It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say that the Isekai genre has entirely spoiled the classic Fantasy genre in anime. When the concept of Isekai was first introduced in this industry and became famous with series like Re: Zero and KonoSuba, it was actually pretty awesome, like a completely new experience for the viewers.
However, lately, it has been a complete dumpster, with an absurd number of mediocre Isekai anime releasing every season, and filling the anime charts. Who even watches these?
But just when hope seemed lost, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End arrived to save the day, or even better to say, save the entire dying genre of Fantasy anime!
Finally, the fantasy genre is once again getting its deserved recognition!
Nowadays, in anime, when you start watching a series that has fantasy elements in it, it most likely will be another Isekai. And a majority of people have gotten sick of this repeating cycle of similar Isekai stories every season.
However, only once in a long while works like Frieren and Dungeon Meshi emerge from the unknown and show us what this OG classic fantasy genre is capable of, that is without any Isekai or other such sub-tropes; a pure fantasy world with fantasy setting and well-written characters.
It was indeed a challenge though, to actually make a pure fantasy series with a rich narrative backdrop. And all this time, Isekai made people believe how it could be relatable to so many people in real life. Because, at the end of the day, what most people truly want is a sense of escapism. So in that sense, Isekai was perfect for them.
But with Frieren, an epitome of a fantasy show in a fantasy world, the author still managed to capture the essence of a real human narrative, and surprisingly, the characters here feel more human than those in the Isekai series. Frieren took the relatability factor to the next level.
What Frieren has done is phenomenal in so many ways!
One thing that Frieren exceptionally stands out for is its respectful approach to viewers’ intelligence. Unlike many anime that spell everything out and try to spoon-feed you the things they’re showing, Frieren sticks to its subtle storytelling and allows scenes to breathe and unfold naturally.
Also, thanks to its already excellent source material, Madhouse Studio had little to worry about with its anime adaptation. But still, they went above and beyond, adding additional scenes and explanations in the anime, that overall made it even more unforgettable.
Even as a fantasy series, Frieren has this nostalgic charm that resonates deeply, especially in today’s fast-paced human life, where people are slowly forgetting the value of a true human connection. It’s hard to think of a recent anime that has explored such deep themes related to core human nature that managed to get to the same level as Frieren.
From its cozy storyline with an overarching main plot to its beautiful character animations and soundtracks; it is a harmony of pure perfection. That’s why, it’s fair to say, that Frieren has truly become a modern masterpiece, and has solidified this fact through and through with all the unbiased popularity it has gotten since its release.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available to watch on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
