The second season of the anime Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Sousou no Frieren) is set to premiere on January 16. Just ahead of the release, the main trailer dropped, offering fans a glimpse of the new adventure. The video showcases dynamic battle sequences, Frieren’s breathtaking magic, and a preview of the opening theme song lulu. performed by the popular Japanese band Mrs. GREEN APPLE.
The animation studio Madhouse continues to handle production, maintaining the signature quality and atmosphere that made the first season a hit. However, the creative team has seen some changes. Most notably, Tomoya Kitagawa steps in as the new director, known for directing several key episodes in the first season (episodes 2, 8, and 25).
The anime is based on the manga Frieren: Beyond Journey's End by writer Kanehito Yamada and artist Tsukasa Abe. The manga began serialization in April 2020 in Weekly Shonen Sunday and has been collected into 15 volumes so far. The series has been a major success, with total circulation surpassing 32 million copies by October 2023.
Beyond the main story, several special one-shot chapters by different creators and a light novel side story have also been released. A limited edition of the 14th manga volume included a short 24-page novella titled Sora ni Hana wo Sakaseru Mahō.
The anime’s first season premiered in September 2023 and concluded in March 2024, spanning 28 episodes. It was praised for its emotional storytelling, stunning animation, and atmospheric soundtrack, which captured the melancholy beauty of a world moving on from a great adventure.
The story begins after the end of a legendary quest. Eighty years have passed since the Demon King was defeated by the hero Himmel, the priest Heiter, the dwarf warrior Eisen, and the elven mage Frieren. As an elf whose life far exceeds that of her human and dwarven companions, Frieren watches as her friends pass away one by one. Seeking to understand the fleeting nature of human life and emotion, she embarks on a new journey with her apprentice Fern, retracing the path once taken with her fallen comrades.
