Solo Leveling Got The Big Win, But Many Thinking Frieren Deserved It More
Frieren moves hearts with quiet depth, outshining Solo Leveling’s flashy action.
When Solo Leveling got Anime of the Year in 2024, it made a lot of talk everywhere. Many people enjoyed the show, yes, but still, it felt strange to some fans. It’s not like the anime was bad, it had very good animation and exciting moments, but something felt missing. When you look at Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, the feeling is different—it goes quiet but deep.
Seeing both again made it clearer. Solo Leveling looks strong and moves fast, but Frieren stays inside the heart. That kind of feeling doesn’t go away easily. And if the award is for the anime that really gives something special, it should be going to that.
Frieren Tells About Time and Loss in a Quiet Way
In Frieren, there’s no big battle at the start. The journey already ended when the story began. Frieren, who doesn’t age like humans, now must face how short human lives really are. The show goes slowly, but inside it, many emotions are there.
Not many loud scenes, but what they show in small talks or silence says much more. Frieren started feeling regret that she did not know her old friends better before they went. It’s rare to see a story like this, especially in fantasy. The ideas are calm, but strong. That’s what touches many watchers.
Solo Leveling Entertains, But Doesn’t Go Deeper
It’s also important to say that Solo Leveling is enjoyable. It has great visuals, the action is tight, and Jinwoo’s journey from weak to powerful is fun to see. You can feel why it became popular. But when you watch it again, you also feel how it doesn’t ask much from you.
The story always moves quickly, without space for thinking. Jinwoo grows powerful, but the people around him do not feel real. They mostly stay behind, and do not change much. It’s not boring, but it doesn’t leave something in the heart like Frieren does. After the final episode, there’s not much left to remember except cool scenes.
Frieren’s Art and World Feel Like Memory
Another part where Frieren shines is in the art. Every place she visits is not just random—those towns connect to old times, old people, old feelings. The places feel alive with memory. Even when nothing big, you feel something in the air.
The animation style is soft, not trying to be showy, but always matches the emotion. Snow falling, sky changing color, small things like that bring a big feeling. And the characters around Frieren, like Fern and Stark, they growing too, but in a slow, real way. Nothing sudden, just like how people change in life.
Fans Didn’t Stay Quiet After Results
Even though Frieren won a few other awards like Best Drama and Art, fans still feel something is missing. On Twitter, Reddit, and even YouTube, people were talking. They say Frieren gives something real, something honest, but didn’t get the full respect.
In Japan, it even won Anime of the Year, which tells something. Critics are also more in favor of Frieren in many articles and videos. It looked like Solo Leveling had more hype, but Frieren had more heart. And for many watchers, that heart should have mattered more.
Quiet Show Leaves the Loudest Mark
Solo Leveling has its place. It's big, loud, fast, and stylish. Many enjoy it, and that’s fine. But being shiny doesn’t always mean the best. Anime of the Year should give something to think, something to feel after it’s finished. That’s where Frieren was different.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is not just one more fantasy anime. It’s about what gets forgotten and what still stays in us. It’s about the people we don’t understand until too late. That’s why, even without the trophy, it will last longer in memory.
Years later, many still will speak about Frieren. Maybe not the same for Solo Leveling. And for that, many fans already know, the true winner in their heart was never in doubt.
Written By Manika Kayal, Intern, India Today Gaming.
