Gacha Club: Zombie Survival

Gacha Club: Zombie Survival is an anime adventure apocalypse romance film produced by Lunime, Toho Animation, and Walt Disney Pictures. The story follows a group of game developers named Luni, Kinen, Pat, Phantom, Mumble, Senpaibuns, Fierin, and Bex, who find themselves in the midst of a zombie apocalypse caused by an alien cat. Together, they must navigate through hordes of the undead, discover the origins of the zombie outbreak, and find a way to survive.
Voice Cast:
The film features a talented voice cast including:
- Luni: Voiced by Jun'ichi Kanemaru
- Kinen: Voiced by Aoi Yūki
- Pat: Voiced by Junko Takeuchi
- Phantom: Voiced by Toshio Furukawa
- Mumble: Voiced by Sakura Tange
- Senpaibuns: Voiced by Mikako Takahashi
- Fierin: Voiced by Hideo Ishikawa
- Bex: Voiced by Rie Kugimiya
== Development and Production ==
The idea for "Gacha Club: Zombie Survival" originated from the popular mobile game Gacha Club, developed by Lunime. The game's unique characters and diverse storylines captured the attention of both fans and the production companies involved. Lunime teamed up with Toho Animation and Disney to bring their immersive world to the big screen.
The film's development involved collaboration between the original game developers and a team of experienced writers and animators. They worked together to craft a compelling story that blended elements of adventure, romance, and the apocalypse. The aim was to create an engaging experience for both fans of the game and newcomers to the franchise.
During production, the creative team utilized cutting-edge animation techniques to bring the characters to life. The film incorporated vibrant visuals, dynamic action sequences, and emotionally-driven storytelling to immerse the audience in the post-apocalyptic world of "Gacha Club: Zombie Survival."
== Reception ==
==== Box Office ====
At the box office, it underperformed commercially unsuccessful. It grossed $12 million in the United States and Canada, and $18 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $30 million. The film made $5 million in its opening weekend.
Despite the significant efforts put into the production of "Gacha Club: Zombie Survival," the film struggled at the box office. It faced strong competition from another video game adaptation, "FNAF: The Rise of Afton," produced by Illumination Entertainment, based on the popular game series Five Nights at Freddy's.
The overwhelming success and popularity of "FNAF: The Rise of Afton" overshadowed "Gacha Club: Zombie Survival." This led to lower attendance and box office returns for Lunime, Toho Animation, and Disney's film.
==== Critical Response ====
Furthermore, "Gacha Club: Zombie Survival" received negative reviews from both film critics and fans of the original game. Some criticized the plot for being convoluted, while others felt that the adaptation didn't capture the essence of the game's charm and appeal. The negative reception further impacted the film's overall success and contributed to its status as a box office bomb.
Despite its shortcomings, "Gacha Club: Zombie Survival" remains an ambitious attempt to bring the beloved Gacha Club universe to the big screen. It stands as a testament to the challenges and risks involved in adapting video games into feature films, highlighting the importance of striking the right balance between fan expectations and creative storytelling.
In Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 20% with the critics consensus saying, "Despite having a supporting fanbase, Gacha Club: Zombie Survival is most likely to have convoluted plot, unconvincing character development, or a perceived failure to capture the essence and charm of the original game." Metacritic gave the film a score of 32 out of 100 based on 53 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews"
==== Accolades ====
Gacha Club: Zombie Survival was second animated film to win an award at The Golden Raspberry Awards, the first being The Emoji Movie back in 2018.
Awards and nominations received.
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Picture 	 	Nominated
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Director 	Makoto Shinkai 	Nominated
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Screenplay 	Mari Okada 	Nominated
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Supporting
Actress	Mindy Kaling as Bex 	Won
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Visual Effects 	 	Nominated
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Editing 	 	Nominated
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Original Song 	"Surviving Shadows: The Gacha Apocalypse" from
"Gacha Club: Zombie Survival"	Won
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Ensemble Cast 	 	Nominated
The Golden Raspberry
Awards 	Worst Prequel, Remake,
Rip-off, or Sequel	"Gacha Club: Zombie Survival" as a game adaptation	Won
Golden Schmoes Awards 	Worst Film of the Year 	 	Won
Golden Schmoes Awards 	Biggest Disappointment
of the Year	 	Won
Alliance of Women Film Journalists	Time Waster Remake or
Sequel Award	 	Nominated
Alliance of Women Film Journalists	AWFJ Hall of Shame Award	Mindy Kaling as the voice of Bex 	Nominated