Train to the End of the World

“A Wild Ride Through Post-Apocalyptic Anime"

Have you ever been so determined to find someone or something that you completely stepped out of your comfort zone? Doing so would mean drastic changes in your life, but you forged ahead regardless because of just how important this is. Very few have the courage and drive to venture into the unknown in search of what’s important to them because, for all we know, the negatives could far surpass the positives. But when the world flips around you, you have to take things into your own hands and become the much-needed change for the greater good!

“Train to the End of the World," also known as “Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku?” or “Where Does the Doomsday Train Go?” is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 1st of April till the 24th of June in Spring 2024. It was produced by Movic, AT-X, flying DOG, Tokyo MX, Kadokawa, and DAXEL, and brought to life by Studio EMT Squared.

The main staff behind it included Sotokawa Akihiro, Nishimae Shuka, Kawamoto Sachi, and Itou Shousei as producers. Featuring the genre of adventure, this series of 23-minute episodes earned a rating of PG-13 for teenagers 13 years of age or older. It was announced by Kadokawa in commemoration of 2022's Railway Day as well as the 150th anniversary of Japan's first railway. Consequently, it was released on Blu-ray and DVD in the form of three volumes from the 24th of July till the 25th of September, 2024.

The anime series is original, but a manga by the same began publication on the 25th of March 2024 and is still ongoing. It features the same genre alongside the theme of pets and is the work of artist Torimura, whose work got serialized in ComicWalker.

A summary episode titled “Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku? Recap” was released as a TV special on the 17th of June 2024. Also known as “Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku? Episode 11.5”, it recapped the first 11 episodes of the main anime series. Done by the same studio, it had a runtime of 23 minutes and received a similar rating. Finally, an ONA series titled “Wanwan Train Doko e Iku?” aired from the 24th of April till the 26th of June, 2024. It had a total of 9 episodes, which ran for 45 seconds per episode, featuring the genre of comedy.

Set in a world where the introduction of 7G network technology had promised miraculous technological advancements for everyone, everything descends into complete chaos in the aftermath of its actual launch in Japan. The usual way of life is thrown out of the window as drastic changes occur in the terrain and bizarre mutations begin appearing among the people, paving the way for brand new rules and norms.

In this hectic world, the town of Agano is one of the last few remaining human settlements, but even here the citizens who are 21 years old or older have somehow transformed into animals! Thus the screen turns to protagonist Shizuru Chikura, who is a high school student hailing from Agano locked in a desperate search for her friend Youka Nakatomi.

Amidst her search, she comes across a photo of her friend in a newspaper, which showed Youka in Ikebukuro somehow, and this prompts her to start packing for the trip. But considering the state of things, it should come as no surprise that public transportation has been effectively shut down, limiting her options severely.

Luckily for her, Tairo Zenjirou, who is a senile old conductor and the only adult human in town, provides her with the ideal solution by teaching her how to operate an abandoned old train. With both her mode of transport and destination set, Shizuru embarks on a thrilling journey to finally find her missing friend. But what’s a journey without good friends?

This is exactly why her other classmates, Nadeshiko Hoshi, Reimi Kuga, and Akira Shinonome, decide to join her on the day of departure. Their decision to tag along at the last minute directs them along a one-track adventure, which may just expose them to numerous dangers far beyond anything they have faced in Agano itself.

“Train to the End of the World” is without a doubt one of the wackiest yet refreshingly original anime out there. This is a very odd experience from start to finish, full of twists and turns like some crazy rollercoaster ride, supremely fun characters, and even some head scratching moments that serve to make everything so entertaining.

If you are as tired as I am of very generic and overused tropes, this show would be a breath of fresh air. A perilous journey through a post-apocalyptic setting may not be the most original thing, but this anime’s take on it is a sight to behold and sets a fine example for others. This cast of high school girls makes their way past various train stops in between suburban Tokyo and Ikebukuro in order to save their friend, and you can bet your socks every track along the way is fun.

For starters, this anime lacks any consistent rhyme or rhythm, as well as proper reasons for a majority of the stuff that happens in a good way; this is what makes it so random, unpredictable, fluid, and enjoyable. It goes without saying that all their train stops were affected by the disaster, which in turn altered both the reality and the people living there.

To give you a rough idea, these “alterations” can become as whacky as mind-controlling mushroom spores, zombies, towns that have been shrunk entirely, and so on. So don’t let the single genre fool you, because this is a mash of so many well executed in one show. If I had any gripe, it would be the fact that we didn’t get enough time at each stop because there was so much more to see and explore.

The number of stops between Agano and Ikebukuro is pre-established, but due to runtime restrictions, we only get to experience around half of them. This is probably why I felt like the journey was too streamlined by the end. Even so, the stops that we got a breather at were all over the place in the best ways possible. So be prepared for a truly eccentric story that brings together so much unexpected stuff while managing to work surprisingly well!

The highlight in the character department is the chemistry in between the cast members. The group chemistry is insanely entertaining, and I have got to give credit to the writers for making teenage school girls this fun! For instance, they seem to know exactly what the implications are when traveling with said age group; the squabbles, fights, reconciliations, doubts, insecurities, and so on are all handled perfectly.

There’s this sense of authenticity in how these characters even talk to each other, and their consistent banter ensures that not one moment feels dull aboard this old train. Sometimes I found myself starting each episode wanting to know exactly what Reimi was up to this time! Basically, each and every one of these girls is layered through their personalities, and what drives them is well defined. I honestly liked all of them for their own iteration of “sweet and charming," backed by an equally wild and likable supporting cast.

Calling the Art and Animation department creative is an understatement in terms of direction, quality, and production. Even amidst the countless mysteries, this world is alive with color and weirdness; you will remember this color palette and refreshing aesthetics long after you’ve finished the show.

While the character designs are simple with weird movements at times, it doesn’t hinder your experience much, and the backgrounds are just gorgeous by default. The animation has so much depth, and their portrayal of the “World's End” is hauntingly beautiful and serene, but with an underlying sense of dread. So let all the creative juices of the visuals sink in as you enjoy this anime, because it only becomes more beautiful as it progresses.

The Sounds and Music department does not lag far behind the rest because the sheer quality makes it memorable. The opening theme is "GA-TAN GO-TON" by Rei Nakashima, which is a banger with a catchy and funky tune, and the ending theme is "Eureka" by Rokudenashi, which is a darker tune reminiscent of this arbitrary journey into an unpredictable and unforeseeable future.

Both pieces are well done and truly set the tone of the show. The voice acting is expertly done because this show is dialogue-heavy, and the best aspects include the main characters’ bantering. Kudos to the voice actors for nailing their characters and delivering their chemistry on point, which is one of the main reasons this show is so good!

“Train to the End of the World” takes some time to get used to, and the conclusion may not be as satisfying as the start, but it is consistently fun and engaging. This is the anime equivalent of putting everything you find into a blender and getting an amazing yet otherworldly smoothie as a result. It is chalk full of comedy and adventure, brought to life with a solid story, vibrant characters, memorable visuals, and fun dialogue.

Words can do little justice for this one; you gotta experience it yourself to believe this clusterfudge worked out so marvelously. This is sheer insanity executed in the best way possible—a work where a main cast of teenage girls didn’t make me sigh in exasperation. Truly one of the best original anime I have seen, so I recommend it to anyone who’s ready for a fun ride across an apocalyptic world!