Honestly, Disney Channel knows exactly what it's doing when it drops a massive musical number right at the start of a trilogy closer. When Zombies 3 premiered, the track Zombies This Will Be Our Year wasn't just another upbeat pop song meant to sell soundtracks. It served as a definitive mission statement for a franchise that spent years trying to balance social commentary with neon-colored hair and cheerleading stunts. If you've spent any time in the Disney fandom, you know the vibe. There's this specific blend of optimism and high-stakes pressure that usually defines these openers.
But this one felt different.
The song captures that frantic, hopeful energy of a graduating class. You've got Zed, played by Milo Manheim, and Addison, played by Meg Donnelly, leading a town that has finally—sort of—found its peace. Seabrook has come a long way since the original Zombies movie back in 2018. Back then, it was all about segregation and literal fences. By the time we get to Zombies This Will Be Our Year, the world-building has expanded to include werewolves and, eventually, aliens. It's a lot.
The track works because it taps into that universal feeling of being on the precipice of something huge. Whether you're a zombie trying to be the first monster to attend college or just a kid watching at home, the sentiment sticks.
The Real Story Behind the Song’s Energy
If you break down the composition, this isn't just a standard four-chord loop. The production team, including songwriters like Josh Edmondson and Lyrica Anderson, had to thread a very specific needle. They needed to reference the musical motifs of the first two films while signaling that the stakes had shifted. In the first film, "My Year" was about establishing dominance and fitting in. By Zombies 3, the focus moves toward legacy.
Milo Manheim has mentioned in various behind-the-scenes interviews how much the choreography for this specific number pushed the cast. It's fast. It's athletic. It uses the entire set of Seabrook High. The "This Will Be Our Year" sequence is designed to show a unified front. You see zombies, humans, and werewolves dancing in synchronization—something that would have been impossible in the first movie's lore.
It's meta, too.
The cast knew this was the "final" chapter of the main trilogy. You can see that genuine emotion in the performances. It’s not just Zed and Addison singing; it’s Milo and Meg saying goodbye to a world that launched their careers. That’s probably why the "This Will Be Our Year" refrain feels so earned. It’s a celebration of the work they put in over four years of filming.
Why the Lyrics Actually Matter to the Plot
Let's look at what the song is actually saying. "No more obstacles, we’re through the worst of it." It’s classic foreshadowing. In Disney movies, whenever a character sings about how perfect things are, you know a giant blue spaceship is about to crash the party. And that’s exactly what happens.
The song sets up the "perfect" version of Seabrook just so the aliens (the A-Lan, A-Li, and A-Spen) can disrupt it. It highlights Zed’s specific anxiety about his "Exceptional Monster" application to Mountain College. He’s carrying the weight of his entire species on his shoulders. One mistake and the progress they've made could vanish.
The lyrical structure alternates between:
- Zed's personal ambition for a future beyond Seabrook.
- Addison's desire for a place where she truly belongs (which pays off later when she discovers her alien heritage).
- The collective community celebrating their hard-won integration.
It’s actually pretty complex for a TV movie. Most sequels fail because they lose the core conflict, but "This Will Be Our Year" reminds the audience that even when things are good, the fear of losing that peace is a powerful motivator.
Comparing the "Year" Songs Across the Trilogy
You can't talk about this track without looking at the evolution of the "Year" theme.
In the first movie, "My Year" was a battle. It was a confrontation between the status quo and the newcomers. The lyrics were territorial. Fast forward to the third film, and the shift to "Our Year" is a massive linguistic change. It’s no longer about "me" or "my group." It’s about the "us."
The choreography reflects this. In the first film, the groups are blocked in separate squares. They move against each other. In Zombies 3, the lines are blurred. A werewolf picks up a human; a zombie flips over a cheerleader. It’s a visual representation of how social barriers dissolve over time through shared experience.
Critics often dismiss these movies as "just for kids," but the narrative arc of the music tells a pretty sophisticated story about social integration. If you look at the Billboard charts for kid’s audio, these tracks consistently outperform almost everything else in the genre. They have staying power because they aren't just catchy—they’re aspirational.
The Production Value of the Zombies 3 Opener
Disney spent a significant amount of money on the "This Will Be Our Year" sequence. You can tell by the camera work. They used more sweeping crane shots and complex long takes than in the previous two installments. Director Paul Hoen, who has been with the franchise since the start, clearly wanted to go out on a high note.
The color palette is also worth noting. Seabrook started out very "pleasantville" with pales and pastels. By the third movie, the saturation is cranked up. The zombie "z-band" tech and the werewolf moonlight stones add these neon greens and blues that pop against the school's traditional colors. It’s a feast for the eyes, honestly.
Some fans argued that the alien arrival happened too quickly after the song ended. They wanted more time to see the characters just existing in their peaceful world. But that's the point of the song. It represents the fleeting nature of "perfect" moments. Life moves fast. One minute you're singing about your senior year, and the next, you're trying to prevent an intergalactic misunderstanding from destroying your town.
Beyond the Screen: The Impact on the Fandom
The song became a massive hit on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Why? Because "This Will Be Our Year" is a perfect "main character energy" anthem. It’s the kind of song people play when they’re graduating or starting a new job.
Disney’s marketing team leaned heavily into this. They released "sing-along" versions almost immediately. They knew the hook was an earworm. But beyond the marketing, the song represents the end of an era for the "Zom-be-bies" (the self-titled name for the fanbase). For many Gen Z and Gen Alpha viewers, they grew up with these characters.
The song isn't just about the year 2022 (when the movie dropped); it’s about the culmination of a decade of Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) evolving into something more cinematic.
Technical Breakdown of the Musicality
If you're into music theory, you'll notice the song relies on a high-energy BPM (beats per minute) that mimics a heartbeat. It’s designed to induce a literal physical response—tapping your feet, nodding your head.
- The Intro: Low-pass filters that slowly "open up" to symbolize the world expanding.
- The Verse: Rhythmic, almost spoken-word delivery from Milo that keeps the plot moving.
- The Pre-Chorus: Harmonic build-up with the werewolves adding a grittier, bass-heavy layer.
- The Chorus: Full orchestral and electronic explosion. It’s the "wall of sound" technique.
It’s a polished piece of pop-rock. It’s not trying to be indie or "cool" in a pretentious way. It’s trying to be a stadium anthem for a high school football game, and it hits that mark perfectly.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
A lot of people think "This Will Be Our Year" was meant to be the final song of the movie. It wasn't. It's the opener. Usually, the biggest song is the finale, but Zombies 3 flipped the script. They wanted to start with the highest possible energy to set the bar for the rest of the film.
Another misconception is that the actors don't actually sing. While there is obviously heavy post-production and layering (it's a Disney musical, after all), Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly have both performed these tracks live. They are theater kids at heart. That training is why the "This Will Be Our Year" performance feels so tight. You can't fake that kind of timing.
What's Next for the Zombies Universe?
Even though Zombies 3 felt like a finale, the franchise isn't dead. We’ve seen the announcement of Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. This changes how we look at "This Will Be Our Year." Was it actually the end, or just the end of the "first age" of Seabrook?
The new series and upcoming movies suggest that the "Our Year" sentiment is going to be tested again. With vampires entering the mix, the social hierarchy of Seabrook is going to get even more crowded. Will the unity celebrated in the Zombies 3 opener hold up?
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the lore or just want to recreate the vibe of the song in your own life, here is how you can actually use the "This Will Be Our Year" energy:
- Create a "Peak Performance" Playlist: Use the song as a transition piece between high-intensity workouts or study sessions. Its 120+ BPM is scientifically proven to help maintain focus and physical output.
- Analyze the Lyrics for Theme: If you're a student of film or theater, look at how the lyrics of "This Will Be Our Year" contrast with "Nothing is Wrong" from later in the film. It's a masterclass in how to use music for dramatic irony.
- Host a Marathon: Watch all three "opening" numbers back-to-back. "My Year," "We Got This," and "This Will Be Our Year." It’s the quickest way to see how the production budget and character depth grew over time.
The reality is, Zombies 3 handled its opening act better than most big-budget sequels. It gave the fans exactly what they wanted: a catchy, high-stakes, emotionally resonant anthem that acknowledged the past while sprinting toward the future.
Whether you love the green hair or find the alien plot a bit out there, you can't deny the craft behind the music. "This Will Be Our Year" remains the high-water mark for the franchise’s musical identity. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s unapologetically Seabrook.
The story of Zed and Addison might be moving into a new phase with the upcoming sequels, but that specific moment in Zombies 3 captured a lightning-in-a-bottle feeling of total, uninhibited optimism. And honestly, in the world we’re living in, who couldn’t use a bit of that? Keep an eye on the Zombies 4 casting news—word is the musical numbers are going to be even more ambitious than the 2022 tracks. Given the trajectory, that’s a high bar to clear.
For now, just keep the track on loop. It’s a reminder that even when things are changing, there’s always room for a massive dance number to make sense of the chaos. Just make sure you’re ready when the aliens show up. Because if Zombies 3 taught us anything, it’s that the "best year" usually comes with a side of cosmic intervention. Stay tuned for the vampire updates; the next "Year" is right around the corner.
