Train to the End of the World

Train to the End of the World
Key visual featuring the four main characters
終末トレインどこへいく？ (Shūmatsu Torein Doko e Iku?)
Genre	Post-apocalyptic, science fantasy, slice-of-life, surreal comedy
Created by	apogeego
Manga
Written by	apogeego
Illustrated by	Torimura
Published by	Kadokawa Shoten
Magazine	KadoComi
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	March 25, 2024 – present
Anime television series
Directed by	Tsutomu Mizushima Fumihiko Suganuma
Written by	Michiko Yokote
Music by	Miho Tsujibayashi
Studio	EMT Squared
Licensed by	Crunchyroll
Original network	AT-X, Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, SUN, BS11
Original run	April 1, 2024 – present
Episodes	4

Train to the End of the World (終末トレインどこへいく？, Shūmatsu Torein Doko e Iku?, lit. "Where Does the Doomsday Train Go?") is an original Japanese anime television series produced by Kadokawa Corporation, animated by EMT Squared and directed by Tsutomu Mizushima, with Michiko Yokote handling series composition, Asako Nishida handling character designs based on namo's original designs, and Miho Tsujibayashi composing the music. It premiered in April 2024. A manga adaptation illustrated by Torimura began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's KadoComi manga website in March 2024.

Story

After the disastrous launch of an experimental 7G cellular network warps reality itself, Japan is left devastated with civilization collapsing and being reduced to scattered, isolated settlements. In addition, the 7G Incident has created strange phenomena and affected the surviving population in various ways, such as transforming the residents of Agano into intelligent animals once they reach the age of 21. Two years after the 7G Incident, young student and Agano resident Shizuru Chikura comes across evidence that her missing friend and classmate Yoka Nakatomi is actually alive and well in Ikebukuro. With the warped landscape too dangerous to travel on foot, Shizuru and her friends commandeer an abandoned passenger train with the intent to follow the rail line to Ikebukuro and reunite with Yoka.

Characters

Shizuru Chikura (千倉 静留, Chikura Shizuru)

Voiced by: Chika Anzai

A young student and resident of Agano, Shizuru has spent the past two years since the 7G Incident searching for Yoka, who disappeared after both girls had a falling out. Learning that Yoka is living in Ikebukuro, Shizuru commandeers an abandoned passenger train and is determined to ride it to Ikebukuro to reunite with Yoka. She lives with her grandmother and mother, who have both been turned into animals following the 7G Incident.

Nadeshiko Hoshi (星 撫子, Hoshi Nadeshiko)

Voiced by: Azumi Waki

A very mature and polite student who acts as the group's peacemaker, often breaking up fights between Reimi and Akira.

Reimi Kuga (久賀 玲実, Kuga Reimi)

Voiced by: Erisa Kuon

An energetic and cheerful student who is always highly optimistic, but constantly gets into fights with Akira due to their conflicting personalities.

Akira Shinonome (東雲 晶, Shinonome Akira)

Voiced by: Hina Kino

A highly intelligent but withdrawn student who tends to keep to herself, but constantly gets into fights with Reimi due to their conflicting personalities.

Yōka Nakatomi (中富 葉香, Nakatomi Yōka)

Voiced by: Nao Tōyama

Shizuru's best friend who had a falling out with her and left Agano for Ikebukuro for unknown reasons. She has subsequently been trapped in the city ever since the 7G Incident.

Zenjirō (善治郎)

Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu

A mysterious train conductor who managed to retain his humanity but lost his sanity and arrived in Agano seemingly out of nowhere. Zenjiro can temporarily regain his sanity for five minutes a day when wearing his conductor's cap and is the one to teach Shizuru how to operate the train. He has a deep grudge against Pontaro, the inventor of 7G, and has sworn revenge against him.

Pochi-san (ポチさん)

Yoka's pet dog, who seems to have been completely unaffected by 7G.

Media

Manga

A manga adaptation, illustrated by Torimura and told from Akira's perspective, began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's KadoComi manga website on March 25, 2024.

Anime

The original anime television series was announced on Railway Day on October 14, 2022, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of Japan's first railway. It is directed by Tsutomu Mizushima and written by Michiko Yokote, both of whom had previously worked on the anime series Shirobako and The Magnificent Kotobuki, and features animation production by EMT Squared, original character designs by namo, animation character designs by Asako Nishida, and music composed by Miho Tsujibayashi. The series premiered on April 1, 2024, on AT-X and other channels. The opening theme song is "GA-TAN GO-TON", performed by Rei Nakashima, while the ending theme song is "Eureka", performed by Rokudenashi. Crunchyroll licensed the series.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Storyboarded by	Original air date
1	"I'll Be Going Now" Transliteration: "Chotto Ittekuru" (Japanese: ちょっと行ってくる)	Tsutomu Mizushima	Michiko Yokote	Tsutomu Mizushima	April 1, 2024 (2024-04-01)
Two years after the disastrous launch of an experimental 7G cellular network that warped reality, Japan has been left devastated with civilization reduced to various scattered, isolated settlements. Strange phenomena are now commonplace throughout the country such as the people of the town of Agano being transformed into intelligent animals once they reach the age of 21. Shizuru Chikura, Nadeshiko Hoshi, Reimi Kuga, and Akira Shinonome are four students native to Agano who are left to wonder about their future, knowing they will inevitably turn into animals as well once they come of age. They then find a newspaper showing that their missing classmate Yoka Nakatomi is still alive in Ikebukuro, but have no way of getting there. That night, Shizuru finds a train conductor's cap and returns it to Tairo Zenjiro, who suddenly regains his sanity and reveals he has a grudge against Pontaro, the inventor of 7G, and seeks to get revenge on him. Unable to leave Agano himself, Zenjiro teaches Shizuru how to operate an abandoned train. Nadeshiko, Remi, Akira, and Yoka's dog Pochi decide to accompany Shizuru and they begin the long trek to Ikebukuro.
2	"Suppose, Maybe, Presumably" Transliteration: "Suisoku, Darou, Omowareru" (Japanese: 推測、だろう、思われる)	Fumihiko Suganuma	Michiko Yokote	Fumihiko Suganuma	April 8, 2024 (2024-04-08)
Riding the train, the girls soon reach the Koma River, where they come to realize that in their haste to leave Agano, none of them had thought to bring adequate supplies for the trip. They then come across an eccentric old man who is exploring the Koma River. They trade cigarettes for his map of the river and rail line, but the man warns them that route to Ikebukuro will be dangerous. Reimi then suggests that they turn back and return to Agano to properly stock up on supplies. However, a tsunami suddenly forms behind the train, forcing Shizuru to drive forward at full speed in order to outrun it. They are able to escape the tsunami, but it destroys the bridge behind them, forcing them to continue forward toward Ikebukuro. Eventually, they reach Higashi-Agano Station where they are greeted by the local populace, who are humans with mushrooms growing out of the tops of their heads.
3	"Short, Happy and Easy" Transliteration: "Shōto de Happīījī ni" (Japanese: ショートでハッピーイージーに)	Takahiko Usui	Michiko Yokote	Jong Heo	April 15, 2024 (2024-04-15)
The girls find the residents of Higashi-Agano to be very friendly and hospitable, and they are allowed to stay the night in a vacant house. However, Akira is uneasy at how friendly the residents seem to be, and catches sight of them watching her and the girls from afar. That night, Akira wakes up and heads for the bathroom, but stumbles upon a meeting between the residents who are planning to force the girls to join their town. Akira is found by her friends, but the residents claim she simply had a nightmare. The next day, the girls' departure is delayed by the train being covered in bitter melon vines. As they remove the vines and obtain supplies, the girls except Akira begin growing apathetic as mushrooms begin growing out of their heads. Akira manages to remind Shizuru about her desire to reunite with Yoka, and she removes her mushroom and helps rescue Reimi and Nadeshiko. The residents reveal that since they no longer want to live in a world ruined by the 7G Incident, they voluntarily allow themselves to be infected by parasitic mushrooms that remove their negative emotions, but at the cost of killing them in two years. Seeing that the residents do not want to be saved, the girls board the train and continue on their journey. However, Akira realizes to her horror that something is growing on her back.
4	"Why Are You Hiding Your Butt?" Transliteration: "Nande Oshiri Kakusu no?" (Japanese: なんでおしり隠すの？)	Tsutomu Mizushima	Shigeru Murakoshi	Jong Heo Tsutomu Mizushima	April 22, 2024 (2024-04-22)
As the girls contemplate how long it will take to reach Ikebukuro, Akira hides the growth on her back. When the train arrives at Musashi-Yokote Station, the girls are forced to keep moving when they come under attack from a herd of humanoid goats. That night, the girls decide to take turns driving the train to give Shizuru a chance to rest, and Akira remains in denial that something is growing on her back, fearing it is a mushroom. The train then arrives at Koma Station, but the girls decide to keep moving when they see the area infested with living turnips. They pass Higashi-Hannō Station as it rains golf balls, and find trees shaped like humans at Hannō Station. The girls finally notice the mushrooms growing on Akira's back and remove them, but she reverts to a childlike personality. Zenjiro fears Akira's brain might be affected and advises the girls to see a doctor who lives near Inariyama-kōen Station. Upon arriving at Inariyama, Shizuru and Reimi leave the train to the explore the area and find a miniature town, only be attacked by miniature Japanese Self Defense Forces. They are both knocked unconscious and later awake to find themselves tied up.

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Train to the End of the World (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia