Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis one of the most intriguing, charming, and otherworldly series of all time, so it’s no wonder that fans are clamoring for more. The series stars the titular Frieren as she explores the world with her new friends/students, discovering the value of life, death, and humanity. The series is currently ranked asthe highest-rated series of all timeon MyAnimeList.com, and it’s easy to see why.
It’s hard to be a trueFrierencomparison. There are so many aspects that make the series incredible and unique, showing thatFrierentruly deserves to be considered within a league of its own. Still, there are a few anime series out there which mightshare some of the same characteristics that makeFrierenso unbelievably good.To be a goodFrierencomparison, a series needs to be whimsical, beautiful, and thought-provoking at the very least.
On its surface, there aren’t too many comparisons to be made betweenBocchi the Rock!andFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End.Frierentakes place in a fantasy world and features a curious elf traveling the world to speak with her long-dead romantic interest.Bocchi the Rock!features a shy, nervous musician trying to make her way in the music world despite her anxiety telling her to stay inside.
Bocchi the Rock!andFrierenboth feature some of the most adorable protagonists in anime. They also sharethe same director, the same inherent curiosity, and exceptional set pieces.Thematically, they feel like sister series due to their light-hearted nature and cute undertones. They’re also two ofthe best anime series of all time, and anyone who lovesFrierenwill, at the very least, get a kick out ofBocchi.
9Mushishi
Animated By Artland, Based On The Manga By Yuki Urushibara
It’s easy to see the comparisons betweenMushishiandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End,and not just because both of the main characters have white hair.Mushishistars Ginko, a man who tasks himself with helping spirits known as Mushi and the people they’re involved with. He’s one of the few people in the world who can see and interact with the Mushi, allowing him to try and mend the balance between the two realms.
LikeFrieren, Mushishiis a story about a traveler.Both series take place in fantasy worlds where curiosity never ends.Each episode is more interesting than the last, showing that Ginko and the Mushi he’s meeting have much more to them than what first appears. At their core, both series also feature good people who just want the best for those around them.Mushishiis a great, light-hearted adventure perfect for anyone who wants something similar toFrieren.
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter x Hunteris easily one ofthe greatest shōnen series ever made. It stars Gon Freecss as he looks to leave his hometown, explore the world, become a Hunter, and eventually, find his father, Ging.Hunter x Hunterhas a lot more action thanFrierendoes (which is one ofHunter x Hunter’sstrong points), but the two series share one major similarity:each respective world plays such a prominent role within the series, it might as well be considered another character.
Both the worlds ofHunter x HunterandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endare filled with curiosity, intrigue, and enough interest to make fans crave more exploration. Everywhere either set of characters goes, they’re met with new characters, riveting lore, and exceptionally designed areas.Hunter x Hunteris certainly the most action-oriented anime similar toFrieren,and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Delicious in Dungeonis one of themost well-animated seriesof the past decade. The series stars Laios, Marcille, Chilchuck, and Senshi as they explore dungeons in an attempt to find their former party member and Laios' sister, Falin. The series is beautiful, hilarious, and filled with mystery, drawing easy comparisons to the masterpiece that isFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
One of the biggest comparisons between the two series is their main characters and their relationships with the world that they are in.Senshi and Frieren are both too curious for their own good,letting their minds take them to dangerous places in pursuit of more knowledge. Fern and Marcille are much more reluctant and always willing to keep their party mates in check, adding for a great dynamic that only gets better the longer the series progresses.
The Apothecary Diariesis a smash-hit. Both its first and second seasons bring Maomao’s story to light through wonderful animation, great plot points, and some ofthe best voice-acting in anime.The Apothecary Diariesstars Maomao, an educated young girl who was kidnapped and sold to the Rear Palace to aid the highest-ranking concubines in the country.
Her skills and medical knowledge eventually earn her one of the best jobs in the palace, working directly under Jinshi and Lady Gyokuyou.Like Frieren, Maomao’s overwhelming curiosity is both her strength and her weakness.She’s almost too smart for her own good, finding and solving problems nobody else in the series is anywhere near detecting.
Still, her desire to learn more about the world around her is just one of the reasonsThe Apothecary Diariesis great and a wonderful show for anyFrierenfan looking for more.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationis a fairly controversial anime, and despite its questionable choices, it ranks highly as one ofthe most beloved isekai series of all time. The series stars Rudeus Greyrat as he explores the new world that he finds himself in. In his former life, he was a shut-in who rejected the world that he felt rejected him. In his new life, however, he’s a curious and powerful mage looking to fix the mistakes of his past.
BothMushoku TenseiandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endplace a heavy emphasis on world and character building.Mushoku Tenseiliterally shows Rudeus' entire life, starting with his birth and ending with his death. During Rudy’s life, he matured as a person considerably, changing entirely from the shut-in he once was. Frieren also grows during her series, finding out just how much Himmel loved her and what that love actually meant to her as well.
Violet Evergardenstars the titular Violet as she looks to find her identity and discover the meaning of love. She spent most of her life as a ruthless killer in a world that has just recently ended. Now that there is no more fighting to do, Violet is trying to find out what her purpose is off of the battlefield, and why the last words her commander told her were “I love you”.
Violet and Frieren share a lot of similarities.They’re both people who don’t fully understand what it means to love and be loved,and they’re both equally curious to find out more. Himmel loved Frieren, and while she might not have noticed while he was alive, she’s dedicating herself to learning more about his love and how it affects her. Violet is also traveling to find a new purpose like her elven comparison, showing just how close the two characters are to one another.
To Your Eternityis a series as deep as the ocean. It features the mysterious Beholder who releases an orb into the world that takes the form of whatever dies around it. The orb eventually becomes an immortal being named Fushi, who develops a very real love and appreciation for the life he sees and interacts with. Like Frieren, Fushi is curious about the mortals around him.
Frieren isn’t immortal like Fushi, but as an elf, she lives much longer than any human around her. It created a bit of a wall between her and humanity, seeing as a human’s entire lifespan is just a drop in the bucket of hers. Fushi is fairly similar, as he can’t experience the same urgency that humans do. Still, both characters work hard to explore their world and find outhow to create these meaningful connections between themselves and the people they grow to cherish.
There is no single studio closer toFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endthan Studio Ghibli. Arguably the most beloved, popular, and greatest animation studio in Japan, Studio Ghibli has mastered the unmasterable. Their projects depict wanderlust, whimsy, and the existential better than anyone. Plenty of their movies could be used as worthy comparisons toFrieren,andMy Neighbor Totoromight be the best choice.
My Neighbor Totorotakes place within a rural area, but it’s filled with more mystery and magic than entire worlds. LikeFrieren,the story is about good, curious people who experience the joys of magic and the pain of misunderstanding one another.BothMy Neighbor TotoroandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endare two light-hearted adventures featuring adorable characters, beautfiul worlds, and some of the most fulfilling stories in anime.
There might not be another series as close, thematically, toFrieren: Beyond Journey’s EndthanFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.Beyond the colon in either series' title,bothFullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodandFrierenstar some of the most curious characters in anime. Both series' protagonists also get into a lot of trouble because of their curiosity, but thanks to their perseverance and their friends, they’re able to pull through every time.
FrierenandFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodfeature some of the biggest worlds in anime. Each of their worlds are filled with intrigue, mystery, and enough lore to keep anyone on the edge of their seat throughout the series.FrierenandFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodare also regarded as some of the greatest series of all time: beforeFrierentook the spot as the highest-ranking series on MyAnimeList.com, it belonged to none other thanFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
