‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ in the running for Crunchyroll’s ‘Anime of the Year’

By Angelica N. Hall

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards season has returned, this time with a new list of nominees for the year’s best anime and film. One of the nominees for the “Anime of the Year” category, notably, is the fantasy drama Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

The series explores the life of an immortal elf in the aftermath of a grand adventure, focusing on the passage of time and the reflections on what has been lost as she grapples with memories of the past and the impact of her long-lived existence.

Awards celebrate the best of Anime

American anime-streaming platform Crunchyroll, known for bringing the best of anime to a global audience, is once again hosting the highly anticipated ceremony. 

Since its debut in 2017, the event has grown into a prestigious celebration of anime’s finest series, films, and the talented creators behind them.

This year, fans worldwide, along with an international panel of judges, will cast their votes across various categories ahead of the live awards ceremony on May 25 in Tokyo.

80 years after the death of Himmel the Hero: Frieren’s life journey

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which was adapted from the manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe and produced by the talented team at Madhouse, is one of the few anime that strives for perfection.

With its 28-episode narrative, this fantasy story delves not only into high-stakes battles but also explores the poignant emotional journey of an immortal elf, whose perception of time passes in the blink of an eye.

The story starts with the end: Frieren, the elf mage, has finally arrived at the conclusion of her journey with her friends Himmel the Hero, Eisen the dwarven warrior, and Heiter the priest. 

After a decade of adventure and battle, the group defeated the Demon King, but their story didn’t end there. 

As her friends age and eventually pass away, Frieren, with her long lifespan, is left to reflect on the fleeting nature of time and the impact of their shared experiences. 

This marked the beginning of her journey of self-discovery as she began to understand the true meaning of her friendships and the emotions she had long ignored.

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What made this anime so deserving of the nomination is the fact that it has managed to resonate deeply with the audience with its slow-paced, slice-of-life narrative.

After Himmel’s death, Frieren embarks on a journey to retrace the steps of their past adventures, hoping to cope with her regrets about not having truly understood her dear friend while he was still alive. 

As she continues her travels, accompanied by new companions, Frieren gradually finds herself growing more interested in humanity and the bonds that form between people.

Crunchyroll’s list of nominees

In addition to “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End,” several other notable series have been nominated for “Anime of the Year.” 

These include the supernatural thriller and romantic comedy “Dan Da Dan,“ “Delicious in Dungeon,“ “Kaiju No. 8,” “Solo Leveling,“ and the Chinese historical anime “The Apothecary Diaries”.

A report by INQUIRER.NET revealed that Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo from “Stranger Things,” singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama, and Plastique Tiara, a former contestant from “RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11,” will be presenting the event. 

Meanwhile, Crunchyroll announced the rest of the nominees for its “Film of the Year” category, which are: “Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle,” “Look Back,” “Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain,” “My Hero Academia: You’re Next,” “Spy x Family Code: White,” and “The Colors Within”.

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