The Top Fantasy Anime of the Year

Article Key Points

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End combines excellent world-building with a great story, earning praise from fans.

Frieren excels in its fantasy elements, showcasing well-crafted spells, enchantments, and magical creatures that enhance the overall epic journey. Its superior pacing and depth set it apart from its rivals in the fantasy genre, making it a formidable standout.

The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End anime series, despite still airing, has gained praise from fans for its captivating story and exceptional world-building. It follows the life of Frieren, an elven mage who played a crucial role in defeating the Demon Lord as part of a heroic party.

However, being an elf, Frieren's life spans many years, rendering the decade-long journey to vanquish the Demon Lord just a small fraction of her existence. As she explores the world after defeating her formidable foe, she reflects on the past and goes beyond the conclusion of her original quest. Adding to the excitement, Frieren takes on an apprentice, reigniting the adventurous spirit in her usually detached life, with her new objective being the pursuit of heaven.

Exploring Frieren's Fantasy Elements

The fantasy elements in Frieren are intricately crafted, immersing viewers in a world where every detail is carefully considered. From elves and dwarves to mesmerizing magic, Frieren may initially appear to be a typical fantasy anime with enchanting themes. However, what truly sets it apart is the progressive nature of its storytelling. Frieren showcases a captivating array of magical elements, including spells, enchantments, magical creatures, and an enthralling heroic adventure at its core.

The narrative also follows the classic dynamic of good versus evil, but as dedicated fans come to discover, not all heroes in the show embody the conventional notion of absolute goodness. While Frieren can be deemed a hero and is often seen rescuing people from peril, her benevolent nature has been significantly shaped by her former party member, Himmel, the hero. As an elf with an extraordinarily long lifespan spanning thousands of years, Frieren remains indifferent to many happenings, allowing events to unfold without direct impact on her. However, after embarking on a decade-long journey, Frieren's stoic disposition gradually inclines towards yearning for positive outcomes. In contrast to the typical image of unwavering goodness and striving for justice, Frieren's underlying apathy adds depth and charisma to her character, ultimately endearing her to fans.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

Titled "Frieren," this show stands out by showcasing a unique perspective. Unlike other shows that depict the hero's journey to defeat the Demon Lord and save the world, Frieren explores what happens after the Demon Lord's defeat and the lives left behind by the hero. In this magical world, elves have extraordinary lifespans. As a result, Frieren's party members age and eventually pass away, while Frieren remains forever youthful, seemingly untouched by time. Viewing her time with the hero's party as just a small segment of her life, Frieren chooses to forge her own path once the group disbands. Pursuing her hobby, she begins collecting various spells, some of which may be considered useless by others. Yet, as an elf with centuries ahead, pursuing personal interests appears more realistic than endless work or fighting.

Regrettably, Frieren starts to lament her detached approach towards her former comrades, yearning for a deeper connection. However, it is too late as each one passes away from old age, one after another. Even after defeating the Demon Lord, Frieren dedicates years to amassing spells. Yet, just before the passing of Heiter the Priest, a member of Frieren's past party, she gains an apprentice and a new objective. Instead of seeking to vanquish an ancestral demon and bring eternal peace to the world, her goal becomes reaching heaven and witnessing her former comrades free her from her sole regret.

Comparing Frieren To Its Major Competitors

The fantasy anime genre encompasses a wide range of shows, but Frieren really stands out among them. While there are many fantastic fantasy anime series like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and The Eminence in Shadow that have aired or are scheduled to air in 2023, only a few directly compete with Frieren in terms of their portrayal of magic. These shows include Goblin Slayer, A Returner's Magic Should Be Special, and Mushoku Tensei (Jobless Reincarnation). In particular, Mushoku Tensei is a strong competitor for Frieren due to its impressive portrayal of magic and the striking similarities between the two shows.

One could argue that the second season of Mushoku Tensei, although it had a slower pace, did not meet the expectations of fans after the action-packed first season. This is where the main point of contention arises. When considering the overall execution and pacing, Mushoku Tensei falls short in comparison to Frieren. Despite the lack of intense moments, Frieren manages to maintain a good balance in its plot and pacing. If we were to merge the two shows, Mushoku Tensei would represent the part where Frieren embarks on a journey with the hero Himmel to defeat the Demon Lord.

The Best Fantasy Anime Of 2023?

With popular anime shows like Eminence in Shadow, A Returner's Magic Should Be Special, and Mushoku Tensei either aired, currently airing, or scheduled to air different parts of their series in 2023, determining the best fantasy anime of the year is subjective. However, Frieren certainly deserves recognition alongside these popular shows. In fact, when it comes to portraying similar themes, Frieren's portrayal is truly exceptional. The pacing of the show is just right, neither too fast nor too slow. As a result, Frieren steadily progresses while delving into profound depths that few can rival.

Experience Frieren's captivating journey in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, now available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Editor's P/S

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is a captivating anime series that has captured the hearts of fans with its intriguing story and exceptional world-building. The anime follows the journey of Frieren, an elven mage who played a crucial role in defeating the Demon Lord. However, being an elf, Frieren's life spans many years, rendering the decade-long journey to vanquish the Demon Lord just a small fraction of her existence. As she explores the world after defeating her formidable foe, she reflects on the past and goes beyond the conclusion of her original quest.

One of the standout features of Frieren is its intricate and well-crafted fantasy elements. From elves and dwarves to mesmerizing magic, the anime immerses viewers in a world where every detail is carefully considered. The spells, enchantments, and magical creatures are imaginative and enhance the overall epic journey. What truly sets Frieren apart from other fantasy anime is its progressive storytelling. The narrative follows the classic dynamic of good versus evil, but as fans come to discover, not all heroes in the show embody the conventional notion of absolute goodness. This adds depth and complexity to the story, making it more relatable and thought-provoking.