Review of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

"Frieren: Journey Beyond the End" is a piece of art. Never have I ever felt so at ease watching a show. Never have I ever felt a piece of fiction so human. This anime, is phenomenal, is ethereal. Frieren is a story about a long-lived elf, who regrets to have not tried to form emotional connections with humans. So, she now tries to. The premise of the show has a slight resemblance to Violet Evergarden's, and something about these stories really just takes you along with their journeys. What makes Frieren such an exceptional experience is how it blends a well-crafted journey with greatly done animation andphenomenal music. The OSTs are so good and natural that they take you into the scene itself. Nothing feels exaggerated. You would mostly find the party members walking around beautiful landscapes and towns, like a normal fantasy journey. Yet it feels very mature, very calming. Even thinking back on it now, after finishing, makes my heart feel warm.

Both the openings are good; but the ending... I think it's become one of my all-time favs in anime music. The song captured the emotions conveyed through the anime and the emotions felt by the viewers in beautifully composed lyrics and melody. Listening to it at the end of each episode was a reward in itself. Thanks for keeping the ending for the second half as well, very appreciable decision by the staff.

A great story contains great characters and this anime really acts on it. The characters are very well written and are easy to get attached to. The characters feel bare. There is no concept of act in the setting, so you simply get to see who they actually are. They really make you appreciate them. I often found myself wanting to see the characters smile. It's been a few days since I've finished the show but the characters still haven't left my mind.

Frieren is truly a piece of art, a masterpiece at that. It felt like a breadth of fresh air, an experience of its kind. The staff at Madhouse and the authors of the manga really deserve their work to be at the No. 1 spot. Their efforts to make this an experience for the viewers, and simply love for their work, is apparent and appreciated. Humans never cease to amaze me with what they end up creating or accomplishing.

I think this anime is the type that stays in my heart forever, giving me flashbacks every now and then. This review wasn't enough to convey my feelings and appreciation for the show. I feel the urge to rewatch it already. I hope the reader will give this anime a try if he hasn't yet.

Thank you, Frieren!