[LinearPhilosopher]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 17 April 2025 - 07:21 AM, said:

We're fairly new to anime - I don't suppose anyone who's seen it could recommend anything with a similar vibe to Frieren for us to try?

Hmmm...

I think chance above nailed it. Though for Kino's journey i'd specify you'd want the original series. The remake for whatever reason had a completely different focus.


Just to expand
Mushishi> chill show about a guy who deals with errant spirits.

Kino's Journey> Show about someone who travels to different countries, and each country has a WILD variance in terms of culture and technology.

Spice and wolf: Medieval economics with a fox girl.

Beyond that, nothing really comes to mind as Frieren is quite a unique flavor of anime.

If you wanted just fantasy anime... I'd have to think on it as theres definetly good fantasy out there but there's also tons of garbage.

This post has been edited by LinearPhilosopher: 19 April 2025 - 12:15 PM

[D'rek]

Chance, on 19 April 2025 - 11:29 AM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 17 April 2025 - 07:21 AM, said:

We're fairly new to anime - I don't suppose anyone who's seen it could recommend anything with a similar vibe to Frieren for us to try?

Frieren is fairly unique but there are a couple of older anime that give of something of the same vibe Mushishi, Kino's Journey and Spice and Wolf comes to mind.

I disagree with all of these

Good shows, they just don't feel at all similar to Frieren to me.

[Chance]

D, on 19 April 2025 - 09:45 PM, said:

I disagree with all of these

Good shows, they just don't feel at all similar to Frieren to me.

I guess it depends on what we find compelling about Frieren.

Is it a cosy journey? Is it the sometimes over the top basically bog standard shounen action? Is it the interplay between characters? Is it basically some of the characters growing up? Is it Frieren's own perspective due to her long life?

Depending on what we find compelling with it I guess different things will seem closest. The recommendations above are basically all low action journeys with rather unique perspectives being offered. Seems kinda similar to me but I'm ok with dissent

LinearPhilosopher, on 19 April 2025 - 12:13 PM, said:

If you wanted just fantasy anime... I'd have to think on it as theres definetly good fantasy out there but there's also tons of garbage.

Even thought I found Frieren one of the best recent anime series (good enough that I devoured the manga directly after finishing and can recommend it), I think an argument could be made that Frieren shares a lot of DNA with modern anime standard fantasy fair of the more towards garbage part of the spectrum. But is elevated by a unique perspective from Frieren's side and a well written take my time cosy journey that is a joy to follow. Many of the other parts are however rather generic and typical of the genre.

This post has been edited by Chance: 19 April 2025 - 11:20 PM

[Tsundoku]

Watched S1 and 2 of Solo Leveling. Not bad. Will watch more.

Although I fear it may go into DBZ power-creep territory. Like many more anime/manga. Hopefully it won't get out of hand.

One Punch Man however, takes the piss out of all that quite well.

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 20 April 2025 - 12:07 AM

[Tsundoku]

Started Frieren. It's slow and not much action-wise, so why am I still watching it?

There's even a wiki map:

https://frieren.fand.../Map:World_Map?

I love maps, following the story, ok? Don't judge me.

[Tsundoku]

This is a very good show, lots more going on than just big flashy battles and cool quips. Although it does have those.

Spoiler

The ending to Ep 10 (vs Aura) was total mic-drop walk-off badassery.

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 25 April 2025 - 09:29 AM

[Maark Abbott]

D, on 19 April 2025 - 02:27 AM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 17 April 2025 - 07:21 AM, said:

We're fairly new to anime - I don't suppose anyone who's seen it could recommend anything with a similar vibe to Frieren for us to try?

Like QT I would also say there really isn't anything I can think of that quite matches the slow and cozy but occasionally epic action-drama vibe of Frieren.

Though there's a show airing right now called Apocalypse Hotel that is scratching a similar itch as Frieren for me. It's about some robots built to help run a hotel that were left behind after humanity fled the planet to escape a catastrophic pandemic. It's a bit more comedic and doesn't (so far) have the same big moments that Frieren went for, but the sort of nihilistic keep moving forward attitude/situation of the robots sort of feels like some of those Frieren moments. Either way it's been quite good so far.

Yuru Camp/Laid-back Camp also comes to mind - a very cozy show about some high school girls that go camping a bunch. Lots of chilling by the campfire or taking in the sights.

A lot of stuff which is Frieren-adjacent is going to be more comedy focused (slow life genre) - so a lot of my recs depend on if you need the slow and cozy or you don't mind a little zaniness in there. Frieren is quite unique in how it's presented, which is a bit of an issue because there really is not all that much like it out there.

Apocalypse Hotel is pretty good, would vouch for this.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Tsundoku, on 25 April 2025 - 09:26 AM, said:

This is a very good show, lots more going on than just big flashy battles and cool quips. Although it does have those.

Spoiler

The ending to Ep 10 (vs Aura) was total mic-drop walk-off badassery.

That was one of my favourite bits!

[Maark Abbott]

Frieren has two vibes.

Unparalleled badassery

<(=w=)> wait did Himmel like me

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Maark Abbott, on 29 April 2025 - 06:51 AM, said:

Frieren has two vibes.

Unparalleled badassery

<(=w=)> wait did Himmel like me

You forgot the third....

OH MY GOD A TREASURE CHEST, this one will surely not be a mimic....

[LinearPhilosopher]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 29 April 2025 - 09:12 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 29 April 2025 - 06:51 AM, said:

Frieren has two vibes.

Unparalleled badassery

<(=w=)> wait did Himmel like me

You forgot the third....

OH MY GOD A TREASURE CHEST, this one will surely not be a mimic....

To be fair if you come across tens of thousands of chests, one of thems bound to actually have a magical grimoire ;p

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

LinearPhilosopher, on 30 April 2025 - 02:06 AM, said:

To be fair if you come across tens of thousands of chests, one of thems bound to actually have a magical grimoire ;p

You make a compelling argument!

[LinearPhilosopher]

finally got around to catching up

Gundam Gquuuuuux 4/4: I find the premise is interesting. I'm just lukewarm on everything else. Ill give this one a few more episodes but im very much on the fence of is this good or is this just average.

Lazarus 3/4: The soundtrack is LIT (also super cool that Kamasi Washington is contributor). Im liking this series so far, we will see where it goes. But just on soundtrack and style I'm digging Shinichiro Watanabe's newest work.


And then at some point in the near future we're going to start watching bubblegum crisis. Im overdue for some 80s anime.

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 30 April 2025 - 12:26 PM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 30 April 2025 - 02:06 AM, said:

To be fair if you come across tens of thousands of chests, one of thems bound to actually have a magical grimoire ;p

You make a compelling argument!

All jokes aside, if you're expected to live for thousands of years... considering mimics seem like more of a nuisance then a life threatening danger in this world, I can see why Frieren would hone in on the 1% chance the spell gives a false positive. That scene was quite masterful in being comedic while also giving us insight into the characters thought pattern.

Having only recently finished frieren a few weeks back I can see why the show is so well regarded. It has the right mix of good main character dynamics, interesting secondary characters, novel exploration of ideas and occasional action.

What stood out to me among others was the episode where it was revealed Himmel was never able to take the sword. Yet he still killed the demon king. While it was mentioned that detail was hidden in order to have a simple story, I think it's infinetly more inspiring to tell the story of someone who became a hero despite everything else telling him otherwise. But just seeing that minor detail being explored as part of this greater tapestry gives this show a surprising amount of depth.

At some point I'll also be checking out Solo Levelling. I just am super sceptical the show is good since it's basically another isekai power fantasy.

This post has been edited by LinearPhilosopher: 03 May 2025 - 06:23 PM

[Tsundoku]

LinearPhilosopher, on 03 May 2025 - 06:15 PM, said:

At some point I'll also be checking out Solo Levelling. I just am super sceptical the show is good since it's basically another isekai power fantasy.

Yes, but it does it in a more interesting way rather than just yelling and turning all glowy-blonde or blue.

Watched Devil May Cry on Netflix. Wasn't bad. At least the bad guys had reasons you could understand rather than just "evil - rawr!".

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 04 May 2025 - 12:21 AM

[LinearPhilosopher]

Tsundoku, on 04 May 2025 - 12:20 AM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 03 May 2025 - 06:15 PM, said:

At some point I'll also be checking out Solo Levelling. I just am super sceptical the show is good since it's basically another isekai power fantasy.

Yes, but it does it in a more interesting way rather than just yelling and turning all glowy-blonde or blue.

Watched Devil May Cry on Netflix. Wasn't bad. At least the bad guys had reasons you could understand rather than just "evil - rawr!".

go on...

[Tsundoku]

LinearPhilosopher, on 04 May 2025 - 02:38 AM, said:

Tsundoku, on 04 May 2025 - 12:20 AM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 03 May 2025 - 06:15 PM, said:

At some point I'll also be checking out Solo Levelling. I just am super sceptical the show is good since it's basically another isekai power fantasy.

Yes, but it does it in a more interesting way rather than just yelling and turning all glowy-blonde or blue.

Watched Devil May Cry on Netflix. Wasn't bad. At least the bad guys had reasons you could understand rather than just "evil - rawr!".

go on...

You talking about DMC?
Sorta goes into spoiler territory if I give more detail. It's only 8 x 22 minute eps, so I say give it a crack, you have only 3 hours to lose.
There's a lot of fun action with very little deep introspection, but there's enough backstory (including one episode done in 2 different animation styles that pretty much works IMHO) to make sense.

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 04 May 2025 - 12:09 PM

[Chance]

Been on something of an anime binge recently looking through a wide variety of stuff from Friren, Solo Leveling, Shangri-La, Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!, Re-Zero and probably a few other I've forgotten nearly as fast as I watched them, currently having Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen and the Heaven's Feel movies in the to watch list.

LinearPhilosopher, on 03 May 2025 - 06:15 PM, said:

At some point I'll also be checking out Solo Levelling. I just am super sceptical the show is good since it's basically another isekai power fantasy.

Its just another isekai hyper-power fantasy whatever the hype, it is rather well done however if you just want some distracting fun. The character goes from zero to god within 25 episodes, a bit of a missed opportunity that they didn't spend more time in the lower part of the powerscale which was vastly more interesting then the later parts.

This post has been edited by Chance: 04 May 2025 - 02:07 PM

[LinearPhilosopher]

Tsundoku, on 04 May 2025 - 10:36 AM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 04 May 2025 - 02:38 AM, said:

Tsundoku, on 04 May 2025 - 12:20 AM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 03 May 2025 - 06:15 PM, said:

At some point I'll also be checking out Solo Levelling. I just am super sceptical the show is good since it's basically another isekai power fantasy.

Yes, but it does it in a more interesting way rather than just yelling and turning all glowy-blonde or blue.

Watched Devil May Cry on Netflix. Wasn't bad. At least the bad guys had reasons you could understand rather than just "evil - rawr!".

go on...

You talking about DMC?
Sorta goes into spoiler territory if I give more detail. It's only 8 x 22 minute eps, so I say give it a crack, you have only 3 hours to lose.
There's a lot of fun action with very little deep introspection, but there's enough backstory (including one episode done in 2 different animation styles that pretty much works IMHO) to make sense.

More for solo leveling

DMC... never played the games so no real attachment to the series. (that being said never played castlevania either but that one was a banger)

Chance, on 04 May 2025 - 01:51 PM, said:

Been on something of an anime binge recently looking through a wide variety of stuff from Friren, Solo Leveling, Shangri-La, Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!, Re-Zero and probably a few other I've forgotten nearly as fast as I watched them, currently having Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen and the Heaven's Feel movies in the to watch list.

LinearPhilosopher, on 03 May 2025 - 06:15 PM, said:

At some point I'll also be checking out Solo Levelling. I just am super sceptical the show is good since it's basically another isekai power fantasy.

Its just another isekai hyper-power fantasy whatever the hype, it is rather well done however if you just want some distracting fun. The character goes from zero to god within 25 episodes, a bit of a missed opportunity that they didn't spend more time in the lower part of the powerscale which was vastly more interesting then the later parts.

May I humbly reccomend you add Re:Creators to the list

[Chance]

LinearPhilosopher, on 04 May 2025 - 02:25 PM, said:

May I humbly reccomend you add Re:Creators to the list

Have heard good things will certainly give it my usual three episodes test

[QuickTidal]

Tsundoku, on 04 May 2025 - 12:20 AM, said:

LinearPhilosopher, on 03 May 2025 - 06:15 PM, said:

At some point I'll also be checking out Solo Levelling. I just am super sceptical the show is good since it's basically another isekai power fantasy.

Yes, but it does it in a more interesting way rather than just yelling and turning all glowy-blonde or blue.

Seconded. It started kind of by the numbers but as it went on it got better and different. I think part of that comes from it being South Korean in origin...so it FEELS like some of the better K-Drama's I've watched for story...it's feels much less Japanese Isekai as a result...