Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Japanese: 葬送のフリーレン, Hepburn: Sōsō no Furīren, lit.'Frieren at the Funeral' or 'Frieren the Slayer')[a] is a Japanese manga series written by Kanehito Yamada [ja] and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe [ja]. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday since April 2020; its chapters have been collected in 13 tankōbon volumes as of April 2024. The series is licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media and in Southeast Asia by Shogakukan Asia. Madhouse has produced an anime television adaptation, the first 28-episode season of which was broadcast from September 2023 to March 2024. A second season has been announced.
The manga's narrative takes place in a fantasy world and follows Frieren, an elf mage on a journey to the resting place of souls to reunite with her former comrade Himmel, whose Hero Party slew the Demon King.
The elven mage Frieren is a former member of a party of adventurers who defeated the Demon King and restored harmony to the world after a ten-year quest. The party also consists of the human hero Himmel, the dwarven warrior Eisen, and the human priest Heiter. Before they part, they observe the Era Meteors, a meteor shower that occurs once every fifty years. Frieren agrees to see the group again and offers them an improved view for the next occurrence of the Era Meteors. Frieren departs and travels the world in pursuit of magical knowledge.
Fifty years later, Frieren returns to the capital to find humanity has changed and her former companions have aged. After one last adventure to see the meteor shower, Himmel dies of old age. During his funeral, Frieren expresses guilt for not attempting to learn more about him. She visits her other former comrades, and accepts Heiter's request to teach and care for Fern, an orphaned child he had adopted. She also receives an invitation to travel north to the resting place of souls to see Himmel again, express her feelings and farewell him. Frieren travels with Fern while still learning magic. Along the way, she is joined by Stark, a young warrior boy Eisen had taught.
Frieren's elven nature grants her an extremely long lifespan, causing her to experience years or decades as ephemeral. With this perception of time, Frieren considers the ten-year adventure with Himmel's party a fleeting experience. The story thus occurs over a long time, with characters showing physical and mental development through periodic flashbacks.
Production
Katsuma Ogura, the editor-in-charge of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, noted Yamada's previous work Bocchi Hakase to Robot Shōjo no Zetsubō Teki Utopia did not sell well, but Ogura considered it a masterpiece. This led to a suggestion to give Yamada an illustrator for Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. They had several ideas, including a gag manga, which resulted in storyboards for a one-shot of Frieren. Upon reading the storyboards, Ogura started laughing, saying it was not a comedy at all. When Yamada finished the first storyboard, Ogura contacted Tsukasa Abe, and asked him to draw a character chart and send the work to the editorial department. Yamada was impressed, and Ogura asked him do it, and submit the project to the editorial department. Ogura was stunned with Abe's artwork and suggested he work with Yamada. Yamada was amazed with the first illustration of Frieren, believing the title character had an aura of humanity.[4][5][6]
During an editorial department meeting, the editor in charge said: "If we decide on a good title, we will pay a prize of 10,000 yen out of our own pocket". One of the title ideas submitted by the deputy editor-in-chief was Sōsō no Frieren (葬送のフリーレン), and Yamada and Abe decided to use it for the manga.[7]
For the animated adaptation by Madhouse, Tomohiro Suzuki said Fern's character differs depending on who she is interacting with; with Frieren, there is a motherly bond while with Stark, she acts like a normal teenager. Director Keiichiro Saito said Fern appears to have several changes in the narrative because her growth has a major effect on Frieren. Suzuki said despite being a coward, Stark is still written to be handsome and cool, and has a major effect on Fern.[8]
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is written by Kanehito Yamada [ja] and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe [ja]. The series began in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday on April 28, 2020.[9][10] In January 2023, it was announced the manga would go on hiatus;[11] it resumed in March of the same year.[12] It went on another hiatus in May 2024;[13] it resumed in August of the same year.[14] Shogakukan has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes, the first of which was published on August 18, 2020.[15] As of April 17, 2024, 13 volumes had been released.[16]
In February 2021, Viz Media announced it licensed the series for English release in North America,[17] and the first volume was published on November 9, 2021.[18] On May 9, 2023, Viz Media launched its Viz Manga digital manga service; the series' chapters are published in English in North America at the same time as their release in Japan.[19][20] In Southeast Asia, the manga has been licensed by Shogakukan Asia under the title Frieren: Remnants of the Departed.[21]
Five one-shotspin-off chapters by different authors were published on the manga website "Sunday Webry" from May 22 to 26, 2023; Chūbō no Frieren (厨房のフリーレン, Chūbō no Furīren, "Frieren of the Kitchen") by Kassan (May 22); Yūsha Himmel no Bōkentan (勇者ヒンメルの冒険譚, Yūsha Hinmeru no Bōkentan, "The Adventures of Brave Himmel") by Ren Miura (May 23); Frieren wa Ningen wo Shiritai (フリーレンは人間を知りたい, Furīren wa Ningen wo Shiritai, "Frieren Wants to Learn About Humans") by Jona (May 24); Himmel Tabi Nikki (ヒンメル旅にっき, Hinmeru Tabi Nikki, "Himmel's Travel Diary") by Kazumi Yamaguchi (May 25); and Yorimichi no Frieren (寄り道のフリーレン, Yorimichi no Furīren, "Frieren's Detour") by Sōichi Igarashi (May 26).[22] The chapters were later collected in a single volume titled Frieren: The Anthology – Journeys off the Beaten Path (葬送のフリーレン アンソロジー～異なる旅を楽しむ魔法～, Sōsō no Furīren Ansoroji Kotonaru Tabi o Tanoshimu Mahō), released on December 18, 2023.[23] Shogakukan Asia published the volume in English in Southeast Asia in September 2024.[24]
In September 2022, it was announced on the cover of the ninth volume of the manga the series would receive an anime adaptation.[25][26] It was later announced that it would be a television series produced by Madhouse and directed by Keiichirō Saitō, with script supervision by Tomohiro Suzuki, and character designs by Reiko Nagasawa.[27][28] The two consecutive-cours series premiered with a two-hour special on September 29, 2023, on Nippon TV's programming block Kin'yō Road Show [ja], which is normally reserved for feature films, becoming the first anime series to do so.[29][30][31] Later episodes debuted on the new block Friday Anime Night on the same network and its affiliates,[32] and ended on March 22, 2024.[33]Toho compiled the episodes into seven-DVD and Blu-ray sets, which were released from January 24 to July 17, 2024.[34]
In September 2024, it was announced the anime series had been renewed for a second season.[35][36]
Eleven short episodes, titled Sōsō no Frieren: Marumaru no Mahō (葬送のフリーレン ～●●の魔法～), were released on Toho Animation's YouTube channel and on Frieren's official anime X and TikTok accounts from October 11, 2023, to March 24, 2024.[37][38]
Music
The music for the series was composed by Evan Call.[28] An original soundtrack album was released on April 17, 2024.[39] For the four-episode premiere broadcast, the special ending theme is "Bliss", which was performed by Milet.[29] The first opening theme is "Yūsha" (勇者, lit.'Hero') by Yoasobi, while the ending theme is "Anytime Anywhere" by Milet.[40] The second opening theme is "Sunny" (晴る, Haru) by Yorushika,[41] and the second ending theme includes a different part of "Anytime Anywhere".[42]
English release
Crunchyroll licensed the series for territories outside Asia,[43] and an English dub that was directed by Jad Saxton premiered on its eponymous streaming platform on October 13, 2023.[44] Crunchyroll is releasing the series on DVD and Blu-ray sets; the first part, which includes the first 16 episodes, was released on December 17, 2024.[45][46]Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[47]
Other media
Shogakukan published an official fanbook that features information about the series, illustrations, summaries, and initial rough character designs, on January 12, 2024.[48]
Shōsetsu Sōsō no Frieren: Zensō (小説 葬送のフリーレン～前奏～, lit.'Frieren the Novel: Prelude'), a prequel novel written by Mei Hachimoku with supervision by Yamada, was released on April 17, 2024. The novel includes stories centered around Frieren, Fern, Stark, Kanne, Lawine, and Aura that are not depicted in the manga.[49] A 24-page novella, also written by Hachimoku, subtitled Sora ni Hana wo Sakaseru Mahō (空に花を咲かせる魔法, lit.'Magic to Make Flowers Bloom in the Sky'), will be bundled with the special edition of the manga's fourteenth volume, set to be released on March 18, 2025.[50]
In April 2024, Scrap [ja]'s Real Escape Game announced the creation of an escape room titled "Escape from the Millennium Dream" that is based on the manga.[51]
Reception
Manga
By March 2021, over two million copies of the manga were in circulation;[52] over 5.6 million copies in circulation by February 2022;[53] by June 2022 there were six million;[54] by September 2022 over 7.2 million;[55] by March 2023 over eight million;[27] over 10 million copies in circulation by September 2023;[56] by December 2023 over 17 million;[57] by March 2024 over 20 million;[58] and by June 2024 over 22 million copies were in circulation.[59] Volume 12 was Shogakukan's second-highest first-print-run manga volume of 2023–2024 (period from April 2023–March 2024), with 600,000 copies printed.[60]
The manga ranked second on Takarajimasha's list of best mangas of 2021 for male readers Kono Manga ga Sugoi!;[61][62] it ranked sixth on the 2022 list;[63] and twelfth on the 2025 list.[64] The series ranked second on the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2021" by the website "Honya Club".[65][66] The series ranked seventeenth on the 2021 "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine;[67] it ranked tenth on the 2022 list;[68] twelfth on the 2023 list;[69] and ninth on the 2024 list.[70]
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End was ranked in the top-ten graphic novels by the American Library Association's Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table's 2022 list of "Best Graphic Novels for Adults".[71]
Critical reception
Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network gave the first volume of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End an A-. Silverman praised the concept of Frieren outliving her companions, and being forced to live with an understanding of the human world and her own emotions, calling it an "interesting take on the fantasy genre", but said the art is not "quite up to the emotional tasks of the story".[72] Richard Eisenbeis from the same website praised the second volume of the series, saying it "delivers both emotional tales and deep thematic explorations of human nature". He described the fourth and fifth volumes of the manga as "an action climax that delivers not only a grand battle but also character-development and world-building. Smaller one-off tales that hit you right in your emotional core."[73][74] Ross Locksley of UK Anime Network considered it as an interesting take on the fantasy genre by contrasting the enduring existence of one race with the ephemeral lifespan of another, founding it similar to the manga series To Your Eternity, highlighting how the series explores the relationships Frieren builds with the people around her.[75]
Wolfen Moondaughter of Sequential Tart rated the first volume 9 out of 10. Moondaughter highlighted the story's slice of life nature, despite its premise, which involves a "[Dungeons & Dragons]-style adventuring party", and praised the interaction between the characters and the art work, concluding: "If you want a break from fight scenes, and want something more serene and contemplative, this book should serve you well! It's also a lovely story of honouring the memory of lost loved ones, and dealing with grief".[76] Sheena McNeil of the same website gave the first volume a 7 and called the concept of "what happens to the party when the quest is over?" interesting. She praised Frieren's struggle to become less detached and seeing her experience the "lovely poignant moments, bittersweet ones, and happy ones". McNeil also compared the series' pace and feel to those of Haibane Renmei.[77] Antonio Mireles of The Fandom Post named it the sixth-best manga of 2021 and wrote: "Time waits for no man and that line may be overused but that line strikes a chord in this manga. There is always more to discover and Frieren has to learn that lesson as time marches on. It's a sweet but harsh reminder to enjoy the moment for all its worth."[78] Kara Dennison of Otaku USA liked the art and the touches of humanity that help the narrative to appeal, comparing it with Lord of the Rings and other fantasy series.[79]
The anime adaptation received critical acclaim. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End holds an approval rating of 100% based on five reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10.[100]Digital Spy's Ali Griffiths praised it as one of the best fantasy anime from 2023, citing its themes surrounding the passage of time as well as praising the show's "cozy, calm atmosphere" and sound design.[101] Richard Eisenbeis of Anime News Network praised the dynamics between the main characters as Frieren's character and backstory develop.[102] Jenni Lada of Siliconera considered it one of the best anime of late 2023, praising Frieren's depths as she wants to reconnect with Himmel following his death in the first episode, while also noting other events in the manga go from drama to slice-of-life.[103]
Dan Mansfield of The Fandom Post praised the anime's fights and narrative but felt some sex jokes are out-of-place despite appreciating the humor overall. While commenting on Frieren's personality, Mansfield appreciated scenes in early episodes in which Fern comforts Stark, who is worried about being scared.[104] Kambole Campbell of IGN praised the production values and the show's "simple but moving" narrative.[105] Cy Catwell of Anime Feminist enjoyed the soundtrack, comparing it to the music of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and praised Madhouse's animation.[106] Ayaan Paul Chowdhury of The Hindu called it "the future of fantasy" and wrote: "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End dares to carve its own path amidst the cacophony of familiar tropes and archetypes".[107]
^The Japanese characters 葬 (sō, lit.'funeral' or 'bury') and 送 (sō, lit.'to send' or 'escort' or 'to see someone off') read together as 'attending a funeral', but can also be read in kun'yomi; 葬 (hōmuru, lit.'to bury' or 'to consign to oblivion') and 送 (okuru, lit.'to send' or 'to dispatch' or 'to take (somebody somewhere)'), together with のフリーレン (no Furiren), as 'Frieren the Slayer'. Additionally, the seventeenth chapter of the manga, which bears the same title as the series,[2] was translated to English by Viz Media as "Frieren the Slayer".[3]
^For the first time, the nominees were not divided into categories for the 2023 Shogakukan Manga Award.[94] From this year on, the categories have been discontinued.[95]
^コミックナタリー編集部 Comic Natalie Editorial Team (January 18, 2024). 第69回小学館漫画賞に「葬送のフリーレン」「逃げ上手の若君」など4作品 部門は廃止. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024. …本年より部門が廃止された。 [...The categories have been discontinued from this year on.]
