Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End made waves as one of the highest-rated anime in the shonen genre. Besides being the anime of the year, the series had both readers and viewers hooked on it for several reasons.

In particular, the series is a gripping tale of love, loss, friendship, and camaraderie. And while it oscillates between beginnings and endings, it has a glaring similarity with Hajime Isayama’s series with its key aspect.

Frieren the Elf Mage in a still from the anime | Credit: Madhouse

In retrospect, both series are different in their premise. While Attack on Titan exemplifies the dystopian nightmare, Natsu Hyuga’s series focuses on the elven mage’s journey. But there is a commonality in their representation of divisions.

Despite the prevalence of different races and their solidarity, peace is utopian. This is especially true with demons and their history which counter the idea of coexistence. This...