This forlorn Frieren face drew a flood of online comments such as “Banned-ren is so cute,” “I laughed so hard at the end,” “A melancholy Frieren,” and “I love this part, lol.”

The anime “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” is based on the manga of the same name by author Kanehito Yamada and illustrator Tsukasa Abe, serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. Set in a post-demon-king-defeat world, it follows Frieren, a mage who has lived for over 1000 years, as she embarks on a journey to understand people. The original comic has won numerous awards, has sold over 24 million copies across 14 current volumes, and enjoys immense popularity and critical acclaim. The second season of the TV anime is scheduled to air starting January 2026.

(C)Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe/Shogakukan/ "Frieren"Project

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