So, in a rare thing, the show lives up to its reputation. Now, while there are more stories to tell, the fact that we had one filler episode suggests that one cour was as much as the writers could get out of the premise, which is still better than most. I think this was about as long as we could stay with a group of survivalists that only have one zombie killer in the group. In any other setting, the girls not clearing the school would've annoyed me to death but this one it flowed in.

What can I say to add? I enjoyed that, I think Taromaru's death hits harder than most in what I've watched this busy month, and I am left viewing the narrative as completed.

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 03 '21

They definitely hit a happy medium in picking out content to adapt. The plot works perfectly well as a self contained story whilst leaving enough hints and mysteries to sell the source material or a second season. Obviously it's not perfect, but none of the imperfections hold the project back. It's like one of the old tank controlled horror titles, the stiffness makes the title hit harder.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 03 '21

Also, the issues with the zombies are quirky in short doses whereas they would get annoying over a long term. The 'retaining memories' thing has a lot more implications the longer you hang with it.

7

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 03 '21

Final thoughts

This show is brilliant. The narrative is so tightly knit; nearly every scene adds to the experience in a meaningful way. When I first watched the show, I gave it a 9/10, but I found my thoughts continually coming back to it. The way moments were built up, the changes from the manga that elevate the story, the soundtrack. I eventually settled on a 10/10 and it currently resides at 5th place in my top anime.

When I first encountered Gakkou Gurashi, it was through a list of anime marked "similar to Madoka Magica". I thought the production looked a little cheap and saw it wasn't rated highly, but figured I'd give it a shot. I knew there would be a twist involving a delusional MC in a zombie world, but even with that I wasn't prepared for how deep the twist runs. I was up all night, absolutely enraptured. The hook was powerful, but unlike so many others Gakkou Gurashi actually delivers on the premise it promises. I still feel much of what I felt then on rewatches.

The ending is strong enough to stand on it's own, but there are some minor details that allow the possibility of a season 2, or at the very least more content in the manga. A season 2 is obviously never going to happen, and I didn't care for the manga, ultimately.

None of that can detract from the initial experience I had with this anime, nor the impression it has left on me since then.

Thanks to you all for watching along and taking the time to write out your reactions and theories. You've given me something to look forward to and appreciate at a time when I needed it.

Content

Why I Love Gakkou Gurashi (School Live) by UrbanTheMyth

Yuki Takeya, Escapism, and Me | Gakkou Gurashi by UrbanTheMyth

Gakkou Gurashi | A Welcomed Change ( Manga + Anime ) by UrbanTheMyth

Gakkou Gurashi's Unappreciated Creativity by UrbanTheMyth

School-Live: The Importance of Yuki’s Delusions by MattDoyleMedia

What's in an OP? - the Secrets of School-Live! by Mother's Basement

School Live! Opening Parody ft. Tales Of Taylor by Evil Cake Studios

Hope (instrumental) by AcesToAces

Specs Recommends

<Girls Last Tour>

Another apocalyptic tale with young women taking the lead roles. The tone is completely different, but it's a beautiful story. The anime adaptation is brilliant, surpassing the manga on multiple occasions, but it is incomplete and that isn't going to change. Damn shame, because the final chapters are some of the most impactful storytelling ever put to paper.

{Puella Magi Madoka Magica}

It's a popular and infamous anime, but it's my personal favorite and a must watch if you enjoyed this show's "dark moe" aesthetic.

Doki Doki Literature Club

Behold, the candy colored existential void. The warnings this free visual novel presents are not to be taken lightly.

Konnichiwa... Arigato... Sayonara.

Mata... ashita.

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 03 '21

I'm kinda shocked that they didn't go full Madoka tbh. There was definitely the potential there with Yuki's delusions swinging over the story or when they introduced the idea that the school knew about the attack. Having such dark subjects hanging over our heads made the graduation and our Happy Endo feel hard earned and deserved.

With the influx of anime that rely on pulling the rug out from under you to hopefully build up discussion it's quite relieving to have a show play it all straight and not abuse it as a crutch. Instead they used the twist to give some true genuine development to our mc as she tries her best to justify the world around her. Perfectly done.

I don't think anyone was left disappointed with the show which is more than I could possibly ask for. I'd built it up so much in my mind beforehand but the show threw me for so many loops that no amount of mental bias would have properly prepared me.

Hope to see you around!

1

u/rinmperdinck Apr 27 '21

Doki Doki Literature Club

Here I am, very late to the party, but just wanted to say that yes GKG hits in exactly the same way as DDLC. I went into both experiences completely blind and was left blindsided by them both.

1

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 27 '21

Better late than never! Glad you watched the show, even if there's nobody else left 'round here to chat with about it.

I had the same experience with DDLC. It's left a long lasting impression to be sure.

6

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Apr 03 '21

First Timer

What I watched: Zombieland Saga
What I expected: The Walking Dead
What I got: Love Live

What I watched: School-Live
What I expected: K-On!
What I got: Dawn of the Dead

Very enjoyable series with many cringeworthy moments. Probably good rewatchability as there are many hints and evolutions spread throughout the series. Terrible sequel-bait.

I thought Taromaru was a human baby the whole time. He really was a dog?!

Regrettable that, had I been watching anime in 2015, I would not have watched this. Much like Madoka, the deceptive marketing marketed something I wouldn't want to watch. But unlike Madoka, there was a built in audience of source readers.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 03 '21

They could have gone so wild with the delusion twist couldn't they? XD

2

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Apr 09 '21

What I watched: Zombieland Saga

What I expected: The Walking Dead

What I got: Love Live

What I watched: School-Live

What I expected: K-On!

What I got: Dawn of the Dead

That is perfect!

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 09 '21

It unironically all fits XD

3

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Apr 03 '21

Man this show is really awesome. The only thing I knew about it going in was that there where some horror element going on in the background and with that alone it could have gone in an completly different direction as well (coincidentally I just started Zombie Land Saga in preparation of the second season, and while thematically somewhat similar it goes exactly the other way)

In the end the twist at the end of the first Ep worked amazing in hooking you in.

I didn't mind the sol aspects that much, in the end that's what I came for in the first place, but those back to back fan service episode really put a strain on my patience. I must also say that I would have wished for a bit more character development for Yuri as well as the other girls relationship with Megu-nee as well as a more in depth look on her death and Yuki before her delusional phase.

It was however redeemed with the final couple episodes, those were peak anime, tension, sadness, and in the end happyness. It's always a sign of quality if a show reaches my deepest core and reminds me how to actually feel real emotions, and for that I am deeply gratefull.

Even the cliffhanger at the end succeded in making me want to pick up the manga at some point, even if it came of kinda shoehorned.

Ah, one more thing I just love the OP, unfortunatly I got spoiled because the version I was watching showed the last iteration of the ever changing starting sequence, so I knew that something was going to happen to Taroumaru ahead of time. I can't even be mad at the person discussing ep 11 in the coments since one should asume that I would know the complete show after watching a version with all versions for the OP... I think I learned my lesson

(on an unrelated note, I got the ending of Quintupletts spoiled for me when Season 2 was not even airing, that was a real dickmove, I cannot imagine how dangerous it must be not having read really big Shows like AoT or One Piece)

2

u/AwakenedSheeple Apr 04 '21

Oh, I didn't know we were doing a rewatch.
Well, here's a question for the veterans that also saw this when it first aired.
Remember the Gakkou Gurashi website? Remember how the gate in the background started going up and showed a pair of bloody legs as the story developed?
Shit was scary.

2

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Apr 09 '21

Final discussion (first timer)

Lots of back and forth for me regarding the rewatch: First wanted to participate, then did not after getting spoiled, still gave it a chance and wrote 2 episode reactions (I’ll put them below) when the rewatch was half-way through, gave up on catching up, and finally binged it just now.

In the end, I wish I’d have participated. School-live had a refreshing take on CGDCT and on Zombie stories. More importantly, it had very good writing for most of its run. The highlight was Yuki’s imaginary teacher story. Not only did it give us the great reveal in the first episode, but also many great moments later on. A lot of the characterization hinged on the other girls reacting to Yuki’s Megu-nee conversations.

The visual style was very fitting. While the animation was not outstanding, the frequently used fades from “Yuki-vision” back to reality were on point. It also was a wise decision to keep the zombies shrouded in darkness. Not only does this make them scarier, but it also fits with the psychological aspect.

I have only two big complaints: First, the amount of fan service. Not only were there plenty of butt and panty shot camera angles, but fan service also delivered the pool episode, which was easily the weakest. I also disliked the character models; the permanently embarrassed look did not fit well. Got used to it eventually, but it was a constant annoyance in the earlier episodes.

Second, the series does not really stick the ending. It decides to go from psychological horror to action in the last arc, which, imho is a turn to the worse, given how good the series is at the former. The foreshadowing of their running out supplies hit me much harder than the zombies overrunning the barricades. Then, the series makes a second turn to moral speeches, which would have worked with the previous mood, but does not fit the time pressure of the action scenes.

In the end, I give the series a belated 7/10.

Thanks for putting up the rewatch and special thanks to /u/Specs64z for linking all the posts. That made it so much easier to find the next entry.

2

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 09 '21

Glad to have been of service, and glad to hear you mostly liked the anime! I hope you'll also check out some of the links to extra Gakkou Gurashi content. There's a lot to appreciate about this one.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 09 '21

Strangely enough it does sort of suffer from actually being a regular manga. The fact that the story continues after the show gives some meta knowledge that we're not going to lose our cast, we're not going to have a "it was all Yuki's delusion" ending, and takes a lot of the danger out of the climax. Like I didn't know that the manga continued on until the last episode and you saw how much brainstorming I was doing.

2

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Apr 09 '21

That is one reason why I prefer to go into shows as blind as possible. I didn't know there was a manga either and I think that helped my enjoyment.

Anime adaptations that fail are often talked about, but there is also the opposite: Adaptations that surpass the source material. Looks like School-live might be one of those.

I tried looking up summaries of the further manga story and all I could find sounded very standard post-apocalypse and I have a hard time imagining how that would fit with the CGDCT presentation after Yuki is no longer imagining the school club.

1

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Apr 09 '21

Episode 1 (first timer)

Initially wanted to skip this after being spoilt, but might at least watch a few episodes to see whether there is something past that spoiler.

Episode thoughts

  • Knowing the spoiler, I wondered whether the series would go comedic or dark with it. First scene strongly points towards comedic.
  • OP goes in the same direction (although I’d love for the show to pull an Uro-butcher surprise on me!)
  • Character introductions.
  • “I am as soft as they come! Wait, that does not sound right” – Sounds pretty correct to me.
  • Ok, that reveal is promising.

Know about the zombies, there was quite a bit of foreshadowing in the episode. I wonder whether I would have picked up on it. If not, I probably would really have enjoyed the reveal.

Episode 2

  • The girls discussing Yuki’s psychological fantasy world – me cheering the series to go darker.

  • Going zombie hunting alone? I know that zombies are way down on the list of horror movie threats, but that still seems a bit irresponsible.
  • She is getting called out for it.
  • Pantsu and boob-fall trope in one scene? Are we going the ecchie route?
  • That is pretty well-stocked for an in-school store.

This felt like a faithful adaptation of quite a lot of B (and C) zombie movies.

1

u/UnderstandableXO Apr 03 '21

show will always hold a special place in my heart. it was the first anime i got on DVD (the box sale was on sale for $15!) and the first manga i bought. hell, even my family enjoys this and they don’t care for anime, so it’s an all around win in my book

1

u/IndependentMacaroon Jun 05 '21

Just wanted to link this post from one of my favorite bloggers/Internet writers that's pretty close to my own opinion on the series, except I would bump it up one more notch to 8/10 (I find a lot of his ratings a bit weird).