Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

After the party of heroes defeated the Demon King, they restored peace to the land and returned to lives of solitude. Generations pass, and the elven mage Frieren comes face to face with humanity's mortality. She takes on a new apprentice and promises to fulfill old friends' dying wishes. Can an elven mind make peace with the nature of life and death? Frieren embarks on her quest to find out.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023-present) is a Japanese anime fantasy series produced by Madhouse and adapted from the manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe. It follows Frieren (voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki), an elven mage who watches the human hero party she traveled with defeat the Demon King slowly age and die. Frieren takes on a young apprentice, Fern (Kana Ichinose), and the two travel a land reshaped by memory and time, while Frieren keeps a promise to honor her old friends' dying wishes. Other principal voices include Chiaki Kobayashi as Stark and Nobuhiko Okamoto as Himmel. The engine of the series is quiet and reflective: what a long-lived being owes to brief human lives, shown through a mix of everyday episodes, occasional combat, and recollection of past adventures. Each episode moves at a gentle, measured pace, layering sorrow with warmth and humor. Its tone is wistful, contemplative and hopeful, with lush, painterly fantasy scenery. Viewers who loved the reflective mood of Mushishi or the emotional fantasy of The Ancient Magus' Bride will find resonance here.

Viewers broadly acclaim the series for its emotional depth, gentle reflection on mortality, and striking animation and direction.

• Mushishigentle fantasy journey, reflective tone on mortality and companionship, episodic adventure with a long-lived protagonist
• Natsume's Book of Friendsquiet fantasy travel with melancholic reflection on time and loss, character-driven episodic structure
• Made in Abyssfantasy adventure with a found-family party and emotionally weighty character arcs
• The Ancient Magus' Bridefantasy quest with a grieving protagonist confronting the past and an exploration of mortality

Release Date

2023-09-29

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

8.9 / 10 (995)

What is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End about?

An elven mage outlives her human companions and sets out on a late-life journey to understand what their short lives meant.

What is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End as mild.

What did critics think of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End?

Viewers broadly acclaim the series for its emotional depth, gentle reflection on mortality, and striking animation and direction.

Which shows are like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End?

Shows with a similar feel include Mushishi, Natsume's Book of Friends, Made in Abyss, and The Ancient Magus' Bride.

How long is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End?

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: 1 season, 38 episodes.

Is Frieren: Beyond Journey's End still running?

Yes, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is still running.

Where can I watch Frieren: Beyond Journey's End?

In United States, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End streams on Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads.