What You Left Behind, Forever (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End / The Hero)

I have been really looking forward to Frieren: Beyond Journey's End lately. It is a story about Frieren, an elven mage said to live for a thousand years, who goes on an adventure retracing the path of her former companion, Himmel the Hero. I think that is the shortest way to describe it.

The theme song for this is "The Hero," performed by YOASOBI. The actual content of the anime is wonderful, of course, but this song is also truly magnificent.

I first listened to this song without having watched Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. At that time, I just recognized it as YOASOBI releasing another lovely track. However, after I started watching the anime a few episodes later and listened to the song again, what happened?

The resolution of the song increased dramatically, all at once.

I had the realization that the lyrics in this part were singing about that specific event. I was moved by how Ayase captured and wrote about Frieren's feelings toward the late Himmel the Hero. I was surprised that the song resonated completely differently than when I listened to it without knowing the original work at all.

For me, YOASOBI has been "The Blessing" from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, "Idol" from Oshi no Ko, "Monster" from BEASTARS, and now "The Hero." With this track record, I have come to think that YOASOBI might be the only ones capable of creating theme songs that fit their works so perfectly.

Himmel the Hero, who passes away in the first episode, plays a very significant role in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. He is a source of great regret for Frieren. She cries, saying that even though she knew human lifespans were much shorter than an elf's, she did not try to learn more about him.

That sentiment is depicted throughout the song. This is my favorite part.

The melody combined with these lyrics is just so good. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has a unique story structure that begins after the hero's party has already brought peace to the world. Therefore, for Frieren, an elf, the adventure that has already ended is something that will fade from people's memories over the long passage of time. By remembering it herself, she is carrying it into the future.

In fact, Frieren asks the townspeople, "How long will this festival (honoring the hero's party) continue?" She gazes up at the statues of the hero's party, including herself, found here and there. Even that was a manifestation of Himmel the Hero's kindness, but for now, in the anime, the true nature of that kindness remains unknown.

I will refrain from mentioning that here.
Because I might end up writing another article about it in the future.