The end of the Winter 2024 anime cycle also marked the end of the first season of a new fantasy drama anime, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. And to everyone’s surprise, it’s this anime that has overtaken everyone’s much-loved and favorite childhood anime, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, as the top anime in ratings.
Yes, no joke. The 2009 remake of the 2003 anime, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood held the number 1 spot on the “Top Anime Series” ranking on My Anime List, a popular anime database and social networking platform, for over a decade.
This does not mean there haven’t been ups and downs in this journey to maintaining the pole position. Several anime like Fruits Basket, Attack on Titan’s Final Season, Oshi no Ko, and even Frieren’s debut pulled it down temporarily. But, the fanbase has made sure that FMA remains the top-rated anime series of all time.
However, after the finale of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End aired on March 22, 2024, the anime series surpassed Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood to secure the first position on the Top Anime Series ranking on My Anime List. At the time of writing, Sousou no Frieren has a 9.39 rating with 315k user votes, whereas FMA Brotherhood has a 9.09 rating with over 2 million user votes. So, now there’s a significant gap between the ratings for the two anime series.
In addition to My Anime List, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has also overtaken Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood on Anime News Network’s Top 10 Anime ranking. The former has a 9.24 rating whereas the latter has a 9.07 rating on ANN right now.
“Like all anime on MAL, Brotherhood’s score has declined over time as new anime fans watch it and have differing perspectives or opinions,” commented an MAL moderator on Frieren’s success and Brotherhood losing its pole position. The reason for Frieren’s new-found success is the fans’ interest in the immortal Elfen Sorceress, the fantasy settings, and a cast of cozy and adorable characters.
I’m one of the biggest fans of the Full Metal Alchemist anime, and I usually show everyone the MAL Top Anime page to confirm my recommendation. However, it has been topped by a little yet 1,000-year-old elven mage, but I’m not complaining. FMA and the Elric brothers sure hold a special place in my heart, and they deserve all the recognition from the anime community.
However, in 2024, I guess it’s time to let a new star shine, even if temporarily. And to be honest, Frieren has a certain quality that pulls you into her world. Be it the anime show’s character development, Frieren recalling the past, or coming to terms with her emotions, I’d suggest you give it a try. The anime also has stellar animation.
Recently, I’ve been suggesting my friends to watch Frieren if they are in search of a new anime after Solo Leveling’s finale or while they wait for Demon Slayer Season 4. Also, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood ended up recovering its top position on MAL sooner or later.
