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Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis a magical journey, not just in the literal sense, but also in a metaphorical manner as well. The anime might seem simple at first, with adorable and appealing visuals, but it is so much more.
It has the essence of many concepts that are larger than life, like mortality, regret, and even transcendence and reformation. All of this, when combined with a seemingly ignorant but massively powerful Elven mage, makes it all that more magnetic.
The series has captivated the audience with its emotional depth and storytelling of many profound concepts. However, the series wasn’t always planned to be the masterpiece it is. The story had almost taken a drastically different direction to become a comedy. Let us delve into the reason that we have theFrierenof today.
Frieren almost became a fantasy comedy series
Frieren’seditor has revealed that the profundity and the meaningful themes were not initially planned or even imagined for Frieren. This is because the story was originally envisioned as a lighthearted comedy.
This means the early drafts ofFrierenhad been created to cater to the causal viewer looking for momentary entertainment and had an entirely different tone. It most likely was filled with humorous interactions rather thanthe deep and reflective themesthat have come to define the series.
“When the author first introduced the manga in 2019, it was a comedy between heroes and demons, but what came out was what you all see now: the story of a long-lived elf mage who, after the death of a human hero, realizes the difference in the time axis between the two species and embarks on a journey to meet humans.
The first chapter, which touched the emotions, has been changed to the current form. Professor Abe also read the title carefully and found the story ‘very beautiful’.”
Shonen Sunday editor Kazunori Oshimashared this surprising origin of the animeduring an award ceremony that shocked the fans.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is Creating a Terrible Misconception About Stark Because of a Flawed Approach
However, the concept was somehow reworked into the meaningful and profound piece of work that it now is. The entire premise came to be filled with a sense of depth that its original conception could not capture.
Why a comedy would have been a mistake
Frierenfollowsa long-lived elf mage on her journeyof self-discovery after realizing how fleeting human lives are. Losing Himmel, a human companion that she treasured, she wishes to meet him again, going against all the laws of the world.
By shifting the focus from humor to heartfelt storytelling,Frierenbecame a masterpiece and an example of how to craft a brilliant, meaningful story. A comedic tale would have no comparison with the bearing and position thatFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endhas now.
Had the story remained a comedy, it would have been a massive loss, not just to the creators but also to the entire anime world. The fans would have missed out on beinglet intoFrieren’sunique perspective, it can be said that Frieren has defined Shonen in a way that no anime ever has.
‘Zenshu’ and ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Used the Dichotomy of Elves to Convey the Hardships in the Endless Cycle of Immortality
Even with a lone female Elven mage, there seems to be none of the common tropes that you would expect from a series that was to be a comedy. A comedy anime might be entertaining and fun, but it cannot be as profound and impactful as Frieren has come to be.
Frieren:Beyond Journey’s Endis available to read on Viz Media and is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Chandra Shekhar
Anime Writer
Articles Published :856
Chandra Shekhar is an Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 800 published articles under his belt. A law student by training but a storyteller at heart, he blends his sharp analysis with a deep love for all things anime. From the old-school Yu Yu Hakusho to the eldritch horrors of Lord of the Mysteries, his knowledge spans decades and genres. When he’s not writing, he’s likely buried in webnovels, silently hoping his favorite ones get the anime adaptation they deserve.
