Fall 2023 marked a pinnacle for anime enthusiasts. Among the array of returning favorites such as Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, the conclusion of Attack on Titan, and Dr. Stone, emerged a new contender: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Sousou no Frieren). Despite its quiet entrance, it swiftly ascended to the apex of the season’s offerings, claiming the title of the premier anime of fall 2023, evident in its domination of the top charts.
Starting Frieren out of curiosity turned out to be the best decision I made in 2024. Today, I present a compelling article aimed at enticing you to fall in love with this show and start watching it immediately. Here are five reasons why:
1. Non-Linear Storytelling
The storytelling in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is its greatest strength. The non-linear narrative, while intricate, is far from perplexing.
Frieren tells a story set in a Tolkien-esque world inspired by Dungeons and Dragons. We follow Frieren and her friends on adventures, completing quests, battling demons, and more. However, the author’s non-linear storytelling sets it apart.
The anime begins with Frieren and her friends returning home after defeating the Demon King, leaving us curious about their journey. In the current timeline, Frieren, an elf, outlives her human companions, witnessing their deaths over the years. This marks the start of a new chapter after the end.
After her companions’ deaths, she embarks on a new adventure with fresh recruits, honoring her friends’ late promises. Over time, she reminisces about battling the Demon King with them, unfolding the story in a non-linear fashion, offering viewers two distinct adventures simultaneously.
Though the pacing is slow, and accepting that poses no harm, the perfect use of flashbacks and real-time events keeps us intrigued to learn about this world and its characters. This simple yet brilliant move evokes a keen sense of emotion as intended by the author.
So, in essence, we witness two parallel adventures intertwined, creating an unprecedented experience. Many anime feature non-linear stories like Baccano, Durara, Monogatari series, etc. However, Frieren stands out as the non-linear storyline doesn’t confuse us; instead, it serves everything on a silver platter, reflecting life’s ease.
2. Enchanting Characters to Root for All-Day
The anime’s charm lies in its endearing cast, comprising Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Talking Demons, and others, adding excitement to the show.
Characterization and story arcs are meticulously crafted, offering depth beyond the protagonist, though some may find the pace slow.
Frieren exemplifies this dynamic as initially portrayed as unsympathetic. Being an elf of considerable age, everything seems fatuous to her. Her quest against the Demon King comprises but a fraction of her lengthy lifespan, rendering her connections and shared time seemingly inconsequential.
However, post-Demon King’s demise, Frieren embarks on a new chapter, prompting introspection. Serendipitous encounters on her journey infuse her past experiences with friends with newfound significance, nurturing a previously dormant kindness within her.
One case stands out amidst many, with well-written characters enriching the story and enhancing the overall experience. Fern and Stark, the deuteragonists of this anime, who won the Best Boy and Girl of Fall 2023, serve as a testament to this.
Each character in Frieren has a story to tell, offering valuable life lessons often overlooked or misunderstood.
3. Sublime Animation That Leaves You Craving for More
Mad Studios, a powerhouse known for producing gems like Death Note, Hunter x Hunter (2011), One Punch Man, and Monster, has once again proven their excellence with Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
Though not as detailed or visually rich as ufotable’s Demon Slayer, this anime boasts fluid animation that is alluring and eye-catching.
Randomly pause during an episode, and you’ll find yourself with wallpaper material. The animation and art style of this anime are insanely good. Every scene in Frieren bursts with color, creating a vivid and unforgettable experience.
Madhouse remained faithful to the source material, painting each frame like a true artist, making Frieren one of the best anime adaptations of all time.
The action scenes are crafted and storyboarded with sleek, fluid animated movements, captivating viewers with their precision and satisfaction.
4. Marvellous World Building and Delicate Power Dynamics
Sousou no Frieren excels in worldbuilding, drawing inspiration from D&D and European countries, notably Germany, evident in its character and city names. Each visited land and detour is meticulously crafted, adding depth to the overall narrative.
The studio has captured flora, fauna, magical beasts, menacing demons, magical elves, and more with beauty. Blended with alluring visuals by Madhouse, every episode remains captivating.
Secondly, the power system is unique, with elves, priests, and demons capable of distinctive magic. Powerful warriors wield various cool weapons. The system is efficiently laid out for viewer understanding.
Witness the phenomenal action scenes in this anime firsthand.
5. Skilled Voice Actors Breathing Life into Characters
Last but not least, the voice actors behind Sousou no Frieren delivered an exceptional performance, infusing the characters with depth and emotion. Talented actors, including:
- Atsumi Tanezaki (known for Anya Forger from Spy x Family and Rio Futaba from Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai)
- Kana Ichinose (known for Ichigo from Darling in the FranXX, Yuzuriha Ogawa from Dr. Stone, and Maki Shijou from Kaguya-sama: Love is War)
- Chiaki Kobayashi (known for Askeladd from Vinland Saga, Gabimaru from Hell’s Paradise, and Mash Burnedead from Mashle: Magic and Muscles)
- Nobuhiko Okamoto (known for Katsuki Bakugo from MHA and Yuu Nishinoya from Haikyuu)
- Junichi Suwabe (known for Ryomen Sukuna in JJK, Yami Sukehiro in Black Clover, and Archer in the FATE series)
This is only a handful of names as many other popular voice actors have lent their voices to the characters in this anime. I’ve also heard the English VA has done an amazing job for the dubbed version, so dub-watchers don’t have to worry!
This brings me to the end of my reasons to persuade you to watch Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. I’ve pinpointed the key highlights without spoiling major plotlines. I hope this is enough to get you started on adding Sousou no Frieren anime to your watchlist. Leave a comment below about how much you liked this anime.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
