It’s Time To Welcome The New Highest Rated Anime of All Time

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Anime fans have seen a lot of amazing shows recently, but Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a true standout. The first season, with 28 episodes, quickly gained a dedicated following, and viewers loved the story. Now, in 2026, Frieren is back with a second season.

Although only one episode of Frieren Season 2 has been released, it’s already a huge hit with fans. It’s become so popular that it’s surpassed Frieren Season 1 to become the highest-rated anime ever on MyAnimeList. Currently, Frieren is leading the platform by a significant margin, and no other series is close to challenging its position. The future looks very promising for the Frieren series.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 Was The Highest Rated Anime of All Time

Image via Madhouse.

  • It took the spot from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
  • It was the highest-rated anime between 2023 and 2026

MyAnimeList is a popular and trustworthy website for anime fans to find and rate their favorite shows. It’s the largest platform of its kind, and users heavily influence the rankings, often striving to boost the scores of series they enjoy.

For a long time, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was the top-rated anime on MyAnimeList. It held the number one spot for over ten years – longer than any other series!

Himmel said, ‘It’s okay if people think I’m not a real hero. My goal is to defeat the Demon King and create a peaceful world, and after that, it won’t matter how I got there.’

In 2023, the anime Frieren quickly became popular, even surpassing Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood with a score of 9.28 out of 10. While Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc later surpassed Fullmetal Alchemist, Frieren Season 1 held the top spot until recently. Now, a new anime has taken the number one position on the MyAnimeList platform.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 Is The New Highest Rated Anime On MAL

  • It boasts a score of 9.34/10 with just one episode

For almost three years, Frieren Season 1 held the top spot as the highest-rated anime on MyAnimeList, initially achieving this in 2023. As of January 2026, it has been surpassed, but surprisingly not by another series. Instead, Frieren Season 2, which premiered on January 16th, 2026, took its place as the number one anime.

I was really surprised to see that Frieren Season 2 has already hit a 9.34/10 on MyAnimeList after just one episode! That’s something that’s never happened before, at least not that I’ve seen. It’s still early days, though, and I’m curious to see if the score will stay that high as more episodes come out.

Frieren Season 2 Had A Great Start, But Some Fans Think Ratings Are Undeserved

  • One episode isn’t enough to make it the greatest anime

Ever since the first season of Frieren ended, fans have eagerly awaited the continuation of this heartwarming, yet bittersweet, story about the elf mage Frieren. Given how much anticipation there was for Frieren Season 2, it’s no surprise that it’s been so well-received.

While many people are excited about Frieren Season 2, not everyone thinks it’s worthy of being ranked number one on MyAnimeList. Some feel it’s too soon to call it the best anime ever after only one episode, and a few even suspect the high ranking is due to artificially inflated reviews. Similar complaints were made when the first season topped the charts in 2023.

It’s difficult to know for sure, but the incredible popularity of Frieren is likely due to its devoted fanbase. Whatever the reason, Frieren is currently the top-rated anime, and it looks set to stay that way for a while.

Looking at this, I’m flooded with memories of our travels together. It really feels like being transported back to a different time – a time when the world felt completely open to us, and everything was new and exciting. As I think back, I see all of you so clearly, right behind my eyelids. I’ve spent my life hoping we’d meet again. And I have to thank you, Frieren. Because of you, this old hero got one last adventure.

It’s still early in the season, but I already get the feeling this is going to be a really fun watch. Studio Madhouse is clearly putting a lot of effort into the Frieren adaptation, and with only ten episodes, they’ve been able to focus on making each one really high quality. Whether it’s the best anime of the season or not is up for debate, but I have a strong feeling Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2 will be something people talk about for a long time.

Frieren Season 2 Has 9 More Amazing Episodes

  • Frieren could dominate all anime with its two seasons

With nine episodes remaining, Frieren Season 2 has the chance to become one of the greatest anime ever made. The season has just begun, and early reactions are incredibly positive. The animation looks fantastic, and fans are thrilled to see Frieren, Fern, Stark, and the rest of the cast return as their new adventure unfolds and promises even more excitement.

I’ve heard that Season 2 of Frieren won’t be the last we see of this story. There’s still a lot of content from the manga that hasn’t been adapted into the anime yet, and the manga itself is still being written, so there’s plenty more to come!

Flamme, a famous mage, said: ‘There will come a time when you’ll regret not having stronger relationships with others. When that day comes, seek me out here, and I will offer my assistance.’

Unfortunately, the team behind Frieren is facing some health challenges, which has led to pauses in production. The good news is that a third season is confirmed! We can expect more amazing episodes that will solidify Frieren‘s place as a truly exceptional anime. Many believe Frieren is a masterpiece and has the potential to become the greatest anime of all time, and its success is likely to continue.

The Frieren manga is back on an indefinite hiatus. Fans can read the Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Manga online on Viz Media. Meanwhile, when it comes to the anime, fans can find season 1 of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End with all its episodes, available to watch on Crunchyroll. Season 2 of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is also available on Crunchyroll with new weekly episodes.

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2026-01-21 23:37