The 2024 anime awards season stirred more controversy than most, especially when Solo Leveling took home the coveted Anime of the Year title. For many fans, the decision was baffling, not because Solo Leveling was a poor anime, but because another series towered above it in terms of emotional depth, narrative strength, and artistry, and that was Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. After rewatching both series, I can say with certainty that while Solo Leveling dazzled with spectacle, Frieren lingered in the soul long after the screen faded to black.