So apparently Frieren: At Journey's End is now available on Netflix, giving me the perfect excuse to shout about how amazing this anime is.
The basic setup is: a team of D&D-esque adventurers consisting of a warrior, a hero, a priest, and an elf mage, have defeated the big bad (possibly…) and are now set to live out the remainder of their days in a land largely at peace. However, as the elf of the team, mage Frieren has a far longer lifespan than her friends, meaning she has to watch them age and die while she remains unchanged. The show follows her journey with a new team, including a young apprentice, and her struggle to understand both humanity (and human emotions) and the passage of time. The show explores themes of friendship, empathy, and aging in such a beautiful, touching way, and I loved every moment of Season 1 when I watched it on Crunchyroll.
This is a contemplative, slow-paced show almost in the vein of Studio Ghibli, and with the same love of and attention to nature (flowers are a big theme in this.) I love Frieren as a character - she’s eccentric but brilliant, compassionate but aloof, and has trouble understanding human attachments, even as she forms her own. The passage of time is explored so beautifully (often with a visual backdrop of sunrise or sunset). Humans are short-lived, but they can change fast - a huge advantage in terms of advancement.
I really identified with Frieren as a character, both due to her detachment and often puzzlement at humanity, but also in her reactions as an older person in a rapidly changing world. I especially appreciated how magic now needs to be certified, something unheard of in her day and so unnecessary for a mage of her skills.
I love this show so much - it’s definitely in my top five anime series of all time. I think Season 2 is coming later this year and I can’t wait.
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