REVIEW: ‘Train to the End of the World’ Tells A Magical Tale Of Friendship

When the 7G network went live, it was supposed to bring humanity together like never before. Instead, it twisted the world into a radically new shape, making any journey perilous and difficult. But when Shizuru Chikura (Chika Anzai,  Astral Chain) discovers her lost friend Yoka Nakatomi (Nao Tôyama, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid) is in the faraway city of Ikebukuro, she sets out with her friends Reimi Kuga (Erisa Kuon), Akira Shinonome (Hina Kino, Buddy Daddies), and Nadeshiko Hoshi (Azumi Waki, Do It Yourself!!) to find their lost companion in the fantasy adventure anime Train to the End of the World from EMT Squared.

The journey of discovery and friendship at the core of Train to the End of the World is familiar. It would be easy to dismiss the series as walking a well-worn path. However, while the themes at its core are easily recognized, the adventure that fills the 12 episodes making up the story is filled with creative twists and turns that will have audiences unsure of what awaits them in each episode.

To find their missing friend, Shizuru and company set out on a small train to make the trip to Ikebukuro. While the trip would take hours before the 7G launch, it now takes weeks. As the girls travel, each stop presents strange obstacles.

The series is fully aware of how recognizable the structure of this plot is. At one point, one of the girls goes so far as to call out how similar their situation is to the classic Gulliver’s Travels. But whether the narrative finds the girls fighting off swarms of little people or fending off mind-controlling mushrooms, every stop brings a creative spark that provides the tale with fun and surprises. It even manages to be creative with its approach to zombies, making the overused monster-type fun and exciting for the first time in forever.

Further augmenting many of the stops the girls make on their journey is a supporting cast of characters that only build upon the series’ narrative tones. From goofy, fun characters like the eternally lost Swan Hermit (Nobuo Tobita) to the surprisingly deep Mito Kuroki (Konomi Kohara), Queen of the Zombies, many of the supporting cast come to leave nearly as lasting of an impression on the viewer as the core quartet.

The myriad adversaries and struggles the girls face are brought to life through a playful visual style that leans into the magic and strangeness of the journey. Bright colors and fun designs are delivered throughout the show, making each stop the girls make a visual treat. When the emotions build up near the end of the story, the visuals do a good job of delivering the serious moments in a way that lends them weight while still feeling right for the adventure they exist in.

While the twists and turns are most prominently featured in the adventures the girls go on, Train to the End of the World also brings creativity to the ending of its tale. Shizuru is searching for Yuka in large part due to a falling out the two had just before Yuka disappeared. Shizuru’s primary goal is to find Yuka and apologize to her.

But rather than settle just for that, the story allows everything the girls experience to expand upon the lessons of life. As the ending draws near, the series delivers a beautiful message not just about friendship but the importance of change, the need to risk failure, and that even when it comes, we can keep moving forward, preparing for the next change.

Despite so much greatness existing within Train to the End of the World‘s narrative, there are a couple of things viewers may struggle with. The biggest is that the core cast can be fairly annoying at times. All of the girls are roughly 12-14 years old. And rather than have the girls behave like tiny adults, the series does a great job of letting their age shine through. While this can result in meaningful moments of learning and growth, it can also cause the group to descend into obnoxious bickering. Never enough to ruin the series, but it does cause a couple of early episodes to struggle.

Train to the End of the World brings fun and meaningful character growth throughout its adventure. Even though there are times when the main cast can annoy, the charm, courage, and creativity on display allow the viewer to cherish their time with Shizuru, Reimi, Akira, and Nadeshiko more than enough to make up for a few small hiccups in the journey. If you find yourself longing for a magical journey of fun and meaning, I know a train ride you should definitely go on.

Train to the End of the World is streaming now on Crunchyroll.