MyAnimeList stands as one of the largest hubs for anime and manga enthusiasts, renowned for its extensive catalog of shows. This platform allows fans to effortlessly track what they’re currently watching or plan to view in the future. Beyond just tracking, users can also rate their favorite series, contributing to the overall ranking of each show on MyAnimeList. These rankings serve as a valuable indicator of a show’s perceived quality among the anime community.

For quite some time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood held the prestigious top position on MyAnimeList until it was recently dethroned by Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Despite Frieren‘s acclaim as one of today’s standout anime, it arguably doesn’t surpass FMAB. The latter offers a complete narrative with a conclusive ending, while Frieren remains a work in progress, suggesting its current ranking might be more reflective of its recent buzz.

Rankings on MyAnimeList can be quite volatile, often shifting with the release of new, highly-rated anime. Because these rankings are based on user scores, a show with fewer but higher ratings can outscore a series with a larger number of votes but a slightly lower average. Although FMAB held the top spot for years, there have been instances where new releases temporarily climbed to number one, only to drop as their initial excitement waned. An example is the third season of Kaguya-sama: Love is War, which briefly surpassed FMAB before its ranking decreased.

The MyAnimeList rankings are fickle and prone to change every time a new good anime releases. As the rankings depend on user scores, a series with high ratings from a relatively small number of users can outrank a show with far more voters but lower average scores. Even though FMAB maintained the top spot for years, there were plenty of moments when newly released shows briefly topped the charts. But they would soon drop back down once the initial hype settled. For instance, Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 3 temporarily surpassed FMAB before its rank fell lower.

However, once Frieren took over, FMAB never got back its position, and for more than a year, the list has remained the same. Currently, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc ranks higher than FMAB, placing FMAB at third overall on the site and second among TV anime. Many would take this opportunity as proof to claim that Frieren is a better show than FMAB, which is a huge assertion that few can support with concrete evidence.

When Frieren first dropped, the hype surrounding the anime was insane because of its breathtaking animation by Madhouse. On top of that, Frieren got the spotlight as an anomaly because of its unique plot compared to other shows within its fantasy genre. Frieren does not depict the usual fight with the Demon Lord, and the storyline starts after the hero defeats the expected primary antagonist. Plus, the focus is not on the hero, but a member of the hero’s party, Frieren, an elven mage.

However, it is undeniably true that Frieren also has its flaws, especially with its obvious slow pacing. Hardcore Frieren fans often defend its gradual build-up as something profound, but after a certain point, the pacing can feel lethargic. The story also starts to stagnate until the action finally kicks in. Frieren’s slice-of-life quality clashes with its fantasy setup, and its indulgent nature on the laid-back theme becomes an issue in the long run.

FMAB is also not absolutely perfect, but it blends multiple genres so effectively that it appeals to a wide range of viewers. And that broader appeal shows in the numbers, because while FMAB has over 3.6 million votes and a 9.10 rating, Frieren has around 1.2 million votes and a 9.29. This clearly shows that far more people have watched and validated FMAB, making direct comparisons between their scores less fair.

Frieren’s Incomplete Story Shouldn’t Outrank Finished Masterpieces

FMAB tells a complete story, spanning 64 episodes to carefully depict resonant themes and explain multiple subplots, all working together to portray one cohesive narrative. The plot of FMAB also introduces numerous well-written characters, yet it manages to touch upon almost everyone’s part, with hardly anyone getting left behind. Compared to that, Frieren is still in its first season with only 28 episodes and a huge chunk of its story yet to unravel.

Therefore, claiming that Frieren has a better story than FMAB makes little sense when its manga is not even finished. There is also the fact that FMAB comes with a comprehensive and ideal ending, leaving little room for fan disappointment. All its conflicts get resolved in the end, and the characters either achieve their goals or get the redemption they hoped for.

This is obviously not the case for Frieren, as there is much to happen, with Frieren and her new companions, Fern and Stark, still only in the beginning stages of their journey. Not to mention, FMAB also tackles far more profound and philosophical concepts, such as the cost of ambition and the flawed nature of humanity. Yes, Frieren also has some great ideas, but it only narrowly touches upon grief and the cruel passage of time through the connection between Frieren and Himmel.

That said, no one can change the reality that Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has the potential to become one of the best animated series ever made once its entire story is out. However, we are still not there yet. For now, as the situation stands, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood remains one of the most satisfying and all-encompassing anime that will keep entertaining generations of anime fans.

Image via Studio Madhouse

Release Date

September 29, 2023

Network

Nippon TV, YTV, FBS, Chukyo TV, RNB, FCT, STV, KNB, HTV, YBS, RAB, TVI, YBC, UMK TV Miyazaki, TSB, MMT, TeNY, RNC, NIB, KKT, KTK, NKT, ABS, JRT, Daiichi-TV, FBC, RKC, KYT, KRY

Directors

Kento Matsui, Kota Mori, Takahiro Natori, Morio Asaka, Lim Ka-hee, Taku Kimura, Ken Ando, Hirotaka Mori, Ayaka Tsuji

Writers

Tomohiro Suzuki

• Atsumi Tanezaki

  Frieren (voice)

• 

  Kana Ichinose

  Fern (voice)