Weekly Shonen Sunday Editor-in-Chief Reveals He Didn't Believe in Frieren's Success at First

When Frieren: Beyond Journey's End began its publication, few imagined the impact it would have on modern manga. Even in his own publishing house, doubts arose about the potential of his protagonist, as revealed Kazunori Oshima, editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Sunday.

A “too calm” protagonist who ended up conquering the public.

Recently, the editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Sunday, Kazunori Oshima, offered an interview for Da Vinci Web and surprised the fans of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End with an unexpected confession. At the beginning, oshima I didn't think the protagonist could sustain the story. I thought that Frieren wasn't charming enough to connect with readers. He even suggested that the creators make the elf more charismatic to attract the public.

Oshima also commented that at the time the play had too calm an atmosphere. I felt that Frieren was a simple protagonist with few emotional expressions. Over time, that serenity and its emotional development became the heart of the story. That's exactly what made Frieren: Beyond Journey's End will stand out in the world of manga.

To close the interview, Oshima admitted that he had judged the work hastily and that he underestimated the power of a calm story. In addition, he highlighted that fans deeply appreciated how Frieren, Throughout the story, he learned to understand feelings, loss and friendship.

The reflection of oshima highlights how Frieren: Beyond Journey's End He managed to conquer readers with his slow and emotional narrative, demonstrating that the strength of a story does not always lie in the action or drama, but in the evolution and depth of its characters.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has the following description:

Sousou no Frieren transports us to a fantasy world where, after the defeat of the demon king, the heroes return home facing inevitable farewells. Among them, Frieren stands out, an elven mage who, due to the longevity of her species, observes the aging and death of her companions with painful attention. Before dying, Heiter, the group's priest, entrusts him with caring for the young human apprentice Fern, with whom he embarks on a journey in search of magical knowledge and meaning to overcome his regrets.

©