REVIEW: ‘Touring After The Apocalypse’ Episode 1 — “Hakone”

What do you do when the world ends and everything you know has completely changed? Well, go sightseeing, of course! Touring After the Apocalypse (Shuumatsu Touring) is an anime adaptation of the manga by Sakae Saitou. Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 follows Yoko (Konomi Inagaki) and Airi (Miyu Tomita), two friends seemingly left alone at the end of the world in 2035, as they embark on a journey to explore what remains.

Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 begins by showing what the world looked like before it ended. There’s bustling city life, busy streets, flowing rivers, and beautiful natural scenery, full of people soaking it all in. It is a great way to set the stage for what the two motorcycle-riding friends will experience once everyone else is gone.

Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 quickly shifts to a world full of overgrown vegetation and ruined buildings. Instead of people, animals have taken residence everywhere. It is a stark contrast to the bustling activity shown in the opening. In every direction are meandering animals and relative calmness.

The peaceful score and beautiful animation set the tone for a mellow, stress-free adventure.

What is truly surprising about Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 is how calm and peaceful it is. The word “apocalypse” evokes a certain feeling of dread, but that is not immediately felt. Instead, the focus is on how things settle down once humanity is removed from the equation. While the world may look run-down, it doesn’t lose the natural beauty that existed before humans were around.

The musical score, led by wonderful piano melodies and upbeat drums, also helps show that Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 is going to be a positive experience. The goal is not to make viewers fear the unknown, but instead to help them feel as excited to explore as Yoko and Airi are.

The animation from Nexus does a superb job of showcasing the set pieces as well. Every frame is dripping with detail and vibrant colors, and that is what brings this world to life. For a series focused on exploration, nailing the initial displays in Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 is vital.

The heart of Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 is the relationship between Yoko and Airi.

Yoko and Airi’s relationship is the focal point in Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1, and their interactions are a delight. Their first conversation is about different types of foods, and there is plenty of banter between the two friends. They have to keep themselves occupied somehow, so it makes sense that they would find games to play that can lighten the mood and keep them from feeling dour.

Their entire journey is centered around survival, but it never feels like they are in danger. While they need to find food and places to recharge their bike using solar power, the stakes don’t seem to really bother the intrepid duo. That childlike naivete is what makes Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 feel cozy, despite its apocalyptic nature.

Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 also sneaks in plenty of worldbuilding without smacking viewers over the head with it. Other survivors are hinted at when Yoko mentions leaving a shelter, and they uncover written messages that imply others have been to Hakone before them.

Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 raises interesting mysteries without overwhelming the story.

At the halfway point, Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 takes a bit of an interesting turn. An encounter in Hakone leaves the two in danger, revealing that there is more to the duo than meets the eye. It will be fascinating to see how these revelations impact their story going forward, as well as how the series can balance the positive overtones with harsher, more dramatic elements.

Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 is a delightful way to start a series, with plenty of beautiful moments and some serious mystery lurking beneath. Yoko and Airi’s journey is certainly going to be a wild one as the two explore what remains of Japan.

Touring After the Apocalypse Episode 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.