What abiout the fern basically baby/elderly sitting frieren at times XD And that frieren is way more after useful in everyday magic, because she is a magic hoarder?! or thats useful in small ways than power. And how fern picks that up XD And the magic trial was 100% because she wanted to give her apprentice experience?! Beccause she ands serie seems to have respect and yeah frieren didnt come for any title herself. She did it that fern gets experience and bring her in. Her being actually a good mentor giving her exposure and maybe conections and respect under and excuse, because she easy could go in with the "i am frieren the demon slayer yall" but doesnt.
The youtuber "Pey Talks Anime" has been putting out weekly shorts breaking down this story and how it's a masterpiece. Maybe you'd enjoy this. I look forward to his breakdowns as I've been obsessed with Frieren since finishing it this past spring. But as a lover of stories and their structure, I thought you'd really appreciate it.
Extremely wrong take about the third arc, MOST people like the characters in that arc, they’re ALL great characters. The theme of the arc is what some have an issue with because it’s different, but it’s great to mix things up.
So considering how often her name is said and that he was watching it non-stop for two days, does that mean Daniel was watching the (superior) sub version?
32:10 from my understanding "frieren the slayer" is kinda a title drop moment, Sousou no Frieren the Japanese title means something like "frieren sending off the dead". so it's a play on her party members dying and the demons also calling her Sousou no Frieren as in the one who sends them to their death. hard thing to translate, calling her frieren the undertaker wouldn't quite work the same lol.
Yep! The Japanese title is 葬送のフリーレン sōsō no furīren. The first word refers to funerary rites, the two characters mean ‘burial’ and ‘send off’. Essentially, Frieren paying respect to the dead, it’s a really good name that fits the shows theme. In the show whenever they say ‘frieren the slayer’ they are just saying the exact title. 葬送 can also mean ‘to destroy’ or ‘bring to ruin.’ So the title is at once ‘Frieren, saying Goodbye’ and ‘Frieren the destroyer; Frieren, who will bury you.’
@@joshuasims5421 it's things like this that wants to make me learn Japanese. I've heard that monogatari is full of wordplays like that.( I think they were talking about the novel of monogatari) The thing that stopped me from doing that is knowing that you would not just need to know Japanese, but be really good at it to get those kinds of wordplays.
@@DachiffDisco It's the same kanji but different possible interpretations. Just like Oshi no Ko. Seems like a nice titling trend for Japanese media tbh
Foreigner living in Japan for 5 yerars here, 葬送 (sousou) is the act to attending a funeral procession not the burial itself, that would be 野辺の送り (nobe no okuri). Sousou is everything from when the person dies until the last rites are perfomed. It had the implication that Frieren doesnt kill, but it leads (or accompanies) to their death. Thats why she doesnt kill Aura, but she commands her to do it. Fun fact, the Marche Funebre in japanese is called "Sousou koushinkyaku" (葬送行進曲)
13:11 it's so funny that most people think Heiter is a villian early on, because I don't think I ever thought that. And that's probably because 'heiter' means 'cheerful, happy, sunny (weather)' in German. Same with the demon 'Lügner' (= liar), there were some instances where knowing German actually told you where the story was going a little bit.
@@joshuasims5421 Yup, and most of the names act as one word descriptions of the character in question. Fern is distant, Stark is strong, Frieren is frozen (lit. "freeze"), etc.
It feels expected at this point really. Like there are literally hundreds of Japanese stories where the vaguely Christian coded Church is the secret main antagonist. So I can understand people being suspicious of a friendly priest.
One of my favourite little things is how the time skips that happen become shorter as you go along the season marking the fact that Frieren is giving more importance to the passage of time.
The score is done by Evan Call, a GOATed music composer. His other notable work is Violet Evergarden's OST; an absolutely gorgeous anime about a child soldier raised on the battlefield becoming a ghostwriter of sorts, and writing letters for people, so that she can understand emotions better.
@@parkermaisterra8532 After episode 3 I gave up on being strong and just got the box of tissues every time I watched an episode. I accepted my fate. The 50 years of letters still breaks me every time I watch it though. Hell, even just thinking about it. I'm not strong enough.
Finally Daniel is diving into fantasy anime and not just action shonen fantasy but fantasy!! now you need to watch Psycho Pass for a pure anime scifi experience! also just a side note, frieren is very, I mean very tame in monologues in anime terms it's just a trademark of anime.
@@liamjm9278 the story is amazing no matter the medium, I am just saying I specifically said “Anime” as in Daniel is finally diving into fantasy “Anime” that is not shonen so you replying Berserk isn’t Shonen is kinda not connected to my comment is what I am was saying… All the animes he has watched and reviewed on the channel are shonen fantasy and not fantasy. For manga it’s a different story..
Frieren became one of my favourite shows after the first four episodes, it's sooo good! The characters are amazing, and the story feels so peaceful and warm while still having incredible action. And it looks and sounds beautiful, the music and animation are just made in a way that you have to keep watching. And as someone who speaks German, it was also really fun to look at the names of characters, monsters and places and try to figure out why they were named that way. Just one of the best things I've watched in recent years.
I feel like on the whole first class mage exam thing you might be missing a small, but I think important motivation. Frieren could have just gone to where she needed to, no one's going to stop her just because she isn't a first class mage or something. She's doing it for Fern, Fern read about it in a book and it seemed like she really wanted to do it, and Frieren, having spent so much time trying to understand her, is just willing to go along with it. And you know, since she's there, she might as well participate too.
@@devoringdemonsoulq9086 Fern wasn't excited to participate, she lacked confidence that she would pass. Frieren didn't want to participate, because it would change probably in such a short time. But she did only to help boost Fern's confidence, or at least to take a bit of the pressure off Fern at Fern's request. Frieren wasn't going to go forward without a First-class mage any more than she was going to push past the gate at the first town after they met Stark.
Ngl, I thought the “Fren” thing was a bit at the start because she becomes Frieren’s friend… The longer the video went on, the more I began to doubt that assessment 😂
I was surprised that you didn't like the Mage Trial since it was my favorite arc, but having watched your video, I think it was the new characters. I loved the new characters, Ubel and Denken especially, so I found the entire arc gripping. I also didn't find the setup as contrived as you did. That her "certification" was no longer accepted seemed like yet another strong reinforcement of the primary theme, and once we met Serie, I thought it made perfect sense since Serie *really* just doesn't like Frieren, and would never have grandfathered her in as a matter of principle. You didn't really touch on it, but I really loved the flashbacks in the Mage Trial arc that hone in on Frieren, Flamme, and Serie's relationship. You get to see how Frieren and Flamme's ideals change Serie, who seemed so aloof otherwise.
@kylecoleman6221 0 seconds ago Also I think anything "Chunin Exam" tangential just brings up positive associations for anime fans. And Frieren played off a lot of those expectaions that Daniel didn't have.
@@kylecoleman6221 Seeing as how he liked the slow moments so much (i dont have to watch the video to assume that) i can tell why he didnt like chainsawman or AOT like others and loved one piece. Seems these types of series crack the right thing for people new to anime, and people who had alot of anime growing up enjoy something subversive in their set genre like chainsawman or so on. He also doesnt care about fights or dark comedy. I assume he'd hate naruto and just about every shonen besides one piece and frieren, and aot till part 4.
I don't think anyone has explained the title of the show yet: In the original japanese it's "sousou no frieren" the "sousou" part means "to see someone off to a funeral" at first you think it's about her seeing her party off, but then we find out that it is also an epithet that the demons gave her (wich is what they translate to "frieren the slayer") because she killed so many of their kind.
It's definitely something that unfortunately got lost in translation. It's not a HUGE part of the plot, but it's a cool point that will be completely lost on the crowd that watched the dub. It's too bad, but it is what it is.
idk how can't at the very least like denken of all the exam mages, I also think Ubel is a perfect character for exploring the imaginative aspect of magic and how much your mindset influences what you can do with it, especially if you have "unique" pyschology like ubel.
Happy you liked the show! I understand that the mage trials weren't your favourite, even though I quite liked them, I think the characterization of the new characters works better over serialisation than with bingeing, as you feel like you spend more time with them. But come on, you didn't go "fuck yeah!" When Denken goes fisticuffs with some schmucks in the first trial?😂
@kylecoleman6221 0 seconds ago Also I think anything "Chunin Exam" tangential just brings up positive associations for anime fans. And Frieren played off a lot of those expectaions that Daniel didn't have.
I loved that episode with Aura the Guillotine, the flashbacks with Frieren and her master. The water mage vs the earth mage when the barrier broke. The terror of cutting cloth being so defining when fighting the clones and a high ranking mage being scared of it. The old dwarf keeping his promise to his wife. Ubel is the best goth girlfriend.
I can understand how the mage exam arc could be not everyone favourite but for me since reading it the more i think about it the more i love it. It is so underated how it does so many things in a relatively short time (compared to other series, it's still seems long compared to the single chapter/episodes the series has accustomed us). In it we are introduced to a lot of new, interesting and more importantly thematically connected character that still feel real and their own real people; we continue a seemsless work of worldbuilding about the magic system, the institutions and how the world at large has evolved in the "short" time that is passed from frieren POV. All this while planting subtle hints and seeds for the overarching story (this i think is the most underrated aspect of the story imho; it's criminal how few people seems to notice how good Frieren is at building it's overall story while narrating the simple,uninportant moments that are ironically so important in the end). And that's before we start talking about Serie; ohhh how much i love Serie and every single of her iteration with every single of the characters and how every single one works relation of the themes of the story and compared to frieren's. The later half of episode 25(trying to avoid saying too much here for anyone that has yet to see/read) is probably the quintessential example of what i am talking about and is something that could have been written by Tolkien himself without anyone noticing it. Then there is the finale of the arc/anime; the perfect conclusion that makes a lot of the characte arc and themes come full circle in what is probably one of the most climactic anticlimax i have ever seen that is still able to leave you fulfilled but craving more of this magical story. Just thinking about how a little, unassuming spell about creating flowers ends up being the cristallization of the themes of connection and importance of the little things that ends up saving the world is to me a straight up parallel to Tolkien saying that the small act of kindness and love are what holds the darkness at bay. The more time passes since i started reading this manga and the more i find myself thinking about it and what it is trying to tell and teach me; it's like reading Malazan or Lord of the rings for the first time all over again (Frieren is really the closest thing i can think of compared to LoR) and just as them no matter how much i appreciate Frieren it still feels like i don't appreciate it enough. P.S. and considering what's to come next in the manga, i can''t wait to see S2 animated.
Also I think anything "Chunin Exam" tangential just brings up positive associations for anime fans. And Frieren played off a lot of those expectaions that Daniel didn't have.
@@kylecoleman6221 I would say more hunter exam than chunin; but yes frieren takes the classic tournament arc and does it it's own way while playing into the trope and subverting them; ubel and wirbel for example are introduced as antagonistic character(ubel is straight up hisoka)to watch out for just for the story to change your prospective in a couple of dialogue exchanges.
Exam arc is something people will appreciate more as time goes on. It's little the hurdle in the way, without it, we wouldn't have got the opportunity to meet the characters that we've grown to care more about now.
Daniel being recommended to watch Frieren was so intense that he’s getting Ready Player One Piece PTSD flashbacks 😂 Also: “Oh I knew that guy never learned the secret to immortality.” “Wait; what?!?! How?!” “He Dieeeeeed!” “…Fair.”
I recommend looking out for "Witch Hat Atelier", which will air sometime early next year. It is another semi-hidden manga blockbuster of original fantasy with amazing art, characters and even cool worldbuilding. The trailer is out already and looks promising
For me the trial arc was my favorite. Seeing the other people using magic and seeing how magic is vastly more in-depth than what we had seen beforehand was a great piece of worldbuilding. Plus it also makes us think about other mages and what else is happening within the world outside of what Frieren already knows or is currently doing.
Yesssss. It sounds way more basic as it actually is, and its great, damn that lovely characters that are also great weird in the best way coming together and become friends. like even marciella is , having secrets. And how its a so interesting eco system.
@@marocat4749 I unironically thing that the show is the best fantasy thing that has come out in recent memory. It's mind-boggling how a show with the premise of, poor autistic man's party cooking everything that seems edible,is so complex,well thought out and emotionally moving
One of the funniest things for me was that all the character names are German words not usually used as names: Frieren = “being cold; freeze“, Fern = “far away“, Heiter = “cheerful“, Himmel = “sky“, Eisen = “iron“, Stark = “strong“, Serie = “series“, Flamme = “flame“, Sense = “scythe“, etc.
Very on the nose what these characters are like. Same thing in Japanese names, the different parts have different meanings so savvy authors can inform readers what to expect from these characters.
The main thing I personally loved about Frieren, was that it knew when to take itself seriously. There's a moment in the anime where a character leaves the group to go off on his own, Frieren says she's sure they'll see him again. In a lot of other fantasy anime, it'd then go for a comedic moment of the guy running back and returning to the group almost instantly for a "haha" moment. But in Frieren, the guy just keeps walking, and comments about how lonely he feels walking on his own now.
The score of this show is done by Evan Call, who also made the score for Violet Evergarden. Violet Evergarden hits a similar niche of Frieren in that it is also a show largely defined by its vibes. It's about a child soldier who has returned home after the war. Her time as a soldier has left her with PTSD, and she struggles to express her emotions to others. She takes on a job as a ghostwriter - writing letters for other people - and in the course of learning how to capture other people's thoughts and emotions on paper, she comes to better understand her own thoughts and emotions. To anyone who thinks that concept sounds interesting, I highly recommend Violet Evergarden! It's one of my favorite shows of all time.
As someone who did love many of the new characters they introduced along the way, I loved the Mage Trials arc. Along with enjoying the new characters, though, what they provided to the main characters also contributed to engrossing me. Kanne and Lawine provided Frieren an opportunity to further stretch her teaching muscles, especially with a pair of mages who, while very promising, weren't as extraordinarily gifted and focused as Fern. Fern, being in her own group, was given the opportunity to truly be an equal rather than a subordinate in an adventuring party, showing why she'd be strong and smart enough to be a leader in any group that didn't include an ancient living legend. But I can absolutely see how this part of the story wouldn't have been as awesome to someone who didn't have that B99 Rosa moment of "I've only had Denken for a day and a half, but if anything happened to him, I would kill everyone in this room and then myself." (Or in my case, Denken and Kanne and Lawine)
The whole mage trial arc gave me the vibes of "one of our dnd players can't make it for the next like month so the dm came up with some mage test on the fly for the people that could still show up"
While their are a lot of people who share your opinion about the mage trials, I disagree. I was actually surprised to see how many people did not care about the new characters introduced because I thought they did a good job making me care about them and handled their stories to tie with the themes really well.
@@prakharaeron6093 I genuinely feel those who immediately take a "don't care" stance on new characters have missed the entire point of what Frieren has set out to do: try to understand and learn about people. Oh well, maybe in 50 years.
I thought I would find the mage trial arc dragging, but I genuinely enjoyed those episodes. The characters were well-developed and the mix of action and comedy was perfect for me.
if you watched it in dub i think you should atleast check out some scenes in sub coz everyone needs to appreciate the VA of frieren and himmel. they also are nothing like the ones in dub. completely different vibe.
Awesome to hear that you enjoyed Frieren so much. It's a great show, and it's comfy Vibes are really there. I really think you should take the time to wash and or read all of Delicious in Dungeon
- Denken was a cool character old man wizard who was willing to throw hands when he ran out of mana I do like his reason for wanting to be a 1st class mage, I haven't kept up with the manga but I do hope he gets more scenes. - Ubel is a great for reasons ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I don't remember what episode was it but my favorite scene was probably when Frieren was talking to a villager only to realize that the old man was losing his memory or had alzheimers it just hit hard
Love this. Frieren is for sure your type of vibe. It has such great intricate emotional beats and this video got me to think a bit deeper about it. Great job! I’m loving this format and I hope to see more of it.
Hope you'll also check the two other from the "Big Fantasy Trio", being Delicious in Dungeon (1 season anime + complete manga) and Witch Hat Atelier (upcoming anime and ongoing manga)!
Fern met Frieren when she was 8 years old (so at the end of the 1-st season she knew her for almost 10 years. Basicly Frieren become more than master but a foster mother to her)
Frieren hits a similar vibes + emotion cluster that Violet Evergarden does. If you haven't seen that show yet, it's highly recommended... as long as you bring a tissue box as well lol.
So I’m drinking my green tea and watching this video… I also had to binge watch this show because my son let me use his crunchy roll for a week while he abstained. I watched FMA brotherhood with him 8 years ago and now he showed me this. Amazing! We both agree on what this does best… pacing.
As someone who's primarily a weeb and secondarily a fantasy fan I was hoping Daniel would give his perspective on Frieren, since he seems to be coming from the opposite side of the spectrum. The mage trials always stood out to me because it seemed to be the typical tournament arc every anime seems to have kinda forced into a show that thematically doesn't really fit the trope, so the light criticism of that part from someone who probably hasn't seen a million of those exact arcs almost felt vindicating in a way. The execution definitely saved it, and the excuse to explore the magic system/show off cool powers in cool fight scenes was welcome, but it still stuck out like a sore thumb. I especially liked our best Fren's part in the final clone battle, where Frieren basically says "you probably know how to kill me" as a sincere compliment and endorsement.
So I watched this show back in January when my son was two weeks old and I was in hard core postpartum hormones. I already have very fond memories of holding a sleeping baby while sobbing to a monologue 😂
32:30 So a fun thing about the episode titled "Frieren the Slayer" is that it's actually a play on the original title of the manga. The manga/anime's Japanese title translates more literally to "Frieren at the Funeral." (But was localised in english to "Beyond Journey's End.). The episode's title also more literally translates to "Frieren at the Funeral" because her name and the name of the series is just a THREAT.
The only thing I can think of that justifies Frieren not being grandfathered into having the 1st class certification is that she was trained to be unknown. This world doesn't have fast, widespread information, so the world only knew her name as part of the Demon Lord slaying party. Then she went and did her own thing for several decades afterwards. So the humans knew her for one event, and most likely focused on Himmel instead. The demons only knew her because of her killing but that only lasted 10 years (very short compared to their lifespans). Part of me thinks of Frieren's fame like a one-shot wonder, especially as human generations come and go after the Demon Lord died.
One of the things that struck me about this series was that it felt almost like a cultivation story: There's this extremely granular sense of 'get more magic, get more stronger', and there seemingly is no real upper limit: the longer you study and train, the more powerful you become. I didn't really notice this until I was well over halfway through the series, but I think that's what made the system of magic feel so unique to me. It's like a wuxia cultivation-y magic system in a more traditional western fantasy style setting, all within the framework of being more cozy and vibes-based. It almost feels like an idle game to me: yeah, the numbers are ridiculously big, the implication is that the powers are god-like, and they scale infinitely with no end getting stronger, faster, more extreme, and more absurd with no upper limit. And yet you don't play it for intense nail-biting action, you play it for zen relaxation. Having a magic system that is so heavily centered around this idea of a potential for growth and incredible, god-like feats of supernatural power, while focalizing it internally (as a form of self-expression and personal betterment as opposed to a method of changing or shaping the world externally) gave it a feeling that I don't think I've ever experienced across an entire series like this before. I remember some of the training segments in the Cradle series briefly capturing the same feeling of being on a daily grind to achieve planet-shattering god-level powers purely for the sake of self improvement, but I've never seen anything that extended that idea throughout an entire series before.
Because you made this video and I wanted to watch it I went ahead and watched Frieren and I have no regrets. I didn't realize how much I needed this show in my life.
Loved this deep-down, even if I don't agree with all your takes. Both our goatee priest and the mages on the last arc really won me over! Would love to see you do something similar with Dungeon Meshi.
Man, it just felt great to watch an anime that wasnt scattered brained and felt like it had to have something going on all the time. It felt so mature and showed quite honestly the human experience after a certain age. Coming from Scotland, one of the greatest shows here is Still Game, which (even though it is a comedy) just hits you with the chill vibe of sitting among friends or talking with the elderly
Frieren is how you write and overpowered character. She uses simple spells, so that when new magic is introduced, it isn't being repeated. People around her see her as powerful, but since she uses such simple spells, the other characters can also shine without being overshadowed by her alone. It keeps the story interesting. Plus we see in the story that she really only uses a lot of magic when her friends are in danger.
A thing I loved was that the rare and unique spells Frieren is looking for around the world, aren't "big" magic, comet storm etc. But are spells that improve everyday life, like a spell to remove oil stains.
Frieren is like a once in a generation type of fantasy story. Every generation gets one of these fantasy stories that are just so far and beyond anything that comes out and they always go on to inspire a whole bunch of stories after it. So what I am saying is that in a couple of years I suspect we are gonna get a lot more stories that are trying to hit this vibe that Frieren has perfected. This is just my opinion though. I think this story is that good.
The names are awesome. I don't know much german, but they're close enough to norwegian that I get the gist. Peace envoy Lord Liar is hilarious. And later we meet the mages Think and Evil. (Sooooo much fanart of Evil)
I LOVE THIS ANIME, a beautiful and heartfelt story. Really captivated me and I usually watch very action heavy anime but watching this was so soothing and relaxing.
If you want something that kinda reaches the same vibe as Frieren, I highly recommend the manga Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, or Yokohama Shopping Log. It's about an android who runs a coffee shop as the post-apocalyptic world begins to wind down, and it's really great. There's also an anime adaptation from the late 90s that covers a very small portion of the manga.
I don't think we were supposed to super care about the mages in the mage arc, I think they are meant to serve 2 or 3 purposes in the narrative. One, they are meant to show how the magic system works. Because of how Fern and Frieren work, a lot of the magic system is a mystery, the mage arc did a really good job of showing how it works. Two, to show the political system and how magic works in human society after getting a full explanation of the demon society in contrast. The mage arc was 100% really good world building as without leaving a city, you got an entire history and culture lesson. Then kind of three, to supply hints of the next few arcs. IMO the hints are leading to "the demon king actually deceived everyone and is alive", I imagine some mages (and the monk) will appear again to help.
Frieren hit me a lot harder than any anime I've watched in the last decade. The fantastic worldbuilding and writing certainly helped a lot, but it was Frieren herself that hooked me. I've struggled a lot with making connections as I've grown older. I have my partners and my kids, but that's about it. I've moved on from the friends of my youth, I don't really talk to my parents or siblings, and I don't seek out new connections, either. Left to my own devices, I could see myself growing old alone, with only my passions to keep me company. I don't regret the choices I've made, but at the same time, the sense of deep melancholy reflected in the earliest episodes struck me on such a profound level that I broke down and cried for a solid hour. I've rarely felt so seen by a character, minus the whole elf superman thing. Definitely not either of those things. That alone would have been enough to earn my undying affection, but the way Frieren built those connections with Fern and Stark and relearned how to be a person again after so many years alone was just...hoo boy. I'll skip the sob story, but it felt so much like what I've gone through the last few years, and seeing how it paid off for her made me think that maybe there's hope after all.
I love the beginning of the mage trial where she pulls out a super old badge, and was all I guess this thing is no longer enough to be considered a mage. LOL
You should've raved about Frieren for twice or three times as long lol and I'm so happy this manga has exploded to this level with it's anime and gonna be talked about for a long time
Bro is overcompensating for something with his mic equipment. I mean... Just use a Røde Wireless Go II. It works plenty. The camera can record a backup track, just in case.
I watch the anime because i saw a clip of the mage trial, i watched those episodes and then decided to read the manga and then watch the rest of the series. I loved the magic fight scenes in the anime, they are beautiful made the music they add to them is even better. FERN's fight and the theme for Zoltrakk are my favorites.
I'm so glad to see you get into this series, I can't wait to see what comes next. In the interim, you mentioned The Canterbury Tales and I wanted to mention I watched Netflix's adaption of The Decameron, which also touches on grief, as it's a story of nobles hiding away in a villa during plague. I found the characterization really interesting, I think you might like it, too
All the names in the show are in german and have very indicative meaning for the character. The demon envoy IIRC was Lügner - meaning liar. The goal their journey is heaven - Himmel in german.
I will say there is a distinct difference between the Japanese and English voice actors. I personally love the sub because their performance gives frieren this additional sense of awkwardness that feels more true to the character. Idk just something I noticed ❤
Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video & for the free product! Head to keeps.com/danielgreene to get a special offer. Individual results may vary.
What abiout the fern basically baby/elderly sitting frieren at times XD
And that frieren is way more after useful in everyday magic, because she is a magic hoarder?! or thats useful in small ways than power. And how fern picks that up XD
And the magic trial was 100% because she wanted to give her apprentice experience?! Beccause she ands serie seems to have respect and yeah frieren didnt come for any title herself. She did it that fern gets experience and bring her in.
Her being actually a good mentor giving her exposure and maybe conections and respect under and excuse, because she easy could go in with the "i am frieren the demon slayer yall" but doesnt.
The youtuber "Pey Talks Anime" has been putting out weekly shorts breaking down this story and how it's a masterpiece. Maybe you'd enjoy this. I look forward to his breakdowns as I've been obsessed with Frieren since finishing it this past spring. But as a lover of stories and their structure, I thought you'd really appreciate it.
Extremely wrong take about the third arc, MOST people like the characters in that arc, they’re ALL great characters. The theme of the arc is what some have an issue with because it’s different, but it’s great to mix things up.
"If not called Fren, why Fren shaped?" - Daniel after the 1000th comment of it's F-E-R-N not F-R-E-N 😂
Daniel is actually a bit dyslexic so not entirely his fault 😅
My favorite comment so far
So considering how often her name is said and that he was watching it non-stop for two days, does that mean Daniel was watching the (superior) sub version?
@@HeavyTopspin No i'm literally just an idiot.
what happens when you watch anime in dub instead of sub, my ears are dying
Ah yes the adventures of Frieren and her mage apprentice FREN lol
@@audax_ Her bess FREN ye noah
😂
@@Rastrelly Frieren and her BFF Fren
I'm just going to say it was on purpose because Fern is very much a Fren.
I'm seventeen minutes in. Does Fren ever get a name promotion to Fern here?
Himmel the Hero would have made a whiteboard video
Truly a "that's what himmel the hero would have done" moment
Not even talk about Himmel in this so I came out disappointed.
32:10
from my understanding "frieren the slayer" is kinda a title drop moment, Sousou no Frieren the Japanese title means something like "frieren sending off the dead".
so it's a play on her party members dying and the demons also calling her Sousou no Frieren as in the one who sends them to their death.
hard thing to translate, calling her frieren the undertaker wouldn't quite work the same lol.
It also may be different kanji with the same reading (not that i know tbh)
Yep! The Japanese title is 葬送のフリーレン sōsō no furīren. The first word refers to funerary rites, the two characters mean ‘burial’ and ‘send off’. Essentially, Frieren paying respect to the dead, it’s a really good name that fits the shows theme.
In the show whenever they say ‘frieren the slayer’ they are just saying the exact title. 葬送 can also mean ‘to destroy’ or ‘bring to ruin.’
So the title is at once ‘Frieren, saying Goodbye’ and ‘Frieren the destroyer; Frieren, who will bury you.’
@@joshuasims5421 it's things like this that wants to make me learn Japanese. I've heard that monogatari is full of wordplays like that.( I think they were talking about the novel of monogatari)
The thing that stopped me from doing that is knowing that you would not just need to know Japanese, but be really good at it to get those kinds of wordplays.
@@DachiffDisco It's the same kanji but different possible interpretations. Just like Oshi no Ko. Seems like a nice titling trend for Japanese media tbh
Foreigner living in Japan for 5 yerars here, 葬送 (sousou) is the act to attending a funeral procession not the burial itself, that would be 野辺の送り (nobe no okuri). Sousou is everything from when the person dies until the last rites are perfomed. It had the implication that Frieren doesnt kill, but it leads (or accompanies) to their death. Thats why she doesnt kill Aura, but she commands her to do it.
Fun fact, the Marche Funebre in japanese is called "Sousou koushinkyaku" (葬送行進曲)
Merphy put Daniel under a spell to watch her show and make an hour long video 😆
13:11 it's so funny that most people think Heiter is a villian early on, because I don't think I ever thought that. And that's probably because 'heiter' means 'cheerful, happy, sunny (weather)' in German. Same with the demon 'Lügner' (= liar), there were some instances where knowing German actually told you where the story was going a little bit.
Yep, most characters in the show have names that are just German words. Fans should have some fun looking them up, they can be quite amusing.
Me neither a mortal character trying to be immortal for his immortal friend sound like a good guy to me.
@@joshuasims5421 true, they are very funny. Even the locations are german words 😂
@@joshuasims5421 Yup, and most of the names act as one word descriptions of the character in question. Fern is distant, Stark is strong, Frieren is frozen (lit. "freeze"), etc.
It feels expected at this point really. Like there are literally hundreds of Japanese stories where the vaguely Christian coded Church is the secret main antagonist. So I can understand people being suspicious of a friendly priest.
One of my favourite little things is how the time skips that happen become shorter as you go along the season marking the fact that Frieren is giving more importance to the passage of time.
that's a great observation, wth😂
The score is done by Evan Call, a GOATed music composer. His other notable work is Violet Evergarden's OST; an absolutely gorgeous anime about a child soldier raised on the battlefield becoming a ghostwriter of sorts, and writing letters for people, so that she can understand emotions better.
The extended soundtrack is SO GOOD. Calming and warm, but adventurous and thrilling in equal measure 👏🏼
Ah Violet Evergarden I.e the series that made me ugly cry
*Every*
*Single*
*Episode*
@@parkermaisterra8532 After episode 3 I gave up on being strong and just got the box of tissues every time I watched an episode. I accepted my fate.
The 50 years of letters still breaks me every time I watch it though. Hell, even just thinking about it. I'm not strong enough.
@@Spectacular_Insanityoh my gosh, yes. That episode broke me too.
Evan Call is the goat
I will not take Denken slander, don't mess with my grandpa with hands. lol
Oh yes my favorite character in Frieren, FREN.
LMAO
That was triggering me so hard but dyslexia explains it.
@@wingracer1614 yep. Dyslexia is a bitch
Fren, Frieren's Fren.
Fern is Fren Shaped.
Finally Daniel is diving into fantasy anime and not just action shonen fantasy but fantasy!! now you need to watch Psycho Pass for a pure anime scifi experience! also just a side note, frieren is very, I mean very tame in monologues in anime terms it's just a trademark of anime.
Well, Berserk isn't shonen.
@@liamjm9278 did he watch the anime and gave review for it? I am specifically talking about "anime"
@@knaditya8228 I remember him saying he watched the anime. Nevertheless, what does the medium matter? The story is the same.
@@liamjm9278 the story is amazing no matter the medium, I am just saying I specifically said “Anime” as in Daniel is finally diving into fantasy “Anime” that is not shonen so you replying Berserk isn’t Shonen is kinda not connected to my comment is what I am was saying… All the animes he has watched and reviewed on the channel are shonen fantasy and not fantasy. For manga it’s a different story..
@@knaditya8228Frieren is Shonen, it runs in Shounen Sunday… It’s just not a battle shonen
If you enjoyed _Frieren,_ I think you would really enjoy _Apothecary Diaries_ and _Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf._
Also Dungeon Meshi is a must watch for comfy fantasy shows.
So cozy, so surprisingly dark.
Frieren became one of my favourite shows after the first four episodes, it's sooo good! The characters are amazing, and the story feels so peaceful and warm while still having incredible action. And it looks and sounds beautiful, the music and animation are just made in a way that you have to keep watching. And as someone who speaks German, it was also really fun to look at the names of characters, monsters and places and try to figure out why they were named that way.
Just one of the best things I've watched in recent years.
I feel like on the whole first class mage exam thing you might be missing a small, but I think important motivation. Frieren could have just gone to where she needed to, no one's going to stop her just because she isn't a first class mage or something. She's doing it for Fern, Fern read about it in a book and it seemed like she really wanted to do it, and Frieren, having spent so much time trying to understand her, is just willing to go along with it. And you know, since she's there, she might as well participate too.
Amazing. Everything you wrote here is wrong. Take another watch through the series.
@@blshousewhy is it wrong
@@devoringdemonsoulq9086 Fern wasn't excited to participate, she lacked confidence that she would pass.
Frieren didn't want to participate, because it would change probably in such a short time. But she did only to help boost Fern's confidence, or at least to take a bit of the pressure off Fern at Fern's request.
Frieren wasn't going to go forward without a First-class mage any more than she was going to push past the gate at the first town after they met Stark.
Ngl, I thought the “Fren” thing was a bit at the start because she becomes Frieren’s friend…
The longer the video went on, the more I began to doubt that assessment 😂
I was surprised that you didn't like the Mage Trial since it was my favorite arc, but having watched your video, I think it was the new characters. I loved the new characters, Ubel and Denken especially, so I found the entire arc gripping. I also didn't find the setup as contrived as you did. That her "certification" was no longer accepted seemed like yet another strong reinforcement of the primary theme, and once we met Serie, I thought it made perfect sense since Serie *really* just doesn't like Frieren, and would never have grandfathered her in as a matter of principle. You didn't really touch on it, but I really loved the flashbacks in the Mage Trial arc that hone in on Frieren, Flamme, and Serie's relationship. You get to see how Frieren and Flamme's ideals change Serie, who seemed so aloof otherwise.
@kylecoleman6221
0 seconds ago
Also I think anything "Chunin Exam" tangential just brings up positive associations for anime fans. And Frieren played off a lot of those expectaions that Daniel didn't have.
The Mage Trial arc is so RICH, I absolutely loved it.
@@kylecoleman6221 Seeing as how he liked the slow moments so much (i dont have to watch the video to assume that) i can tell why he didnt like chainsawman or AOT like others and loved one piece. Seems these types of series crack the right thing for people new to anime, and people who had alot of anime growing up enjoy something subversive in their set genre like chainsawman or so on. He also doesnt care about fights or dark comedy. I assume he'd hate naruto and just about every shonen besides one piece and frieren, and aot till part 4.
I don't think anyone has explained the title of the show yet:
In the original japanese it's "sousou no frieren" the "sousou" part means "to see someone off to a funeral" at first you think it's about her seeing her party off, but then we find out that it is also an epithet that the demons gave her (wich is what they translate to "frieren the slayer") because she killed so many of their kind.
It's definitely something that unfortunately got lost in translation. It's not a HUGE part of the plot, but it's a cool point that will be completely lost on the crowd that watched the dub. It's too bad, but it is what it is.
idk how can't at the very least like denken of all the exam mages, I also think Ubel is a perfect character for exploring the imaginative aspect of magic and how much your mindset influences what you can do with it, especially if you have "unique" pyschology like ubel.
YES! I'm so happy you watched! I was so surprised you hadn't watched it in the Fantasy News, but I knew you'd love it!
Happy you liked the show! I understand that the mage trials weren't your favourite, even though I quite liked them, I think the characterization of the new characters works better over serialisation than with bingeing, as you feel like you spend more time with them.
But come on, you didn't go "fuck yeah!" When Denken goes fisticuffs with some schmucks in the first trial?😂
@kylecoleman6221
0 seconds ago
Also I think anything "Chunin Exam" tangential just brings up positive associations for anime fans. And Frieren played off a lot of those expectaions that Daniel didn't have.
I gave Frieren a 10/10. I'm really looking forward to the next season.
I loved that episode with Aura the Guillotine, the flashbacks with Frieren and her master. The water mage vs the earth mage when the barrier broke. The terror of cutting cloth being so defining when fighting the clones and a high ranking mage being scared of it. The old dwarf keeping his promise to his wife. Ubel is the best goth girlfriend.
@@01coyote13 Land being a total madlad and taking social distancing to a whole new level.
Ubel is a sociopath, just this side of being a demon herself. Her interest in Land is simply to learn his spell. And we lover her for it.
I can understand how the mage exam arc could be not everyone favourite but for me since reading it the more i think about it the more i love it. It is so underated how it does so many things in a relatively short time (compared to other series, it's still seems long compared to the single chapter/episodes the series has accustomed us).
In it we are introduced to a lot of new, interesting and more importantly thematically connected character that still feel real and their own real people; we continue a seemsless work of worldbuilding about the magic system, the institutions and how the world at large has evolved in the "short" time that is passed from frieren POV. All this while planting subtle hints and seeds for the overarching story (this i think is the most underrated aspect of the story imho; it's criminal how few people seems to notice how good Frieren is at building it's overall story while narrating the simple,uninportant moments that are ironically so important in the end).
And that's before we start talking about Serie; ohhh how much i love Serie and every single of her iteration with every single of the characters and how every single one works relation of the themes of the story and compared to frieren's. The later half of episode 25(trying to avoid saying too much here for anyone that has yet to see/read) is probably the quintessential example of what i am talking about and is something that could have been written by Tolkien himself without anyone noticing it.
Then there is the finale of the arc/anime; the perfect conclusion that makes a lot of the characte arc and themes come full circle in what is probably one of the most climactic anticlimax i have ever seen that is still able to leave you fulfilled but craving more of this magical story. Just thinking about how a little, unassuming spell about creating flowers ends up being the cristallization of the themes of connection and importance of the little things that ends up saving the world is to me a straight up parallel to Tolkien saying that the small act of kindness and love are what holds the darkness at bay.
The more time passes since i started reading this manga and the more i find myself thinking about it and what it is trying to tell and teach me; it's like reading Malazan or Lord of the rings for the first time all over again (Frieren is really the closest thing i can think of compared to LoR) and just as them no matter how much i appreciate Frieren it still feels like i don't appreciate it enough.
P.S. and considering what's to come next in the manga, i can''t wait to see S2 animated.
Also I think anything "Chunin Exam" tangential just brings up positive associations for anime fans. And Frieren played off a lot of those expectaions that Daniel didn't have.
@@kylecoleman6221 I would say more hunter exam than chunin; but yes frieren takes the classic tournament arc and does it it's own way while playing into the trope and subverting them; ubel and wirbel for example are introduced as antagonistic character(ubel is straight up hisoka)to watch out for just for the story to change your prospective in a couple of dialogue exchanges.
Exam arc is something people will appreciate more as time goes on. It's little the hurdle in the way, without it, we wouldn't have got the opportunity to meet the characters that we've grown to care more about now.
Daniel being recommended to watch Frieren was so intense that he’s getting Ready Player One Piece PTSD flashbacks 😂
Also: “Oh I knew that guy never learned the secret to immortality.”
“Wait; what?!?! How?!”
“He Dieeeeeed!”
“…Fair.”
I recommend looking out for "Witch Hat Atelier", which will air sometime early next year.
It is another semi-hidden manga blockbuster of original fantasy with amazing art, characters and even cool worldbuilding. The trailer is out already and looks promising
For me the trial arc was my favorite. Seeing the other people using magic and seeing how magic is vastly more in-depth than what we had seen beforehand was a great piece of worldbuilding. Plus it also makes us think about other mages and what else is happening within the world outside of what Frieren already knows or is currently doing.
Now it's time for dungeon meshi
@@MYMOTHERISAFISH-ci2ts And Witch Hat Atelier next year!
Yesssss. It sounds way more basic as it actually is, and its great, damn that lovely characters that are also great weird in the best way coming together and become friends. like even marciella is , having secrets.
And how its a so interesting eco system.
@@vilhelm- I need to read this one it seems like it is slowly gaining popularity.
@@marocat4749 I unironically thing that the show is the best fantasy thing that has come out in recent memory. It's mind-boggling how a show with the premise of, poor autistic man's party cooking everything that seems edible,is so complex,well thought out and emotionally moving
He has seen it and liked it a lot.
I'm not sure what is more entertaining- the actual rave over Frieren or the comment section over 'Fren' 😂😂😂
Never change Goblins, never change 😍🙇♀😋
One of the funniest things for me was that all the character names are German words not usually used as names: Frieren = “being cold; freeze“, Fern = “far away“, Heiter = “cheerful“, Himmel = “sky“, Eisen = “iron“, Stark = “strong“, Serie = “series“, Flamme = “flame“, Sense = “scythe“, etc.
Oh, that guy's name is "Lügner"? I'm sure he's trustworthy.
Very on the nose what these characters are like. Same thing in Japanese names, the different parts have different meanings so savvy authors can inform readers what to expect from these characters.
44:44 Daniel having his first experience with a turnament arc.
The problem is that introducing a person to a tournament ark that is actually very subversive for a tournament ark 😅😅😅
The main thing I personally loved about Frieren, was that it knew when to take itself seriously. There's a moment in the anime where a character leaves the group to go off on his own, Frieren says she's sure they'll see him again. In a lot of other fantasy anime, it'd then go for a comedic moment of the guy running back and returning to the group almost instantly for a "haha" moment.
But in Frieren, the guy just keeps walking, and comments about how lonely he feels walking on his own now.
Frieren is so sleepy, I can’t help but relate.
i think this would be perfect for the classic time travel centric anime Stein's Gate
The score of this show is done by Evan Call, who also made the score for Violet Evergarden. Violet Evergarden hits a similar niche of Frieren in that it is also a show largely defined by its vibes.
It's about a child soldier who has returned home after the war. Her time as a soldier has left her with PTSD, and she struggles to express her emotions to others. She takes on a job as a ghostwriter - writing letters for other people - and in the course of learning how to capture other people's thoughts and emotions on paper, she comes to better understand her own thoughts and emotions.
To anyone who thinks that concept sounds interesting, I highly recommend Violet Evergarden! It's one of my favorite shows of all time.
As someone who did love many of the new characters they introduced along the way, I loved the Mage Trials arc.
Along with enjoying the new characters, though, what they provided to the main characters also contributed to engrossing me.
Kanne and Lawine provided Frieren an opportunity to further stretch her teaching muscles, especially with a pair of mages who, while very promising, weren't as extraordinarily gifted and focused as Fern.
Fern, being in her own group, was given the opportunity to truly be an equal rather than a subordinate in an adventuring party, showing why she'd be strong and smart enough to be a leader in any group that didn't include an ancient living legend.
But I can absolutely see how this part of the story wouldn't have been as awesome to someone who didn't have that B99 Rosa moment of "I've only had Denken for a day and a half, but if anything happened to him, I would kill everyone in this room and then myself." (Or in my case, Denken and Kanne and Lawine)
Denken is the goddamn best
Well said. Agree with everything you wrote. Especially the Denken part.
This! Also Richter has big "angry wet cat" energy. (Also his name being a pun on the Richter scale is hilarious imo)
Between this and Delicious in Dungeon I have a completely different expectation of my manga choices going forward
Damn, you're finally talking about anime/manga again.
The whole mage trial arc gave me the vibes of "one of our dnd players can't make it for the next like month so the dm came up with some mage test on the fly for the people that could still show up"
While their are a lot of people who share your opinion about the mage trials, I disagree. I was actually surprised to see how many people did not care about the new characters introduced because I thought they did a good job making me care about them and handled their stories to tie with the themes really well.
@@prakharaeron6093 I genuinely feel those who immediately take a "don't care" stance on new characters have missed the entire point of what Frieren has set out to do: try to understand and learn about people.
Oh well, maybe in 50 years.
@@Squiddyize I totally agree, I loved every single new character introduced in the mage trials arc. So more than other but I loved them all.
@@prakharaeron6093 honestly I don’t see how you can’t like denken. My guy is the best grandpa and person would love to have
I thought I would find the mage trial arc dragging, but I genuinely enjoyed those episodes. The characters were well-developed and the mix of action and comedy was perfect for me.
if you watched it in dub i think you should atleast check out some scenes in sub coz everyone needs to appreciate the VA of frieren and himmel. they also are nothing like the ones in dub. completely different vibe.
Awesome to hear that you enjoyed Frieren so much. It's a great show, and it's comfy Vibes are really there. I really think you should take the time to wash and or read all of Delicious in Dungeon
Frieren and Monster are by far the two best animes I've ever seen. Glad how much love Frieren is getting.
Pity he didn’t like Monster that much
@@lawmanlawman2210 Oh did he not, I've never seen him talk about Monster, just kinda assumed he hadn't watched it since most haven't
@@Trepur349 He mentions it in his video ranking all of the series he talked about. He said it jumped the shark and put it in C tier. Wild claims
@@lawmanlawman2210 damn, monster is a masterpiece
- Denken was a cool character old man wizard who was willing to throw hands when he ran out of mana I do like his reason for wanting to be a 1st class mage, I haven't kept up with the manga but I do hope he gets more scenes.
- Ubel is a great for reasons ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I don't remember what episode was it but my favorite scene was probably when Frieren was talking to a villager only to realize that the old man was losing his memory or had alzheimers it just hit hard
@@johnvalentine5917 old man Vols!! That episode broke me 😭😭
Denken is very important in the next portion of the story; central to it even.
Denken is the goat in the next arc
Frieren killing demons with their own spells never gets old.
Love this. Frieren is for sure your type of vibe. It has such great intricate emotional beats and this video got me to think a bit deeper about it. Great job! I’m loving this format and I hope to see more of it.
Hope you'll also check the two other from the "Big Fantasy Trio", being Delicious in Dungeon (1 season anime + complete manga) and Witch Hat Atelier (upcoming anime and ongoing manga)!
Fern met Frieren when she was 8 years old (so at the end of the 1-st season she knew her for almost 10 years. Basicly Frieren become more than master but a foster mother to her)
Just finished watching Frieren yesterday, it was so good!
GREAT now do a live stream with merphy and rave together about frieren
Frieren hits a similar vibes + emotion cluster that Violet Evergarden does. If you haven't seen that show yet, it's highly recommended... as long as you bring a tissue box as well lol.
So I’m drinking my green tea and watching this video…
I also had to binge watch this show because my son let me use his crunchy roll for a week while he abstained. I watched FMA brotherhood with him 8 years ago and now he showed me this. Amazing! We both agree on what this does best… pacing.
As someone who's primarily a weeb and secondarily a fantasy fan I was hoping Daniel would give his perspective on Frieren, since he seems to be coming from the opposite side of the spectrum. The mage trials always stood out to me because it seemed to be the typical tournament arc every anime seems to have kinda forced into a show that thematically doesn't really fit the trope, so the light criticism of that part from someone who probably hasn't seen a million of those exact arcs almost felt vindicating in a way. The execution definitely saved it, and the excuse to explore the magic system/show off cool powers in cool fight scenes was welcome, but it still stuck out like a sore thumb.
I especially liked our best Fren's part in the final clone battle, where Frieren basically says "you probably know how to kill me" as a sincere compliment and endorsement.
So I watched this show back in January when my son was two weeks old and I was in hard core postpartum hormones. I already have very fond memories of holding a sleeping baby while sobbing to a monologue 😂
32:30 So a fun thing about the episode titled "Frieren the Slayer" is that it's actually a play on the original title of the manga. The manga/anime's Japanese title translates more literally to "Frieren at the Funeral." (But was localised in english to "Beyond Journey's End.). The episode's title also more literally translates to "Frieren at the Funeral" because her name and the name of the series is just a THREAT.
The only thing I can think of that justifies Frieren not being grandfathered into having the 1st class certification is that she was trained to be unknown. This world doesn't have fast, widespread information, so the world only knew her name as part of the Demon Lord slaying party. Then she went and did her own thing for several decades afterwards. So the humans knew her for one event, and most likely focused on Himmel instead. The demons only knew her because of her killing but that only lasted 10 years (very short compared to their lifespans). Part of me thinks of Frieren's fame like a one-shot wonder, especially as human generations come and go after the Demon Lord died.
One of the things that struck me about this series was that it felt almost like a cultivation story: There's this extremely granular sense of 'get more magic, get more stronger', and there seemingly is no real upper limit: the longer you study and train, the more powerful you become. I didn't really notice this until I was well over halfway through the series, but I think that's what made the system of magic feel so unique to me. It's like a wuxia cultivation-y magic system in a more traditional western fantasy style setting, all within the framework of being more cozy and vibes-based.
It almost feels like an idle game to me: yeah, the numbers are ridiculously big, the implication is that the powers are god-like, and they scale infinitely with no end getting stronger, faster, more extreme, and more absurd with no upper limit. And yet you don't play it for intense nail-biting action, you play it for zen relaxation. Having a magic system that is so heavily centered around this idea of a potential for growth and incredible, god-like feats of supernatural power, while focalizing it internally (as a form of self-expression and personal betterment as opposed to a method of changing or shaping the world externally) gave it a feeling that I don't think I've ever experienced across an entire series like this before.
I remember some of the training segments in the Cradle series briefly capturing the same feeling of being on a daily grind to achieve planet-shattering god-level powers purely for the sake of self improvement, but I've never seen anything that extended that idea throughout an entire series before.
Because you made this video and I wanted to watch it I went ahead and watched Frieren and I have no regrets. I didn't realize how much I needed this show in my life.
Frieren is a perfectly packaged anime.
Been waiting for this video honestly
I'm so happy that I stuck with this anime, I couldn't get through it easily until I got through the first half dozen episodes.
Loved this deep-down, even if I don't agree with all your takes. Both our goatee priest and the mages on the last arc really won me over! Would love to see you do something similar with Dungeon Meshi.
Man, it just felt great to watch an anime that wasnt scattered brained and felt like it had to have something going on all the time. It felt so mature and showed quite honestly the human experience after a certain age. Coming from Scotland, one of the greatest shows here is Still Game, which (even though it is a comedy) just hits you with the chill vibe of sitting among friends or talking with the elderly
Also no fan service or lewd activity, thank god
"Do you think spidermans going to be in the next issue of spiderman?" has me rolling
Frieren is how you write and overpowered character. She uses simple spells, so that when new magic is introduced, it isn't being repeated. People around her see her as powerful, but since she uses such simple spells, the other characters can also shine without being overshadowed by her alone. It keeps the story interesting. Plus we see in the story that she really only uses a lot of magic when her friends are in danger.
It also makes it super cathartic when she really pops off and you see just how powerful she actually is
@@mookiestewart3776
She's powerful but still lost to other mages far superior than her.
A thing I loved was that the rare and unique spells Frieren is looking for around the world, aren't "big" magic, comet storm etc. But are spells that improve everyday life, like a spell to remove oil stains.
Frieren is like a once in a generation type of fantasy story. Every generation gets one of these fantasy stories that are just so far and beyond anything that comes out and they always go on to inspire a whole bunch of stories after it. So what I am saying is that in a couple of years I suspect we are gonna get a lot more stories that are trying to hit this vibe that Frieren has perfected. This is just my opinion though. I think this story is that good.
I'm always up for discovering a new anime, so I look forward to this kind of dive into any of them.
So glad you watched this show. Thought it’ll be perfect for you.
Can't wait for this Fren character to show up. Sounds like a badass
Has Daniel watched Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon) yet?
Well it's about time! I love this anime!
Top 3 anime instantly. FMA, Mushishi,and frieren.
Saw this on Twitter still surprised by it and the LENGTH
I really liked most of the characters in the mage exam arc, especially Denken.
I was almost gaslighted to believe that her name was Fren
Also, the Japanese voice actors somehow did a better job at pronouncing the German words than the English ones.😆
I LOVE FRIEREN
The names are awesome. I don't know much german, but they're close enough to norwegian that I get the gist. Peace envoy Lord Liar is hilarious.
And later we meet the mages Think and Evil. (Sooooo much fanart of Evil)
GOOD ON YOU DANIEL!❤ Big clap on the shoulder for watching it.
Minus for the english dub clips due to allergries.
I LOVE THIS ANIME, a beautiful and heartfelt story. Really captivated me and I usually watch very action heavy anime but watching this was so soothing and relaxing.
I thought the exam arc was even better than the demon arc, personally. And i LOVED the new mage characters.
If you want something that kinda reaches the same vibe as Frieren, I highly recommend the manga Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, or Yokohama Shopping Log. It's about an android who runs a coffee shop as the post-apocalyptic world begins to wind down, and it's really great. There's also an anime adaptation from the late 90s that covers a very small portion of the manga.
I don't think we were supposed to super care about the mages in the mage arc, I think they are meant to serve 2 or 3 purposes in the narrative. One, they are meant to show how the magic system works. Because of how Fern and Frieren work, a lot of the magic system is a mystery, the mage arc did a really good job of showing how it works. Two, to show the political system and how magic works in human society after getting a full explanation of the demon society in contrast. The mage arc was 100% really good world building as without leaving a city, you got an entire history and culture lesson. Then kind of three, to supply hints of the next few arcs. IMO the hints are leading to "the demon king actually deceived everyone and is alive", I imagine some mages (and the monk) will appear again to help.
Frieren hit me a lot harder than any anime I've watched in the last decade. The fantastic worldbuilding and writing certainly helped a lot, but it was Frieren herself that hooked me. I've struggled a lot with making connections as I've grown older. I have my partners and my kids, but that's about it. I've moved on from the friends of my youth, I don't really talk to my parents or siblings, and I don't seek out new connections, either. Left to my own devices, I could see myself growing old alone, with only my passions to keep me company. I don't regret the choices I've made, but at the same time, the sense of deep melancholy reflected in the earliest episodes struck me on such a profound level that I broke down and cried for a solid hour. I've rarely felt so seen by a character, minus the whole elf superman thing. Definitely not either of those things.
That alone would have been enough to earn my undying affection, but the way Frieren built those connections with Fern and Stark and relearned how to be a person again after so many years alone was just...hoo boy. I'll skip the sob story, but it felt so much like what I've gone through the last few years, and seeing how it paid off for her made me think that maybe there's hope after all.
I love the beginning of the mage trial where she pulls out a super old badge, and was all I guess this thing is no longer enough to be considered a mage. LOL
What's really fun is looking up the translation of all the names and spells from German to English.
You should've raved about Frieren for twice or three times as long lol and I'm so happy this manga has exploded to this level with it's anime and gonna be talked about for a long time
i was not expecting the baby keem jumscare lmao
Bro is overcompensating for something with his mic equipment. I mean... Just use a Røde Wireless Go II. It works plenty. The camera can record a backup track, just in case.
The soundtrack of Frieren was composed by Evan Call, he also composed the sountrack for Violet Evergarden
I watch the anime because i saw a clip of the mage trial, i watched those episodes and then decided to read the manga and then watch the rest of the series. I loved the magic fight scenes in the anime, they are beautiful made the music they add to them is even better. FERN's fight and the theme for Zoltrakk are my favorites.
Daniel did not talk about the incredible animation enough
Dude PHREN is such an interesting character
I'm so glad to see you get into this series, I can't wait to see what comes next. In the interim, you mentioned The Canterbury Tales and I wanted to mention I watched Netflix's adaption of The Decameron, which also touches on grief, as it's a story of nobles hiding away in a villa during plague. I found the characterization really interesting, I think you might like it, too
All the names in the show are in german and have very indicative meaning for the character. The demon envoy IIRC was Lügner - meaning liar. The goal their journey is heaven - Himmel in german.
The english voice actress does not do frieren justice imo.
She should sound more subtle.
Sub is far superior.
This is really cool
I was so happy you saw the face shortly after I had. lol
I will say there is a distinct difference between the Japanese and English voice actors. I personally love the sub because their performance gives frieren this additional sense of awkwardness that feels more true to the character. Idk just something I noticed ❤