We have an update on the Frieren anime, but it is that it will be a while before we see more, as season 2 won’t start until January 2026. There’s no exact date yet, but it will be a part of the Winter season. The first season of the show is available to stream now via Crunchyroll. The last volume of the manga to appear in English was the twelfth one on February 11, 2025. 

Season 2 of the show will be on Nippon Television. That’s where the first season aired in Japan as well. There aren’t any details about arcs that will be covered. The key visual is available though, and it shows Frieren and Fern with Stark. The official social media also shared a teaser with plush of the elf. Crunchyroll hasn't stated if the second season will appear there yet.

Here are the teaser images:

While it will be a while before we see season 2 of the Frieren anime, it is still going to very much be an active presence in our lives. When 2025 began, it brought with it a PSO2 New Genesis crossover with the series. There have been a number of figures, such as Nendoroids. Even a brief light novel was included with volume 12 of the manga in Japan. 

Speaking of the Frieren manga, it is still running. Viz Media offers the new chapters in English as they release, with the last one being 140. However, it will be some time before more appears, as the series is in the midst of an indefinite hiatus. A new English volume is on the horizon though, as the thirteenth one debuts on May 13, 2025.

Season 2 of the Frieren anime will start in January 2026. The first season is available now via Crunchyroll. Volume 12 of the manga is out worldwide, and volume 13 of Frieren will debut in English on May 13, 2025. 

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Sega has published details on more external IP crossover content for Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis at the December 2024 NGS Headline program. It included details on the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End crossover in PSO2: New Genesis, which Sega had teased previously.

The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End crossover content will be available to obtain in PSO2: New Genesis for roughly a month starting from January 8, 2025. The "Frieren the Slayer Style" scratch ticket will appear for the duration of the event. It will let players obtain avatar parts, voice sets, and weapon camos modeled after Frieren, Fern, and Stark by spending paid currency. All players can also obtain free character acrylic stands as Build Parts for their Creative Space by logging in daily during the event.

Near the end of the Headline program, Sega revealed that it will add another batch of crossover content from A Certain Magical Index III in February 2025. This title will fill the "Anime based on light novel" crossover slot for February-March 2025 in the newly published roap for the first half of 2025. The company will publish more details on this crossover event on January 28, 2025.

The same roap also teases new crossover content from yet another anime based on a light novel between April and May 2025, an internal Sega title crossover in June 2025, and a sci-fi fantasy toy line in July 2025.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is available worldwide on PC and PlayStation 4. The game is also available on Nintendo Switch via a cloud version in Japan, as well as Xbox One for the rest of the world.

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Sega has announced that it will add new anime crossover content from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End into Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (PSO2 New Genesis) in January 2025. Players of the online action RPG will be able to obtain avatar parts and weapon camouflages based on characters from the anime adaptation once the relevant scratch tickets have launched in the new year.

Sega regularly adds crossover content from multiple external manga, anime, and game franchises into PSO2: New Genesis. Prior examples include Shangri-La Frontier, Kaiju No. 8, and Melty Blood: Type Lumina. However, neither the late November NGS Headline program nor the following Japanese press release divulged more details on the Frieren crossover content.

Sega has so far only shared a piece of collaborative artwork featuring Frieren and Manon, the latter being one of the two main heroines of PSO2: New Genesis. The company will publish more details about the crossover at the next NGS Headline program on Thursday, December 26, 2024.

Here's the official announcement.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is available as a free-to-play title on PC and PlayStation 4 worldwide, with an additional Nintendo Switch release in Japan and Xbox One version elsewhere worldwide. The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End crossover content will appear in PSO2: New Genesis in January 2025.

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The official Japanese X (or Twitter ) for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End shared a visual of protagonist Frieren and Fern in Halloween themed attire. The illustration features both characters in new outfits with black, white, and orange coloring, to suit the "holiday."

You can take a look at the Halloween visual of Frieren and Fern below:

The caption behind the characters reads "Magic of Halloween," with several pumpkins of varying colors above them. The characters are also wearing large, wide-brimmed black hats and have orange pumpkins strapped to their hips.

In September 2024, a teaser for the second season of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End was shared. This included a visual featuring items associated with the characters Frieren, Fern, and Stark. Shortly after, TOHO ANIMATION posted a video featuring the same visual, more or less confirming that the second season was already in production. While little information has been revealed about the season, it's suggested that the next arc the anime could explore could be related to the First Class Wizard Exam Arc. Additionally, Madhouse will be returning for the second season of the anime.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available on Crunchyroll, with Viz Media handling licensing and distribution for the manga in North America.

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At the first-anniversary special screening of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End on September 28, 2024, season 2 of the anime was officially teased with a new visual. The teaser showcases Frieren, Fern, and Stark.

The teaser image hints that the new episodes will involve the continuation of their journey after the events of the First Class Wizard Exam Arc. The story will pick up from episode 61 of the manga, which appeared in volume 7. Madhouse, the studio behind the first season, will return to produce the second season. Crunchyroll, which streams the first season, hasn't confirmed if it will offer the second.

You can view the official social post below, which includes the new art for the second season for the first time.

In addition to the teaser visual, an accompanying YouTube announcement video confirmed production of season 2 of the Frieren anime is in the works. It appeared along with congratulatory comments from Yamada Kaneto and Abe Tsukasa. They expressed their gratitude to fans for the and appreciation for the industry’s involvement in bringing Frieren to life. 

You can view the teaser on YouTube below:

In related news, a giant papier-mâché sculpture of Frieren appeared in Japan during the Asagaya Tanabata Festival in August 2024. The sculpture, which resembles the elven mage, was shared on the official Frieren X (formerly Twitter) .

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available on Crunchyroll, and Viz Media has licensed the manga for North America.

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Crunchyroll announced release dates for its anime Blu-ray sets and Steelbooks, and Frieren and Tokyo Ghoul are among them. In the case of Frieren, it covers the first part of the anime for $47.24. Meanwhile, the Tokyo Ghoul set is an $80.99 complete edition for its 10th anniversary. In total, the company plans to release 10 items throughout December 2024. 

In the case of the Frieren Part 1 anime Blu-ray and DVD combo set, it packs 16 episodes onto five discs. Only four special features are present. You get to see the PVs and previews, as well as the alternate versions of the opening and ending that don’t feature any text. Each of the discs has one of the main characters on it. That will ship on December 17, 2024. 

In the case of the Tokyo Ghoul complete series Blu-ray box set, it includes absolutely everything in honor of the anime series’ 10th anniversary. It has 48 episodes on eight discs. So you get all three anime seasons, the Tokyo Ghoul: Jack OVA, the Tokyo Ghoul: Pinto OVA, the opening and ending with no text, a collection of ads, PVs, and trailers, and Kaneki in Black and White. That will launch on December 31, 2024. 

Here’s the full list of all the Crunchyroll December 2024 anime Blu-ray releases:

• Attack on Titan Season 1 Blu-ray Steelbook - $47.24 - December 17, 2024.
• Attack on Titan Season 2 Blu-ray Steelbook - $47.24 - December 17, 2024.
• Attack on Titan Season 3 Blu-ray Steelbook - $47.24 - December 17, 2024.
• Darling in the Franxx The Complete Season Blu-ray - $40.49 - December 17, 2024.
• Dr. Stone New World Part 2 - $47.24 - December 31, 2024.
• Frieren Part 1 anime Blu-ray and DVD combo set - $47.24 - December 17, 2024.
• Kingdoms of Ruin The Complete Season Blu-ray - $47.24 - December 17, 2024. 
• Sound! Euphonium Season 1 Blu-ray - $47.24 - December 17, 2024. 
• To Every You I've Loved Before and To Me, The One Who Loved You Blu-ray - $26.99 - December 3, 2024. 
• Tokyo Ghoul: The Complete Series 10th Anniversary Box Set - $80.99 - December 31, 2024.

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The official Frieren X (formerly known as Twitter) has posted a giant Frieren sculpture descending upon the citizens of Asagaya. It was part of the Asagaya Tanabata Festival.

The giant Frieren sculpture looks like it’s made of paper, as if someone had folded a giant Frieren and then taped the individual parts together. It it was part of the Tanabata Festival, it’s likely papier-mâché. She’s even holding her staff, leading one reply to comment that this piece of artwork depicts Frieren leaping down from the ceiling to attack a hapless victim. Another commenter joked that the first Virtua Fighter is very stylish as a reference to the somewhat boxy look of the sculpture.

Frieren is the main and titular character of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. It is a very popular manga and anime series. As of June 2024, there are over 22 million copies in circulation, and it won several awards since it started serialization in 2020. It follows the story of Frieren, an elven mage who was part of a party that defeated the Demon King. Fifty years later, she returns from a journey to find that the world and her companions have changed. Filled with regret after the hero Himmel died, Frieren decides to travel to the resting place of souls to see Himmel again and bid him a true farewell.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available on Crunchyroll and Viz Media has licensed the manga for North America.

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A Taiwanese otaku who helped to stop a knife attack on the Taichung metro has said that he did so because Himmel from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End would’ve done the same thing. He is hoping that his heroic act will help to improve the public’s perception of otaku in Taiwan. [Thanks, China Times!]

On May 21, 2024, a Taiwanese man stabbed several engers in a knife attack on a Taichung train. He managed to injure three people before over seventeen civilians stopped him. One of them was Ruixian Xu, or “Long Hair Bro." He even went out of his way to wear a Monster Hunter shirt to accept his reward. Xu refers to himself as an otaku and states that otaku aren’t all bad. He hopes that his act will help convince people of that fact.

Xu also states that “If Himmel was there, he would’ve done the same thing,” referencing the character from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. He uses this quote as a reminder to do the right thing and a life philosophy. When asked what he would do differently if he could go back in time to the attack, he said he wouldn't change a thing.

The reference to Taiwanese perception of otaku stems from the 2014 Taipei Metro Attack. This was a stabbing spree that ended in four deaths and twenty-four injuries. As it was the first fatal attack on the subway since it began in 1996, it was a deeply shocking incident for the island. The media and the perpetrator’s parents were quick to blame violent video games for his motivation. Cheng Chieh, the attacker, stated that he liked to play League of Legends and Tower of Saviors. However, the companies for both stated that their games had nothing to do with the attacks.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is available to watch on services like Crunchyroll. Viz Media licensed the manga for English readers.

The post Taiwanese Otaku Stops Knife Attack, Quotes Frieren appeared first on Siliconera.

The Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End manga series will go on an indefinite hiatus after the release of chapter 130. The next chapter is scheduled to release on issue 24 of the Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine, which will release on May 8, 2024 in Japan. [Thanks, Manga Mogura RE!]

At the time of writing, there is no return date for the Frieren series' hiatus. However, leaker ryokutya2089 reported that the manga series could return on issue 28 of the Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine. The previous Frieren chapter 129 released on April 24, 2024 in issue 22 of WSS.

The Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End manga is written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe, and it debuted on April 2020. The plot follows elven mage Frieren decades after her party slayed the Demon King. Frieren embarks on a journey to reunite with her former human friend and member of the party, Himmel.

On February 2024 it was reported that Japanese doujinshi website FANZA banned doujinshi content for the Frieren manga series from being hosted on the site.

The Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End manga is being handled by Viz Media. The first and second cour of the anime adaptation are streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Frieren Manga Series Goes on Indefinite Hiatus appeared first on Siliconera.

Following a call for memes online featuring Looney Tunes character Foghorn Leghorn lecturing and talking at anime characters, current voice actor for the character Eric Bauza shared recordings of the character talking to Dragon Ball and characters and Frieren. In particular. the actor selected ones involving Goku, Vegeta, and Frieren.

First, here’s Bauza’s reading of Foghorn Leghorn lecturing Vegeta after a moment in Dragon Ball Z. 

Next, this is Bauza’s interpretation of Foghorn Leghorn hyping up Goku and encouraging him to face Freiza.

Finally, here’s Bauza voicing the one involving Frieren. 

This trend online started on April 20, 2024. It kicked off with Twitter NFLStreet4 sharing one of these lectures involving Foghorn Leghorn lecturing Naoto from Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro. Following that, a wave of additional imaginary diatribes inspired by that appeared online following fellow Twitter JenukiDa calling attention to it.

Eric Bauza is the voice of multiple Looney Tunes characters now in addition to Foghorn Leghorn. He also is known as the actor behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian, Tweety, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, and Yosemite Sam. 

The Frieren and Dragon Ball anime series are both streaming on Crunchyroll. Viz Media also handles the manga localizations for both. One of the latest Looney Tunes series is Looney Tunes Cartoons, which is available to watch via Max. 

[Image Source: WB Kids]

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Good Smile Company is now accepting pre-orders for the Pop Up Parade figure of Frieren from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. The figure will cost either ¥4,800 or $31.99 depending on which store you order from.

Standing at around 160 mm tall, this Frieren figure is made of painted plastic and comes with a stand. The sculpt was made by Daigaku while Tomofumi handled paintwork duties. It features Frieren in her signature outfit and includes details like her red earrings and a spellbook under her arm. Orders from Good Smile's Global store will cost ¥4,800 and will ship in September, 2024. Meanwhile, US store orders will cost $31.99 and are expected to ship in Quarter 1, 2025.

You can get a look at the Pop Up Parade Frieren figure in the gallery below:

Good Smile also recently opened pre-orders for a Nendoroid of Claire from Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, which comes with bonus cow and chick models. The company also recently opened submissions for the next design of the Hatsune Miku "Snow Miku" Nendoroid.

The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Pop Up Parade Frieren figure is available to pre-order now from the Good Smile Global and Good Smile US online stores.

The post Pop Up Parade Frieren Figure is Ready for a Journey appeared first on Siliconera.

FANZA has banned doujinshi creation for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. This is due to a complaint from the copyright holders. [Thanks, Tachiyomi (Unofficial)!]

This news appears to come from a who attempted to their Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End doujinshi with FANZA. The whole reply from FANZA to them states that it apologizes to the circle, but the copyright holders of Frieren have requested that FANZA not host any content from that series. It has since made the work private and removed it from the site.

So, technically speaking, it’s not that people aren’t allowed to create doujinshi for Frieren. It’s more that sites like FANZA will not officially host it because of the request. It’s unclear if this request came from the author and illustrator themselves or from Shogakukan, the original manga's publisher. Reactions online have been mixed because English and Japanese s have different responses to the news.

English s do not believe that this will work, with some even joking that it’s like 1984. Others have pointed out that the Frieren show seems to include fanservice scenes, so it’s odd that it would put a blanket ban on doujinshi. Japanese fans, however, have stated that if the copyright owners have made a request, then people should respect it. They also added that Shogakukan is pretty strict when it comes to rules on fan-made content.

Doujinshi for Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, no matter the rating, will no longer appear on sites like FANZA.

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SuperGroupies announced that the retailer is now selling Frieren cosplay like merchandise inspired by the elf’s trunk, earrings, and outfit in its online storefront. All three items in the collection are expected to ship in June 2024, and worldwide shipping is available.

The three Frieren items are a long wallet inspired by her outfit, a smartphone case and wallet bag that looks like the trunk that she carries, and replicas of her earrings. The trunk bag and wallet are ¥15,400 each (~$104), while the pierced and clip-on versions of the earrings are ¥8,800 (~$60) each.

Here’s a closer look at all three items. Of the pieces in the collection, the earrings especially could be used by people putting together Frieren cosplay.

Quite a lot of Frieren merchandise started appearing once the anime began airing. There are figures and Nendoroids of its main characters. People can also get a pillow shaped like the mimics that always end up attacking the heroine.

The Frieren anime is streaming via Crunchyroll, with the second cour currently running. Viz Media is handling the manga outside Japan. The SuperGroupies collection based on the show can be pre-ordered until February 5, 2024, with items eventually shipping out worldwide in June 2024.

The post SuperGroupies Selling Frieren Trunk and Earrings appeared first on Siliconera.

Stories that get into what happens after “the end” aren’t uncommon. They might look at how society changes. We could see how a group of people adapt. But we don’t often see how specific people are affected. Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe’s manga Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End gets a little more specific by showing how one person is changed by an adventure. It involves quite the opportunity too. As the star, an elven mage named Frieren, is already hundreds of years old as the story “begins,” we’re seeing how someone that old can grow and change after adventuring and experiences. In turn, we see how her new allies develop as a result of being around her.

Frieren kicks off as a grand adventure ended. The hero Himmel and his allies Eisen the warrior, Frieren the mage, and Heiter the priest defeated the Demon King. The quartet journeyed together for 10 years. They aided people around the world and faced the Demon King’s minions. As a way to cap it off, the group watches the Era Meteor Shower. When Frieren notes that she knows a better place to see it happen, they vow to meet again in 50 years.

And they do! But Frieren being an elf means a bit of a shock when it happens. Himmel, formerly handsome, tall, and young, is now a short old man. The corrupt, drunken priest became a bishop. The dwarf… well, is mostly the same since dwarves are like elves. The group has their moment, which is then followed by Himmel’s death. It is then that things hit her. She only knew him ten years. Which, when measured by an elf, is no time at all. She realizes all the time she could have had, but didn’t.

The rest of the first volume of the Frieren manga follows the elven mage as she essentially finds a purpose for herself. She always had a goal of sorts. After the initial adventure, she said she’d explore the Central Lands for 100 years to learn more about magic. But after Himmel’s death, it reads as an opportunity. She has a chance to not make the same mistakes. There’s also the potential to set out on a new quest, perhaps doing things differently and making the connections she missed.

Right away, we start to see a change. It begins when she again meets Heiter. This time, reuniting involves an opportunity to learn from a tome and perhaps take on an apprentice. She’s hesitant about the idea. Especially since the student is only a young girl. But as she sets about deciphering the book Heiter offered, time es. She ends up connecting with the child. Frieren spends more time with the old friend. Before we—and perhaps she—know it, Frieren is saying both “goodbye” and “hello” again.

It also means it changes her perspective. Given her lifespan, Frieren wouldn’t have a problem solving mysteries and accomplishing missions over the courses of years. She spent four at Heiter’s deciphering the book like it was nothing. Once Fern and her are traveling, the two spend half a year searching for a specific flower. They spend months cleaning up a coast. But for her, it’s no time at all. Not to mention while each chapter’s mission is being accomplished, we see hints of what led to her taking on that task.

Plus, we also have to consider that we don't even know exactly how long Frieren will live, as we don't know exactly how long elves live in the series. The manga only suggests they live for hundreds of years. When we meet her, she's lived for over a millennium, which is 1,000 years. There's no indication of how much longer she could be around. We know Kraft is still around as of later volumes, and he's an elf who is even older than she is. So even with as many manga volumes and anime episodes there are, it may take some time before we truly understand.

Each chapter of the first volume of the manga is a look at how Frieren’s relationship with Himmel changed her. How it is influencing her future. We see her new purpose guide her in various ways. It also leads her to behave differently with both new and old friends. So then, by the time this volume ends, we see a new reason for her next journey. And it might leave you wondering, will she get that extra time she’s hoping for? Considering how long elves apparently live in Frieren, we get quite a bit of time to see what Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe do with the series.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End manga volume 1-9 are available from Viz Media. Volume 10 will debut on February 20, 2024. The first and second cour of the anime are streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post The Frieren Manga Helps Us Understand an Elf’s Lifespan appeared first on Siliconera.

The official social media for the Frieren series showed off an piece of merchandise that is a pillow based on a mimic. It is expected to release in UFO catchers in Japan in Spring 2024.

Sega actually first announced the item back in October 2023, but this is more of a reminder that it is expected to release soon. It is a pillow shaped like the monster, with a mouth that can open and close. The exterior looks like a treasure chest, as expected. When the “lid,” which is lined by soft fabric teeth, is opened, you can see the open mouth and tongue inside. The first four photos also show how it would look when used as a pillow.

Here’s a gallery of images Sega shared to offer us an idea of how it will look and work:

For those unfamiliar with the manga or anime, Frieren falling victim to a mimic is a running gag. Even though she’s a strong enough make to likely know it is really a monster and not a chest, she checks because if there was a magical item inside of a treasure chest, she’d still sense magic coming off of it. One new plush of her being eaten by a mimic is also releasing in Japan soon. Another piece of Frieren merchandise involving the situation is a t-shirt that shows her in that situation with the text, “She collects grimoires. And she is often bitten like this.” 

The Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End manga is handled by Viz Media outside Japan. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll now, with its second cour having started on January 5, 2024. The mimic pillow plush will be in UFO catchers in Japanese arcades in Spring 2024.

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