Beyond Journey’s End Mid-Season Review

When Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End premiered, there was a unique sense of excitement surrounding it because whatever hype was present couldn’t have prepared people for how good it was. Aided by a bold four-episode premiere, word spread quickly that this was not only one of the best anime of the season, but possibly Studio Madhouse’s best work in years.

Based on the award-winning manga by Kanehito Yamada, with art by Tsukasa Abe, this is the story of Frieren, an elf whose extended lifespan makes her perceive the passage of years differently. When her adventuring party begins to age and pass, she takes on an apprentice and goes on a new adventure, retreading old ground to reflect on her past while paving the way for her future.

Time is Everything

Rarely has a show been so consistent with its theming without becoming excessive in its exploration of said ideas. Time, its passage, and its meaning to individuals are dissected in inventive ways that could only truly come to fruition through the imagination of the fantasy genre. Fantasy races are tried and tested, but few ask how the lifespans of certain races would impact their cultures and behaviors.

The story begins at the point where any other fantasy story would end. Our heroes have returned victorious, but to Frieren, her 10-year journey with her friends was not time at all – at least that’s what she says. After reuniting with the party 50 years later for one last night of stargazing, she realizes only too late how valuable the time spent was after her friends begin to pass away. She finds herself regretting not cherishing her time with them more.

It’s sad, but those wary of being emotionally destroyed need not fret. Although Frieren is an emotional series, part of its beauty lies in just how delightful the journey can be. As stated in our review of the premiere, months and years can pass in the span of a single montage, but viewed through Frieren’s perspective, this passage of time isn’t frightening. If anything, her gaze exemplifies the beauty of life, no matter how fleeting.

There are no boring stops on the journey and episodes are paced such that they are cleanly divided into halves, each with a specific focus, but which ties into a central theme. Not just time, but also history, culture, fairy tales, what it means to live a good life, and what happens after death; things intrinsically tied to and influenced by time as people perceive it. It’s a story about a lot, but it’s never overwhelming, because the storytelling never loses its focus where it counts.

An Unbeatable Party

Where it counts happens to be the supporting cast, who are incredible whether they’re around for just an episode or the whole journey. Fern is effectively the deuteragonist of the tale, a young human mage who, despite her youth, possesses a remarkable aptitude for magic, often appearing like a mirror image of Frieren in her most triumphant moments. She’s a polite and kind soul, and compared to Frieren, she’s the responsible one, creating a fun and cute dynamic between the two.

New additions to the adventuring party happen gradually but never miss the mark when bringing something substantial to the group dynamic. Stark’s introduction is practically a speedrun for making the viewer fall in love with a character. He’s incredibly strong, but he’s held back by immense fear. The best part is that this isn’t just a joke, but instead a vehicle for a really powerful message about finding one’s resolve, with some truly magnificent payoff.

Something that helps the initial trio find such cohesion is how Fern and Stark both have direct ties to Frieren’s old adventuring party. The former was practically the daughter of the priest Heiter and Stark was the apprentice of the warrior dwarf Eisen. Frieren’s friends live on through frequent flashbacks that emphasize their impact on the world and the people in it. Even Sein, who joins the party in later episodes, has a connection to Heiter.

No relationship lingers along the journey quite like that of Frieren and Himmel, the latter of whom led the original party, and with whom Frieren shared a deep bond. This plays to one of Frieren‘s biggest motifs; that of legends, how people become immortalized, and how stories are distorted when enough time passes. Seeing the legacy of these heroes at every destination and within every new hero to join Frieren’s new journey ties the narrative together beautifully.

A Triumph of Sight and Sound

Madhouse has truly outdone itself with this series, and following the lengthy premiere, there has not been any significant dip in quality. Given the saturation of fantasy stories, fantasy anime can often look very similar concerning backgrounds and locations in particular. Frieren won’t necessarily change the game, but the art direction never fails to create spaces that feel lived-in, cozy, and inviting, in a way that adventure fantasy should be.

Reiko Nagasawa was the character designer and chief animation director for episodes 2-16, and it’s truly remarkable how expressive and lively the movements can be. Sometimes, the most impactful cuts of animation don’t come from big fights but instances of character acting that make even the smallest scenes stand out.

Of course, the action is pretty phenomenal. The aforementioned story about Stark overcoming his fear culminates in a battle with a dragon that sees a cameo from legendary animator Yutaka Nakamura, who typically works exclusively for Studio Bones. Then, mere episodes later, Fern and Stark took center stage in one of the best episodes of the year.

During a time when Jujutsu Kaisen was in the midst of one of the craziest shōnen arcs to hit TV in years, it can’t be understated how impressive Frieren‘s animation has been. Similarly, it can’t go unmentioned how much the emotional highs owe to the marriage of the visuals and Evan Call’s triumphant score. Call has done some truly incredible work in this industry, and Frieren isn’t even the only anime he has composed this year, but it does stand as some of his best work yet.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has been a blessing in a season that already wasn’t exactly starving for good content. With half a season left to go, it feels reckless to count our chickens before they hatch, but even if the end doesn’t quite live up to the hype, the journey thus far is worth it. If Frieren isn’t already on the watchlist, it should be.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

MORE: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Part 2 Release Confirmed For January 2024