Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Director Shares Emotional Reason for Stepping Down
Keiichiro Saito opens up about his decision to step back from directing Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2, passing the torch to Tomoya Kitagawa while staying on as assistant director. The new season premieres January 16, 2026.
Anime fans have been buzzing with anticipation for the return of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, but the news that Keiichiro Saito will not be directing the second season has left many wondering why. Saito, who brought the beloved fantasy series to life, recently opened up about his decision to step aside, revealing a deeply personal reason behind the move.
Passing the Torch to a Trusted Colleague
The acclaimed show, adapted from Kanehito Yamada's ongoing manga, has earned a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and a devoted following. As the series gears up for its next chapter, Tomoya Kitagawa is set to take over the director 's chair. Kitagawa previously directed episodes 2, 8, and 25, and Saito expressed full confidence in his abilities.
"When we worked together on the first season, I felt that Kitagawa-san had solid ideas and techniques," Saito shared in an interview with Mantan Web. "Even during the first season, I was unable to keep up with the things that I should have been looking after, so I asked Kitagawa-san to help me out. I couldn't think of anyone else to ask, so I asked Kitagawa-san."
Despite stepping down from the lead role, Saito will remain involved as assistant director, ensuring continuity and support for the new team.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Kitagawa, now at the helm, spoke about the strength of the team behind the scenes.
"We have many main staff members, such as art director, color designer, cinematographer, and editor, as well as directing and animation staff who continue to participate, so they are very reliable, and we also have some new members,"
he said, highlighting the blend of experience and fresh talent driving the project forward.
The first season wrapped up after a six-month run, following the journey of the elf Frieren and her companion Fern as they headed north to Aurole. Fern achieved First Class Mage status, while Frieren found herself banned from the Magic Association for a millennium, setting the stage for new adventures.
New Adventures Await in Season 2
Looking ahead, the upcoming season promises to take Frieren and her party to uncharted territories. Director Yuichiro Fukushi teased what’s in store:
"Frieren will travel to new lands with her new party. We’ll explore fresh dynamics, new combat situations, and all of the characters' changing mindsets. It ’ll be exciting to see how their roles develop and how Frieren grows through these experiences,"
he told ScreenRant at AnimeExpo 2025.
The new season, set to premiere January 16, 2026, will feature just 10 episodes and will be available to stream on Crunchyroll. For those eager to catch up, the first season is currently streaming on Hulu and Netflix in the United States.