Frieren: Beyond the Journey's End
A long-lived fairy with two humans
A journey that collecting magic, travelling and heart-warming memories
Recently I have watched the animation that my father recommended. It’s called Frieren: Beyond the Journey’s End.
Since I needed to prepare my tests when it first launched, I only watched the first four episodes at that time. And now I finished the first season some days ago.
I love this animation because it has magic elements. But the content that attracts me more is talking about Frieren’s memories and new journey with new members, which heals me.
It’s not like other animations that start stories with the journey of beating the demon lord. This animation opens the story with a finished adventure. As a long-lived fairy, Frieren can’t feel the emotions and she doesn’t know how to express those feelings. With the death of her party leader, she wants to know human more. And the story starts with this opening.
Regretting, but this is the start that Frieren want to realize human and Himmel
Although Frieren can’t feel emotions well, she still wants to learn how to get along with her old party members’ apprentices- Fern and Stark. In their journey, there will be some scenes that are similar to Frieren's memories. Such comparison sometimes makes Frieren to rethink about the meaning of the first journey and cherish the present time with new members.
Present time (upper) and past time
If there is an animation that has magical elements in it, I will watch it and see if I have interest in it. Frieren: Beyond the Journey’s End is not only a journey that talks about the Frieren’s mood changing but also narrates collecting different magic during the journey. We often think that magic is used to kill enemies. However, Frieren shows various magic that can be used in daily life. Such as the magic that can find accessories or make clothes become transparent. Although these magic sounds funny and weird, they still make the journey happier and convenient.
What’s more, it discusses the thoughts and emotions between every episode. Because humans can’t live as long as Frieren, she tries to learn and realize the emotions and meaning of life. For example, 10 years is a very short time for Frieren. Even one thousand years is also not a very long time. Sometimes she makes a joke that she wants to stay at one place for 5,6 years, and Fern will say they can only stay for 1 week.
On the other hand, Frieren often doesn’t know humans’ thoughts on something. In one scene’s memory, she doesn’t know why party leader Himmel usually makes statues everywhere. Himmel tells her that building a statue is not only to record their successful journey of beating the demon lord. And the most important thing is not letting Frieren feel lonely in the future. Also the statue tells the descendants that they are not a fairy tale. It makes me think about the meaning of life. We may want descendants to remember us, but is there other meaning that can teach or leave to them? Because of this episode, I love this animation more.
Himmel's words to Frieren
For me, it’s not only a thrilling animation. The more is teaching us to think about life's meaning. We often think this is a short time and don’t notice. But in our life’s short time, we can cherish the people who accompany us and fulfill our dreams.
To sum up, if you want to watch slow pacing and healing animation, I highly recommend you to watch this.
Photo resources:
https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=249849
https://forum.gamer.com.tw/C.php?bsn=70547&snA=214
https://forum.gamer.com.tw/C.php?bsn=70547&snA=213
https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=254886
https://youtu.be/iqsnJJK8GA4?si=iedrXAqvhtppo3F3
Animation screenshot pictures:
Episode 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 14, 16, 25, 28
