There are very few anime that manages to tug at viewers’ heartstrings and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is one such example. The elven mage and her journey to discover magic ties in well with the title. But more than that, it is beautiful in its portrayal of profundity.
The series is a perfect blend of fantasy and adventure. There are fights and stakes as well, which add complexities to the characters and the plot. It is also evident in some moments that left fans teary-eyed, which only means one thing.
Other than being an impeccable Shonen series, it reflects certain adult slice-of-life elements in its plot. The highs and the lows are what make it stand out as a series. Beneath the bittersweet moments, however, lie several complexities that the series manages to bring out beautifully.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’s slice-of-life elements
While Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End explores the elven mage’s journey beyond the “end”, the series was originally written off as a gag manga. It is indeed interesting how it eventually became one of the most popular series within the Shonen genre.
Truly, the mangaka gave us an unconventional female lead with a penchant for magic. She is often compared to Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries for several reasons. Both share similarities in terms of their passion and zeal toward herbs and magic. The elven mage, however, stands out in this aspect.
One would usually expect her journey to be filled with adventure. Rather, it is anything but monotonous, and that goes for her perception of the world. Throughout the series, we see a different side to her as she gradually begins to understand human life.
Her willingness to understand Fern as a person is one such example. There’s also the moment when she woke up early to witness the sunrise, only to scoff about it. This seemingly stands in contrast to her aloof and detached persona, however, it highlights a crucial aspect of the series, as fans pointed out.
On r/Frieren, Reddit users note how the series has certain themes that are relatable to adults. And quite honestly, they’re not wrong, especially with how it sensitively deals with the idea of life, death, and the in-betweens. Love, loss, and belongingness are something that is very much present in the nitty-gritty.
To death and beyond: Navigating complexities in the series
Surely, the series is a take on heroism, adventure, and journeys. It is a commentary on bravado and a journey beyond death. But it is special in its sensible approach towards the complexities. Death, as we all know, is a taboo subject often frowned upon.
Kanehito Yamada, on the other hand, portrays loss and longing brilliantly in her series. Loss and grief are something that indeed is hard to grip on as a concept. Through her protagonist, Yamada laid out the intricacies of loss. Himmel and Heiter’s absence affects her gradually, and there’s more to it.
The symbolism is embedded in flashbacks, which adds more weight to it. The mirrored lotus bracelet and the ring aren’t a mere gift but a motif of eternal love. For years, flowers and plant language have been used in literature and art through metaphors, and Frieren is no different, but that is not all.
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Beyond death lies a world full of possibilities, and it is an endless cycle that fits perfectly with the idea of age and time. The heroine exists beyond these binaries yet isn’t divorced from them, which is a constant seesaw within the plot. It is also something that makes the series stand out a mile.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
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