The “Frieren Exhibition: A Tale That Begins After the Adventure Ends” captivates fans at Ikebukuro Sunshine City Exhibition Hall C, running from April 25 to May 12. During its media preview, a poignant display showing Aura’s final moments drew significant attention, evoking a somber atmosphere among the spectators without any laughter.
This immersive experience highlights pivotal scenes from “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” (known as Sousou no Frieren in Japanese) through large-scale reproductions, vivid video installations, and interactive photo spots featuring beloved characters. Visitors relive Frieren’s adventures, exploring narratives about heroism, magical confrontations, and trials of magical acumen. Each display beautifully encapsulates the essence of the anime, making it a must-visit for enthusiasts.
Key moments, such as Frieren’s reunions and new quests, are brought to life, enhancing the connection between the characters and the audience. The exhibition not only celebrates the adventure and camaraderie of the series but also introduces fans to new layers of its enchanting world.
Fans find the “Frieren Exhibition” a touching tribute to the series, noting its creative presentation and deep respect for the source material. It successfully transforms key moments from the anime into a tangible journey that captures the hearts of its viewers, securing its place as a cherished event in the anime community calendar.
Why is Aura so popular? Perhaps it’s because she’s easy to make fun of as a meme character. Despite her grandiose title as one of the “Seven Sages of Destruction” and her position as a named subordinate, her dramatic introduction as a strong character accompanied by unique magic and countless headless knights, the stark contrast of her quickly resorting to suicide due to Frieren’s scheme is amusing in itself. It makes a great impact.
Additionally, she is metaphorically easy to use. Phrases like “Aura, do XX” and her crying face at the time of her suicide are highly versatile in fan creations. The human-like expressions of panic and despair, which are uncharacteristic of demons, are also appealing. Other reasons include her limited depiction in the story, which allows creators to easily add their own interpretations and settings, her character design that remains recognizable even when stylized (like her hairstyle, hair color, horns, etc.), and the fact that there’s no depiction of her killing any characters in the story, so she doesn’t attract readers’ hate. I assume all these factors contribute to her popularity.
