This review is spoilerfree. Note: If Frieren is italicised I am talking about the series. Otherwise I am referring to the main character. 120276 120311120316120322120319120315120306120326 120310120320 120315120316120321 120302120303120316120322120321 120321120309120306 120305120306120320120321120310120315120302120321120310120316120315... Have you ever felt you are way too cautious when it comes to interacting with art which in turn may have caused you to hesitate or even avoid starting books movies or shows that piqued your interest? Have you ever set your expectations rockbottom low because you were worried the latest popular product would not be worthy of its acclaim thus leaving you sorely disappointed? Have you ever given said trendy new thing a shot only to view it with a ton of bias which utterly doomed your first impression beyond repair? I have been there and done that and one of the best examples of this bizarre predicament is Frieren. But fret not my dear reader because my wild and turbulent experience with this anime ends on a surprisingly positive note. This review will not be yet another cynical rant where I trashtalk a show for a couple of paragraphs. Well not this time. I will not beat around the bush or pretend to be holier than thou... I was initially super sceptical about Frieren with heaps of negativity flowing through my veins. I kept doubting if it could live up to the hype and worse yet I tried to avoid the show like the plague. After watching the first episode though my opinion became more favourable I was not entirely sold on any of its ideas and struggled to see the appeal. But as I dove deeper into its episodes the show slowly but surely started growing on me. Now having watched all of its twentyeight episodes I can confidently say it is one of the greatest anime I have ever encountered and I feel silly for not taking it seriously from the getgo. 700https://i.ur.com/jmCdZf4.png First things first we have to give credit where credit is due: the team behind this project has truly outdone themselves in terms of visuals and sound and they deserve all the praise they can get. Hell I am more than happy to continue complimenting their work till I can no longer breathe or the sun no longer emits light. Keiichirou Saitouhttps://anilist.co/staff/134254/KeiichirouSaitou and his crewhttps://anilist.co/anime/154587/SousounoFrieren/staff poured their hearts into this and their passion for the craft and the medium itself shines through in every single frame still image second of animation and note of the soundtracklike a kid who was given a flashy new toy I cannot stop gawking at their work in complete and unadulterated amazement. But all of this commendation is very ambiguous and general so we need to get down to the nittygritty. The colour palette was one of the first components I criticised when the show aired its first episode because I was not particularly impressed by it. Yet as time went on I finally came to my senses and concluded that my critique was unsubstantiated and narrowsighted as these seemingly commonplace colours consistently and relentlessly demonstrate how vibrant they are. Every scene scenery and scenario is bright and full of life yet the hues that inhabit them are not excessively saturated or unnaturally radiant to the point of causing eye strain or discomfort. In some weird fashion despite the setting being anything but grounded in reality everything on display teems with energy in an incredibly lifelike sensethanks to these nofrills colours the show is able to immerse the viewer in its vast glamorous world and its countless distinct lands effectively and thoroughly. While you may see them as just another generic collection of tints already seen a thousand times before in other shows with similar art styleshttps://anilist.co/search/anime?genres=Adventuresort=POPULARITYDESC when combined with other elements that constitute the visuals they infuse Frieren with intense vigour and immediately make it stand out from the crowd. Speaking of the art style it is undeniably straightforward yet that very simplicity is its most prominent strength. Owing to the usage of brisk crisp and quirky lines designs and hues the art style emerges as delightful to look at and spellbinding all the way through. By dint of its inherent beauty the background art can easily blossom and become an exceptional sight to behold. You can almost smell and breathe the world the characters exist in. You feel like you are a part of it and by extension you get this tingling sensation of wanting to embark on a grand journey filled with numerous adventures random encounters and memorable happenings. The cities the characters visit along the way look grand in scope yet the manner in which they are drawn makes them feel cosy and livedin. Unlike other fantasy taleshttps://anilist.co/search/anime/Fantasy that merely aim for a fantasylike look without much substance the anime actually populates its villages with town life and makes the buildings roads and architecture look like they were developed and used by actual human beings. Rural areas are gorgeously serene and peaceful while forests mountains plains and whatnot evoke a sense of medieval realism and enchanting fantasy. In the same vein the character designs are memorable and full of personality considering they bring out the unique traits of each person donning them with simple ornaments lovely outfits and distinctive body features. Altogether the art style and everything surrounding it brim with this indescribable sense of wonder and magic which perfectly captures the personality of the series. Nonetheless as beautiful and majestic as these images can be their charm will hastily fade away once the animation fails to match their quality and struggles to bring them to life. An anime without proper animation is not going to cut it. After all a contemporary show is neither a slideshowhttps://anilist.co/anime/125426/Gokushufudou/ nor a trip to a museum.https://anilist.co/anime/101429/KatsudouShashin Luckily there is no need to worry about that because Frierens animation does what is expected of it with flying colours. It does not settle for mediocrity or reeks of halfassery but instead executes everything flawlessly and constantly produces aweinspiring jawdropping scenes. Simply put it is fluid and stellar and it never runs out of gas despite the exhaustive number of highquality and constantly impressive episodes. Whether it be a sombre moment where the characters converse with each other and contemplate their lives or a moment of highoctane and intense magical battle which involves countless blinding spells and objects flying left and right the animation never stutters and always manages to deliver a mesmerising spectacle you can feast your eyes on. It is further complemented by the camerawork that makes sure the action is smooth zappy and easy to follow the lightning that enhances the ambience of every situation and the editing that is not only sharp but also lets the scenes linger just enough for the emotions to settle in and take effect. But a sincerely impactful moment is not just about what you can see it is also about what you can hear. For a scene to deeply resonate with the viewer their ears need to be treated to beautiful melodies that will strike them to their core. Yet again we do not have to worry about that because the music the series boasts is absolutely wonderful at every step. Both the opening themehttps://www..com/watch?v=OIBODIPC8Y by YOASOBIhttps://anilist.co/staff/194287/YOASOBI and the onehttps://www..com/watch?v=CkvWJNt77mU composed by Yorushikahttps://anilist.co/staff/154702/Yorushika fit amazingly into the atmosphere the show erectsthey have a lingering feeling of melancholy within yet are full of energy and positivity. The ending themehttps://www..com/watch?v=r105CzDvoo0 by milethttps://anilist.co/staff/144537/milet embraces the other side of Frierens narrative as its saddening delicate tone elicits a sense of sadness related to departure or loss which is an ideal fit as the closure to every episode. In conjunction these songs will make you feel the urge to click on another episode as you do not want these feelings to fade away. You want to cherish every moment you have with the show by your side for as long as possible. Tying it all together is the soundtrack by Evan Callhttps://anilist.co/staff/119999/EvanCall. Through tracks like Journey of a Lifetimehttps://www..com/watch?v=FgqbsA6yI One Last Adventurehttps://www..com/watch?v=JJ5MJbrD7rc Where the BlueMoon Weed Growshttps://www..com/watch?v=Gmx3CNjRUUw and many many more the composer truly cements Frierens score as one of the most impressive and gorgeous ones in recent memory. Tender heartfelt sorrowful heartwarming and overflowing with a satisfying fantasy vibe all at oncethese tracks feel grand yet so personal majestic yet grounded and sad yet hopeful and I feel my heart crumbling to dust just by listening to them. 700https://i.ur.com/5K2kgjm.png With an extensive description like that you could easily get the idea that pretty looks and catchy songs are all there is to Frieren. Frankly I would not blame you for thinking this way one bit. Whether we like it or not the mediumhttps://anilist.co/search/anime/popular is populated by a constantly increasing number of anime that value a single moment of visual brilliance over having a coherent wellputtogether wellcrafted and ingenious story and authentic multidimensional characters worth rooting for.https://anilist.co/anime/145139/KimetsunoYaibaKatanakajinoSatohen/ But let me assure you that Frieren is not one of those shows that present the audience with plenty of eye candy but nothing to chew on narrativewise it is much much more than meets the eye. However before I really dig into the narrative I need to mention something that may not be so obvious but is definitely worth bringing attention to. Though many after witnessing the first few episodes deem the story to be an emotional tale that will pull your heartstrings at every opportunity I believe that approaching Frieren with such expectations can and most likely will be extremely detrimental to not only your enjoyment but also your opinion about the show as a whole since you will expect such scenes to play first fiddle all the time. While at the start the emotionality of the content is painfully apparent these emotionally charged moments are not so chokingly defining and dominant that everything revolves around them. They are a part of the narrative and not the narrative itself. The anime sights are not set on merely being an evocative and meditative tearjerker that will force you to bawl your eyes out at every turn. Yes the series is more than capable of doing that which I experienced firsthand on too many occasions. Still Frieren is first and foremost about the adventures making memories random encounters and various detours the characters encounter along their trek the emotions are a sweet and muchneeded bonus. Now with that out of the way we can finally get down to business and see what the narrative is about. As I said earlier the production values are made with so much passion and love that it is nigh impossible to resist their allure. However as topnotch as they are it is the combination of story characters and themes that sets the show apart puts it on the map and ultimately wins you over. These three components are the driving force behind its success and the reason why so many folks myself included have utterly fallen head over heels in love with it. In the beginning we are introduced to the herohttps://anilist.co/character/184311/Himmels party as they gear up to and eventually succeed in taking down the Demon King. Sounds quite familiar does it not? Of course it does since we have seen stories with such a premise so many times before that it has become something of a cliche.https://anilist.co/search/anime?genres=Isekai As we quickly learn in the case of this anime this is nothing more than a setup or a prologue to what is to come. The quest is instantly taken care of offscreen and time begins to blur as in the wake of the constant utilisation of time skips the years fly by in rapid succession. Before we know it the group ceases to exist and its leader passes away. What follows his death are tears not only shed by those whom they helped throughout their numerous adventures but also by the titular protagonisthttps://anilist.co/character/176754/Frieren as she realises that what seemed like insignificant trivial moments to her meant the world to others due to them being a huge chunk of their life. With the realisation that she will long outlive everyone around her and her apathy and indifference towards the world will not make her existence whole she begins travelling in search of answers yearning to understand humans and how to treasure the memories she made and will make. Along the way she revisits the lands she stopped by in the past meets and befriends other people and enjoys the presence of her newfound companions. This is such a simplistic yet phenomenal setup that I am genuinely shocked I did not notice and appreciate it earlier. Taking the tired cliche of a party of warriors mages and priests that aims to defeat the generic demonic overlord and completely flipping it on its head is such a refreshing and satisfying sight and the way the whole quest is depicted is nothing short of ingenious. You see Frierenhttps://anilist.co/character/176754/Frieren is an elf which means she is basically immortal. Even though the quest spanned about ten years to her and consequently the viewers it was merely a fleeting moment like a gust of wind that comes and goes without leaving any signs of its presence. However this skewed perception of time is not a onetime gimmick it constantly evolves and changes throughout the shows and the protagonists development and it originates from one of the main motifs of the series: the preciousness of time. Time is a finite resource that we must use wisely. If you wander aimlessly through life you will soon find yourself running short of it. Before you know it you have used it all up and it is only a matter of well time before you have to bid goodbye to everything you own and everyone you know. The immortality of an elf stands in stark contrast to the frailty of human life seeing that elves can live for thousands upon thousands of years and still look like they are in their twenties. Yet their careless management of time can very easily be applied to humans or humanrelated activities such as memorymaking. Whether you have twenty sixty or one thousand years there is always the possibility that you are not focusing on the present and instead being completely oblivious to how fast and unrelenting the passage of time can be. Frieren perfectly encapsulates the importance of learning to appreciate each little thing moment and uneventful day and understanding the fleeting nature of it all. It turns this incredibly straightforward idea/theme into one of the many important lessons it teaches not only its characters but also the viewers. The same applies to the concept of memories they much like the passage of time discussed above constitute the heart and soul of Frieren. These snippets of the past kick off the protagonists tale drive most if not all of the characters actions and are responsible for some of the most emotional poignant and powerful moments in the whole series. Just as they are essential to the narrative memories are intrinsic to all of us. While they do not entirely define our existence as we can still carry on even if we were to lose them all they are extremely instrumental in shaping who we are. With them lingering in the recesses of our minds we find solace in previous experiences reflect on the present with the insight the past provides and discover what makes us who we are. However what is headscratchingly problematic about memories is the fact that what seems to be nothing more than an ordinary and everyday moment may become a vital cherished recollection down the road. This notion is reflected throughout the series as remembrances influence every character in one way or another. Although these simple moments might characterise these individuals they do not restrain or torment them like shackles. Instead as time goes on the cast learns to use them as stepping stones toward personal growth and selfrealisation. And therein is the reason why this show is so touching and relatable. The theme is universal and easily applicable to anyone yet it is the process of witnessing the characters uncover how to deal with their past and try to use it as a learning experience that makes it all extremely personal heartwarming and therapeutic. Naturally these two motifs are not the only ones that Frieren wears on its sleeves. Grief loss regret the importance of human relationships and connections morality death and its ramifications the search for meaning mentorship friendship familial bonds heroism good vs. evil embracing life accepting oneself and many many more themes are vividly portrayed within the anime and are given just the right amount of attention and care to pack a really hefty punch. As mentioned numerous times throughout the review Frieren is all about the journey the characters set off on that can be equated to a collection of sidequests with plenty of goofing around fighting talking and exploring connected with surprising cohesion and creativity. On account of that the series could have easily stuck to these adventures for the entirety of its run never going beyond its excellent worldbuilding captivating magic system believable setting exciting battle scenes charming character interactions or quirky personages. But it decided to embrace and embody both sides of the idea of travelling combining literally moving from one place to another with attempts to find your true self and become a better person and the themes above are why it all successfully comes together to create this nearly perfect package. The adventures are at the forefront of the plot as they entertain your eyes ears and mind while the intriguing ideas that reside deep within the shows body touch your heart and make Frieren an unforgettable experience. Nonetheless every potent and contemplationarousing subject needs to be conveyed and presented in an easytodigest manner. This is where the charactershttps://anilist.co/anime/154587/SousounoFrieren/characters come in as they are the ideal vehicles for these ideas. But do not mistake them for mere carriers of the various concepts they are fully fleshedout people with their own interesting stories to tell. Whether you look at the protagonists or the supporting characters everyone brings something to the table and fulfils a concrete and important role in the story no matter how much screen time they get. Surely some of them may be seen as generic and onedimensionalhttps://anilist.co/character/246057/bel but that is merely a surfacelevel observation that hardly applies to any of these folks even the most seemingly insignificant supporting characters are exciting authentic full of depth and flesh and blood. Yet as is the case with every single story to have ever been written it is the main group who are in the constant limelight. Frieren and her companions both old and new are a diverse sympathetic and charismatic bunch of goofballs. They all possess distinct personalities easily understandable and relatable motivations and dreams that strike a chord with the audience. It is very hard not to root for them appreciate their wonderful chemistry enjoy their quirky interactions/banters/conversations feel happy when they achieve their goals and feel down when they encounter any sort of hardship. The way they develop and mature as individuals as the show progresses is extremely impressive on account of the subtle small yet noticeable changes in their attitudes outlooks and dispositions. Not a single moment of character development is rushed and the show allocates just the right amount of time to give these guys all the breathing room they need to grow glow and become great. And that is precisely what they become when the final credits roll arounda fun organic yet deeply human cast of memorable characters whose antics and adventures are charming beyond belief. 700https://i.ur.com/Ob2Re8s.png All right it is high time to wrap up this incomprehensible wall of text masquerading as a thoughtful review. I want to end it by simply encouraging anyone who has yet to see Frieren to cave in and give it a shot. In the worstcase scenario you will not be wowed by what it has to offer and you will either power through its episodes as a reluctant passenger or abandon ship entirely. However if it is your cup of tea and clicks with you it will be an experience unlike any other. In any case I sincerely think Frieren deserves our attention and adoration and must be treasured for years to come. It is a nearly flawless and intensely special anime that I kid you not excels in every aspect. I feel fortunate to have been part of this joyful and adventurous journey for so long and my love for it is as vast and endless as its world. Farewell Frieren. ...120303120322120321 120321120309120306 120314120306120314120316120319120310120306120320 120314120302120305120306 120302120313120316120315120308 120321120309120306 120324120302120326.