Sousou no Frieren is a beautifully crafted tale about a young (though millennia-old) elf learning to appreciate the little things in life when her scale of time is decades instead of days. In kind, this anime spans many years, focusing on events and moments that stood out to her. This poignant premise coupled with powerful storytelling and an all-around stellar production coalesces into a brilliant work of art and entertainment.
Visuals: 10/10
Madhouse hasn’t gone this hard since No Game No Life: Zero. It’s immediately evident from the first few minutes that Sousou no Frieren is crafted with care. The animation of characters’ eyes and hair gets
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more attention than the entirety of some shows. For a sentimental story such as this, faces are of particular importance and closeups are animated exquisitely. However, what is not evident from the first few episodes is the quality of the action scenes. For the most part, this anime is relaxed; so when an exhilarating battle hits, the impact is significant. I have rarely seen an anime that is so consistently brilliant with its fights. The action is incredibly immersive due to carefully selected camera angles and smooth effects on magic and physical attacks alike. Even defense is not ignored. Shielding spells are as beautifully mesmerizing as attack spells are awe-inspiring. I cannot state enough just how impressive the overall visuals are in this show. From the smallest details in a still-frame, to character body language, to grandiose action, Madhouse was cooking with this one.
Characters: 10/10
Anyone who perceives Frieren as a flat character has entirely missed the point of this story. Through a combination of her journey’s progress and a myriad of flashbacks, we witness our protagonist’s development. This progress is as well-defined as it is slow. I believe the primary purpose of this story is to show how different people impacted Frieren and her emotional development; first her mentor, then Himmel, and finally Fern. In a way, they represent the support that a relationship with one’s parent, significant other, and child might provide. Through these different dynamics, Frieren learns to express herself and understand those around her.
It is impossible to overstate how good the writing is. I could type paragraphs on the nuances of Fern’s character or how expertly Himmel is portrayed, but I think it is much better experienced than explained. Each character of this show's large cast is carefully crafted with enough personality and nuance to be a protagonist on their own.
Music: 9/10
The opening track is yet another banger from YAOSOBI. They weren’t satisfied with the impact of “IDOL” from Oshi no Ko, the most popular song to come from Japan. “Yuusha” has a similar upbeat yet melancholic vibe to its predecessor. Chorale and orchestral elements add a sense of grandeur and unify it with the medieval fantasy setting. The ED is no slouch, either. After experiencing an emotional scene, the first few lines of “Anytime Anywhere” by milet hit like nothing else. I would often find myself entranced by the song’s soulful vocals and reflecting on the week’s episode.
Not to be outdone, the soundtrack is a strong accompaniment to the events of each episode. “Zoltraak” is a standout track that elevates Frieren’s first significant fight scene, setting the tone for upcoming episodes. Every piece in the album is solid and positively contributes to the atmosphere.
Story: 11/10
Sousou no Frieren is perhaps the best-told story I’ve ever experienced. Frieren’s past is explored in parallel with her current life, leading to powerful displays of repeating history or character growth. The viewer is treated with respect and expected to watch actively rather than be spoonfed themes and lessons. Everything that needs to be said is captured in implication, through animation and characters' lines. This is complemented by Frieren’s impressive character exposition. Oftentimes, after a flashback of a significant moment, Frieren will nod or smile or simply look at another character and it has all the weight and meaning of that previous scene. It’s a unique method of storytelling and it adds an ocean of depth to an often flat “kuudere” archetype.
As another impressive feat, this anime manages to maintain perfect story cohesion despite temporal inconsistencies with regular flashbacks and time skips. Sometimes it takes a moment to realize that Frieren’s thoughts have left her present company and are preoccupied by her former party or mentor. This implementation is surprisingly immersive and also lends to a better understanding of our protagonist.
There are numerous other aspects of storytelling in this show that I could praise but as a fan of the fantasy genre, I’d like to mention the magic system. In most fantasy anime, magic exists as a tool to be used by characters. It’s unusual for it to serve a purpose beyond combat and almost never will it feel natural, but magic is deeply ingrained in the world-building of this anime. It is developed like a technology, yet is heavily based on visualization leading to mages acquiring magic differently depending on their background, training, and personality. The tug-of-war explored between offensive and defensive magic is an unsurprising consequence of progression, yet it adds significant depth to the system. Battles between characters of different strengths are appropriately short. Characters use a diverse arrangement of magic and fight according to their personality with minimal monologuing. And as awesome as combat magic is, the more mundane spells are what drive this show. Levitating small objects, creating a field of flowers, and making sweet grapes sour are shown to be incredibly significant. The fantastical element of magic is expressed wonderfully in this anime and it’s great to see them get it right.
Overall: 10/10
Frieren is one of those rare shows that I watched every single episode from start to finish. I never fast-forwarded through slow scenes because it is entrancing to witness the chemistry between characters. I never skipped an ED because I needed the time to bask in the afterglow of each episode. From start to finish, this anime draws the viewer into Frieren’s life and stuns with stellar production, direction, and execution on every front. As of writing, this show sits at number one on MAL with a score of 9.16 (update, as of today it’s 9.39 and rising). As you may have guessed, I much agree with that assessment. Among the 600-700 anime I’ve seen to date, this is easily in the top 5 best productions, with a strong argument for a 3rd-1st placement. Frieren has been consistently masterpiece-level through 28 episodes, a feat that few, if any, anime have accomplished. So in summary, it’s pretty good. Check it out!
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Mar 25, 2024
Sousou no Frieren
(Anime)
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Sousou no Frieren is a beautifully crafted tale about a young (though millennia-old) elf learning to appreciate the little things in life when her scale of time is decades instead of days. In kind, this anime spans many years, focusing on events and moments that stood out to her. This poignant premise coupled with powerful storytelling and an all-around stellar production coalesces into a brilliant work of art and entertainment.
Visuals: 10/10 Madhouse hasn’t gone this hard since No Game No Life: Zero. It’s immediately evident from the first few minutes that Sousou no Frieren is crafted with care. The animation of characters’ eyes and hair gets ... |
