Review of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

Sousou no Frieren is absolutely packed with great, unique ideas. Every episode is full of interesting intricacies the world has to offer. There is tremendous care put into the lore, giving us information in little pieces, which makes it organic instead of just being an empty info dump. And in all this, there are universally applicable insights to be found throughout, none of them being your typical shallow platitudes – there's truly touching and inspirational beauty all over. It really is constructed like a profound work of art, tackling various subjects in a poetic way. And I think the fact that everything feels so poeticand artistic elevates Frieren to such a high status. The thematic profundity is complemented by the gorgeous visuals, often interweaving the present with the past and building upon it, showing certain themes in a new context for Frieren, and developing her personality as she learns how to appreciate life.

But it is also just incredibly fun to watch. The fight scenes are insanely well-done, being a cut above many action-focused shounens. You wouldn't think a show so dialogue-heavy and emotional would go so hard in terms of the animation. Also, the grain effect adds to the fantasy atmosphere, making one feel like they are truly experiencing an entirely different world. Madhouse really delivered. And I've mentioned it before, but everything feels beautifully rich, organic, and believable. Many anime series just randomly insert all these fantasy elements on a whim whenever they want to add something cool. Frieren on the other hand has constructed a coherent landscape of different nations, races, professions, and rules governing it all, while also staying cool as fuck. I am absolutely invested in everything this world has to offer.

Despite all the action sequences, Frieren is, as I said, dialogue-heavy. To me this is a great thing - at times it allows the anime to breathe, and at times it builds everything up as it feels like every word holds weight and steadily reveals more and more. Even when there are jokes, they are very heartfelt and showcase the personality of the characters without dumbing them down. It's a pleasure to experience an anime that understands people (or rather living creatures in this case) and feels truly human, putting care and heart into everything.

I'm glad Frieren has received such a positive reception and people see it as a masterpiece that it is. It's crazy what a well-written fantasy can achieve. I love everything it conveys, and I cannot wait to see more.