Sunday’s Editor-in-Chief Wishes Frieren were More Charming
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has emerged as one of the biggest recent hits in the manga and anime world. However, Weekly Shonen Sunday Editor-in-Chief Kazunori Oshima recently admitted that he initially did not see the series’ potential.
Sunday’s Editor-in-Chief Wishes Frieren were More Charming
In an interview with Da Vinci Web, Oshima revealed that he underestimated the work during its planning phase. “I didn’t foresee it getting this far,” he confessed.
“When I wrote my thoughts on the serialization project, I mentioned that I wished the elf girl were a bit more charming.” Looking back, he acknowledges that this was a misjudgment given the massive success the series has achieved.
Since its debut in 2020, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has captivated fans and dominated manga sales rankings. The series has over 20 million copies in circulation and has received prestigious awards such as the 14th Manga Taisho Award in 2021 and the 25th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2022.
The Anime’s Impact and Editorial Team’s Perspective
The anime adaptation, produced by the renowned studio Madhouse (known for works like Hunter x Hunter and A Place Further Than the Universe), premiered in September 2023 and received widespread acclaim for its high-quality animation and engaging storytelling.
Oshima credits Frieren’s success to the talents of creators Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, along with the dedication of editor Ogura. “Looking back, I realize how wrong I was to doubt the series. I’m sure Ogura must have thought, ‘Are you kidding me?'” Oshima admitted.
Despite Frieren’s incredible success, the editorial team remained grounded. “Even after Frieren became a huge hit and got an anime adaptation, the editorial department didn’t get overly excited. Instead, we became even more eager to discover new stories and writers to create the next big success,” he added.
Currently, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Volume 14 is available in stores and online. The anime’s second season is set to premiere in January 2026, though a specific release date has yet to be confirmed.
