Shuumatsu Touring

As a big fan of travel anime, I was excited hearing about Touring After the Apocalypse for the first time. To my surprise this anime exceeded my expectation. It was wholesome, exciting, myterious, funny and emotional. Spoiler warning

First off, one of the biggest strength is it post-apocalypse setting. The world isn’t a new created world, it is based on real life locations, which makes this show work similar like Laid-Back Camp or ZatsuTabi but in comparison to them, the interaction with the visited places are way different because everything is overgrown by nature, animals and without humans anywhere. This makes it very unique, especially ... because the implementation of this post-apocalypse world is so beliveable and authentic. For example the protagonists Yoko and Airi visited Akihabara but there are only hints left that this was an electronic area back in the past. Now it is an overgrown area for lots of animals, which escaped from the zoo and settled within the city. In addition there are always connections to how the places were supposed to be in the past and how they changed, which helps the immersion even more.

Speaking of the past, I really like how this show connects the past and present also outside its environment. For example the robobt from episode 2, the Akihabara radio, all those vehicles from the raceway or even the aliens. Each one of them has a legacy, a dream which survied the apocalypse in a way and reawaken within Yoko and Airi. There were a lot of emotional scenes connected to those story which got me of guard all the time. For example th robot from episode 2 who had a good time with Yoko and Airi but misses his family so much, that he chose to "join" his family in the after life.

What all those emotional scene had in common is a good presentation. I admit, it is obvious that the animation quality isn’t that high and in some episodes it felt annoying how often they used static environment pictures sometimes. But in contrast, it delivers in their key scenes ever time with solid animations, good music and beautiful colors. All in all this anime looks fantastic. The background art is astonishing and the colors are so vibrant, they helped the immersion a lot.

However in this colorful world lies a cruelty our heros had to face lots of time. This world is dangerous with their nature catastrophies and their mutant animals. The anime succeeds in combining the beauty and danger this world offers. Like for example when our duo got chased by a horde of rats they survied and were rewarded with a beautiful night scenery of the city. This scene was also a nice character moment for Yoko, who was sick of staying in the safe room and wants to travel around although she could die. Our duo Yoko and Airi in general very likeable. Looking at them one by one they are fine characters but they shine as a duo even more because of their fun dynamic. Yoko is the more exciting/out-going character, who enjoys herself as much as she can. Airi is the voice of reasoning and logic as a cyborg but still takes part with Yokos shenanigans. You can clearly feel how they adore and care each other. I also love how selfless they are sometimes by letting some found food rations behind for possible travellers coming by or how they resepect dead humans they found and letting them rest.

Before I rest my review I want to mention one more thing which carries this anime a lot and that is the hole mystery of this world. We only get some hints within the environment of what caused the apocalypse and only vague answers. Also Yoko as a character is a mystery herself, because he wounds heals pretty fast and with the flashback and her dreams, she existed in the distant past too. Sadly we got no clear answers because 12 episodes were too less and the manga is still going and not fully adapted. However it was so fun speculating after every episode with every new hint of what could happend and who Yoko is. That's why I will definitely read the manga.

In the end for me Touring After the Apocalypse was a fantastic journey, with fun characters, super environment, curious secrets, emotional stories and exciting moments. Maybe not everyone might get excited by this anime as much as I do because I like that genre a lot, so this anime is perfectly made me at least.

Shuumatsu Touring. Shuumatsu has a bit of wordplay in Japanese. It can both mean "weekend" and also "the end." This fully demonstrates what this series is about. We got two girls, Youko & Airi touring. They are touring in a post-apocalyptic setting. You might think of many questions like, what happened to the world? Why is it like this?

However, the series also means weekend touring. This is the true atmosphere of the series. Weekends are meant to be relaxing and comfortable, and this is what this series tries to aim for. Essentially this show is what you expect in a touring show around Japan, just ... in a post-apocalyptic setting.

This is a show that will set up various things but isn't too interested in giving you many answers right away. So if the post-apocalyptic theme interests you most, then you may run into issues and may end up being frustrated in watching. But if you are more interested in seeing these various tourist attractions in a more SoL story, you may really enjoy this one.

As someone who read the manga, the anime is a notable step up in art direction compared to the manga. Which is a pleasant surprise. Also solid animation and music to boot. I listed this as a mixed review because I could see that not getting answers could frustrate some people watching this show. But if you are not intent on getting those answers, you can have a great time with this one.

I rate it 7/10.

Shuumatsu Touring is an anime full of wasted potential that, in the end, leaves a lot to be desired. It starts by drawing the viewer in with a unique blend of chill, ambient travel and worldbuilding with dark, uneasy undertones. It raises all the right questions but answers none of them. Ultimately, while Shuumatsu Touring definitely had its moments, it ends as a forgettable mess.

The main premise of the show and how it’s introduced is actually quite good. Two girls, Yoko and Airi, travel through a post-apocalyptic Japan. What the show initially does well is contrasting the sheer joy the girls experience seeing the world ... for the first time with the remnants of civilization and the dangers of a post-apocalyptic setting. That mix of vibes, shifting between haunting and peaceful, is rarely seen and is pulled off amazingly at first.

However, for some reason, they simply stop doing it. After five or six episodes, the show focuses more on being purely lighthearted and "cute." Sure, there are moments that are more serious than others, but not in the same way. At certain points, I asked myself what I was even watching. In the end, none of my questions were answered regarding the characters or the world, leaving me with a sense that the story is incomplete.

Regarding the characters... Well, there are barely any. Yoko and Airi are essentially alone in the world, and the few other characters have such minimal screentime that I can't even begin to discuss them. In terms of the main duo, I’m surprised by how undeveloped and flat they are, considering they are the only two characters in the show. While both are likable and their dynamic is cute, you never really get to "know" them. Not once does the series explore their deeper thoughts or desires; the most we get is a surface-level "I want to travel." All in all, neither Yoko nor Airi feel like unique or memorable characters, which, coupled with the lack of growth, leaves them feeling underwhelming.

The art in this show was plain bad. While the backgrounds had pretty colors and the scenery was nice, that isn't particularly difficult to achieve. The animation consisted mostly of panning over still shots or using ugly 3DCG. The character designs were also lacking, especially the facial expressions, which were occasionally hard to look at. Overall, the art and animation felt cheap and incoherent, and the quality only dipped further toward the end. You would expect much better given the studio and producers involved.

The sound production is actually quite good. The OST, while not especially memorable, does its job by creating a soothing atmosphere alongside the ambient noise. While neither is top-tier, they are both more than passable. As for the voice acting, it’s just average. There isn't much more to say about it.

I personally really enjoyed the first half of this anime, but as it progressed, it became less and less enjoyable. It never reached the point of being a chore to watch, but it was getting close, so I’m lucky it was only 12 episodes. Even when there wasn't much to keep me engaged, I found the episodes went by quite quickly. In my opinion, the aforementioned contrast between Yoko’s happiness and the grim reality of the apocalypse was a unique take that captivated me. Once that stopped being the focal point, I naturally lost interest. In the end, I’d say it was an "okay" watch.

Due to Shuumatsu Touring’s lack of any real selling points, I’m hesitant to recommend it. It leaves loose ends, features uninteresting characters, and looks ugly. As such, even though I enjoyed parts of it, I can’t recommend it to others. Personally, I still want to know more about the world, so I might check out the manga (though I’m worried no development will happen there, either). It felt like they were trying to leave things open for a second season, which I would be open to watching. If not, I don't think I'll remember this anime for very long.