As manyanimefans expected,Solo Levelingjust cemented its place as one of the most accomplished new-gen anime of the decade atCrunchyroll’s annual Anime Awards. Not only did the ultra-popular manhwa adaptation win for crucial categories like best new series, best action, and best score, butSolo Levelingalso took homethe most coveted accolade of the night by winning anime of the year. This achievement is the latest testament to the devoted following Sung Jinwoo’s (Aleks Le) transformation has inspired since the show’s release, but the award is also not without controversy. As soon asSolo Leveling’s victory was announced,fans ofone other top contenderin particular flooded social mediato criticize the decision, ultimately pointing out thatFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endactually deserves the title.
The winner of best director, best drama, and best background art atCrunchyroll’s awards,Frieren: Beyond Journey’sEnd,didn’t receive zero recognition among the event’s judges, but the uproarover the phenomenal anime being passed over for anime of the yearisn’t unfolding for no reason. WhileSolo Levelingundeniably shines in its action sequencesand the sheer delight of its epic underdog story, the series still hasn’t gotten to a point where it puts its deeper themes front and center. In comparison,Frieren: Beyond Journey’sEndis a masterful balanceof characterdevelopment, stunning action, and philosophical undertones —a series that deliversthe kind of eye-opening, life-changing story everyone needs to be watching,even if the show still hasn’t received the full recognition it has rightfully earned.
What Is ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ About?
Originally created byKanehito YamadaandTsukasa Abeand animated bythe acclaimed Studio Madhouse,Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endfollows the ancient elf mage Frieren (Mallorie Rodak) in the immediate aftermath of her quest to slay the Demon King alongside the other members of what comes to be known as the infamous Hero party. Due to her extraordinary lifespan, Frieren subsequently outlives her former human companions, causing the mageto reflect on whether she fully appreciated her time with them. After one of these former companions, the hilariously corrupt priest Heiter (Jason Douglas), cleverly tricks Frieren into taking on an apprentice before his death, the two set off to find the mythical land of Aureole, where it is said that Frieren canmeet the spirits of the dead and finally receive the closure she once took for granted.
By its premise alone, it is clear thatFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis a series steeped in heavy topics and thought-provoking subject matter. The series distinguishes itself fromother popular fantasy animelikeBlack Clover,Demon Slayer, and most of the Isekai genre by focusingless on action and medieval entertainment and more on the deep emotionsheroes are forced to navigate when they set out to change the world. In this way, the series resembles something closerto anime masterpieces as belovedasFullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodorHunter x Hunterby balancing its unique magic with thought-provoking commentary on how people are irrevocably changed by their adventures. The show’s depth and subtle character development have led some to accuse it of being slow, but rest assured,there’s never a dull moment with a series this compelling.
‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Subverts the Typical Hero’s Journey to Masterful Effect
The central plotline ofFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis particularly engaging because it subverts the typical beats of the hero’s journey.Across all media, but especially in the anime genrewell-saturated with overpowered protagonists, underdogs, and the occasional chosen one trope, the story of the hero’s quest is omnipresent.Countless characters have their idle home lives interrupted by evil,meet memorable mentor figures, find allies, andgrow in power as they seek to defeat the ultimate darknessplaguing their society.Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endisn’t unique because it shuns this narrative structure, but rather because it approaches it from a unique angle. Rather than beginning with Frieren during her early days as a hero,the series picks up after her party has already completed its quest, offering a new perspective on the life of a fantasy protagonist.
Due to Frieren’s near-immortality, this perspective revolves heavily around the relativity of time and age, demonstrating howwhat is profound to one person may be mundane to the next. The best example of this theme is when Frieren introduces her apprentice, Fern (Jill Harris), to the Zoltraak magic of the imprisoned demon Qual (Major Attaway), butthe masterful anime seriesalso adopts a more hopeful tone once Frieren begins forming a new party for this second adventure. In her interactions with characters like her second corrupt priest, Sein (Christopher Wehkamp), and the unwittingly overpowered Stark (Jordan Dash Cruz), Frieren catches glimpses of her pastthat illustrate how life moves in cycles, shutting the door on one adventure just to open the door for the next.
‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Ending Explained: Is There More Story To Be Told?
Who passed and who failed the First Class Mage Exams?
‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Balances a Powerful Female Protagonist with a Delightful Supporting Cast
As the show’s title suggests, one of the biggest draws ofFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis the silver-haired mage herself. Frieren is a delight to watch as she and her friends make their way toward the Northern Lands because she’s sucha refreshing female protagonist for the anime genreand a fascinating character in her own right. More powerful than most mages of the modern age,Frieren is also surprisingly silly for someone her age, never failing to be tempted by a mimic in a dungeon, knowledgeable about even the most seemingly insignificant spells, and yet a death sentence for demons. Her complex layers invite comparisons to other powerful female protagonists to emerge in recent anime, such asMaomao (Emi Lo) fromThe Apothecary Diaries, while her tragic connection to her first party’s leader, Himmel the Hero (Clifford Chapin), explores feelings of regret and guiltthat make even one of the series' most powerful characters feel relatable.
In addition to the mage herself,Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endalso introducesa cast of memorable supporting characters that grab your attentionas soon as they appear. Aside from both the old and new members of Frieren’s adventuring party, Season 1’s First Class Mage Exam arc introduces similarly sage faces like Denken (Ben Philips), as well as the walking red flag named Ubel (Morgan Berry), whose sadistic cutting magic makes her feel like Sukuna (Ray Chase) 2.0 and a fun contrast to the main cast’s compassion. This arc also contains the most epic fight ofthe series to be released so farin Frieren’s face-off with her Spiegel-produced replica, demonstrating howthe series leverages stunning animationwith fast-paced combat to complement an innovative narrative that is justtoo good for any animation fan to ignore.
