Anime TV Show Review: The Human Experience according to Frieren: Beyond Journey's End / Sōsō no Furīren

Abstract

In the fantasy and adventure anime show Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, the human experience shown through the eyes of the protagonist, an elf mage named Frieren, takes viewers on a journey of discovery, both of the self and of others. From a sociological perspective, some of the themes reflect the experiences of human life, such as social structure, collective memory and shared experiences, and aging and time. Throughout this review piece, some situations are not too descriptive to avoid spoilers for those interested in watching the anime. From Abe, Yamada, Suzuki, and Saitō’s (2023) description on Crunchyroll, a major anime hosting site, here is the plot for Frieren: Beyond Journey's End explores the following plot: 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.