Frieren Review (2023): The Anime That Made Me Cry
I went into Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End expecting another fantasy anime with cool magic and demon fights. What I got was a quiet, melancholic story about time, regret, and how an elf learns what it means to be human. I cried three times. Not the loud kind. The kind where you just sit there and stare at the screen for a minute after the episode ends.
This show is special. And if you’re someone who usually skips slow fantasy anime because they feel too long or too generic, I think this one might change your mind.
Quick Context
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a 2023 anime adaptation of the manga by Kanehito Yamada and Abe Tsukasa. It ran for 28 episodes in its first season and was produced by Madhouse. The story follows Frieren, an elven mage who was part of a hero party that defeated the Demon King. Because elves live for centuries, she outlives her human companions — Himmel the hero, Heiter the priest, and Eisen the dwarf warrior — and embarks on a new journey to understand the humans she once traveled with.
The genres are fantasy, adventure, and drama. There’s action, but the action isn’t the point. The point is emotional reflection.
According to Anime News Network, the first season has 28 episodes and is produced by Madhouse.
My First Impression
Episode 1 starts after the adventure is already over. The Demon King is dead. The world is saved. The party disbands. That alone caught my attention. Most fantasy stories would make that the ending. Frieren makes it the beginning.
Then we jump forward decades. Himmel dies of old age. Frieren attends his funeral and realizes she never really knew him. She barely reacted when they said goodbye years ago because, to her, a few decades felt like nothing. That guilt becomes the engine of the whole story.
It hooked me immediately. Not with a fight. With a funeral.
Story and Characters
Frieren herself is a fascinating protagonist. She’s not emotionally cold, but she processes time differently. A ten-year journey to her is like a weekend trip. So when she starts retracing her steps and visiting places from her past, every location carries weight. A village she passed through with Himmel is now generations older. A flower field they once joked about has become a local legend.
The show uses this to hit you with small, devastating moments. In one episode, Frieren returns to a city where Himmel promised to build a statue of her. She laughs it off as a silly human vanity project. Then she sees the statue — massive, detailed, and surrounded by people who see her as a historical hero. She stands there in silence. That was the first time I cried.
Fern, her apprentice, is the emotional anchor. She’s a young human mage who sees the world in normal human time, and her relationship with Frieren forces the elf to confront what she’s missed. Stark, the warrior apprentice, adds humor and warmth. He’s scared of demons but fights anyway, which makes him more relatable than the usual fearless warrior type.
Animation and Sound
Madhouse did an incredible job. The backgrounds are painterly and detailed. The magic spells look beautiful without being overdesigned. Fight scenes are clean and easy to follow, which is rare for modern fantasy anime that often drowns everything in particle effects.
But the real star is the pacing. Frieren lets scenes breathe. There’s an entire episode that’s mostly just Frieren walking through a forest, remembering conversations. In a lesser show, that would be boring. Here, it’s heartbreaking.
The soundtrack by Evan Call is subtle but powerful. Lots of piano, strings, and silence. The opening song, “Yuusha” by YOASOBI, became one of my most-played tracks of the year.
How It Compares to Other Fantasy Anime
If you liked Mushoku Tensei, Frieren is the emotional opposite. Mushoku Tensei is loud, messy, and obsessed with second chances. Frieren is quiet, restrained, and obsessed with the consequences of outliving everyone.
Vinland Saga is probably the closest comparison in tone. Both shows use violence sparingly and focus on what war and time do to people. But Vinland Saga is angrier. Frieren is sadder.
And if you want something that hits the same emotional notes but in a contemporary setting, Clannad: After Story deals with similar themes of time and loss. Though honestly, Frieren handles grief with more subtlety.
Who Should Watch This?
This anime is for you if:
- You want fantasy that values emotion over action
- You’re okay with slow, reflective pacing
- You enjoy character studies more than power-scaling debates
- You want something that will make you think about your own relationships
- You appreciate beautiful animation and music
If you only watch shonen anime for fights and tournaments, this might feel too slow. But if you give it three episodes, you’ll know if it’s for you.
Where to Watch Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
I streamed Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End on Muvix, and it was a smooth experience. The app handles longer anime episodes well, and having both English and Indonesian subtitle options is genuinely useful for a show with this much quiet, dialogue-heavy storytelling.
If you want to watch it without dealing with sketchy sites, just install Muvix on Android. No subscription needed.
Similar Anime You Might Like
If Frieren leaves you wanting more, try these:
- Vinland Saga — Viking drama about violence, revenge, and finding peace
- Mushoku Tensei — fantasy reincarnation with stunning world-building
- Clannad: After Story — emotional drama about time, family, and loss
- Violet Evergarden — another quiet story about understanding human emotion
You can find more anime reviews and recommendations on our blog. For another character-driven review, check out our take on Agent Kim: Reactivated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End worth watching?
Yes, especially if you want fantasy anime with real emotional depth. It holds a 9/10 rating on MyAnimeList with millions of viewers praising its mature storytelling and character development. The pacing is patient, the characters are deeply memorable, and the themes of time, grief, and connection stay with you long after the credits roll.
How many episodes does Frieren have?
The first season has 28 episodes, each approximately 25 minutes long. It originally aired from September 2023 to March 2024 without any filler arcs. A second season has been officially announced, expected to adapt the Goddess’s Monument arc from the manga.
What is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End about?
It follows Frieren, an elven mage who outlives her human companions from the hero party that defeated the Demon King. After Himmel dies of old age, she journeys north to reunite with the spirits of the deceased. Along the way, she trains a new apprentice, revisits old memories, and slowly learns to cherish the connections she once took for granted.
Is Frieren sad?
It has many sad moments, but the overall tone is more melancholic and reflective than purely depressing. The show treats grief as a natural part of life and finds beauty in memory and human connection. Each emotional scene serves a purpose in Frieren’s character growth, making the sadness feel meaningful rather than manipulative.
Where can I watch Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End for free?
You can stream Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and many other anime titles for free on the Muvix app for Android. The app offers both English and Indonesian subtitles, smooth playback on mobile devices, and a growing library of anime series. Simply download the app from the Google Play Store and start watching without any subscription fees.
Is Frieren good for beginners?
Absolutely. You don’t need any prior anime experience to enjoy Frieren. The fantasy world-building is easy to follow, the characters are relatable, and the emotional themes of time, loss, and connection are universal. It’s an excellent gateway anime since its slow pacing gives newcomers time to absorb the story without overwhelming them with complex lore.
Final Verdict
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End gets a 9/10 from me. It’s not perfect — a few middle episodes drag slightly, and some demon-of-the-week arcs feel less impactful than the emotional ones — but when it’s good, it’s unforgettable. It’s the kind of anime that makes you call your friends after finishing it.
Download Muvix and give it a shot. Just maybe don’t watch the funeral episode in public.