Tbh I don't think this can be covered in 15 minutes, I think it would take hours to cover all the top tier elements that makes frieren an instant classic. The story,characters , the interactions, magic system, art,animation, sound design,music ,the dynamics of each race in the story, the demons. there's so many aspects of this show that are so well fleshed out and done at such a high quality that I could spend an hour just talking about one aspect. This is why it's rated so highly imo
That's just. This was a quick top line video to hopefully bring new people on board to watching Frieren. I wonder if anyone has create a long video essay on this.
There is a nearly 3 hours video of a German dude looking like Dr. Who who goes over every German word in the first cour and what they may mean poetically 😜@@itsanimel
I am not an anime fan. Majority of anime I think is garbage. Some anime and manga series I really enjoy. I guess I have a normie approach. I enjoyed Berserk, Full Metal Alchemist, Pokémon, Record of Lodoss War and Astro Boy. I like a good story do not matter were it came from. Robert E Howard is my fav author, he created an amazing world. A friend recommended Sou Sou no Frieren. Frieren is a beautiful story. I do not find it sad. It puts a big smile on my face. I am an older man and I remember things I did as a child and young adult. Back then time seemed to drag on. Now that I am old times goes by in a blink. Frieren is rated so high because it hits with so many people. Its about love, nostalgia, friends, life`s journey, self growth. Frieren does not tell you it shows you. It respects the intelligence audience unlike Western Disney shit.
Older too. Frieren, well, I understand her. My regrets aren’t centuries ago, but long enough that I’d have done something differently with hindsight. Time passes faster and faster, and there’s nothing that can change that. Frieren feeds on our empathy, whether we realize it or not.
Actually, i would ask what makes FMAB so high, it is definitelly a S tier, but the fans make it be first place artificially by alt account giving 10 to FMAB and 1 to any anime that surpasses it, and that happened dozens of times
This question is valid as well. Perhaps something to discuss on another video ? We should often question things especially if they have been sitting on top for so long. a shift in ranking is good for the times
In short, it's the perfect recommendation if anyone asks. It's not the best....but good enough to be on the forefront of anyone's mind. To summarize it, very good story, good animation(even today, i think), some nostalgia and the fandom just spamming 10/10 xD
While you have a point, that isn't entirely true and certainly the spamming 10s and 1s isn't as big of a thing as people might think, if you look at the statistics of the scores, as there are plenty of 1s spammed onto FMA:B as well. I am speaking with bias, as FMA:B has been my favorite for long years, however, I have rewatched it 4-5 times in different stages of my life. To me, this is the perfect embodiment of anime and what anime should be like. I honestly couldn't see a more captivating and all-around well done series that just makes me say "this is perfect". Until Frieren came of course, which is a show that I was thinking that it'd be overhyped (as friends were hyping me too much about it before it even started getting adapted - they read manga, I don't), however it came to me as a surprise how good it really is. As FMA:B is my longlasting favorite, I must say that Frieren deserves #1, but I don't believe FMA:B deserves to be called mediocre. It is a show that is solid from start to end, with an amazing story (in my opinion), no fillers, and no downgrades in quality either of storytelling or animation throughout the whole anime (which is quite rare for a show of that length). It is dark and heavy, it is light, it is fun, it is serious, sad, and happy, and so on. It has all those moments that I believe make it into a very well-rounded experience and delivers all of them in a great manner. While this is subjective and is strictly my opinion, I believe that something that was rated by more than 3 million people with such result is not something that should be underestimated and people have to accept that the majority of people absolutely love it. This is art and I believe there is no true objectivity when it comes to criticism or praise in this medium - there is no right and wrong, everything is up for interpretation. Thus, the only objectivity I can rely on are statistics, and even then - could the accumulated subjectivity of millions of people be considered objective? I don't know. But the fact stands that it is (or well, was) the statistically most enjoyed anime out there. And onto your 1s to any anime that surprasses is - there for sure are people who do that. But with so many voters the extent of their influence to the score is negligible. The actual reason why you observe this is the opposite - the new anime releases and in 2 episodes it gets so overhyped that everyone just spams it with 10s. There have been multiples of animes with amazing, basically absolutely perfect few first episodes, but have not managed to keep that up with the rest of the episodes. So the effect we see here is mostly due to overhyping in the first episodes, while the latter episodes unfortunately prove us wrong and forces people to change their rating. And sometimes it is done just for the memes. I didn't know whether Frieren would stand the test of time, but it does, and it deserves to do it. Most of these animes you mention are ones that were #1 just for a couple of days or a few weeks (few episodes), while they in the beginning of their airing. I call that a fluke, a meme, overhyping, etc. But Frieren (and FMA:B - it has been solid #1 for more than a decade) stands the test of time and to me that is proof enough that it is good enough to be there. And it would be proof for me even if I didn't like it. And of course, let us not forget that one of the main reasons both Frieren and FMA:B are this good and are so highly-rated, is because they were based on stellar mangas with amazing stories, and they were just adapted right. A great adaptation of a great story will take you a long way.
It's #1 because it's still the most beloved in this day and age. Not because of (insert biased take here) reason. I'm not even the biggest FMAB fan and I'm still amused watching the butthurt-ness coming from comments like this.
@sebaxriv1629 Frieren is also finished for now, and the rating on MAL just blew up xD We're saying all this, but at the end of the day, the rating means nothing to me. xD
I honestly can't get through FMAB. I've probably tried to watch through it at least six times. It's not bad by any means, but it just doesn't hook me and I get bored with it. I think it's partially because people always talk about how "god tier" it is and it set my expectations way too high. It honestly made me really happy when Frieren took the number one spot because I feel like it actually deserves to be there unlike FMAB imo
Because its god tier? amazing characterization, great animation, fantastic fight scenes. HIts all the notes. Going to be more popular with older anime heads then younger, as it will resonate with them far more. But thats fine, as the old crew makes up the majority of the base
@@itsanimel i think you gotta be a certain level of ancient to truly identify with the whole "I missed the chance to really know that person and now they are gone now' vibe that permeates it. there is a bittersweet heartache I dont think resonates the same way for younger viewers. the older you get, the more people you outlive, the longer that list is
Brilliant exposition and analysis about why Frieren is so popular! AniMel really understands stories and storytelling. Your description is simply so spot-on. Although very different stories, FMA:B and Frieren have some deep connections to each other. FMA:B is a somewhat modern retelling of "Paradise Lost(1667) by John Milton, and Frieren is a somewhat modern retelling of LOTR(1964) by J. R. R. Tolkien. All four works are deeply involved in fundamental issues of what is moral behavior and how does one live a life. They are all deep dives. Any anime that can make me feel in the first Episode tor characters who I know nothing about, is amazing. SUBSCRIBED
I've seen a few folks mention LOTR and I can really see it now! Appreciate the engagement and glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for supporting the video and channel 🤗
I've been watching anime since the early 90s, before it became more mainstream in the West. I've seen many things and Hypes come and go and yet I think this anime is really something special. First of all, you have to mention that the anime Frieren has the great advantage of being based on a very, very good manga - but that's no guarantee for a good anime, as we all unfortunately know... The studio and the director luckly didn't make the mistake of deviating from the manga, but rather captured it almost exactly 1:1 - the only things that are added are the VA, animations, BGM, opening and ending and of course, very importantly, the mood that is conveyed (i.e. what distinguishes an anime from a manga😅). There is no attempt to cut or add anything - they took their time! The point here is that they have delivered 100% in all aspects of the anime and have not allowed themselves a single mistake! And this has been the case throughout the whole series so far (24 episodes at this point) - an absolute exception! The music for example is by Evan Call who composed de Music for Violet Evergarden. This says a lot about the music and mood that is conveyed - a perfect choice! I think Frieren falls outside of the typical fantasy setting and at the same time is so much more fantasy than many others - just better packaged and delivered! It respects the intelligence of its audience and doesn't use cheap unnecessary interludes to grab attention - everything that happens always fits the story or the characters. There are no generic characters. Everything feels authentic - never forced. The antagonists are also part of it - there is no attempt to make something good out of something evil - sometimes evil is simply evil. Nevertheless, the story also gets it too and it fits wonderfully! "Frieren" is fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Emotional and still funny and entertaining. Tension sometimes builds up over several episodes - without becoming exhausting! The tension is then released on the viewer to epic proportions within a very short time. All of this always with perfectly animated action and an epochal soundtrack. The Anime "Frieren" is a complete package that is convincing in all aspects and I think it sets a new benchmark when it comes to quality in all areas and how this is delivered. In the last 20 years we have had many great anime productions such as AoT, Death Note, Demon Slayer, Code Geass, Violet Evergarden or FMAB, to name just a few well-known ones. Nevertheless, I would go so far as to say that "Frieren" puts them all in the shade overall.
AniMel. I love the name. Great vid. I love this comparison. Frieren just has that world emersion and that x factor. It has a masterful way of engaging the audience and telling the story in an enchanting sort of unfolding way. I literally thought it was going to be boring at first but it has gripped me with its themes but especially the way the characters are all about the journey of finding themselves and they do so unapologetically in a vulnerable way that is more relatable. They dont yell their dreams out at the top of their lungs every 5 seconds like naruto or something lol. They just naturally convey their goals and aspirations through interactions with others and that is so gripping. I love the link Frieren has to her past as it shows that she is in a way being given a second chance to form a party, interact with others and correct her past mistakes while reaffirming her past beliefs. It is very much a redemption journey which draws us in. Like she admitted she messed up and she has a character flaw that she wants to work on and shes on a journey to fix that. I love it. Animations and action is fire too. Cant wait til the next episode woooooooooooooooooooooohhhhh lol.
I appreciate you noticing the name 🙏🏽🙇🏽♀️🥹 And yes, the whole story conveys it's themes and tones in subtle matters manners that it makes it more enjoyable for many viewers. And the way it flashes back and forth as a way for us to notice frieren has a new opportunity to re-experience some moments with new people. Not the same, but in new ways
I really love the examination of the world; exploring the consequences for D&D rules governing the world. It's beautiful but bitter sweet. She is extremely powerful, but has earned it. But she is also flawed and imperfect, so you can really root for her to continue to grow,not necessarily in power levels, but in humanity. It's also funny when she tries to flirt or be seductive.
I think Frieren is a strong consice anime FMAB is well, objectively not as good as people think it is, mainly, the first part of FMAB is pretty weak, and that's often overlooked
I agree on the aspect on FMAB beginning. It took me a 2nd try as the start doesnt grab the viewer and the plot isn't solid enough for a while. Good insight
It has to do with how FMAM was made, it was made after the original run by only a few short years, it was made with the asumtion you watched the original
You know, I realized that as well. I didn't finish the original and didn't think there was a need. Perhaps there should be a caveat somewhere that maybe the original for the background is worth watching before FMAB.
It's very good but I think the score will come down over time. That's just how MAL tends to work, hyped animes will be highly rated but go down after airing. I expect it to stay pretty high up though. I also don't think it's everyone's cup of tea as it's just a bit too character driven and doesn't have a whole lot of action.
This happened with Oshi no Ko so that would be the expectation but it's holding pretty tightly still even after 20 aired episodes. I do wonder if this might be the anime that breaks the stagnation on the table. There's enough action to satisfy a general audience
I think it’s really sad that Fmab fans are so obsessed with the show. Everyone knows that the no.1 spot was just due to toxic fans bombing everything that got close and as a result i and a lot new watchers jus think it’s mid and oberhyped. It might be top 10 but everyone knows the no.1 spot is just a troll at this point.
Also I kinda want your opinion on flying witch and meiruko chan manga/anime. Though both manga/anime doesn't have much of following they are good. Atleast to my taste. Kinda love to hear your opinion on that.
@@itsanimel my favourite genres are slice of life, horror, sci-fi fantasy and romance but if you put the graph it would skew mostly towards slice of life.
I mean I am going to say that I don’t like stasis, so for Frieren to hold above FMAB for as long as it did is okay. I mean FMAB deserves to be high up there, but I don’t even think it’s the best anime by Studio Bones, that would be Mob Psycho 100. Frieren as a story in a way shares some traits I already enjoyed in MP100.
I love mob pyscho, but its the type of anime you can play on another monitor while working on something else and not miss much of the show's plot, get from point a to point b, hi-jinks ensue. You can't really do that with a show like Frieren, there is too much you can miss if you don't pay close attention to every scene because sometimes the most important part of a scene in Frieren is what isn't said.
I see FMAB as the Fire to Frieren's Ice. Both are two ends of a spectrum. Both are solid, masterclass Anime with great chracters and fantastic storytelling. Except one is focused more on action and the other focused more on drama.
Everything you said plus it's just simply good. Like some commenters pointed out..the interactions and the way characters speak and respond to each other. Good world building, a good story.. the way they touch on death, grief, love, etc without being edgy about any of it while still capturing how intense those feelings are. Also, cannot deny how good Madhouse is doing with all of it. It's an instant classic and it's " one of those," for the fantasy genre. It's one of those anime you can recommend to IRL friends who are curious but you don't want to overwhelm them with how weird anime can be. Gonna put my girl and kid on it.
The work Madhouse has been doing on this is stellar. Since posting this video, it's just more amazing with each episode. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts !
Frieren hits different, because it is different. It is brave enough to take it's time, and doesn't surrender to old ran out anime cliches of being loud constantly with flash, but it's also not boringly slow as some anime is. All characters seem real and approachable in their own ways. It's brilliantly written and voice acted, making just regular little things shine along the way, it's worldbuilding down to how magic as a system is well crafted. Best anime in a long long time.
I'm interested in watching frieren, haven't seen or re watched fma in ages, but one thing which gets me is the premise. The idea that a long lived elf has that emotional numbness is an invention /assumption of this and other series, but humans can have very short lives too with their full realisation, and the ways kids with terminal illnesses live relative to people without them who live several times longer is how I'd base a long lived person's perspective myself. Because it's the same thing, it's good to ground stuff in real people's perspectives. I don't really know that we're that much less emotional because we're expecting to live many decades and not to age 12.
That's a good point and further connection to our aspects of human nature. We tend to think we have so much time to do things and live life that we often don't capitalize on living to the fullest or taking chances. Give it a watch! It's a good show regardless of it's ranking.
I like slice of life animes The lack of urgency in this anime helps with that Sure, Frieren wants to reach 'heaven' but it's not a major goal that pushes the plot forward. It's just couple of friends traveling world.
Because it is GOOD in almost everyway? It is lord of the rings level. It shows competent people and follows their story. Plus the author leaves no room for plot holes "for now" The latest episodes they explain magic how it works and why kanna cant "blood bend" all thought we had! Explained in a world that makes perfect sense. There is no dissonance.
Stop the cap this instant. Lord of the Rings is over 60 years old and has stood the test of time. Frieren is fucking seasonal anime. It's good but it hasn't been out for even a fucking decade. The glazing is insane.
@@Akiraspin You would not be writing this comment if frieren was not in the same league as lotr. the first season without question is of that caliber. You can bury your head in the sand all you want. Plus i dont get this "I NEED TO BE LOYAL" to a franchise. Ha i bet tolkein himself would love Freiren.
I don't think Frieren is all that highly rated, similar to FMAB if you remove the 1's and 10's the show is closer to an 8, it's just that the 1-10 rating system is pretty much broken due to people using it incorrectly or simply abusing the ability to anonymously spam something with 10's and 1's. I've noticed the Frieren community is also insanely toxic, very reminiscent of the FMAB review brigading days tbh, if you criticize Frieren you will be downvoted with the ferocity of a weeb who has not been out in the sun for days. I've tried to get into Frieren a number of times but it's just too generic, perhaps I've ruined my sense of what is and isn't generic though due to the sheer amount of fantasy content I have consumed over the years. People rating Frieren at a tier equal to media like LotR or Game of Thrones kind of disturb me, heck even other anime do the whole laid back journey thing much better, like Mushishi, but ofc Mushishi never had a 2020's social media hype train propelling it forward.
That is an interesting insight on the community. I haven't really engaged with the Frieren community much so it's interesting to hear that. I hear good things about Mushishi and it's on my list watch because I hear such wonderful things. I understand the aspect of not being to connect with something due to the oversaturation of a certain genre too. I personally might be missing out or disliking some maybe generally liked isekai cause I can't anymore with them. Thanks for sharing your insights and thoughts!
As a person who has been reading sousou no Frieren for a very long time even before the anime. To me the manga/anime is kinda good! but not revolutionary or that unique too😅. It's just not my taste.
Honestly, the ranking of anime is all subjective to taste at the end of the day and it's just for people to not like things because it just isn't for them. I've got anime that I'll never watch or like no matter how popular. I feel you
@@itsanimel To me, An example for that would be a certain magical index series. It doesn't have big followers but certainly is a good anime( but to say light novels were better).
It’s a shame that frieren has to be compared to an anime as mid as FMAB is just tragic. The number one spot was not even deserved everyone knows that they just bomb everything that get’s too close. For Fmab the no.1 spot is meaningless. And again it’s just mid.
Nah. Frieren is insomnia inducing and boring. It's not horrible, it has great animation quality... but for a show that is pretty much only about the meaning of life and appreciating your friends, the characters have no life or personality in them at all. Seems like a contradiction to want to be a show about characters with boring monotoned characters. I don't really understand the hype I guess. If you really did a checklist of what makes up a great story, this show misses a few marks. No conflict or rising action.
It's a great show, I think That said I don't take MAL ratings too seriously. Shows like Oshi no oko, AOT, Kaguya Sama were all rated higher than FMAB at one point. Doesn't mean that they're better than FMAB. And to the people that say the rating is skewed because of people bombing reviews so FMAB can stay on top. I don't think that's as much a problem as people say. If a show is even rated a 9.0, then anything less than a 10 will drop the overall rating. That's just how it works with shows that are currently airing. Also, Frieren doesn't hit for everyone the same way. I showed it to my brother and he found it dull. I don't know, but something about the shows pacing really resonated with me but didn't with him. That is one of the main reasons it won't stay at the top imo.
Frieren is so boring and generic of a show with a main character with expression and emotional depth lower than that of a goldfish, am 15 episodes in and would not score it anything above a 7 so far.
Trying to give it a fair shake and since I watch allot of shows would say in quality it is not below some other shows being released that a 7 seemed like a accurate grade for having some quality but no substance.@@itsanimel
Why in the world would you watch something boring and generic for 15 whole episodes?! I usually only give boring shows like 1-2 episodes tops before moving on to something else. Can you give us a baseline for what you would consider an amazing anime? It might just be that the show probably has more depth than you are used to, no insult intended.
Because a friend was that much into it and like I said I try to be fair or see if it gets better with more episodes or characters in the mix. And your last line of your comment already tells me you seem to be some kind of shill that just not likes that I find the show boring and point out how generic it is. Giving me a dumb line "probably has more depth than you are used to" already is some kind of insult you trying to make. Not sure why you would say something that does not make sense. I feel no need to point out what anime is better if almost the whole top 100 it climbed above probably is good enough to point to since it is damn many shows that are better or less generic or have more depth then a puddle unlike this haha I am old Elf anime.@@cieloscuro88
@@LunarJaguar its not totally ok when you state said opinion as though it were objective fact. Its not, and acting like such behavior is valid is why we get so many reskinned copy anime.
Tbh I don't think this can be covered in 15 minutes, I think it would take hours to cover all the top tier elements that makes frieren an instant classic. The story,characters , the interactions, magic system, art,animation, sound design,music ,the dynamics of each race in the story, the demons. there's so many aspects of this show that are so well fleshed out and done at such a high quality that I could spend an hour just talking about one aspect. This is why it's rated so highly imo
That's just. This was a quick top line video to hopefully bring new people on board to watching Frieren. I wonder if anyone has create a long video essay on this.
There is a nearly 3 hours video of a German dude looking like Dr. Who who goes over every German word in the first cour and what they may mean poetically 😜@@itsanimel
Thats pretty sick ! I love that
@@itsanimel Please show more clickbait to enhance your personalitits, personality!
I am not an anime fan. Majority of anime I think is garbage. Some anime and manga series I really enjoy. I guess I have a normie approach. I enjoyed Berserk, Full Metal Alchemist, Pokémon, Record of Lodoss War and Astro Boy. I like a good story do not matter were it came from. Robert E Howard is my fav author, he created an amazing world. A friend recommended Sou Sou no Frieren. Frieren is a beautiful story. I do not find it sad. It puts a big smile on my face. I am an older man and I remember things I did as a child and young adult. Back then time seemed to drag on. Now that I am old times goes by in a blink. Frieren is rated so high because it hits with so many people. Its about love, nostalgia, friends, life`s journey, self growth. Frieren does not tell you it shows you. It respects the intelligence audience unlike Western Disney shit.
True words fellow sword and sorcery reader ;)
Also Old Man Voll did hit hard.
Older too. Frieren, well, I understand her. My regrets aren’t centuries ago, but long enough that I’d have done something differently with hindsight. Time passes faster and faster, and there’s nothing that can change that. Frieren feeds on our empathy, whether we realize it or not.
If you enjoyed beserk I highly recomend vinland saga.
It a moder master peace for me
@@koladearasanmi2005 I watched the first few Vinland Saga episodes. Its pretty good. Thanks for the recommendation.
Actually, i would ask what makes FMAB so high, it is definitelly a S tier, but the fans make it be first place artificially by alt account giving 10 to FMAB and 1 to any anime that surpasses it, and that happened dozens of times
This question is valid as well. Perhaps something to discuss on another video ? We should often question things especially if they have been sitting on top for so long. a shift in ranking is good for the times
In short, it's the perfect recommendation if anyone asks.
It's not the best....but good enough to be on the forefront of anyone's mind.
To summarize it, very good story, good animation(even today, i think), some nostalgia and the fandom just spamming 10/10 xD
@@MASTERCRAFT938 short and simple, yes. Agreed hahaha.
While you have a point, that isn't entirely true and certainly the spamming 10s and 1s isn't as big of a thing as people might think, if you look at the statistics of the scores, as there are plenty of 1s spammed onto FMA:B as well.
I am speaking with bias, as FMA:B has been my favorite for long years, however, I have rewatched it 4-5 times in different stages of my life. To me, this is the perfect embodiment of anime and what anime should be like. I honestly couldn't see a more captivating and all-around well done series that just makes me say "this is perfect". Until Frieren came of course, which is a show that I was thinking that it'd be overhyped (as friends were hyping me too much about it before it even started getting adapted - they read manga, I don't), however it came to me as a surprise how good it really is. As FMA:B is my longlasting favorite, I must say that Frieren deserves #1, but I don't believe FMA:B deserves to be called mediocre. It is a show that is solid from start to end, with an amazing story (in my opinion), no fillers, and no downgrades in quality either of storytelling or animation throughout the whole anime (which is quite rare for a show of that length). It is dark and heavy, it is light, it is fun, it is serious, sad, and happy, and so on. It has all those moments that I believe make it into a very well-rounded experience and delivers all of them in a great manner. While this is subjective and is strictly my opinion, I believe that something that was rated by more than 3 million people with such result is not something that should be underestimated and people have to accept that the majority of people absolutely love it. This is art and I believe there is no true objectivity when it comes to criticism or praise in this medium - there is no right and wrong, everything is up for interpretation. Thus, the only objectivity I can rely on are statistics, and even then - could the accumulated subjectivity of millions of people be considered objective? I don't know. But the fact stands that it is (or well, was) the statistically most enjoyed anime out there.
And onto your 1s to any anime that surprasses is - there for sure are people who do that. But with so many voters the extent of their influence to the score is negligible. The actual reason why you observe this is the opposite - the new anime releases and in 2 episodes it gets so overhyped that everyone just spams it with 10s. There have been multiples of animes with amazing, basically absolutely perfect few first episodes, but have not managed to keep that up with the rest of the episodes. So the effect we see here is mostly due to overhyping in the first episodes, while the latter episodes unfortunately prove us wrong and forces people to change their rating. And sometimes it is done just for the memes. I didn't know whether Frieren would stand the test of time, but it does, and it deserves to do it. Most of these animes you mention are ones that were #1 just for a couple of days or a few weeks (few episodes), while they in the beginning of their airing. I call that a fluke, a meme, overhyping, etc. But Frieren (and FMA:B - it has been solid #1 for more than a decade) stands the test of time and to me that is proof enough that it is good enough to be there. And it would be proof for me even if I didn't like it.
And of course, let us not forget that one of the main reasons both Frieren and FMA:B are this good and are so highly-rated, is because they were based on stellar mangas with amazing stories, and they were just adapted right. A great adaptation of a great story will take you a long way.
It's #1 because it's still the most beloved in this day and age. Not because of (insert biased take here) reason. I'm not even the biggest FMAB fan and I'm still amused watching the butthurt-ness coming from comments like this.
Is FMAB on Frieren's level? xD
You're right. Frieren isn't as good.
FMAB is overrated
FMAB is on Frieren's level, but it's because FMAB is already finished.
@sebaxriv1629 Frieren is also finished for now, and the rating on MAL just blew up xD
We're saying all this, but at the end of the day, the rating means nothing to me. xD
@@TsuChan_ Says the seasonal anime sloplord.
I honestly can't get through FMAB. I've probably tried to watch through it at least six times. It's not bad by any means, but it just doesn't hook me and I get bored with it. I think it's partially because people always talk about how "god tier" it is and it set my expectations way too high. It honestly made me really happy when Frieren took the number one spot because I feel like it actually deserves to be there unlike FMAB imo
Yeah, FMAB isn't that good, even FMA2003 is better in every way imo
Because its god tier? amazing characterization, great animation, fantastic fight scenes. HIts all the notes. Going to be more popular with older anime heads then younger, as it will resonate with them far more. But thats fine, as the old crew makes up the majority of the base
😂😭 the older anime heads. I suddenly feel very old now but I can see that overall amongst people who are enjoying Frieren
@@itsanimel i think you gotta be a certain level of ancient to truly identify with the whole "I missed the chance to really know that person and now they are gone now' vibe that permeates it. there is a bittersweet heartache I dont think resonates the same way for younger viewers. the older you get, the more people you outlive, the longer that list is
Frieren reminds me of the people (and food, ep. 22) I have lost in my long life. And it lets room for interpretation and fine details @@itsanimel
Is FMAB on the perceived level FMAB has? 💀
absolutely not, not even close.
Brilliant exposition and analysis about why Frieren is so popular! AniMel really understands stories and storytelling. Your description is simply so spot-on. Although very different stories, FMA:B and Frieren have some deep connections to each other. FMA:B is a somewhat modern retelling of "Paradise Lost(1667) by John Milton, and Frieren is a somewhat modern retelling of LOTR(1964) by J. R. R. Tolkien. All four works are deeply involved in fundamental issues of what is moral behavior and how does one live a life. They are all deep dives. Any anime that can make me feel in the first Episode tor characters who I know nothing about, is amazing. SUBSCRIBED
I've seen a few folks mention LOTR and I can really see it now!
Appreciate the engagement and glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for supporting the video and channel 🤗
I've been watching anime since the early 90s, before it became more mainstream in the West. I've seen many things and Hypes come and go and yet I think this anime is really something special. First of all, you have to mention that the anime Frieren has the great advantage of being based on a very, very good manga - but that's no guarantee for a good anime, as we all unfortunately know...
The studio and the director luckly didn't make the mistake of deviating from the manga, but rather captured it almost exactly 1:1 - the only things that are added are the VA, animations, BGM, opening and ending and of course, very importantly, the mood that is conveyed (i.e. what distinguishes an anime from a manga😅). There is no attempt to cut or add anything - they took their time! The point here is that they have delivered 100% in all aspects of the anime and have not allowed themselves a single mistake! And this has been the case throughout the whole series so far (24 episodes at this point) - an absolute exception!
The music for example is by Evan Call who composed de Music for Violet Evergarden. This says a lot about the music and mood that is conveyed - a perfect choice!
I think Frieren falls outside of the typical fantasy setting and at the same time is so much more fantasy than many others - just better packaged and delivered! It respects the intelligence of its audience and doesn't use cheap unnecessary interludes to grab attention - everything that happens always fits the story or the characters. There are no generic characters. Everything feels authentic - never forced. The antagonists are also part of it - there is no attempt to make something good out of something evil - sometimes evil is simply evil. Nevertheless, the story also gets it too and it fits wonderfully!
"Frieren" is fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Emotional and still funny and entertaining. Tension sometimes builds up over several episodes - without becoming exhausting! The tension is then released on the viewer to epic proportions within a very short time. All of this always with perfectly animated action and an epochal soundtrack.
The Anime "Frieren" is a complete package that is convincing in all aspects and I think it sets a new benchmark when it comes to quality in all areas and how this is delivered.
In the last 20 years we have had many great anime productions such as AoT, Death Note, Demon Slayer, Code Geass, Violet Evergarden or FMAB, to name just a few well-known ones. Nevertheless, I would go so far as to say that "Frieren" puts them all in the shade overall.
AniMel. I love the name. Great vid. I love this comparison. Frieren just has that world emersion and that x factor. It has a masterful way of engaging the audience and telling the story in an enchanting sort of unfolding way. I literally thought it was going to be boring at first but it has gripped me with its themes but especially the way the characters are all about the journey of finding themselves and they do so unapologetically in a vulnerable way that is more relatable. They dont yell their dreams out at the top of their lungs every 5 seconds like naruto or something lol. They just naturally convey their goals and aspirations through interactions with others and that is so gripping.
I love the link Frieren has to her past as it shows that she is in a way being given a second chance to form a party, interact with others and correct her past mistakes while reaffirming her past beliefs. It is very much a redemption journey which draws us in. Like she admitted she messed up and she has a character flaw that she wants to work on and shes on a journey to fix that. I love it. Animations and action is fire too. Cant wait til the next episode woooooooooooooooooooooohhhhh lol.
I appreciate you noticing the name 🙏🏽🙇🏽♀️🥹
And yes, the whole story conveys it's themes and tones in subtle matters manners that it makes it more enjoyable for many viewers. And the way it flashes back and forth as a way for us to notice frieren has a new opportunity to re-experience some moments with new people. Not the same, but in new ways
I really love the examination of the world; exploring the consequences for D&D rules governing the world. It's beautiful but bitter sweet. She is extremely powerful, but has earned it. But she is also flawed and imperfect, so you can really root for her to continue to grow,not necessarily in power levels, but in humanity. It's also funny when she tries to flirt or be seductive.
I think Frieren is a strong consice anime
FMAB is well, objectively not as good as people think it is, mainly, the first part of FMAB is pretty weak, and that's often overlooked
I agree on the aspect on FMAB beginning. It took me a 2nd try as the start doesnt grab the viewer and the plot isn't solid enough for a while. Good insight
It has to do with how FMAM was made, it was made after the original run by only a few short years, it was made with the asumtion you watched the original
You know, I realized that as well. I didn't finish the original and didn't think there was a need. Perhaps there should be a caveat somewhere that maybe the original for the background is worth watching before FMAB.
It's very good but I think the score will come down over time. That's just how MAL tends to work, hyped animes will be highly rated but go down after airing. I expect it to stay pretty high up though. I also don't think it's everyone's cup of tea as it's just a bit too character driven and doesn't have a whole lot of action.
This happened with Oshi no Ko so that would be the expectation but it's holding pretty tightly still even after 20 aired episodes. I do wonder if this might be the anime that breaks the stagnation on the table. There's enough action to satisfy a general audience
Yes, but wait for the second part of the exam.
The drop will happen when the series finally ends, because the ending is why FMAB is so highly rated. that's where all the 9's become 8's
Thank you so much for the shoutout!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏽
As a FMAB fanatic. This was a great breakdown of understanding the love between the both. Great watch
Glad you enjoyed it ! Thanks for watching
I think it’s really sad that Fmab fans are so obsessed with the show. Everyone knows that the no.1 spot was just due to toxic fans bombing everything that got close and as a result i and a lot new watchers jus think it’s mid and oberhyped. It might be top 10 but everyone knows the no.1 spot is just a troll at this point.
Now im obsessed with Frieren and Fern ❤❤❤
How can you not be ? 💕
Also I kinda want your opinion on flying witch and meiruko chan manga/anime. Though both manga/anime doesn't have much of following they are good. Atleast to my taste. Kinda love to hear your opinion on that.
I'll check these out. 👀
@@itsanimel I also recommend Aquatope on white sand. Most anime I watch are of slice of life Genre. I really hope you like it too.
@@kha30s22 I do actually hahaha. That one has been on my list. My favorite genres are comedy, romance, and slice of life anime
@@itsanimel my favourite genres are slice of life, horror, sci-fi fantasy and romance but if you put the graph it would skew mostly towards slice of life.
I mean I am going to say that I don’t like stasis, so for Frieren to hold above FMAB for as long as it did is okay. I mean FMAB deserves to be high up there, but I don’t even think it’s the best anime by Studio Bones, that would be Mob Psycho 100. Frieren as a story in a way shares some traits I already enjoyed in MP100.
I love mob pyscho, but its the type of anime you can play on another monitor while working on something else and not miss much of the show's plot, get from point a to point b, hi-jinks ensue. You can't really do that with a show like Frieren, there is too much you can miss if you don't pay close attention to every scene because sometimes the most important part of a scene in Frieren is what isn't said.
Mob Psycho 100 is an underrated and not as discussed anime. It definitely embodies some more casual aspects of life that I enjoy through mob's lens
I see FMAB as the Fire to Frieren's Ice. Both are two ends of a spectrum. Both are solid, masterclass Anime with great chracters and fantastic storytelling. Except one is focused more on action and the other focused more on drama.
I love this perspective. They offer depth and enjoyment in two very different ways. A different flavor for different audiences.
Everything you said plus it's just simply good. Like some commenters pointed out..the interactions and the way characters speak and respond to each other. Good world building, a good story.. the way they touch on death, grief, love, etc without being edgy about any of it while still capturing how intense those feelings are. Also, cannot deny how good Madhouse is doing with all of it. It's an instant classic and it's " one of those," for the fantasy genre. It's one of those anime you can recommend to IRL friends who are curious but you don't want to overwhelm them with how weird anime can be.
Gonna put my girl and kid on it.
The work Madhouse has been doing on this is stellar. Since posting this video, it's just more amazing with each episode. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts !
Frieren hits different, because it is different. It is brave enough to take it's time, and doesn't surrender to old ran out anime cliches of being loud constantly with flash, but it's also not boringly slow as some anime is. All characters seem real and approachable in their own ways. It's brilliantly written and voice acted, making just regular little things shine along the way, it's worldbuilding down to how magic as a system is well crafted. Best anime in a long long time.
I'm interested in watching frieren, haven't seen or re watched fma in ages, but one thing which gets me is the premise. The idea that a long lived elf has that emotional numbness is an invention /assumption of this and other series, but humans can have very short lives too with their full realisation, and the ways kids with terminal illnesses live relative to people without them who live several times longer is how I'd base a long lived person's perspective myself. Because it's the same thing, it's good to ground stuff in real people's perspectives. I don't really know that we're that much less emotional because we're expecting to live many decades and not to age 12.
That's a good point and further connection to our aspects of human nature. We tend to think we have so much time to do things and live life that we often don't capitalize on living to the fullest or taking chances.
Give it a watch! It's a good show regardless of it's ranking.
I like slice of life animes
The lack of urgency in this anime helps with that
Sure, Frieren wants to reach 'heaven' but it's not a major goal that pushes the plot forward. It's just couple of friends traveling world.
Slice of life is such a wonderful genre.
Because it is GOOD in almost everyway?
It is lord of the rings level.
It shows competent people and follows their story.
Plus the author leaves no room for plot holes "for now"
The latest episodes they explain magic how it works and why kanna cant "blood bend" all thought we had!
Explained in a world that makes perfect sense.
There is no dissonance.
Stop the cap this instant. Lord of the Rings is over 60 years old and has stood the test of time. Frieren is fucking seasonal anime. It's good but it hasn't been out for even a fucking decade. The glazing is insane.
@@Akiraspin You would not be writing this comment if frieren was not in the same league as lotr.
the first season without question is of that caliber.
You can bury your head in the sand all you want.
Plus i dont get this "I NEED TO BE LOYAL" to a franchise.
Ha i bet tolkein himself would love Freiren.
Based gamer elf smurfing the land
if you don't know.....Episodes 18-21 of the 1st mage exam are good enough reason.
I don't think Frieren is all that highly rated, similar to FMAB if you remove the 1's and 10's the show is closer to an 8, it's just that the 1-10 rating system is pretty much broken due to people using it incorrectly or simply abusing the ability to anonymously spam something with 10's and 1's. I've noticed the Frieren community is also insanely toxic, very reminiscent of the FMAB review brigading days tbh, if you criticize Frieren you will be downvoted with the ferocity of a weeb who has not been out in the sun for days. I've tried to get into Frieren a number of times but it's just too generic, perhaps I've ruined my sense of what is and isn't generic though due to the sheer amount of fantasy content I have consumed over the years. People rating Frieren at a tier equal to media like LotR or Game of Thrones kind of disturb me, heck even other anime do the whole laid back journey thing much better, like Mushishi, but ofc Mushishi never had a 2020's social media hype train propelling it forward.
That is an interesting insight on the community. I haven't really engaged with the Frieren community much so it's interesting to hear that. I hear good things about Mushishi and it's on my list watch because I hear such wonderful things. I understand the aspect of not being to connect with something due to the oversaturation of a certain genre too. I personally might be missing out or disliking some maybe generally liked isekai cause I can't anymore with them.
Thanks for sharing your insights and thoughts!
As a person who has been reading sousou no Frieren for a very long time even before the anime. To me the manga/anime is kinda good! but not revolutionary or that unique too😅. It's just not my taste.
Honestly, the ranking of anime is all subjective to taste at the end of the day and it's just for people to not like things because it just isn't for them. I've got anime that I'll never watch or like no matter how popular. I feel you
@@itsanimel To me, An example for that would be a certain magical index series. It doesn't have big followers but certainly is a good anime( but to say light novels were better).
It’s a shame that frieren has to be compared to an anime as mid as FMAB is just tragic. The number one spot was not even deserved everyone knows that they just bomb everything that get’s too close. For Fmab the no.1 spot is meaningless. And again it’s just mid.
I really like Frieren. But I don't care if it is first, second or else. Really, who cares.
FMA is crippled by being split between 2 anime though, the former (and better?) 2003 one not watched by zoomers anymore
Nah. Frieren is insomnia inducing and boring. It's not horrible, it has great animation quality... but for a show that is pretty much only about the meaning of life and appreciating your friends, the characters have no life or personality in them at all. Seems like a contradiction to want to be a show about characters with boring monotoned characters. I don't really understand the hype I guess. If you really did a checklist of what makes up a great story, this show misses a few marks. No conflict or rising action.
It's a great show, I think
That said I don't take MAL ratings too seriously. Shows like Oshi no oko, AOT, Kaguya Sama were all rated higher than FMAB at one point. Doesn't mean that they're better than FMAB.
And to the people that say the rating is skewed because of people bombing reviews so FMAB can stay on top. I don't think that's as much a problem as people say. If a show is even rated a 9.0, then anything less than a 10 will drop the overall rating. That's just how it works with shows that are currently airing.
Also, Frieren doesn't hit for everyone the same way. I showed it to my brother and he found it dull. I don't know, but something about the shows pacing really resonated with me but didn't with him. That is one of the main reasons it won't stay at the top imo.
FMAB is one of the most overrated animes
severely overhyped
its not
That’s not a valid answer to “why is _____ rated so high?”
Frieren is so boring and generic of a show with a main character with expression and emotional depth lower than that of a goldfish, am 15 episodes in and would not score it anything above a 7 so far.
7 still feels high based on how you describe your feelings about it but I can see where people can find generalities in Frieren.
Trying to give it a fair shake and since I watch allot of shows would say in quality it is not below some other shows being released that a 7 seemed like a accurate grade for having some quality but no substance.@@itsanimel
Why in the world would you watch something boring and generic for 15 whole episodes?! I usually only give boring shows like 1-2 episodes tops before moving on to something else. Can you give us a baseline for what you would consider an amazing anime? It might just be that the show probably has more depth than you are used to, no insult intended.
Because a friend was that much into it and like I said I try to be fair or see if it gets better with more episodes or characters in the mix. And your last line of your comment already tells me you seem to be some kind of shill that just not likes that I find the show boring and point out how generic it is. Giving me a dumb line "probably has more depth than you are used to" already is some kind of insult you trying to make. Not sure why you would say something that does not make sense. I feel no need to point out what anime is better if almost the whole top 100 it climbed above probably is good enough to point to since it is damn many shows that are better or less generic or have more depth then a puddle unlike this haha I am old Elf anime.@@cieloscuro88
More depth than ed in the first dozen episodes of fullmetal alchemist characterizing ed as i dont like short jokes and milk on loop.
lol nothing spwcial about this anime
Hmm?Why not? I think it's pretty special, in thought provoking way.
Tell me you haven't watched Frieren without telling me you watched Frieren. Lol
standard issue smoothbrain-i'm-right-the-rest-of-the-world-is-wrong take lol.
@@3XZDgg or they just have their own opinion that doesn't align with everyone else's. That's totally okay
@@LunarJaguar its not totally ok when you state said opinion as though it were objective fact. Its not, and acting like such behavior is valid is why we get so many reskinned copy anime.
FMAB was generic
🤡