The elven mage Frieren is a former member of a party of adventurers who defeated the Demon King and restored harmony to the world after a ten-year quest.

Frieren's elven nature grants her an extremely long lifespan, causing her to experience years or decades as ephemeral.

When Yamada finished the first storyboard, Ogura contacted Tsukasa Abe, and asked him to draw a character chart and send the work to the editorial department.

[4][5][6] During an editorial department meeting, the editor in charge said: "If we decide on a good title, we will pay a prize of 10,000 yen out of our own pocket".

One of the title ideas submitted by the deputy editor-in-chief was Sōsō no Frieren (葬送のフリーレン), and Yamada and Abe decided to use it for the manga.

[16] In February 2021, Viz Media announced it licensed the series for English release in North America,[17] and the first volume was published on November 9, 2021.

[22] The chapters were later collected in a single volume titled Frieren: The Anthology – Journeys off the Beaten Path (葬送のフリーレン アンソロジー～異なる旅を楽しむ魔法～, Sōsō no Furīren Ansoroji Kotonaru Tabi o Tanoshimu Mahō), released on December 18, 2023.

[25][26] It was later announced that it would be a television series produced by Madhouse and directed by Keiichirō Saitō [ja], with script supervision by Tomohiro Suzuki, and character designs by Reiko Nagasawa.

[48] Shogakukan published an official fanbook that features information about the series, illustrations, summaries, and initial rough character designs, on January 12, 2024.

The novel includes stories centered around Frieren, Fern, Stark, Kanne, Lawine, and Aura that are not depicted in the manga.

[50] A 24-page novella, also written by Hachimoku, subtitled Sora ni Hana wo Sakaseru Mahō (空に花を咲かせる魔法, lit.

'Magic to Make Flowers Bloom in the Sky'), will be bundled with the special edition of the manga's fourteenth volume, set to be released on March 18, 2025.

[67] Richard Eisenbeis from the same website praised the second volume of the series, saying it "delivers both emotional tales and deep thematic explorations of human nature".

"[68][69] Ross Locksley of UK Anime Network considered it as an interesting take on the fantasy genre by contrasting the enduring existence of one race with the ephemeral lifespan of another, finding it similar to the manga series To Your Eternity, highlighting how the series explores the relationships Frieren builds with the people around her.

Moondaughter highlighted the story's slice of life nature, despite its premise, which involves a "[Dungeons & Dragons]-style adventuring party", and praised the interaction between the characters and the art work, concluding: "If you want a break from fight scenes, and want something more serene and contemplative, this book should serve you well!

"[73] Kara Dennison of Otaku USA liked the art and the touches of humanity that help the narrative to appeal, comparing it with Lord of the Rings and other fantasy series.

[74] Gracie Qiu for Anime Trending gave it a score of 94.5 out of 100, writing: "Through its characters, its themes, and its astounding execution of the nuanced story, I end each episode looking at my own life, appreciating the journey I have traveled and wondering in anticipation at what is still yet to come.

[98] Jenni Lada of Siliconera considered it one of the best anime of late 2023, praising Frieren's depths as she wants to reconnect with Himmel following his death in the first episode, while also noting other events in the manga go from drama to slice-of-life.

[99] Dan Mansfield of The Fandom Post praised the anime's fights and narrative but felt some sex jokes are out-of-place despite appreciating the humor overall.

While commenting on Frieren's personality, Mansfield appreciated scenes in early episodes in which Fern comforts Stark, who is worried about being scared.

[102] Ayaan Paul Chowdhury of The Hindu called it "the future of fantasy" and wrote: "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End dares to carve its own path amidst the cacophony of familiar tropes and archetypes".