Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has turned into one of the most talked-about fantasy anime in recent years but surprisingly, even the people behind it didn’t expect it to get this big.
In a recent interview with Da Vinci Web, Kazunori Oshima, the Editor-in-Chief of Weekly Shonen Sunday, opened up about his first impressions of the series. According to him, Frieren didn’t exactly scream “hit” material at first. In fact, he even told the creators that “maybe the elf girl should be more charming.”
It’s the kind of comment that’s aged hilariously badly. Because now, Frieren is anything but a forgettable character, and the series has completely flipped expectations on what kind of stories can connect with fans today.
“She Seemed Too Plain”
Oshima didn’t reject Frieren outright, but when the initial pitch landed on his desk, he had doubts. His big concern? The lead character wasn’t traditionally likable. She was quiet, distant, and emotionally closed off. Oshima’s feedback at the time was pretty straightforward: “It might be better if the elf girl was a bit more charming.”
Looking back now, it’s clear that Frieren’s calm personality is exactly what made her stand out. Fans didn’t want another loud or overly cheerful main character, they connected with her slow emotional growth and the way she wrestled with feelings she never fully understood until it was too late. Her gentle, thoughtful perspective turned out to be the most powerful part of the entire story.
Oshima admitted in the interview that he completely underestimated how much this kind of character would resonate with people. And honestly, it makes you wonder how many other “quiet” stories are being passed up just because they don’t fit the typical anime mold.
The Editor Who Believed From Day One
While Oshima wasn’t completely sold at first, he gives full credit to editor Ogura, who was originally in charge of the series. Ogura is known for being quiet and focused—traits that mirror Frieren’s tone in a way. He previously worked on Detective Conan, one of Shonen Sunday’s biggest series, and had already proven he could handle long-running, emotionally layered stories.
Oshima said that Ogura “just got it.” He saw something special in Frieren right away and trusted the creators’ vision from the start. That kind of editorial support can be the difference between a manga fading away and becoming a long-lasting hit. Ogura’s quiet confidence played a huge role in helping the series find its voice early on.
Frieren Starts Where Others Anime End
The story of Frieren is already unusual. It doesn’t start with a big mission or a demon king to defeat. That part’s over. The real story begins after the legendary party disbands. Frieren, an elf mage with an incredibly long lifespan, has outlived her human companions.
What felt like a short ten-year journey to her was actually most of their lives. And now, with her friends gone, she starts to realize just how little she understood about humans and the time they spent together.
Written by Kanehito Yamada and drawn by Tsukasa Abe, the manga kicked off in April 2020. It slowly built a loyal fanbase before exploding in popularity. By February 2025, it had crossed 24 million copies in circulation. It also won the 14th Manga Taisho Award in 2021 and consistently performs well in fan polls and critical rankings.
Even more telling: a character popularity poll for the series pulled in over 12.5 million votes, and the human hero Himmel, who’s long dead in the story, ranked first. That level of emotional connection shows just how deeply readers care about this world.
The anime version of Frieren launched in September 2023 and wrapped up in March 2024 with a total of 28 episodes. Studio Madhouse handled the production.
For those who haven’t watched it yet, the first season is streaming on Crunchyroll, and a second season is already confirmed for January 2026.
Source: Da Vinci Web
