Frieren: Beyond Journeys End rapidly turned into one of the most acclaimed anime of the last decade and for a good reason. The story shifts the focus from a traditional heroic quest to a poignant exploration of time, memory, loss and legacy.
From the very first episode it sets the tone perfectly. The storytelling is deliberately slow, but thoughtful, each frame is drawn with care and attention. There are a lot of intricate details that can be missed during the first viewing, but it only improves the experience down the line. It also has great action scenes, which are done not just for the sake of it, but to accompany the character development.
Speaking of the characters - they are complex and inspiring. Himmel the Hero literally changes lives by motivating people to grow and help others (and not just in the anime, but in real life as well). Frieren is easily one of the best protagonists ever, she is somewhat stoic, but shows subtle progression throughout the whole show by learning how to understand and value people that she meets.
This anime is epic when it wants to be epic, it's simple and complex at the same time, it explores themes which are close to people who went through loss and grief. It just does everything right without trying too hard. That's why it became one of the most engaging experiences I've ever had.
