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In the past few years, the fantasy and isekai genres of the anime world have seen some major developments in the form of series that have gained a lot of traction. Among these series, the one that has gained a cult following isFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End, featuring Frieren, a magic elf who helped in the defeat of the Demon King.
WhileFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis becoming increasingly popular, another anime series has graced the industry with an enticing storyline that is quite unique and thrilling. This series is calledZenshu, which started on June 18, 2025, and although it only has a few episodes under its belt, it has already gained a lot of praise and appreciation from fans.
While the two stories are completely different, the one common element between them is the Elves, who are a part of the central narrative in both series.Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endfeatures Frieren, andZenshufeatures Memmeln, one of the members of the Nine Soldiers from A Tale of Perishing. While both characters are Elves, they represent two different aspects of the supernatural race.
The concept of Elves inZenshuandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Elves are one of the most common races of supernatural creatures to appear in fantasy and isekai stories. Thus, their appearance inFrieren: Beyond Journey’s EndandZenshuwas not at all startling for fans. Their development in the individual narratives is quite different, and that adds substance to their characters, which keeps the fans glued to the story.
Frieren’s Burden as a Near-Immortal Elf Still Cannot Give Her the Recognition Flamme Got
InFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End’scase, the elf that sits in the center is Frieren itself. She is possibly the strongest character in the story, as she helped defeat the Demon King and is now on a new journey to speak with her deceased friend Himmel, the hero. The adventures in her journey and the people she meets along the way help her understand different ways of life.
InZenshu’scase, the elf that holds the center stage is Memmeln, who is secretly the antagonist of the plot but poses as a friend of the main character, Natsuko. She has seen a lot of pain and suffering, which led to her turning to the evil side, but her involvement with Natsuko slowly helps her see the light out of the darkness.
The paradox of the Elves’ eternal cycle of immortality
According to the many different lores about elves, the magical creatures are believed to be immortal. Their immortality plays a major role in their character development in different stories. However, it’s not always happy and pleasing to live forever, and this was explained through Frieren and Memmeln inFrieren: Beyond Journey’s EndandZenshu.
In Frieren’s case, her immortality has led to her becoming aloof towards almost everything in her life. She has a never-changing attitude and feels a little distant from the everyday aspects of life. Also, immortality has also proved to be a curse, as she has witnessed the deaths of her close ones, and thus she has accepted death as a part of life’s cycle.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is Creating a Terrible Misconception About Stark Because of a Flawed Approach
In Memmeln’s case, her immortality has made her frustrated and vengeful as she feels that living forever is meaningless. This is the reason she secretly helps in the summoning of the Ultimate Void, as it would end her suffering and help her meet with the loved ones she lost to death.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s EndandZenshuis available to watch on Crunchyroll.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2959
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
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FrierenFrieren Beyond Journey’s End
