Anime

I want so badly to get in to it. I've tried several times and made it 5 or so episodes in, but for me it alternates between being either too slow paced or bringing about too much existential dread for me.

man.. i have people telling me to watch it and i say i will but never do. every description i hear of this show makes me disinterested.. it's hard for me to wrap my head around all the hype. i'll have to watch this eventually and find out i guess..

I don’t watch a lot of anime, and about 50% of the ones I try I dislike.
Frieren almost instantly became my favorite anime and it’s stayed that way from episode 1.

I love it, just feel good storytelling and I too enjoy the art. Really one top ones for me.

What about it makes it thus for you? I have been on the fence about watching it. Like you I have been watching anime since the 80s and I struggle trying to find my footing with newer anime often. What makes this one different?

Its up there but for me its in a group of the best. I have a hard time saying what is my fav. There is a Frieren community in the fediverse btw if you really want to gush. Common personal artwork inspiration.

I like it enough that I'll go on reading/watching, though I sometimes feel misled that it started with such an existential slice-of-life premise and then swerves into demon plots and power tournaments, well-executed and character-driven though they may be.

But the animation, music, and backdrops truly are sumptuous.

I think people into Frieren would likely enjoy the Witch Hat Atelier anime, the first season of which recently came out.