On March 22, the first season of the anime series 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' concluded, about a nearly immortal elf who decided to get to know people better. We tell you how this very comfortable fantasy title captivates you almost from the firs...

'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' is an adaptation of the manga of the same name written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe. The original work has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday since April 2020 and currently has 12 volumes, with total circulation exceeding 17 million copies as of December 2023.

The work has numerous nominations and awards, so its adaptation into anime format was almost inevitable. In September 2022, it was officially announced on the cover of Volume 9. The adaptation was handled by studio Madhouse, which brought fans 'Death Note', 'Hunter x Hunter', 'Parasyte', and the first season of 'One Punch Man', so there was little worry about 'Frieren', and after the premiere, it became clear that the title had definitely fallen into the right hands.

What's the Plot?

The hero Himmel's party, consisting of himself, the elf mage Frieren, the priest Heiter, and the dwarf warrior Eisen, returns after their ten-year journey in which they defeated the Demon King. Ahead is a brief celebration of victory and a long, quiet life in a new peaceful world. However, the concept of 'long' turns out to be different for everyone. For Frieren, a ten-year journey is not even a hundredth of her life, so she doesn't notice at all how she spends seventy years wandering in search of various spells after parting with her comrades.

Returning to the town where Himmel lives after so long, the elf finds not a stately blue-haired handsome man, but a bald, bearded old man. Last time, Frieren promised to take her comrades to see a meteor shower (which they saw at the festival back then and which occurs once every 70 years). So, gathering again, the party sets off on their final journey, after which the renowned hero soon dies. At the funeral, the mage realizes that she knew almost nothing about Himmel, even though they had known each other for a long time. In memory of her friend, Frieren decides to try to get to know people better despite the colossal difference in their lifespans.

Frieren, or There and Back Again

Almost immediately after the premiere, 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' displaced 'Fullmetal Alchemist' from the top spot on MyAnimeList (the anime IMDb), and for a long time at that (previously, the champion would reclaim the title within a month or a month and a half). Perhaps over time, the elf's story will yield the top spot, but it will definitely remain in the top ten for a long time. It seems we are witnessing the birth of a modern classic that has appealed to, if not everyone, then the vast majority. And, to be honest, the fans are quite understandable.

'Frieren' begins exactly where stories usually end: at the conclusion of a long and arduous journey with the taste of victory over absolute evil. What follows is a peaceful life, which usually remains off-screen. But not this time. The elf sets off to wander and search for various spells (that's her hobby), and because time flows differently for her, she doesn't even notice how decades slip by. This is the central conflict of the series.

Even after living over a thousand years, Frieren never understood humans, who are allotted such a short life. Yet, as it turned out, that one ten-year journey influenced her more than she expected. Though it lasted only a short time by the mage's standards, it was with this party that she bonded and found true friends. If not for them, she might never have decided to get to know anyone better.

Through a trick, the priest Heiter, who once loved to drink (apparently a common trait among green-haired characters), forced Frieren before his death to take on as an apprentice an orphan girl named Fern, who clearly has a talent for magic. Now the immortal mage is forced to travel not alone. However, it's not the girl who needs babysitting, but quite the opposite.

Fern constantly wakes her mentor in the morning, brushes her hair, and occasionally dresses her, because even as an adult and powerful mage, Frieren still seems like a child. She knows she has plenty of time, so she can do whatever she wants for as long as she wants. Their journey initially has no goal; the elf simply travels the world doing everyday work for small pay and grimoires. Moreover, she collects not powerful spells, but seemingly useless ones. For example, magic that allows her to plant a field of flowers or wash clothes (of course, I mean useless on a fantasy level, because in real life we would all greatly benefit from a spell that washes clothes, considering even just the cost of detergents and fabric softeners).

'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' is mostly a calm and meditative anime, giving the impression that you are in an online game with a very strong friend, completing low-level quests, simply enjoying the time spent together and contemplating the world. The series is steeped in warmth and coziness, so even during action and battle scenes, anxiety does not arise, because somewhere deep down you understand that evil will get what it deserves, and the journey will continue at its calm and measured pace.

Time Will Catch Up with Us

Speaking of the technical aspects of 'Frieren', it is a very beautiful series (the openings and endings are also excellent). Of course, its beauty differs from the bright and expensive 'Jujutsu Kaisen' and 'Demon Slayer', but the warmer color palette suits such a title much better than a saturated and vibrant picture. The anime's universe seems to draw inspiration from 'The Lord of the Rings' and its fantasy world. Only here, the adventure promises to be calmer, because the main evil has long been defeated, and the party is accompanied by an incredibly powerful mage (who doesn't disappear at crucial moments).

The characters and designs, by the way, are quite memorable and well-developed. The screen manages to reveal both Frieren's modern companions — Fern and Stark — and the legendary hero Himmel's party. The former develop as the plot progresses, gradually revealing themselves to the viewer, while the old comrades appear in nostalgic flashbacks tied to some situation in the present. The mage herself appears in both, helping viewers see how she has changed over time.

At the same time, 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' raises many topics for reflection. First and foremost, of course, is the discussion of time and lifespan. The difference between the elf and humans is colossal, so the fleetingness of the moment is not always clear to her. For her, a birthday is not as important as it is for Fern or Stark, and staying in one place for several months or even years is a common occurrence.

For example, in one episode, she spends a very long time (by Fern's standards) searching for a certain flower to plant a field near a monument. Humans do not have such luxury, and they cannot waste their lives on such trifles. Although, to be honest, sometimes one could learn from Frieren to not notice time, to fully immerse oneself in a beloved activity, rather than anxiously thinking that you are not keeping up with the pace of life.

The elf also often remembers kind Himmel, who helped everyone during their ten-year journey. Perhaps it wouldn't have lasted that long if the party had gone straight to the Demon King. But the hero responded to any request for help (and sometimes even posed for a monument all day). In the end, of course, Himmel went down in history and legends were told about him, but the point is that ordinary people often remembered him and admired him for the simplest deeds, not for killing absolute evil. He did not pass by those in need, and he lived on not only in the pages of books but also in the mouths of the common people.

Perhaps that is what a hero should be. Himmel was not ashamed to admit he was scared, valued his comrades and treated them like family, knew how to support in difficult times and was there when needed, did not lose his spirit, and did not pass by those in need for the sake of his 'great goal'. He was genuine, and that is why people remembered him. Moreover, being human, he managed to change the worldview of a nearly immortal elf. Maybe he wasn't allotted several thousand years, but he lived a very worthy life. Besides, it's not for nothing that they say a person lives as long as the memory of them lives, and this hero will certainly be remembered for a long time.

What's the Verdict?

'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End' is a magnificent anime that you can cozy up with for several evenings, enjoying the meditative vibe in the company of pleasant characters, watching interesting (though sometimes everyday) adventures. Given that the first season has garnered almost absolute popular love, an announcement of a second season is only a matter of time. We hope fans won't have to wait too long, because we are not elves, and years do not pass without a trace for us. In any case, regarding this title, I really want to use one famous phrase: 'We'll meet again soon, beautiful woman.' And may it indeed be so.