Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End was one of this year’s recipients at the Kodansha Manga Awards and author Kanehito Yamada shared some insight into the manga.
According to Kanehito via Oricon News, Frieren was originally meant to be a gag manga about a “Hero Demon Lord”, but has since changed drastically from its original concept. The Frieren most audiences know is a more somber story that follows the titular Frieren on a journey to reconcile the hero’s death. Frieren is a virtually immortal elf who despite being thousands of years old, still appears young.
She has outlived everyone she knew, and will likely outlive the humans she’s journeying with now. Including her first apprentice: Fern.
“However, the name that came up was the story that you all have seen, about a long-lived magician elf who, after losing a human hero, realizes the difference in the time axis of the two races and sets out on a journey to learn about humans, and it was an emotional first episode. Abe-sensei also read the name carefully and said, “It’s a very beautiful story.” ”
-Translation: Google
Of course Frieren isn’t all drama and combat, and ostensibly could still be considered a gag manga with its usual mimic joke. But with its drama and heroic characters, the series is far more than just gags and has even inspired real life heroics.
