Melancholic slice-of-life stories are easily some of the best in terms of tone. Relaxed pacing, tinged with quaint gloominess, stories like Girls Last Tour, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou and Memories of Emanon have garnered loyal fans all over the world because of their simplistically well-crafted stories enriched with subtle mood. These days, my appetite for manga yearns to be fulfilled by this story niche. Fortunately, for myself and anyone else seeking out the same, Sousou no Frieren is a treasure trove of such tranquil mood.
Spoilers ahead! Skip to the end for a short, spoiler-free review
Time is precious
Sousou no Frieren isn't about the journey, but ~~the friendship along the way~~ what awaits the end of the journey.
Following the immortal elf Frieren, the story encompasses her journey to learn from humanity after the success of defeating the Demon King. Contrary to my initial expectations for the cliché fantasy-setting-hero-and-co-beat-the-demon-king-baddie story, that was simply the set-up for the grander scheme. It presents Frieren as cold and rational, rendering everything as meaningless under the massive frame of her centuries of life. Even her 10 year journey with her party is nothing but a speck of time. As the chapter skips through several decades of time in a blink of an eye, time becomes an objectivity defined through units of measurement and more of momentary treasures, when Himmel passes away. At his funeral, Frieren's tears shed over the death of her beloved friend cuts clean through her apathetic outlook on life. Regret, remorse and realization hit the immortal, signaling the most growth she's had in her millennium's worth of life in mere seconds. For a skilled mage with centuries-worth of knowledge and experience under her belt, Frieren's potential for growth blooms. She no longer shuns the company of others in the face of her longevity outliving them, instead seeks to embrace them and what other things humanity has to offer her. This first chapter is easily one of best prologues in all the manga I've read so far, excellently setting up vacancy for Frieren's growth.
Thereon after, she visits her old companions to value the precious essence of time, and unintentionally picking up their disciples as her own. Each of them have their own little arc brimming with sorrow and hope, setting themselves up for character growth, as well. The story direction doesn't become concretely apparent or solidified for some time, mostly defined by Frieren's wishes to savor her memories until the central plot revolving around defeating the Demon King once more is revealed.
A big, big world
The world-building has proved excellent thus far. Despite being a melancholic slice-of-life, the story reminds the audience that it's strongly fantasy-driven. Frieren's immortality allows a rich and thoughtful history behind the story's setting, through her occasional flashbacks, musings and comments about magic. Speaking of which, magic is another hefty benefactor of the world-building. While magic initially serves as a characterization tool for Frieren and Fern, it plays a much larger role as the story progresses. It practically defines the world, from national magic institutions, dark magic used by the demon race and its trivial use by Frieren, who loves collecting any and all magic spells. In the recent chapters of the time I'm reviewing, the technicalities behind magic are explained through the mage exam arc, which propels the continual theme of changing times through the contrast between old magic and new magic. It's apparent that the world-building still has room for further growth and I look forward to what else will expand it.
Here comes the waterworks
And, of course, I'd have to mention the sentimentality underlying Sousou no Frieren. I've already mentioned how exemplar the first chapter was in setting everything up, including the mood. Frieren's journey for humanity is riddled with heartfelt and melancholic moments. Bittersweet and hopeful. The characters' frequent flashbacks reminiscing over their times with their family and friends never fail to bruise your heart. And likewise, I've mentioned that time is an overarching theme in this story. Time isn't something to be reduced down to a vector defined by labeled units, but by the defining moments of our life. Some moments are more important than others. One specific second can be the highlight of our entire life. This notion of the precious essence of life is scattered throughout the chapters and always leave an impression on you. I just fucking love the themes revolving around time and interpersonal relationships, they make for the most emotionally compelling stories.
Conclusion
Life can't be broken down to scientific units of time. Each passing moment of our life have differing values in our memories and heart. Sousou no Frieren seeks to encompass this bittersweet idea, and by god, it does it well with its heart-touching and melancholic moments in the wake of an immortal elf's journey of self-discovery.
Starting off as an episodic series, Sousou no Frieren kicks off by slowly gathering companions for Frieren. The story takes minimal time to characterize them and kindle warm chemistry between themselves. No need to be afraid of the melancholic mood, there's plenty of amusing moments to offset the tears on the verge of spilling out. The characters portray the extent of one's life, something bounded by gloom, joy, tears and laughter.
After gathering the main characters, the story is currently building up a much more concrete story. In the midst of it, the world-building has been steadily and richly reinforced. Magic and history takes the main helms behind the world-building and make for an interesting fantasy story.
Character designs and general art are somewhat bland, complementing the quaint tone. Character expressions are often quite deadpan and unvaried, perhaps so because of the amount of melancholic moments in this story. Though, labeling this as lazy or inexperience on the artist's part is uncalled for. There's nothing ostentatious about Sousou no Frieren and the art need not be, as well. Simple and bland, just like how I like. Though, the official color art are quite a sight to behold.
Life is fleeting. Remember to embrace it with those around you.
