Calling all Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End fans! If you ever wanted to step directly into the manga or see what it’s like to be a wizard in Frieren’s world, now you can with the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Online Festival.
We had the opportunity to experience the festival which opened on December 4th 2024 and is being held until May 31st 2025 Japan time. The event is free, requires no registration or ID to enter and is available worldwide in Japanese and English. It can be played both on PC and mobile devices.
Upon entering the virtual world, we were given control of our own personal avatar that we could guide through the town. The town has a quaint and nostalgic design, reminiscent of towns that Frieren and her companions visited during their adventures. This immediately made us feel like we had entered the story. The avatars are staff-wielding wizards that can be customized in a variety of colors from the settings page.
The controls are simple to move through the space either via the keyboard or with the mouse via the on-screen buttons. To the bottom of the screen is a camera button where you could easily take screenshots at any time. This was perfect for capturing special moments and for sharing with friends. There is also a wand button which we used when exploring the areas. We had no problems with the navigation and we liked that there was the option to switch between a first person and third person perspective when moving around. The settings also gave us lots of other customization options so we were able to explore exactly how we wanted.
At the entrance to the town, we were able to check out all the latest ongoing events and read up on the most recent information. The online festival aims to periodically add new content so this is a good place to keep an eye on. Some of the current events include a call for fan art submissions, using AR to place Himmel statues around the world and asking users to come up with their own unique idea for folk magic.
The festival not only incorporates scenes from the manga throughout the town but we were also able to recreate significant moments on our own. For example we were able to clean the Himmel statue in the center of the plaza making it shiny and beautiful just like Frieren and her party did in the manga.
As we made our way through the town, we encountered several blue and green sparkles dotted across the landscape. When we moved closer to them, the wand button on our screen began to glow. Clicking on the wand button near a blue sparkle allowed us to use magic in the surrounding area. The magic ranges from moving boxes around, to levitating in the air above the town and much more. It was fun seeing what would happen every time we came across a blue sparkle.
Meanwhile, green sparkles allowed us to collect special artwork cards that feature art from the series. There are 60 cards in total and we found that we had to really check all the nooks and crannies of the town to find out where they were. Some areas require blue sparkle magic to access the green sparkles so we had to keep a sharp eye out. It definitely gave us the feeling of a scavenger hunt with the artwork cards as the prizes.
Once we collected 10 artwork cards, we were able to visit the gallery. We weren’t sure what to expect at first but upon entering the gallery we saw that each of the artwork cards that we collected was turned into larger-than-life exhibit pieces in a dreamy display space. Each piece was beautifully lit and towered over our avatar. We especially liked that we could see all the details of the artwork due to the size and it really made us appreciate the skill of illustrator Tsukasa Abe. For anyone who is a fan of the art in particular, the gallery might just end up being a favorite spot to spend time.
Next up we visited the museum which is another one of the main areas that bring the story to life. Once we stepped into the museum, we had the choice of going through it on our own or having an audio guide. We chose the audio guide and a welcoming voice gave us a breakdown of each of the exhibits.
Right now of the two main exhibits, only the “Present Journey” exhibit is open so we chose that. In addition to the main exhibits, there is also a special exhibit that lists the results of previous character popularity polls. For anyone interested in seeing where their favorite character ranks among others we highly recommend this one.
The museum conjures up a magical atmosphere in yet another nostalgic feeling space and we felt like we were able to slow down, take our time and revisit our memories of the story. In a special room we were able to recreate one of Frieren’s most memorable spells and the audio guide invited us to sit with our feelings and thoughts before moving on.
The next was a room which held a massive map of Frieren’s world. The map begins at the Royal Capital and we were able to use our avatar to retrace the steps and relive Frieren’s journey after Himmel’s death. Each point on the map is accompanied by memorable scenes and encounters from the manga so we could experience the story in a similar way to Frieren and her companions. As we walked across the map, we were easily able to imagine the time the journey took and how the various encounters shaped the story.
As we continued traversing the map, we gained access to the Word Room. The Word Room is as the name suggests, a place where the words of and about the characters are given full attention. Some of the characters iconic lines were highlighted and we were able to appreciate them more fully. There was also a feature where we were able to step into the panels of the manga and immerse ourselves in the scenery within the pages. These scenes were all memorable moments within the manga and we were able to stand with the characters like we were part of the story itself.
The museum is definitely the heart of the online festival and cannot be missed for anyone who loves this series. The further in we went, the more there was to see and it really invited us to think deeply about the story and contemplate the meanings and motivations of the characters. It is also visually stunning, relying on dark, ethereal backdrops to make the art of the manga stand out even more in sharp contrast. It is apparent how much care and attention to detail was put into the exhibit and we are excited to see what more lies in store.
From exploring the town and hunting down sparkles, appreciating the art in the gallery to diving headfirst into the pages of the manga in the museum there is lots to do in the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Online Festival. We spent a lot of time going through the various areas and we truly felt like we were a part of the manga itself.
We definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a brand new, interactive way to enjoy this beloved series with plenty of activities that will give fans the opportunity to appreciate the work even more. Although the experience is new, it stays true to the core feelings and atmosphere of the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End manga which makes it a perfect extension of the series. There are plans to add more activities and features as time goes on so there will be lots to look forward to as well.
Be sure to check it out at the link below!
URL: https://frieren.s-pace.land/festival/en/
0 Comments