Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Accomplishes What Many Anime, Including Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Could Not

As of November 2023, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has outperformed Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood to become the highest-rated anime series on MyAnimeList. Nearly a year later, the anime fandom remains captivated by this milestone, astonished that no seasonal anime has been able to displace Frieren from its top ranking.

In light of this, fans have taken to social media to reminisce about the brilliance of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. However, some voices in the community expressed skepticism, claiming the series’ reign as the #1 anime on MyAnimeList might be temporary. Factors such as upcoming seasonal anime releases with potential to claim the top spot and the tendency of certain fans to downvote the series could threaten its position.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Retains Its #1 Ranking After Overcoming Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

On September 29, 2023, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End premiered with one of the strongest debuts, and throughout its 28-episode run, it reached the #1 spot on MyAnimeList multiple times. It maintained this top ranking even as it approached its final episodes. Almost a year later, it remains the highest-rated anime series on MyAnimeList, surpassing Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

What’s particularly remarkable is that no seasonal anime has been able to unseat Frieren from its top position, showcasing it as one of the finest series in recent anime history.

Fandom Reactions

Frieren as seen in the anime (Image via Madhouse) — Frieren as depicted in the anime (Image via Madhouse)

The reactions within the fandom are varied regarding Frieren’s prestigious ranking. While many fans have lauded the series, dubbing it “the Lord of the Rings of anime,” others are concerned it might soon drop from the top 10 due to intentional downvoting from rival fanbases.

Additionally, some fans note that the popularity of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is evident as discussions about its manga flourish online. However, critical voices suggest that the second cour of the series seems “lacking,”possibly due to its heavier reliance on dialogue rather than action.

“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Frieren is the Lord of the Rings of anime,”a fan remarked.

“The manga was pretty popular from chapter 1. Each chapter discussion on reddit had an average of 200+ comments,”another fan commented.

“Tbh i think it will be out of the top 10 sooner or later. People just love to hate it whenever an anime gets to popular,”a different fan stated.

“I like it. But I believe it’s a bit overhyped for being #1 of all time. The second cour of S1 is a bit lacking. I’m also a manga reader. S2 should be more promising if it follows the manga,”another opinion added.

Final Thoughts

As many fans have pointed out, Frieren‘s top position could indeed be temporary, especially considering that other series, like the final season of Fruits Basket and Gintama, have previously captured the spotlight. Nonetheless, the fact that Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has held its #1 rated status for nearly a year is commendable, suggesting it may hold a special place in the hearts of the anime community for years to come.

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