Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End finished in 2024, but we are yet to recover from its climax. The longing for a season 2 has been unbearable for many who would like to discover something else that can give them a similar kind of viewing experience.
Even though there are not many anime that can match the perfection of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, a few come very close. The Ancient Magus’ Bride is one such show that offers a similar kind of mystical and adventurous vibe that would take you on a journey from which you wouldn’t want to return.
Both shows excel in world-building and showcase a set of characters that will stay with you till the end. If you love Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and have been agonizing over a second season, watch The Ancient Magus’ Bride to fill that void.
The beauty of small moments in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and The Ancient Magus’ Bride
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is known for beautifying and elevating little moments into something that means a lot. The simple act of gifting a present carries the weight of a thousand words. Frieren, who never puts much thought into what she is buying, gave Fern a hair ornament for her birthday after considering it for a long time.
Similarly, in The Ancient Magus’ Bride, an emotionally passive Elias gives Chise a teddy bear that might not mean much to him but is very special to her. On top of that, Elias made the teddy bear himself, calling it his finest creation. These simple gestures prove the emotional growth of previously unfeeling characters like Frieren and Elias.
We are all very fond of the quiet and personal moments in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, where she reflects on Himmel’s memories and words from time to time. In The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Chise also slowly learns to live as a mage and finds her own place in her new husband, Elias’s world.
For some reason, these moments give you nostalgia, even when you have never lived their lives before. The sense of warmth and melancholy that comes from these animes definitely makes it more emotionally intimate than any other show.
Unspoken romantic undertones in both shows
Himmel’s love for Frieren is one of the strongest highlights of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Their love might have tragic undertones, but it is still one of the best ever seen in anime. Yes, they can never be together physically, but they are emotionally bound in a way that Himmel keeps on living through Frieren’s memories.
Here, even though Elias and Chise have the relationship of husband and wife, their bond is a lot more complex. Chise is more of an apprentice than a wife to Elias, who himself, is not a human.
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As their dynamic is very Beauty and the Beast inspired, their relationship also starts off contractual, where Elias purchases Chise to make her a mage. They are not romantic in the traditional sense with each other but also not platonic.
Both The Ancient Magus’ Bride and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End have this brilliant ability to make the audience feel what the characters are going through. Perhaps, this is why, even though their worlds are magical, their emotions and experiences feel real and relatable.
Watch The Ancient Magus’ Bride and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End on Crunchyroll.
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