My least favorite genre of media is slice of life. Stuff that has no purpose or depth and that people say they'll watch just because it's "cute." More power to you, but I am not entertained by that which has no meaning. That's why from the get-go, Girls' Last Tour intrigued me.
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___Girls' Last Tour_ is an atmospheric and heartfelt journey that you won't be forgetting anytime soon.__
> Even if it's meaningless... sometimes, nice things happen.
Plot: 9/10
This story is short, simple, and bittersweet. It is the tale of two girls at the end of the world, fighting for survival. Their journey's destination is the top. "Because it's there," as they say. The people they meet, the discoveries they make, and the challenges they overcome along the way are all the story of their lives. THIS is the story of their lives. It's a story about life.
There aren't all too many shocking twists or intense revelations so much as there is a sense of wonder and attachment. The closer to the end one becomes, the more frightening that end becomes. Will the story end first, or will the girls die first? The question torments you, and every action they take weighs more on your mind as all you want is for these two girls to be happy. The story is short enough for this atmosphere and tension to carry it alongside the dialogue and themes, but it never really peaks all too hard.
> War is when people kill one another, right? Why would they do that?
Characters: 9.5/10
This story wouldn't be effective if Chito and Yuuri weren't amazing characters. This is yet another case of two characters who aren't anything too special on their own becoming incredible when paired up together. Chito is pessimistic, utilitarian, and has a variety of skills and interests, while Yuuri is optimistic, carefree, and perhaps a bit selfish. The two clash with each other constantly, and in a world that forces them to question the very nature and meaning of their existence, their opposing worldviews make for some of the most fascinating banter I have ever seen in fiction. There is something absolutely masterful about the portrayal of these girls who know some of the things we do as an audience, but are ignorant of a lot of it too, coming up with ideas and thoughts that would never occur to us. It genuinely feels like these are real people.
The only reason I give GLT a 9 and not a 10 in this regard is that I find the supporting cast to be rather weak. Kanazawa doesn't feel like a person who thinks for himself at all, Ishii's story is predictable, and Nuko is a plot device. None of this is outright bad but it would have been nice to see some more thoughtful side characters too. Chito and Yuuri though, are incredible.
> The road we travel is our house.
Themes: 10/10
This isn't even something that I can put into a cohesive summary. GLT constantly bombards you with philosophical commentary and inquiry on a level I have not seen anything else even touch. All of it is immensely fascinating, genuine, creative, and soulful. It's not something that I can do justice, and I would want you to experience the conversations Chito and Yuuri have on your own anyway.
> Become friends with despair!
Art: 8/10
There is definitely some difficulty to be had in figuring out what environments are intended to be depicted in certain panels, especially large ones. I don't think the overall quality of the art is high. Even so, what I respect is how heavily stylized this manga is despite that. The character design on display here is amazing and you can clearly tell the illustrator loved to draw these girls. It's unbelievably charming.
> Hey, aren't we always kinda lost?
Conclusion
There are so many words that come to mind to sum up what I think of this story. Magical. Thought provoking. Heartfelt. Soulful. One of a kind. Greater than the sum of its parts. It drew an emotion from me that I have never felt from a work of fiction before. A connection. For the first time... I was afraid to see it end.
Is it cute? Yeah. Yeah it is. If you like cute things you will like this. But more than that, it is meaningful. It's full of meaning. Ironic, when life is meaningless, and this is a story about life.