The Most Talked-About Anime Right Now Is Redefining the Fantasy Genre

Anime’s exploded in popularity in recent years, on screens big and small. Two of the biggest box office hits of October belong to Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle, while popular series like One Punch Man and Spy X Family made triumphant returns while topping the streaming charts. There’s one anime that seems to be on everyone’s mind, since Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is currently the most popular anime online.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End experienced a surge in popularity at the end of October, hitting the number 2 spot on UMK TV Miyazaki and number 3 on NIB. That’s an impressive feat, especially considering Frieren made its debut in 2023; it speaks to how this series stands out both in the world of anime and high fantasy.

‘Freiren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Isn’t What You Expect From a Fantasy Story — But That’s Why It Works

Based on the manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End begins when the elven mage Frieren (Mallorie Rodak) and her companions defeat a demon king, capping off a decade-long quest to bring harmony to their homeland. Fifty years later, Frieren tracks down her companions only to learn that they’ve aged, with the leader of their party, Himmel, having died of old age. Wracked with guilt that she didn’t get to know her companions better, Frieren embarks on a journey to give Himmel’s soul a proper sendoff.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is notable for dedicating less of its time to big, flashy fantasy battles and exploring how the passage of time takes its toll, especially on Frieren. Since she’s an elf, she ages far more slowly than her companions, leading to genuine shock when she reunites with them. She also struggles to grasp human emotion, which adds plenty of levity to the story.. While previous fantasy series, such as The Lord of the Rings, touched upon elves being relatively long-lived, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End fully explores what that means and how it affects the bonds Frieren forms over the years.

The popularity of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End also stands in stark contrast to another genre that’s become fairly popular in anime: the isekai story. Isekai refers to someone from modern times being transported into a fantasy realm, where they often become that world’s only hope for survival. While this concept has been used in classic series likeInuYasha, modern isekai tends to fall into a predictable pattern: a usually male high school student is transported to another realm, becomes a virtual demigod, and acquires a harem of female followers. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End breaks this tired trope, delivering genuine character development and an emotionally resonant story that suits its slow-burn approach.

More ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Is on the Way

Part of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End‘s popularity lies in the fact that it’s one of the more accessible anime, streaming-wise. While Crunchyroll holds the license to stream the series, it has also become available to watch on Netflix and Hulu, meaning fans have plenty of options to choose from. A series of mini episodes is also available to watch via social media, along with a video game crossover with Solo Leveling, further extending Frieren‘s reach in a way that few anime seriescould match.

That reach is slated to continue next year, as a second season of Frieren is in the works. That’s probably welcome news to fans, especially since Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe are taking a break from the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End manga because of health concerns. If anime fans are looking for a series that goes beyond the norm or an entry into the fantasy genre, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is the perfect starting point.