Why Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Deserved Anime of the Year Over Solo Leveling
June 16, 2025
While Solo Leveling won Crunchyroll’s 2025 Anime of the Year, many believe Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End was the more deserving pick, offering emotional depth, originality, and true character development 🎖️ Anime of the Year? The fans are split.
Solo Leveling may have won the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, but for many, the real crown belongs to Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. ✨
🆚 Action vs. Emotion
Solo Leveling dazzled with stunning animation and fast-paced fights, but critics argue it lacked depth and relied too heavily on familiar shonen tropes.
Frieren offered a soulful, reflective journey, showing the quiet heartbreak and healing of a centuries-old elf coming to terms with loss and time.
🧝♀️ Why Frieren Stands Out:
Original fantasy storytelling, not just another power-fantasy
Deep character growth and emotional arcs
Storybook visuals and quiet, meditative pacing
Some of 2024’s most beautiful fight scenes — without overusing them
🔥 While Sung Jin-woo conquered monsters, Frieren conquered hearts.
She didn’t just fight to grow stronger — she fought to understand life itself.
📉 Was action mistaken for substance? Many fans think so.