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https://www.themarysue.com/the-10-best-queer-fantasy-books-of-the-2020s-so-far/
The 2020s have been a Golden Age of Gay. The current political situation aside, there has been an outpouring of queerness across the culture. Chappell Roan, I Saw The TV Glow, literally every character in Baldur’s Gate 3, queerness is alive and thriving in music, movies and video games. And when it comes to books? Don’t even get me started. There has been a deluge of queer literature flooding the market, with queer fantasy surging to the top. If you’re a connoisseur of the decade’s finest queer art, you can’t miss 10 best queer fantasy books of the 2020s (so far).
She Who Became The Sun
A historical fantasy novel set in Imperial China, Shelley Parker Chan’s She Who Became The Sun is a queer reimagining of the rise of one of the nation’s most famous royals: the Hongwu Emperor. The founder of the Ming Dynasty, he’s one of the most influential figures in Chinese history – and according to Shelley Parker Chan, one of its most important queer figures. The story begins with a young girl’s decision to take on the identity and destiny of a dead brother, Zhu Chongba. Newly rechristened, Zhu joins up with a rebel group to stick it to the invading Mongolians – establishing themself as a respected military figure. After ascending into the halls of power, Zhu begins a relationship with a noblewoman, who helps them navigate the intricacies of politics. It’s a sweeping novel about a person who refuses to let adversity, circumstance, violence, or gender roles bar them from the height of their ambition, which, in this case, is to rule China entirely. Dream big, y’all.
The 2020s have been a Golden Age of Gay. The current political situation aside, there has been an outpouring of queerness across the culture. Chappell Roan, I Saw The TV Glow, literally every character in Baldur’s Gate 3, queerness is alive and thriving in music, movies and video games. And when it comes to books? Don’t even get me started. There has been a deluge of queer literature flooding the market, with queer fantasy surging to the top. If you’re a connoisseur of the decade’s finest queer art, you can’t miss 10 best queer fantasy books of the 2020s (so far).
She Who Became The Sun
A historical fantasy novel set in Imperial China, Shelley Parker Chan’s She Who Became The Sun is a queer reimagining of the rise of one of the nation’s most famous royals: the Hongwu Emperor. The founder of the Ming Dynasty, he’s one of the most influential figures in Chinese history – and according to Shelley Parker Chan, one of its most important queer figures. The story begins with a young girl’s decision to take on the identity and destiny of a dead brother, Zhu Chongba. Newly rechristened, Zhu joins up with a rebel group to stick it to the invading Mongolians – establishing themself as a respected military figure. After ascending into the halls of power, Zhu begins a relationship with a noblewoman, who helps them navigate the intricacies of politics. It’s a sweeping novel about a person who refuses to let adversity, circumstance, violence, or gender roles bar them from the height of their ambition, which, in this case, is to rule China entirely. Dream big, y’all.
Alongside the holiday fireworks, a magical air filled the air was felt in Los Angeles on the Fourth of July as Crunchyroll hosted a panel at Anime Expo to celebrate the critically acclaimed animated fantasy series Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Lighting up the faces of eager fans with delight who were anticipating news of Season 2, Crunchyroll presented an exclusive global reveal of its first trailer, and they also confirmed the acquisition for worldwide streaming rights excluding Asia –but including India and the Indian Subcontinent – which will be simulcast from Japan in January 2026. #ReasonsToLive
Held in the Peacock Theater in downtown LA, the panel of guests included the Japanese voice actor for the character of Stark, Chiaki Kobayashi (Hell’s Paradise), Producer Yuichiro Fukushi (One-Punch Man), and Composer Evan Call (Violet Evergarden), each of whom spoke about their experiences working on the beloved show and their excitement for Season 2.
In addition to the new trailer, Producer Yuichiro Fukushi shared with fans that Tomoya Kitagawa will direct Season 2. Kitagawa worked on storyboards and also directed multiple episodes in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1. The trailer also confirmed Season 1 director Keiichiro Saito (BOCCHI THE ROCK!) will be overseeing Season 2 as its Supervising Director. Additional staff for Season 2 will include Assistant Director Daiki Harashina (takt op. Destiny); series composition written by Tomohiro Suzuki (One-Punch Man); Character Design by Takasemaru (Violet Evergarden), Keisuke Kojima (100 Meters), and Yuri Fujinaka (key animation on SPY x FAMILY CODE: White); Concept Art by Seiko Yoshioka (background art on Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo); and Evan Call will return to compose the music.
Based on the popular, ongoing manga of the same name written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe, Frieren Beyond Journey’s End is produced by the animation studio Madhouse, who are best known for their work on Yu Yu Hakusho, Trigun, Cardcaptor Sakura, Paranoia Agent, Death Note, One-Punch Man Season 1, OVERLORD, and Sonny Boy.
Here at BNP, we love us some Frieren. Ja-Quan chose the series as his favorite anime for the year of 2024, writing “Come take a walk with me as Frieren shreds all preconceived notions of what a quality fantasy looks like”.
Our E-I-C, Will dropped a rare write up cosigning it’s immediate goat status, titling it, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is the Best Anime in the Last Few Years. Period. Exclamation Point.
Even I had to drop into the mix last year with a editorial I eventually titled, Lessons Learned from Watching Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. A lesson that I did feel was worth mentionign was “Work on Defining a Legacy on Your Own Terms” as Legacy is a very important theme throughout Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, coincidentally.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End coming back with a season two feels like being rewarded…feels like the world hasn’t given up on stellar storytelling and those who happily await for more of it to arrive.
The Season 1 characters and voice cast (Japanese and English) include the following:
- Frieren voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki | Mallorie Rodak
- Fern voiced by Kana Ichinose | Jill Harris
- Stark voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi | Jordan Dash Cruz
- Himmel voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto | Clifford Chapin
- Heiter voiced by Hiroki Tochi | Jason Douglas
- Eisen voiced by Yoji Ueda | Chris Guerrero
- Flamme voiced by Atsuko Tanaka | Lydia Mackay
- Sein voiced by Yuichi Nakamura | Christopher Wehkamp
- Übel voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa | Morgan Berry
- Denken voiced by Jiro Saito | Ben Phillips
- Serie voiced by Mariya Ise | Anastasia Munoz
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End was nominated for Anime of the Year and the winner of Best Drama, Best Director (Keiichiro Saito), Best Background Art, and Best Supporting Character at the 9th Annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards held earlier this year.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 1 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll and available to own on Blu-ray in the Crunchyroll Store, among other franchise merch, as well as the manga.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is coming to Crunchyroll January 2026!
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
Cover Image: ©Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe/Shogakukan/ “Frieren”Project
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The post ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Season 2 – Coming to Crunchyroll January 2026 appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
An Iowa man recently had an experience in a restaurant that left him scratching his head. He says that the server added 20% automatic gratuity because they were a party of six.
His issue isn’t with automatic gratuity itself. He’s miffed because the sixth person is their 11-month-old infant. And three of the diners are their small children.
There’s something comforting about a rainy day. The soft patter against your window, a warm cup of tea, and a cozy anime that wraps your soul in a blanket of gentle weirdness. With You and the Rain brings all of that energy, blending wholesome charm with delightfully absurd moments in its premiere episode. It’s based on With You and the Rain, a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ko Nikaido.
From the first frame, the show pulls you in with its muted blue palette and gentle animation style that feels like slipping into your favorite oversized sweater. Our main character, Fuji, is a soft-spoken novelist with a no-nonsense haircut and a wardrobe that screams “I’m practical, but I’m tired.” One rainy day, umbrella in tow, she does what many of us would do: she stares at an animal in a box for an awkwardly long time, debating life choices. The catch? Said animal is a pudgy tanuki (yes, a raccoon dog) with a leaf on its head, holding a sign that says, “Please take me home.” Classic dog behavior, right? Right??
Fuji, with the weary resignation of someone who knows she just signed up for an unknown adventure, brings him home. Thus begins the wholesome chaos.
The Dog Debate That Will Define a Generation
Is he a dog? A tanuki? A small, fuzzy cryptid with a fondness for arts and crafts? He says he’s a dog. He writes that he’s a dog. Who are we to argue? This mysterious little guy, whom I’ll just call ‘You’ because that’s what the teaser calls him, is the kind of pet that steals pens, writes “Thank you” in your notebook, and makes leaf masks for his part-time gig. He’s weird. He’s wonderful. He’s all of us.
The first episode rolls out like a slice-of-life hug, with little gags that feel lived-in rather than forced. The vet visit alone is comedy gold. Imagine trying to explain to a medical professional that your tanuki-shaped roommate is, in fact, a dog. Then picture your pet holding up a sign mid-vaccination that reads, “I’m a dog. Please be gentle.”
Same, buddy. Same.
Life’s Big Questions, Answered in a Bathtub
But With You and the Rain isn’t just about laughs. There’s a quiet melancholy woven through the drizzle. One of the most beautiful scenes has Fuji and her new friend soaking in separate tubs, bathed in moonlight and rain sounds. She ponders where they both came from, and what home really means. It’s understated and human in a way that sneaks up on you between all the visual gags and raccoon antics.
Fuji’s musings hit home for anyone who’s ever felt adrift. “Where do we come from? Where do we go?” she asks aloud. (No, “Cotton Eye Joe” is not canon, but now you’re thinking it.) Her little companion simply scribbles on the steamed-up wall: “Me too.” And somehow, that’s enough.
A Gentle Start to What Feels Like a Comfort Watch Classic
With You and the Rain doesn’t scream for your attention. It’s not loud or overly energetic. Instead, it invites you to sit down, have some tea, and maybe cry a little into your cardigan. It’s quiet, warm, and odd in the best way—perfect for fans of series like My Roommate is a Cat or Tanaka-kun is Always Listless, but with its own flavor of gentle weird.
I haven’t read the manga yet, but after this first episode, it’s definitely on my list. If episode 1 is any sign of what’s to come, this feels like it will be a tender comedy about loneliness, connection, and embracing life’s little unknowns. Honestly, I can’t wait to see where this slice-of-life story goes next.
With You and the Rain airs on Crunchyroll beginning July 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM PT with new episodes streaming every Saturday.
Production Staff:
- Original Work:
Based on the manga With You and the Rain written and illustrated by Ko Nikaido - Directed by:
Tomohiro Tsukimisato - Series Composition Written by:
Toko Machida - Character Design by:
Ayano Owada - Music Composed by:
Rei Ishizuka - Animation Studio:
Lesprit
Japanese Voice Cast and Characters:
- Saori Hayami as Fuji
- Anna Mugiho as You
- Yuna Kamakura as Mimi
- Satomi Sato as Ren
- Yuzu Yumoto as Kii
- Yoji Ueda as Tatsuo
- Mie Sonozaki as Michiko
- Kikunosuke Toya as Teru
- Yumiri Hanamori as Wako
- Chafurin as Veterinarian
- Shūhei Sakaguchi as Hiura
- Mitsuho Kambe as Hojo
- Yume Miyamoto as Arata
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.
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The post Finding Comfort in the Storm: ‘With You and the Rain’ is the Comfy-Core Anime You Didn’t Know You Needed appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.