When Frieren first arrived on the anime scene bearing her simple brown briefcase, many were unsure what to expect from the elven mage. After 28 fantastic episodes, however, there can be little doubt that MADHOUSE’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End deserves to be Anime of the Year. It brings many amazing strengths in its characters, narrative, and world, presenting no noticeable shortcomings to hold it back from the coveted title. So strap in, as we take a deep dive into how this series shines brighter than the rest.
When we first meet our protagonist as she returns with her allies after defeating the Demon King, there is little of note to the character’s personality. Easily outshone by Himmel’s charisma and Hieter’s goofiness, viewers could be forgiven for wondering how a series could stay engaging with this somewhat bland lead.
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It’s not until Himmel’s funeral that we understand her character and the journey we are on with her. As she cries for her lost friend and the missed opportunities to get to know him better, it becomes clear that there is more to Frieren than meets the eye. But before we can fully appreciate who she is, we must come to understand a critical element of her character: time.
One of the greatest triumphs that makes Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End deserve to be Anime of the Year is how it adapts Frieren’s perspective of time so we may better appreciate her character. With the season opener encapsulating 70 years, 50 of which are delivered through a beautifully executed montage, we get a taste of how quickly those years pass for the thousand-year-old mage.
Frieren is the best-written anime protagonist in 2024.
The fact that she repeatedly refers to the adventure to defeat the Demon King as “a mere ten-year journey” further reinforces how swiftly time passes for her. While the early episodes establish this difference in chronological perspective, episode ten, “A Powerful Mage,” delivers the series’ greatest depiction of Frieren’s sense of time.
Amidst her battle with Aura the Guillotine, there is a flashback revealing how Frieren became a mage and why she spent roughly a thousand years in hiding before joining the party of heroes. Beginning with Frieren standing at her master’s grave, another montage follows the protagonist over her thousand years of isolation.
This sequence lasts a full minute, culminating in the arrival of Himmel, Eisen, and Heiter. A frenzy of still shots then encompasses the whole ten-year journey to defeat the Demon King. By contrast, this sequence is just two seconds long. The subtlety of the comparative time between the two sequences conveys how insignificant the ten-year journey is to her in comparison with her long lifetime.
Frieren’s unique outlook on time explains why she is so socially awkward and often unable to decipher others’ feelings. Her time spent among people still pales in comparison to time spent alone. This also makes her efforts to better understand those around her all the more laudable since, for her, they’ll be gone in the blink of an eye. This is especially true of her relationship with Fern.
When Fern first enters Frieren’s life, she is still a child. She reaches her teen years in the first couple of episodes, and the duo journeys together as master and apprentice. The depth of trust and affection that grows between the two is frequently shown but rarely spoken. But, the singular place Fern holds in Frieren’s life is always apparent. As Fern grows into her own, Frieren’s fierce pride in her protege is clear.
In the season’s final episode, she even states, “In this era, Fern will be a far more famous mage than I am.” The happiness she finds in her pupil and the trust she places in her is always colored with a pang of sadness. After all, if a ten-year journey is “two seconds,” Freiren may get ten with Fern before she is taken from her. These realizations give context to Frieren’s sometimes disinterested demeanor, as anything she connects with inevitably vanishes.
With so much talk of loss and isolation, there could be an expectation for Frieren to be a dour old figure who is endlessly pessimistic. And yet, that is not the case. Often playful and silly, Frieren still manages to appreciate the happy moments in life. Mundane events like a good meal brighten her mood as much as they do anyone else. Coupled with her infatuation with gathering all manner of spells for her collection, the protagonist demonstrates more personality than the show initially leads on.
Frieren’s ensemble cast is just as important as her.
While Frieren is the central personality in the series, she is far from the only one who draws fans into the world of the show. From heroes to villains and those just trying to get by, the cast as a whole brings numerous reasons why Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End deserves to be Anime of the Year. With an elf’s worth of time, we could talk about all the personalities of note. But since none of us have such an expansive availability, we’ll keep it to the most critical, starting with one already mentioned, Fern.
Tasked with much of the daily upkeep in their lives, Fern brings a down-to-earth practicality to Freiren’s group. She is good-natured and generous, but she can also be stubborn when things aren’t going how she thinks they should. Her relationship with fellow adventurer Stark is often rocky due to her relative inexperience with people other than Frieren. Despite sometimes mishandling situations initially, Fern is generally willing to admit when she’s in the wrong.
While very much her own person, there are many clear signs of Freiren’s influence on her. This is especially true when in combat. Reflecting the chilling demeanor of her mentor, Fern brings an intimidating presence to the battlefield. While sharing many tendencies with her teacher when fighting, even here Fern is her own person. Cited as being faster than Freiren at casting spells, Fern has laid far more experienced mages than her low by overwhelming them with the sheer number of attacks she can produce.
The third permanent member of Frieren’s current-day party, Stark brings the bulk of the comedy to the series. The axe-wielding warrior is prone to panic and self-doubt, bringing strong character contrast to the supreme confidence of his fellow party members. Despite humor being the most persistent element of his personality, Stark also brings a deep look at the nature of fear.
If you asked Stark, he would likely tell you he is a coward. Even after slaying dragons and demons, he still frequently questions whether or not he can overcome the fear that lives within him. What never occurs to the hero is that it is his own fear that all but assures that he won’t run. His fear motivates him to be what he needs to be, bringing the character great strength.
The origins of Stark’s self-professed cowardice also bring a memorable note to the character. His flight from his hometown’s destruction has imprinted a stain he may never fully overcome. The fact that he was only a child and that his older brother told him to flee brings a lot of context. Stark’s view of himself highlights how much our perspective can color the truths we cling to, even if the flaws in our feelings are obvious to those on the outside.
Fern and Stark must also discuss this with each other. The slow-burn romance that is developing between the two teenagers feels perfectly crafted. The small ways that they continue to grow together due to unexpected events make the blossoming love feel organic and not contrived simply for the sake of having a love story.
As with virtually every other element of the series, the pair’s story is further reinforced through a thousand little details. In the early episodes, Frieren would help Fern navigate difficult terrain like logs or jumping down from small bluffs. As the series goes on, Stark begins to take up that duty.
Perhaps the most important person in the story after Frieren herself, Himmel is the inspiration for much that happens throughout the story. He dies a half-century before most of the tale takes place, but despite his early death in the series’ opening episode, he remains a vibrant part of the story.
In virtually every episode of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Himmel appears in the form of flashbacks. Numerous events in the current day plot mirror or relate to moments that involved Himmel. From preparing for battles to emotional support moments, much of what Frieren does and how she approaches the obstacles and moments of her life are informed by Himmel’s actions. A true hero who always looks to help others in the smallest ways, he provides an eternally inspiring figure for Frieren and the rest of the world.
But while his heroism makes him memorable to his world, what makes him most memorable to the viewer is his obvious love for Frieren. Despite her inability to recognize his affection at the time, Himmel nevertheless missed no opportunity to express his feelings for her, although he never outright spoke of it. He had statues made of the party so Frieren won’t be alone in the future and gave her a ring that symbolizes eternal love. Himmel’s feelings for his companion never fail to shine beautifully.
The last of Frieren’s compatriots that must be mentioned is humorously the first she met. Flamme, the Legendary Mage, was Frieren’s teacher and arguably the only influence on her developing personality to rival Himmel. While this figure from myth is featured far less than the others, her part in the story cannot be understated. Numerous key moments are brought about by Flamme’s foresight and deep understanding of her pupil. How she sets Frieren up for her current quest to reach Aureole lends the mage an unrivaled mystical quality despite countless mages gracing the story.
As important as she is to the plot, Flamme is almost more memorable for her striking personality. As one of the greatest mages of all time, she has few equals in power. Despite being aware of her singularity, she never comes across as arrogant. Rather, she constantly exudes a cool confidence that makes her feel charming and personable.
Flamme is also the greatest example of another way the series explores time. In particular, how humanity manages its time compared to the ageless Elves and Demons. In a conversation between Freiren and Flamme’s master, the elf Serie, we learn that Serie is shocked by how much Flamme accomplished throughout her life.
That her student single-handedly founded humanity’s magic system and began the first magic academy is almost unbelievable to her. The way humanity packs more into their time than the other races comes up time and again, but in no way more striking than in Flamme’s story.
The Journey’s End offers a unique take on magic.
Magic can be a touchy thing in fiction. It can be used to create exciting battles and bring wonder to a setting. However, left unchecked, it can sap a story of tension as the magic users come to do whatever needs to be done because simply… MAGIC! The magic system revealed to viewers here manages to avoid many of the issues plaguing the concept. It’s powerful and exciting, but it never runs wild. The series accomplishes this three-fold.
The first way that magic in Frieren’s world stands out is its complexity. Many systems of magic boil down to simple power. If you are stronger than your opponent, you win. At best, they may include a classic elemental system where countering elements like fire and ice have increased effects, bringing some measure of nuance to battles. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End takes this concept to an even greater level by allowing style and perception to come into play.
The best example comes late in the season when the third-class mage Übel confronts a replica of the first-class mage Sense. Despite being a terrible match for Übel based on pure power, she easily dispatches the replica. This is because her unique approach to magic completely negates Sense’s powers. Another example comes when the water-manipulating mage, Kanne, does battle in the rain with a stronger mage. While she would normally lose the fight, with the endless water provided by the rain storm, she quickly sweeps her opponent away. Freiren herself states that even she couldn’t beat Kanne in the rain.
The next thing that makes this world of magic more interesting is the great limiter of all magic: visualization. Magic cannot create an effect the caster cannot picture in their minds. This makes certain attacks that would be unstoppable simply impossible. The water manipulator can’t pull the water out of someone’s body because she can’t picture it. This creates an inherent ceiling on what mages can do, no matter how powerful they become.
The final way the magic system stands out against most others is that magic in this world is improving. In virtually all other fantasy settings, ancient magic is always the most powerful. In Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, magic is growing and evolving, much like art. As with art, paintings from masters hundreds of years ago can stand with modern masterpieces, but the understanding of art fundamentally grows with time, allowing modern artists to do previously impossible things.
MADHOUSE’s animation is a true standout.
This is the same with magic here. While Flamme’s barriers still protect towns in the modern day, basic attack magic would sherd the Legendary Mage’s style of personal defensive spells. This organic growth makes magic in this series feel vibrant and alive instead of stagnant, as most worlds place it.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End‘s visual style takes a far tamer approach to its world and characters than most anime do. The visual design keeps a far more consistent presentation, distancing itself from the perspective warping and wild color use of many anime looking to create a visual splash. Instead, it makes itself memorable by the thousands of tiny details it weaves into its shots. The fluidity of motions, big and small, never fails to make every action in the show pop.
Whether a character pulls a jacket on or a mage conjures an epic spell, the care and precision of every shot always come through. This focus on detail also helps bring the personalities of the show’s cast to life. Thanks to the subtle depth of the animation, some of the simplest yet most effective facial expressions come through in this show.
The story’s gorgeous settings also help bring the world to life. Every locale looks beautiful. The series utilizes extreme attention to detail to make these settings come to life. Combined with some stunning color choices, the world of the show becomes almost as memorable as the characters who inhabit it.
The gorgeous world design and character delivery come together to craft numerous amazing montage sequences. These moments present lots of personality and information while always looking beautiful. They are a key element of the series’ delivery of time and never fail to dazzle the audience.
Color, detail, and consistency all come together to make the world’s magic the visual highlight of the series. Rather than drive the magic in a direction to dazzle the audience, the magic in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End feels awe-inspiring. As beams of pure white fire from intricately detailed magic circles and rocks are drawn together to form a gigantic golem, the magic is always mesmerizing. Even something as simple as conjuring a field of flowers fills the viewer with the wonder of magic.
The voice cast and score round out why this series is the best anime of 2024.
The voice cast brings a wonderful, measured, yet emotionally rich set of performances to the series. Atsumi Tanezaki delivers the lead’s voice wonderfully. While the soft tones of Freiren’s usual voice are crafted with a wonderful consistency, whenever the elf’s impish tendencies come out, Tanesaki releases the energy like a wellspring bursting forth.
The biggest standout among the voice cast’s general excellence is Nobuhiko Okamoto’s portrayal of Himmel the Hero. How the actor presents Himmel’s kind heart and playful ego ensures that fans will remember the character and the positivity he seeks to bring into his world.
Comprised of an almost completely classic style soundtrack, the music surrounding every moment of the story is the final reason Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End deserves to be Anime of the Year. Composed by Evan Call (Violet Evergarden), each track enhances the wonder, adventure, or emotions that permeate the series. From the peaceful tones of “Time Moves Ever On” to the epic choir of “Frieren the Slayer,” every piece serves the moments it accompanies perfectly. With 70 unique pieces, variety is abundant as well.
Not all the music heard is classical in nature. Amazing talent like YAOSOBI (known to anime fans for “Idol” from Oshi No Ko) and milet lend their own styles to the series’ intro and outro. Milet also provides an in-episode piece, “bliss,” which is one of the prettiest pieces of music to appear in any anime and takes the sequence it accompanies to a whole other level.
These are the biggest reasons why Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End deserves to be Anime of the Year. Great characters, a world supported by gorgeous visuals and music, and a unique and intriguing magic system all come together to create an experience that stands above all others in the past year.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.
