REVIEW: ‘Undead Unluck’ Season 1 Is Funny And Charming

With so many great anime series out there, it can be easy for some great shows to fly under the radar. Undead Unluck Season 1, from the team at David Production, is one of those. The action comedy series is full of great moments and a surprising amount of character depth.

Undead Unluck follows the adventures of Andy (Yûichi Nakamura) and Izumo Fuko (Kahara Moe), the unlikeliest of duos. Andy has an ability that allows him to cheat death. Nothing in his long life has been able to kill him. He ends up being so desperate to die that he will do anything to make it happen.

Then he meets Fuko. Fuko’s ability causes unlucky events to happen to people closest to her. It is activated by touch. Her abilities caused the deaths of her family and she, too, wants to die. Her chance meeting with Andy brings the two together in search of their common goal: death. It is an interesting premise, even if it is a bit depressing.

The two of them also have entirely different personalities. Andy is bold and brash, often acting without thinking. He also ends up naked way more often than anyone ever should. It is used as a comedic bit quite often and usually lands well. Fuko, on the other hand, is incredibly shy and timid. She is frightened by Andy at first, especially with how handsy he can be.

A somewhat uncomfortable part of Undead Unluck is the amount of unwanted physical contact between Andy and Fuko. The writing explains it away by the fact that Andy just doesn’t think before he acts. But that does not stop it from feeling uncomfortable in the earlier parts of the series. He is not doing it to be sexual or to harass Fuko, he just is trying to find out how to activate more powerful Unluck moments. Thankfully, this is used way less often as the series progresses and the two get closer.

Andy and Fuko grow to respect and care for each other which dramatically evolves over the season. They end up joining up with a group known as the Union. As members of the Union, they are given tasks to eliminate or capture certain enemies. Their motives for being Union members evolve as well, especially as they meet the other members.

Undead Unluck Season 1 does a great job of adding depth to side characters. The different Union members Andy and Fuko meet all have their own backstories and motivations that the series explores. These allow Andy and Fuko to establish real relationships and to find worth in living to some extent. Fuko in particular opens up as the series progresses and has some really touching moments with some of the side characters. Their inclusion and the depth of character help both Andy and Fuko grow which is vital for the series.

By the end, Andy and Fuko have reasons to live. They have been through so much together and are an inseparable unit. They complement each other in battle, but also in life. The series does a great job of showing that growth and their changes in mentality. Seeing the two go from desperate for death to fighting to live is fulfilling. Their growing pains along the way are also quite entertaining.

Creativity is what sets Undead Unluck Season 1 apart from other Shonen series. The abilities are so unique and the missions the characters go on are always varied and interesting. Even familiar tropes like fighting zombies or stopping an alien invasion are distinctive with twists to keep things fresh. It is impressive how some story beats can feel both familiar and new at the same time.

Action in Undead Unluck is one of the absolute best parts. David Production really knows how to bring amazing battles to life. Andy uses his abilities to break off body parts and use them as weapons or as methods of transportation. The way Undead Unluck animates these movements is flashy and exciting. Bright colors and fluid movements make the action incredibly fun to watch at all times.

The villains in Undead Unluck also have crazy powers and abilities. Their designs are fascinating, and some are downright horrifying. The various battles against different enemies also unveil new aspects of Andy and Fuko’s abilities. It is neat to watch them grow as fighters, Andy more than Fuko, while facing tougher and tougher threats. After all, the world’s fate is at stake, so they have to be at their best.

Undead Unluck Season 1 is an excellent blend of storytelling, action, and comedy, full of heart stopping moments and visual treats. There are a few stumbling blocks along the way, but in the end, it is well worth the watch. The growth of Andy and Fuko as individuals and as a unit makes this a fun and charming series.

Undead Unluck Season 1 is streaming now on Hulu.