Are you looking for a weird anime about four girls living in the ruins of a post-apocalyptic bizarro world? Do you love old trains and cute animals? Then you might like Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku?, aka Train to the End of the World. Let’s check it out in this blog post!
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What’s the Premise of Shuumatsu Train?
Did you love Kemono Friends, the low-budget CGI anime set in the aftermath of a mysterious war that killed humans and made animals intelligent? Do you wish that show had gotten a massive budget and more traditional moe animation? Then you’re sure to like Train To The End Of The World, which offers all of this…plus a train!
The story is set two years after the bizarre “7G Incident” in which reality was warped so that the distances between different regions of Japan became unstable. Additionally, most humans were transformed into intelligent animals. In the rural town of Agano, young Shizuru learns that her friend Yoka, who everyone thought dead after the 7G Incident, is alive and well in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
Shizuru is determined to find her friend, but the journey would be too dangerous on foot. The only way to get there is to drive a dilapidated old train that was left in the town. With the help of a brain-addled former train driver, Shizuru gets ready to depart. When her friends Nadeshiko, Reimi and Akira find out about her journey, they jump inside the train, too. What will the four friends find?
Five Reasons to Watch Train to the End of the World!
Let’s look at some reasons why this anime should be on your watch list!
A Dark and Mysterious Premise
Japan was desperate to catch up to other nations economically, so they developed the 7G cellular network, connecting all humans instantly. But why did activating the network cause the world to change, making communication and travel between places next to impossible? And why was every human over the age of 21 transformed into a talking animal? Although the residents of Agano seem to be leading a peaceful life, what’s up with the bloody hand prints on the side of the delivery truck? We all love a good mystery!
This is an original story, created for this anime, so anything could happen as the story unfolds. The writer is Michiko Yokote, who also brought us ReLIFE, Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san and Onimai!, so we know the quality of the story is potentially high. I’m so excited for future episodes! Waku waku suru!
Cute Girls With Good Personalities
Train to the End of the World offers good characters, too. The banter between the four girls is entertaining. Shizuru’s determination to find Yoka is unwavering. Reimi and Akira’s constant bickering is cute to watch. And the always-grounded Nadeshiko completes the group.
A Cool Post-Apocalyptic World
Episode one shows the bizarre town of Agano two years after the 7G Incident. It’s run down with moss and weeds growing out of every crack in the cement, which looks really cool. And of course you can visit all these places, on your next visit to Japan.
Shuumatsu Train Offers Lots of Train Porn
Like the U.K., Japan has always had a strong culture of railfanning/trainspotting in which “train otaku” take photos of rare or unique trains as they speed by. It’s not uncommon to stop at a train crossing near J-List and see several men with cameras ready to film the next passing train. Every Japanese boy goes through a “train phase” when he does nothing but look at books and videos of trains, and as a father I memorized all the unique trains that run through Japan so I could connect with my son.
Sadly trains aren’t as big a part of daily life in the U.S., so some anime fans there might not appreciate the cool details of trains in this anime.
A Banger of an Opening Song
It’s always appreciated when an anime features a great song that you can’t get out of your head once you hear it.
Thanks for reading this blog post about the fun new anime Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku? Will you be giving the show a watch? Tell us in the comments below!
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No girlfriend? No problem! April 14 is Black Day in South Korea, when single men mark the occasion by eating black noodles. They missed out on Valentine’s Day chocolate on February 14 and had no one to give white chocolate to on White Day, March 14, but so April 14 is their day! J-List is celebrating with a huge 15% sale on all Japan-based products through April 20. Start browsing now!
