Review of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

It’s famously been said that J.R.R. Tolkien ruined the entire fantasy genre by being too good at it. One reason for this curiously positive sentiment is that the elves, dwarves, and other creatures seen all throughout the genre are almost invariably modeled after the versions he dreamt up and used in his works—an unintended yet overwhelming influence that endures to the modern day. The main character of Sousou no Frieren, the eponymous Frieren, is fundamentally a Tolkien elf… but at least most of her character traits are appropriately inhuman. As an elf, she is like humans in many ways and, moreover, unique in ways thatare mostly her own to assimilate and make sense of—and that’s how it should be. Indeed, this is a story which offers a gratifying portrayal of elves and other fantastical beings as their authentic, fairy tale selves, not as the usual anime fare of muddied hybrids who are so human they lose all sense of agency and original identity. It's rare enough to find an anime that doesn't humanize these creatures; it's even rarer to see it do something worthwhile. Another recent example of this is 2021’s Heion Sedai no Idaten-tachi. Its main characters are gods who operate as such, and whose actions are influenced by their godly natures rather than human emotions. However, Sousou no Frieren never treats this idea as a hard line in the sand. The whole point of Frieren’s journey is for her to better understand humans—especially her past comrades—and understand the burgeoning flame of humanity that can be glimpsed inside her.

Not long into the anime, this emphasis on authenticity is substantiated in a more obvious and all-encompassing way when the demon race is introduced. The demons appear overtly human and even act human at times, but it’s just that; it’s only acting in order to trick and deceive for their own benefit. It’s a learned behavior that helps them climb the food chain and fight for the top spot in the world’s hierarchy. Like the elves, they are distinct from humans at the root (making their horns more than just decorative) and they are not meant to be relatable—only seen as inherently different organisms along with everything that entails. It isn’t just this notion on its own that makes the series a welcome and much needed breath of fresh air in today’s anime fantasy scene. The execution is what really makes it stand out. There is a notable moment in the story where Frieren defeats a powerful demon. It’s notable because it uses the time-tested Uno Reverse method of pretending the demon initially stands a chance, only to be utterly helpless and dwarfed in capability. This kind of staging is always straight up satisfying to watch unfold, but that isn’t the only reason this moment matters. It’s also because the battle is about their very natures as wholly different beings, which the anime carefully spends the entire related story arc conveying and building up to. Ergo, when Frieren defeats the demon, it’s doubly satisfying thanks to both the traditional power difference and the difference in their natures, culminating in a seriously classy one-two punch of might and substance. It’s two different battles taking place on the same stage at the same time—and between the same two actors. What would normally be delegated to subtext instead shares the spotlight with the real, physical battle. Sousou no Frieren has these stylish narrative idiosyncrasies in spades, and this is just the most prominent example on offer, not necessarily the best.

The themes and characters are handled well for the most part, which should be the only acceptable result when the setting is so basic and straightforward. This simplicity affords some extra breathing room to the story’s framework, and the anime thankfully avoids growing pains while building on it. Instead, it takes advantage of this by consciously and cohesively merging a variety of themes into a unified structure—something that could have become nebulous on more complex terms. As excellent as this worldbuilding is, it is actually overstated, and it may be that these ideas existing out in the open like this is partially why the anime community has latched onto the show so enthusiastically. Elves actually being elvish, demons literally being demonic, and mages truly being arcane. This is not remarkable in itself, so why is this a special case? It’s due to the fusion of a conventional, garden-variety fantasy world with an unconventional approach to fantasy tropes. Because authentic fantasy is such a rarity in anime, it helps make the subject matter feel new and fresh even though it isn’t. This binary star system of rudimentary setting and top-shelf literary principles is absolutely tantalizing, and the anime certainly owes some of its immediate success to this dynamic. Each component elevates the other through effective simplicity, working in tandem to illuminate the strengths of both. Also deserving credit is how the narrative utilizes ideas that aren’t hackneyed but also aren’t too unique, remaining just as coherent and accessible as the usual schlock fantasy anime while offering infinitely more.

But what about the animation and other production items? How does Frieren’s battle against the demon and the show in general actually look and feel? Fortunately, the production is great all around, partly thanks to the tight pre-production schedule that the staff are lucky to have had for this project. The characters look accurate, detailed, and on-model at all times—even when they’re neck deep in wild, lightspeed combat. Madhouse is historically a studio of many accomplishments in this area and Sousou no Frieren is no exception. Certain shots have effectively material tactility to them, such as during first-person perspectives, which lends to the animation quality in a different way than the outstanding battle sequences. The acting is what should be expected of the industry’s preeminent standard by now, delightedly offering everything from popular mainstays like Kana Ichinose and Junichi Suwabe to personal favorites like Atsuko Tanaka. While the musical score isn’t flashy or conspicuous, it does keep up with the rest of the production aspects and at times, surpasses them. The soundtrack is uplifting and heroic when deserved, sentimental during moments of simple pleasures, and appropriately dramatic during the coolest scenes. There are also some playful folky pieces, something that’s always nice to hear in anime. Evan Call hasn’t outdone his work on Violet Evergarden with this score, but it’s still commendable, and it plays a crucial role in quantifying the little things that make Frieren’s past journey special to her in the present.

The story routinely emphasizes the passage of time as a main theme, using Frieren’s intrinsically long life as an elf to showcase its effects on the people around her. What’s more, it always maintains a steady rhythm; the pacing never feels compromised by time’s ebb and flow. It makes for a spellbinding portrait of past and present with this dual-wielding methodology at play, but it’s the constant interplay between them that keeps the story so interesting. Specifically, the story is at its most engrossing when it spends time letting the characters from Frieren’s past and present intermingle via flashbacks, creating parallels that only Frieren can see with her wealth of experience. For example, in one episode, Frieren loses a lotus pattern ring gifted to her by a past companion: Himmel the Hero. Eventually finding it, she learns of its true meaning after realizing that her current companions have (accidentally) recreated the same gesture with a bracelet featuring the same lotus pattern. In addition to Himmel, Frieren has two other past companions: Heiter the Priest and Eisen the Warrior. Combined, these four comprise the famous hero’s party, who Frieren has already defeated the shadowy Demon Lord with by the story’s onset. She has always treated this adventure as only a drop in the bucket that is her lifespan; a mere ten-year picnic where she just so happened to save the world. And yet, Himmel and the rest of her party are able to glean her true feelings: that she cherishes that adventure, even if Frieren herself can’t yet identify why that is.

Joining Frieren for the journey of the present are Fern and Stark, two supremely skilled but still young adventurers. Fern is a pouty and petulant war orphan who was adopted by Heiter as a wee lass, and who becomes Frieren’s ward and protégé by request of a then old and withering Heiter. Frieren may be teaching her magic, but it’s actually Fern who takes care of her when it comes to the day-to-day, often babying the lazy elf by making sure she eats right and wakes up on time. Showing promise as Eisen’s talented young pupil, Stark joins the gal pals after Eisen makes a request similar to Heiter’s: that Frieren watch over Stark as he, too, sets out for adventure. He’s childish, but makes up for it by being a markedly powerful warrior, even felling a dragon and only noticing he’s done so when Frieren interjects to prevent him from going overkill. Stark often must endure being called a pervert by Fern for no real reason, although it might not be a stretch to conclude that she actually likes him more than she lets on. Together, the three constitute a party of capricious, yet charming adventurers whose harmonious blend of quirks comfortably form a rounded main cast.

The high-quality characters aren’t limited to just them, though. Part of what makes this anime feel as adventurous as it is are the characters who are only around for a short while. People meet and part with Frieren and her party, sometimes joining officially, and sometimes only hanging around for as long as it’s mutually beneficial. It’s an approach that plays well with the theme of impermanence and the overall transient quality of the story. The last arc in particular introduces a multitude of characters who frequently have colorful interactions with each other. The vast majority of them aren’t one-note plot devices, either; most characters with significant screen time end up exhibiting real agency and veritable dimension. More than simple episodic passersby, they make an impact and are memorable for the right reasons. Perhaps the most thrilling cast member is Übel, a scintillating femme fatale who has every possible screw loose. When she isn’t busy killing for kicks, she’s advancing her magic skills by learning new spells through the most incredulous and ironic means—by empathizing with the user of the spell she’s after. Frieren has fun quirks, too, even forgetting her elvish nature. They’re the kind that actually are meant to be relatable: the human kind. This is ultimately what the story and Frieren’s personal journey are about: to discern that little bit of humanity nesting within her. To uncover and internalize what her past companions positively saw in her and discover the human feelings she has had all along. To learn about herself and, in turn, learn what she desperately needs to about Himmel and the others to reconcile the fact that she still holds them dear.

Is Sousou no Frieren a masterpiece of the fantasy genre? It’s definitely a shining example in some ways, but it doesn’t excel everywhere. Certain characters are too shoddily constructed relative to their plot importance, with Himmel being a major source of frustration on that point. He’s guilty of being a Gary Stu to some degree, although his characterization may be intentionally subdued for the sake of Frieren and the rose-colored glasses she remembers him through. In other words: a contrived plot device, but a reasonably forgivable one in this case. I’d also argue that the narrative is actually strongest while dabbling in other genres, and that a masterpiece assessment can only really manifest once the story is further along and the bigger picture unravels. The story being told doesn’t exactly break new ground, but again, the way that it’s told is indelible even for well-read fantasyphiles thanks to its faithfulness to the genre and modern sensibilities. It’s a familiar tale with a fresh coat of paint for some of us, but for others, it's a genuine maiden voyage of traditional fantasy—not merely another run-of-the-mill fantasy setting with some gimmicky twist. It was never a perfect anime, but it does go above and beyond what it ever really needed to in order to successfully communicate its ideas and arrive at a dazzling thematic confluence of time, fulfillment, and bonds. It’s a triumphant return to the undefined, original essence of magic as a source of wonder, and it leaves contemporary ideas like exhaustively detailed magic systems completely disavowed. While not a series for everyone, it’s fair to say that it comes close. Those looking for nonstop, unrelenting action may find the leisurely intervals between fights wanting for engagement. However, fans of fantasy, drama, and even romance will likely revel in joyous sentimentality or be swept away by myriad moments of magical mayhem. Frieren and company are easy to form attachments to not just for their endearing traits, but also for those eccentric bits and pieces that help to form their fully authentic selves.

In retrospect, Sousou no Frieren isn’t just a novel iteration of the hero’s journey archetype or a story about what happens beyond the journey’s end. It’s also a story about discovering what is truly special and irreplaceable about that journey. That the bonds we form with others can far outlast the finite time spent with them, and to keep that in mind for the journeys still to come.