In the fantasy genre, there's no avoiding the mention of the iconic film trilogy . More than being a cult classic, the fantasy adventure series stands on its own merits with an influential plot and inspirational characters. set the bar for fantasy storytelling, and its production set new standards for filmmaking. Rather than rewatching this beloved trilogy, fans ought to give a recently aired anime a try.
Undoubtedly, not every fan of fantasy will enjoy fantasy anime. However, the series remains focused on providing viewers with the full package of what a fantasy story needs to be. It also happens to have many similarities to
, making it the perfect gateway anime for this group in particular. The same merits of superb plot, development, and production can be found in this anime, and its similar care in handling its subject matter makes it a top-tier series worth watching.
For those on the fence about watching , or for short, the anime welcomes fantasy fans with a classic fantasy adventure setup. At a glance, the anime is about a group of diverse travelers from varying backgrounds, races, and class systems.
There are elves, dwarves, and humans who play the main heroic roles, and accompanying each character's race is their class, which could be mage, priest, or warrior. With a wide scope of world-building to follow, in balancing this world-building with plot, action, drama, and character development.
's title comes from its protagonist of the same name, Frieren. She's an elf mage who is gradually hinted to be thousands of years old. The anime begins with the end of Frieren's decade-long adventure with her heroic friends, Himmel the human swordsman, Heiter the human priest, and Eisen the dwarf axe-wielder.
Their initial goal is to vanquish the evil demon lord and free their land of darkness, and the first few minutes are canonically after their victory.
Since the first episode of the anime is centered around the story after the heroes' victory, there is more . Despite traveling with the group for 10 years, Frieren leaves her friends after the celebration has ended, not understanding the limitations of time on human life. She returns decades later when her human friends Himmel and Heiter are old men and, along with Eisen, who is also slightly older, has one last adventure with them. She soon learns that this adventure is her final farewell to one of them and grieves the loss that was once alien to her.
Frieren then sets off on a new adventure with a new generation that gives her a second chance at making close bonds.
The first episode of opens the viewer to the beauty and dangers of the open world and focuses heavily on drama and emotions. The story thus becomes centered around the bonds of friendship between adventurers and the tragic and lonely life that is led by elves, in particular, in this world. While there may be fantasy fans or fans who aren't entertained by the slow pace of Episode 1, even they can look forward to moments of action scenes that are nothing short of thrilling.
Fans of
may recognize the numerous similarities in plot between the trilogy and this anime. The premise binds together a motley crew of characters along an arduous fantasy adventure. Whether it's to save the world, explore the realm, or a mix of the two, these adventurers grow and foster a special bond that can never be broken, even from beyond the grave.
Like , pushed its audience to wait for the action to build up in exchange for lore and careful development of many details, especially with character building. The main difference between the plots of these franchises is in the differing approaches to adventure storytelling.
While remains obstinately focused on its end goal of destroying Sauron and freeing Middle Earth from his rule, for understandable reasons, takes a more lax approach to a fantasy adventure. Perhaps if the main plot of the anime was zeroed in on the heroes' quest to defeat the Demon King, the franchises would be identical in focusing on the end goal. However, the aftermath of such an epic story, one that has been heard of many times before.
The same plot elements of growing bonds and strength shared between adventurers and saving humanity from evil are found in both and . In the end, 's approach is more about the journey itself and not as focused on any particular end goals.
That being said, when the action hits its highest peaks, can keep viewers on the edges of their seats. The greatest similarity across both franchises, however, is the emotional experiences felt by viewers when watching.
Across the films, the strongest element that keeps viewers watching is the theme of hope. Despite the grim situation that the main characters are involved in, their bonds of friendship and the strength they gather through their trials and tribulations are upheld because they never give up hope for their quest.
is not so different in the consistent use of having hope. While has a tragedy of war, has a tragedy of grief.
and, paired with its slice-of-life nature, combats the darker tones of the series tremendously. It covers up the exacerbating stories of regret, death, and mass genocide that lie hidden beneath its sunny exterior. The series' creators carefully reveal these overwhelming moments when the time is right. Viewers are rewarded with the constant emphasis on fighting back against evil or even simply remaining positive in the most unfortunate situations. In this way, like , has a special emphasis on reminding the viewer to always keep up hope.
Fans of or fantasy who are looking for a series to give them an uplifting boost will be given exactly what they need in . In regards to character development, every character has their own challenges, especially the leading character. Sometimes, a character is stuck in their development and struggles to move forward, but with time, they find a way to grow and inspire. Outside character development, the main heroes of the series come across enemies and obstacles in their journey that they have no choice but to face, but despite anything in their way, they move forward.
With so much emotion and drama to inspire and uplift viewers, there's already a lot to gain in watching this anime.
For fantasy viewers in particular, 's attention to classic fantasy details is another remarkable part of watching it.
Behind the emotional plot of the anime is a well-detailed lore and open world. Like , the setting and much of the establishing details are generally similar. The story takes place in a world fairly reminiscent of the Medieval period, with a great deal of magical wonders throughout nature.
Both franchises may not share an identical lore, but the fun of fantasy is that there are many diverse possibilities.
made full use of elves, orcs, dwarves, humans, hobbits, and dragons, among many other fantasy creatures. also has elves, dwarves, dragons, and humans but features beings like demons and the infamous beings known as mimics. introduces the viewer to a deep history of wars, magic, and culture, and offers the same.
Those who have a particular interest in elves will enjoy a deep dive into . In premise alone, the creators manage to effectively use the elf race to create a compelling and refreshing story.
Since elves are rarely the main characters of a story, not much is told about the most common elements of their race. Details like Frieren's initial nonchalant attitude toward her friends or consistent passive regard for time all become a reflection of her race as an elf.
Without further spoiling anything else, and to summarize this detail, Frieren's age and her race become key aspects of her character development and how the story is told. The viewer is treated with glimpses into Frieren's past that further aid in world-building, along with telling her story of her heroic adventure with her friends.
As a benefit to fantasy fans who don't delve into deep lore, also has an entrancing magic system that is exciting to watch at the moment. As a quirk of her personality, Frieren is an elf mage who loves . There are spells like summoning flowers, making food taste sour, and identifying mimics once a treasure chest is found. Across her thousands of years alive, Frieren has mastered offensive and defensive spells as well and honed her magic to make her one of the most powerful mages in existence.
While it's fun to watch pro mages like Frieren or wizards like Gandalf, the anime also incorporates how a mage grows through the journey of the human mage Fern, who is Frieren's protégé.
Their growth as magic users is part of why following their journey is so compelling. On top of the riveting plot and inspiring growth, this anime also offers viewers incredible production value that animation enthusiasts will especially enjoy.
One detail that has made stand out in the fantasy genre is the attention to detail in production quality.
The clever practical effects are on par with the computer graphics, which set a new standard for the film industry back in the early 2000s. The music composed and the make-up and wardrobe all supported the story in masterful ways. Though is not live-action, the level of top-tier animation and the careful attention to detail in the art style add another bonus to the series.
The animation doesn't just bring the anime's source material to life — it adds life to it. The smooth framework is seen in every episode, which remains even more impressive during the fast-paced action scene that rarely depends on blurring the actions and movements of the fight.
During calm scenes, carefully planned moments of body language are expressed, which enforces character development. Every character has a way of holding themselves, and each second of this subconscious movement is shown with each frame. Even though it's clear this story isn't real, it feels real because of this attention to detail.
While captivated by the look and movement of this anime, the mood and tone are given a special boost thanks to the animation's lighting and music. The soft lighting and overall design of the series maintain the uplifting vibe that the viewer should feel while watching.
The music, while not upholding any iconic melodies, also has an uplifting tone.
While the anime genre still remains fairly niche, filled with clichés and tropes of old, there is a gateway anime for everyone. For fans of , that gateway anime is . Their similar plots of adventurers bonding and growing over an arduous journey and the uplifting and inspirational moments of both make them a perfect match. The deep fantasy lore and thrilling details of both franchises are another reason to watch the anime. 's approach to fantasy storytelling may be slightly different, but at its core, it has elements that make it as compelling and inspiring as the legendary trilogy of
.
