Arguably the most hyped anime to surface in recent years, Frieren quickly reached #1 slots in various fandoms throughout 2023 and retained its overwhelming popularity today.
However, Frieren isn't among the fresh Isekai GOATs simply because it has the numbers on its side. It brings "slice of life" elements into a genre heavily saturated with (often needless) action; its story doesn't require headcannons to be enjoyable. Most importantly, it gave other anime and manga artists homework in terms of character development and progression.
In this article, I'll take you Beyond Journey's End and dissect some of the most prominent reasons why true fans of this anime believe Frieren is light years apart from your average Isekai works.
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Embracing the "Now" at a Steady Pace
Friren, Himmel, and Heiter relaxing in a tavern. Image courtesy of comingsoon.net
In most Isekai anime like Jobless Reincarnation or Overlord, the story typically revolves around a very familiar loop. The protagonist has little time to learn the ways of the "new" world, discovers a few starting skills/powers, a few fight scenes pop up, and the protagonist heads off to train/seek powerful items.
What makes Frieren different is that she's an elf who's already super-strong, heavily versed in the lore of the world she's inhabiting, and appears more interested in interacting with various characters than seeking the next group of powerful enemies.
This isn't a unique approach to writing good Isekai plots. Fans of Re:Zero and Magus Bride might notice a few familiar patterns, but what makes Frieren different is that this "slow" pace of story progression is all but bland, courtesy of Frieren's quirky character and the huge personalities of people she befriends along the way.
It's Isekai to everyone but Frieren
Frieren and Fern reading a book in a forest. Source: CBR
Isekai roughly translates to "different world", and while the majority of characters in Frieren tend to perceive time in minutes, hours, days, and years, the same concepts don't apply to our almost-immortal protagonist who's a youngster by elven standards as a 1,000-year old.
In most Isekai anime shows, regular people jump into the shoes of fierce warriors, powerful mages, cunning archers, or funny creatures ("That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime"), but we don't need to "resurrect" a character that's lived for centuries to emulate the "different world" setting - the world won't appear too dissimilar to her since she's constantly observing the changes without aging.
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The Plot has Impactful, Unforced Moral Lessons
The main cast of Frieren in a promotional image. Image courtesy of fictionhorizon.com
One of the biggest tropes in the fantasy genre as a whole, especially in Isekai, is that everything that characters do or say feels a bit over the top. Innovative artists may slide a few genuine real-world advice or subtle messages of positivity and inspiration, but we're all coming back to the same shows to watch people power up and destroy legions of enemies.
I don't want to spoil any aspect of Frieren's story, but let me just say that every episode uniquely promotes healthy values.
Whether it be understanding that we sometimes take things for granted, the value of true friendship, the meaning of giving back, or what it means to unconditionally care for someone else, Frieren has more practical life advice in its first season than most long-running anime shows have in their entire catalogs.
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Character Development Feels Organic
Friren practicing and honing her skills in a forest. Image courtesy of seinenrider.com
One of the things many Isekai anime artists struggle with is keeping the threads of character "expansion" feel natural while the power surges and unexpected events have to keep the viewers in suspense. A lot of the time, these efforts fail, so characters appear to have "plot armor" in certain cases.
What's different in Frieren is that we all quickly realize how powerful this petite elf is, yet she doesn't feel innately overpowered nor is strength her sole characteristic.
The same applies to all the characters in the show, especially her beloved disciple Fern and the whimsical Stark. Even characters that mainly appear in flashbacks have clear-cut personalities and traits that develop and become reinforced the deeper we get into the story.
Dismantles the "Chosen One" Trope
Frieren experiences steady growth and character development throughout the series. Image courtesy of IMDb
In almost all Isekai anime shows, a random person is often chosen to save another world from impending doom, unspeakable forces of darkness, or whatever other terrors come to mind.
Frieren didn't just appear in the Central Lands out of nowhere, neither was she summoned to the Holy City of Strahl by upper-echelon mages to deliver the world from certain destruction. She did save the day on multiple occasions with the legendary Hero Party, but this is not the main reason for her existence in this universe.
In fact, she lived on this continent for centuries, during which time she befriended many different people, tribes, and organizations, which starkly contrasts the trendiest Isekai trope - being summoned to another world.
The only part that still allows the show to be categorized as such revolves around Frieren using the monument of the Goddess and astral-projecting her consciousness to another time.
No Hidden Agendas, Fan Service, or Unnecessary Content
Following a group of characters as they're jumping between different worlds and periods can fatigue the viewer. One of the ways artists help us get a breather is by introducing fillers.
Frieren is one of the few anime shows that are so wholesome that every frame feels meaningful. Even if it's just watching the skies for a second, having a hike through a forest, or reminiscing about a different time, every second in this show adds to the emotion and atmosphere.
It's difficult to imagine a successful Isekai without some sort of MC relationships going on, yet Frieren passed with flying colors by doubling down on the power of friendship alone.
Most importantly, Frieren does not have any hidden agendas built into its story. Without pointing fingers, I could list dozens of Isekai anime that became relatable simply because they "borrowed" aspects from other shows, movies, or even historical events, mashing them in a fantasy setting.
Conclusion - Is Frieren Different from Other Trendy Isekai?
Saying Frieren is a unique Isekai anime would be a huge understatement. Moreover, I don't think it would be fair to categorize it into any specific genres since it's a bit of many things - slice of life, magic, drama, demons, comedy, Isekai, you name it.
I'd summarize the point of this show as a wholesome demonstration of amazing animations backed by a compelling story carried by extremely well-written characters. This alone makes it vastly different from an average Isekai, even if we completely ignored all the points I made above.
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