Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has just achieved a historic feat in the anime world in January 2026. The second season of the series, which premiered on the Crunchyroll platform on January 16th, reached a score of 9.33 on My Anime List (MAL), surpassing its own first season and becoming the highest-rated animated production of all time. This record, therefore, places the work of authors Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe at the absolute top of the ranking, ahead of established giants like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Steins;Gate. The achievement is a direct reflection of the immediate impact of the first episode of the new season, which captivated the global fan community.
The plot, which was already acclaimed, continues to follow the elf mage Frieren, a character with over a thousand years of life. After the defeat of the Demon King alongside the hero Himmel, she embarks on an introspective journey to better understand humanity and the bonds she has formed. The new season promises to deepen this melancholic and philosophical narrative, which resonates strongly with the audience by exploring themes such as time, memory, and regret. Thus, the overwhelming success in the first hours of broadcast confirms the anime's status not only as a commercial success but as a cultural and critical phenomenon.
A Record That Redefines the Top
The achievement is even more impressive when we look at the historical ranking. With its score of 9.33, the second season of Frieren has dethroned productions considered pillars of the industry. Just below it in the MAL ranking are Chainsaw Man The Movie: The Reze Arc (9.11), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (9.10), and Attack on Titan (9.05). This qualitative leap, meaning the improvement in evaluation compared to its own first season (9.28), demonstrates that the production team has managed not only to maintain but to elevate the narrative and technical quality that had already captivated fans. The positive reception appears to be unanimous, consolidating the series as a landmark for the 2020s.
The season's premiere occurred globally on Crunchyroll, with new episodes being released every Friday. This weekly release model, common in streaming, has kept the discussion and audience engagement high, fueling the series' prominent position. Meanwhile, the Brazilian otaku community is following the news with enthusiasm, actively participating in discussions on social media. The question remains: will Frieren be able to maintain this leading position throughout 2026? The answer, for now, seems to be a resounding yes, thanks to a deep narrative that continues to enchant and move viewers around the world.