Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou by it's it's definition for LA was LA's zen anime for Fall 2017.
Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou follows Chito voiced by Inori Minase and Yuuri voiced by Yurika Kubo as they explore their post-apocalyptic world in a vast underground city of possibilities. Now you'd think this kind of anime would be boring but actually with the simple daily lives of Chito and Yuuri simply exploring a section of the world they live in actually gives off some platitudes about humanity itself considering the setting they are placed in.
Chito and Yuuri as characters are your typical characters of the strict and methodical one of Chito while Yuuri is the laid-back character only caring about food (no seriously this becomes a running gag). Their relationship by all means are unstable but we still know they are friends through and through from a world where they are the only ones, it's given that they would want company. Now LA did say that both Chito and Yuuri are the only ones exploring their world however LA isn't being exactly correct as do indeed met remnants of civilizations if it's only two characters they met in this anime screentime. Is this a problem?, no as it delves into more world building about this underground city that both Chito and Yuuri are exploring and surviving in.
Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou dives into some subtle themes about humanity (and thankfully they don't hammer it in!), due to how episodic the anime is, Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou does explore even this and they do it discretely, from the simple act of rain touching empty cans making us think about music to robots clash over one another to preserve plants showing us if robots can have "feelings"...it's all nicely done and not at all hammered in.
In terms of animation done by White Fox, the character designs do have the chibified nature to them and LA is completely ok with that, though some wouldn't. The feature when it comes to Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou are the beautiful backgrounds. LA would think the only problem to all this are the clash of chibi and gorgeous backgrounds would be annoying and actually no...it's fine showing something of a "laid-back nature to what is showing the setting to be a depressed yet beautiful nature and counteracting the two together to actually work instead".
In terms fo voice acting, there really is only two MVP and that are Inori Minase and Yurika Kubo. Fun fact, LA thought Yuuri was voiced by Ayane Sakura at first but was surprised it was Yurika Kubo...she's come a long way since Hanayo from Love Live?. Other notable surprising voice actors in this anime would go to Yuki Kaji, Kotono Mitsushi and Kana Hanazawa. The voice cast as minimal as they are, was amazing.
Oddly enough the ending to Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou tied some world building threads together and finally gave us a bit of closure as to HOW this post-apocalyptic underground city was even made, but if that's not your cup of coffee, then the ending actually showed us that Chito really cares for Yuuri as much of a pain in the ass and annoyance she was to Chito in their trip together. Either way great ending!
What can LA say about Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou other than if you want a very zen anime looking at a beautifully post-apocalyptic world with two chibi explorers, then this is the anime for you.
