It’s actually not that simple.
Summary:
- Fans are wondering what Himmel being a “hero” in Frieren really means.
- It’s actually a class in JRPGs.
- It’s also an important part of Himmel’s characterization.
If you’ve been watching Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Sousou no Frieren), you might be confused about the inner workings of the Hero Party. Frieren was obviously a mage, Eisen was a warrior, and Heiter was a priest — however, Himmel was a “hero.”
That doesn’t really say much about his fighting style, at least at first glance — so what’s up with this designation?
Just Like Other Classes in the Hero Party
The actual answer is that “hero,” just like “warrior,” “mage” and “priest” is actually a class in fantasy games — more specifically, in Japanese RPGs. It usually refers to a sword-wielding warrior who exhibits traditional heroic qualities like bravery and leadership.
That was exactly what Himmel was — the leader of the party and an extremely heroic young man. The title of a hero, just like other titles in the party, refers to his class (in this sense, Frieren is very much inspired by JRPGs). So, is that all there is to it? Well, not quite.
This Is More Than Just a Profession — Himmel Being a Hero Is Symbolic
Himmel’s strength, bravery and kindness were among the qualities he was remembered for. His title of a hero is not just about his occupation and fighting style — it is what he is remembered for by the people of that world. It’s very obvious Stark sees him as a role model, as we can see in the anime.
Himmel is a hero in more ways than just one. In fact, even the title of the first opening — “Yuusha” — is the same word for “Hero” that is used for him in the series. That just shows how important Himmel was for the world of Frieren and for the story itself.
Himmel is not even the only character in the series that bears the title of a hero. It’s clearly an established class in the series, and heroes tend to be very powerful.
In early chapters of the manga, there was an indirect reference to Hero of the South — who is supposedly humanity's strongest hero. We haven’t seen him yet in the anime, though.
The amount of attention put into these things, as well as the amount of symbolism behind Himmel’s “hero” title, just shows how well Frieren is made. Not a single element is out of place, and the anime definitely deserves the “one of the best of all time” status.