Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is one-of-a-kind. Madhouse’s anime adaptation of Kanehito Yamada’s manga has given us a brilliant two-season run so far, with a highly anticipated third season on the way. It’s hard to fit Frieren into a box, since it leans into shonen fantasy trappings only to subvert them in the most beautiful ways. This is a story about the ephemeral nature of time, the depth of connections, and the importance of savoring the journey itself. Although Frieren doesn’t shy away from action when the occasion demands it, the series is more preoccupied with quieter moments defined by tranquility and nostalgia.
While Frieren remains unparalleled, a handful of anime come close to capturing its laid-back vibe or mirroring some of its core themes. Ongoing titles like Delicious in Dungeon or The Apothecary Diaries might not evoke 1:1 comparisons with Frieren, but they do convey a similar sentiment of coziness. Some stories follow protagonists on similar epic journeys, while others linger on the warmth shared between traveling companions. Keeping these varied factors in mind, here are 11 anime worth checking out before season 3 of Frieren drops.
1
Kino’s Journey
Kino’s Journey, which adapts Keiichi Sigsawa’s light novel series, is more philosophical than it appears at first glance. In this story, we follow Kino, a stoic teenager who travels through mystical landscapes alongside her trusty talking motorcycle, Hermes. While the anime shares the motif of a long, arduous journey with Frieren, Kino also emerges as a protagonist detached from the rest of humanity. Kino never stays in one place for more than three days — a self-imposed rule to resist the temptation of ever settling down. There’s immense loneliness and pain peppered throughout Kino’s Journey, but our brave traveler manages to appreciate the beauty of the world in spite of it.
2
Haibane Renmei
You might already be familiar with Yoshitoshi Abe’s spectacular work on Serial Experiments Lain and Texhnolyze, but his Haibane Renmei is a surreal 13-episode treat. Rakka, a newly hatched, angel-like being called “haibane,” falls from the sky and breaks out of a giant cocoon one day. Other haibane like her are similarly confused about their lives before hatching, and Rakka gradually begins navigating her new life in the walled city of Glie. Haibane Renmei’s deeply melancholic tone complements its slow-burn exploration of time and mortality, while its low-stakes atmosphere makes space for its somber slice-of-life elements.
3
Natsume’s Book of Friends
An orphan child named Takashi Natsume can see and fight yokai (spirits) in Natsume’s Book of Friends, a sweet coming-of-age tale that doesn’t rely on spectacle. Natsume finds the titular Book of Friends, a powerful notebook belonging to his late grandmother that can bind countless demonic spirits (both good and evil) and summon them at will. Having experienced loneliness himself, Natsume vows to nullify these bound contracts and set the yokai free. A feline spirit named Madara takes the form of a cat to accompany Natsume on his noble mission, protecting the young boy from harm. Natsume transitions from a traumatized outcast to someone who finds acceptance from humans and supernatural spirits alike.
4
To Your Eternity
An immortal being spends centuries learning what it means to be human in Yoshitoki Ōima’s (A Silent Voice) shonen gem, To Your Eternity. This Frieren-like character, Fushi, was created from a mystical white orb, and over time, he takes on the forms of various lifeforms, including a stone and a white wolf. After a lonely child mistakes Fushi’s wolf form for his lost pet, the two spend precious time bonding until an unimaginable tragedy strikes. To Your Eternity dissects the pain of outliving mortal companions, and Fushi’s emotional intelligence blooms over the course of his journey. While Frieren focuses more on cherishing fleeting bonds, To Your Eternity dwells on the utter devastation of loss and how it shapes Fushi.
5
The Faraway Paladin
The trope of feral children raised by animals isn’t new in anime, as seen in everything from Princess Mononoke to Children of the Sea. In The Faraway Paladin, a child named Will is raised by three undead beings — a skeletal warrior, a mummified priestess, and a spectral wizard — in the city of the dead. Although Will’s guardians are affectionate, they aren’t well-versed in human ways of existence, which prompts Will to uncover the reason why he grew up under such unusual circumstances. Memory becomes important in The Faraway Paladin, as Will needs to grasp the passage of time to truly understand the gift of the human experience.
6
Mushi-shi
A wandering man named Ginko is on an intriguing mission in Mushi-shi, which mimics Frieren in its deeply melancholic and atmospheric mode of storytelling. While he appears nonchalant, Ginko extends empathy to primitive creatures called Mushi, who influence human behavior like invisible parasites (similar to how curses latch on to non-sorcerers in Jujutsu Kaisen). That said, not all Mushi are malicious, and their existence isn’t a threat since they’ve always co-existed alongside nature. Using his profound understanding of the natural world, Ginko changes countless human lives through fleeting encounters as he works to maintain the primordial ecological balance that has sustained the Earth.
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7
Girls’ Last Tour
Although Girls’ Last Tour doesn’t embrace any traditional fantasy elements, its harsh, post-apocalyptic world is perceived through the lens of two young girls exploring the ruins of civilization. Chito and Yuuri travel in their half-track motorcycle to find basic necessities like food and shelter, spending their time doing mundane activities like writing in a journal, collecting books, or washing clothes. There’s an ominous vibe to Girls’ Last Tour, which makes sense given the title, but that feeling of bleak inevitability is juxtaposed against the duo’s sincere attempts to find joy in the present. Chito and Yuuri discover the relics of humanity’s past along the way, finding beauty in discarded equipment or a long-lost poem.
8
Witch Hat Atelier
Magic is a double-edged sword in Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier, a gorgeous, evocative fantasy anime that is as heartfelt as it gets. After an inexplicable tragedy separates a child named Coco from her mother, she must train as an apprentice to the gifted witch Qifrey, who has his own reasons to take Coco under his wing. Battling feelings of doubt and inadequacy along the way, Coco is exposed to the limitless possibilities of magic and the labor of love that’s necessary to bring such dreams to life. While Witch Hat Atelier features shadowy covens and forbidden magic, Coco’s journey is steeped in wonder and acceptance. In this fantastical world, true joy comes from breaking bread with dear friends or soaring across the vast blue skies without fear.
9
Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden might not have any direct overlaps with Frieren, but it also revolves around a seemingly detached female protagonist on a journey of self-discovery. The 13-episode anime is set in the aftermath of The Great War in the land of Telesis, where a young girl named Violet grew up as a ruthless killer. Losing both of her arms during the final battle, Violet uses her prosthetic arms to write letters on behalf of clients after the war ends (taking on the profession of an Auto Memory Doll, a ghostwriter of sorts). Violet Evergarden is a radical exercise in empathy, where Violet gradually learns to connect with the experiences of strangers to sift through her own emotions. The question of “what is love?” has no easy answers, but Violet’s quest to understand tender vulnerability in all its forms is a worthwhile one.
10
Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina
One look at the white-haired wandering mage Elaina will make the overlaps between Frieren and Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina clear. Elaina’s impetus behind wandering is the folk stories of the witch Niké, who has traveled the world. After undergoing difficult trials to prove her worth as a mage, Elaina embarks on her long journey, during which she comes to better understand the transience of human life. The key difference here is that Elaina isn’t immortal like Frieren, and that her life takes whimsical and dangerous turns, which she reacts to in an innately human manner. Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina is a magical adventure that feels like an unconventional coming-of-age arc, where Elaina often carries the weight of a neutral observer.