We here at oprainfall don’t just love video games: we’re big fans of anime, manga, and light novels, too. So in celebration of the medium, we’re here to give you our thoughts on what we’ve been watching and reading each week as we enjoy them. Old, new – anything goes.
Currently Airing:
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
I was interested in checking out Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End because it was a fantasy anime that didn’t involve isekai, plus it was animated by Madhouse. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Once I started watching, I had to keep going, so I ended up watching the first 6 episodes of the series. The anime follows an elf mage named Frieren, and she was a member of the hero’s party that defeated the demon king. This series takes place after that grand adventure, and you follow her exploits after the demon king’s defeat.
I felt it was interesting taking the perspective of someone who has a much longer lifespan than a human. Something that may seem like a long time to us will be nothing to an elf like Frieren. So, while the 10 year journey to defeat the demon king was only a short time to Frieren, it’s interesting seeing how much that “short journey” influenced her, though she may not notice at first. I really like Frieren’s character so far. She’s fascinated with the strangest things, and though she may look apathetic on the outside, she does have a kind heart. Her apprentice, Fern, is a joy to watch too. Though she’s clearly younger than Frieren by many years, she’s something like an older sister figure to Frieren. She always has to make sure Frieren doesn’t waste too much time in one place, keep their finances in check, and she has to wake her up and prepare her for the day. Really, Fern is keeping this journey on the right track.
So far, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has been great. The animation and music are great, the characters don’t stay stagnant and develop overtime, and I love the dynamic between Frieren and Fern. The story has some heartbreaking moments, but it doesn’t overwhelm you as it has a good amount of lighthearted events mixed in too. Both the opening and ending themes are wonderful as well, and the lyrics of the songs really fit the story of the show. I really like this show and I can’t wait to watch more of it. Plus, it’s been confirmed that the anime will run for 28 episodes, which is a huge win. – Patrick
— You can watch Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End on Crunchyroll.
My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer
Another anime I’m checking out in the fantasy genre is My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer. This anime follows two characters: Belgrieve and his daughter Angeline. Belgrieve is a retired adventurer who now lives in a small village. He ends up finding Angeline abandoned in the woods one day and decides to raise her as his own daughter. After she grows up, she ends up leaving the village to become an adventurer like her old man. Fast forward a couple years and Angeline has become a badass, an S-rank adventurer. She’s become so dependable that she can’t find any time to visit her dad, much to her chagrin.
The anime is pretty solid so far. I like how it’s told from dual perspectives, so you’re not left in the dark about what the other character is doing for too long. For how great an adventurer Angeline is, I think it’s adorable how much she still adores her father. It makes for some pretty funny interactions with the people she meets. Belgrieve is much more calm than his daughter, and though he has an intimidating appearance, he’s just a good guy, always looking to help people out despite his handicap. The people in the village have really come to depend on him. I’d like to see more of Belgrieve’s past as an adventurer. You got to see a small glimpse of it in the first episode when he lost his leg, but not much more than that. I’d also like to see how he compares to these other high ranked adventurers, is he on par with an S-rank at his old age? Angeline talks her father up a lot, but I’d like to see the full extent of his strength in the future.
I’m enjoying this show so far. The animation is pretty well done, I like how the character’s are drawn, and it’s nice seeing how Belgrieve and Angeline go about their lives in different ways. This is a show I’ll definitely be following this season. – Patrick
— You can watch My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer on Crunchyroll.
What anime are you watching? What manga and light novels are you reading? Let us know in the comments!
You can read previous Week in Anime & Manga entries here!
