Best New Gen Anime

Key Takeaways

• New gen anime, like Dandadan & Spy x Family, brings fresh ideas & humor to the anime world.
• Kaiju No. 8 challenges the norm with humans using Kaiju to fight Kaiju, adding risk.
• Chainsaw Man offers dark humor & unpredictable twists in its intense story & characters.

Plenty of beloved anime series, like Cowboy Bebop, One Piece, and Naruto, have been around for a while. While these shows are among the best anime series ever developed, in the last decade, a new wave of anime has taken over the world.

These new anime series have brought with them new tropes and perspectives that have left viewers intrigued and hungry for more. From shows like Attack on Titan to Demon Slayer and Freiren, the new generation of anime has begun gaining ground, and fans can’t wait to see what it has in store. For the shows of the new gen anime that have already aired, the best of them are, without a doubt, incredible.

Updated December 10, 2024, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: The next generation of anime consists of those shows that have broken new ground in the world of anime in relatively recent times. These series are those that evolve the standards of ‘anime,’ and the best of them leave their mark on otaku culture in general. In terms of timeline, certain shows that aired around a decade ago, such as Attack On Titan, are considered new gen, as it has left a cultural impact that is much more recent compared to anime shows like Bleach, One Piece, and Cowboy Bebop. Aside from the timeline, the ideas these shows introduce to the anime industry are important as they set a new standard for future productions in the anime world and resonate with modern audiences.

The criteria used for next-gen anime include but are not limited to, the recency of cultural impact, innovative animation style, and ever-evolving themes that bring fresh ideas to the anime industry.

1 Dandadan

Hilarity And Chaos Set This Rising Star Apart

As a relatively new anime series, Dandadan is making waves in the anime industry. It combines fantastical elements in terms of supernatural abilities and yokai, and extraterrestrial life and technology in the form of aliens. It then combines all its intriguing aspects with drop-dead humor that makes the show stand out and hilarious at the same time.

The plot of the series is heavily focused on the discovery and entanglement of Ken Katakura, Ayase Momo, and the rest of their crew with aliens and yokai. Through their interactions, they also develop supernatural abilities that allow them to battle the supernatural and, of course, mess around with unpredictable and chaotic results.

2 Spy x Family

The Forger Family’s Secrets And Shenanigans Serves As An Interesting Watch

With its first season airing in the spring of 2022, this anime series went on to garner a solid rating of 8.49 on MyAnimeList and was generally well-received by fans. Fast forward to the autumn of 2023; Spy x Family releases a second season and a movie, and fans still love it.

What fans love the most is undoubtedly Anya Forger’s many antics with her mind-reading skills and Lloyd and Yor’s many dubious behaviors in their quest to prevent each other from finding out their true abilities as a spy and assassin, respectively. With Anya in the same school as Damien Desmond, she, alongside her adoptive father, must find a way to infiltrate the Desmond’s inner circle to prevent a war from breaking out.

3 Odd Taxi

An Award-Winning Masterpiece Featuring A Walrus Driver

After airing, Odd Taxi went on to become an award-winning anime series with multiple awards to its name for good reason. The series features the protagonist walrus; Hiroshi Odokawa, who, despite being asocial, has varying discussions with his passengers as a taxi driver.

During these many discussions, Odokawa gets to know many things about Tokyo and its dark happenings, but the information comes at a cost as a missing girl is traced back to Odokawa, and the walrus must now become more than a simple taxi driver to clear his name. Winning various awards, such as the 2021 IGN Awards for Best Anime Series and the 2022 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards for Best Protagonist, Odd Taxi is a worthwhile watch.

4 Girls Band Cry

The Challenges And Triumphs Of Band Life

Music is often referred to as a universal language, and Girls Band Cry portrays that universal language as it impacts the various characters in the show. The show focuses on the clumsy 17-year-old Nina Iseri and four other girls who decide to start a band together after fated meetings.

As always, being in a band often has as many disadvantages as it has advantages, so struggles and various forms of disagreements are bound to happen. However, with passion uniting them all, the girls decide to push past their differences. As a next-gen anime series, Girls Band Cry stands out for its unique story and its well-crafted CGI animation. Moreover, its focus on music makes it catchy, and the original songs fit the story well.

5 86 Eighty-Six

The Façade Of A Casualty-Less War Is Broken

This anime series tells a gripping story between Lina and Shinei, two individuals from completely different worlds. During the era in which the series is set, the Empire and the Republic of San Magnolia are at war using autonomous robots to ensure that there are no human casualties. However, it’s merely a façade, as the supposed autonomous units of the Republic of San Magnolia are actually piloted by a group of discriminated-against individuals collectively known as the 86.

When Lina, a handler who believes she is managing autonomous machines, uncovers the truth, she realizes the situation is far more disturbing than she ever imagined and the complications spread far more than the Republic of San Magnolia.

6 Vivy: Fluorite Eyes Song

Humanity’s Last Hope: AI Vs. AI

• Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Suspense
• Studio: Wit Studio

With humans and AI mentioned in the same breath, there are bound to be all sorts of theories about what AI’s evolution could mean for humanity’s future. In Vivy: Fluorite Eyes Song, AI is out to eradicate humanity, but it also remains humanity’s last hope from destruction.

100 years into the future, humanity is about to be eradicated by AI, which believes the best way to progress is to eradicate the inferior species. However, a scientist sends an AI, Matsumoto, back into the past to ally with the first-ever autonomous AI, Vivy, to stop the eradication of humanity. With the gripping storyline and intense combat scenes portrayed in the first few episodes, this series is one to look out for.

7 Kaiju No. 8

A Gamble Using Monsters To Fight Monsters Is Portrayed

Shortly after its debut in the anime industry, this anime series managed to garner a fan base, with some fans even exploring the manga series. The series portrays Hibino Kafka’s struggle to become a member of Japan’s Defense Force, while his long-time childhood friend has gone on to become the head of a division. While it seems like Kafka has no hope, he suddenly becomes what he aims to eradicate—a Kaiju.

With its incredible visuals and great story, Kaiju No. 8 portrays a battle between humans and Kaiju. However, what happens when humanity’s greatest threat becomes indistinguishable from its most trusted allies? Everyone becomes a suspect, and humanity may have to use Kaiju to face Kaiju—a decision with immense risk.

8 Blue Eye Samurai

The Protagonist Is Out For Blood And Vengeance

During the Edo period, Japan’s Shogunate chased American foreigners from the country and closed the borders to them, considering them as outcasts and downright illegal. However, four powerful Americans remained in the country, each contriving their plot to take over the country or have it in ruin.

Among these powerful individuals lies Mizu, a child born an outcast, and considered a demon. As the daughter of one of these Americans, Mizu pretends to be a man to hide from her various pursuers and live her life more freely. Growing into adulthood, she decides to pursue vengeance against her supposed father and would rather kill all four Americans than simply try to find her father. But with the mystery and power behind them, what can a lonely outcast do?

9 Vinland Saga

A World Of Vikings, Adventure, And Emotional Depth

After it started airing in the summer of 2019, fans came to love Thorfinn, the young boy who set out on a treacherous sea adventure with bandits so he could avenge his father, who died protecting him. Despite being immensely young, Thorfinn quickly got strong and faced off against the Jomsvikings alongside Askeladd, the person who killed his father.

As a next-gen anime series, Vinland Saga is well-known in the anime community. The first season portrayed Thorfinn’s vengeance-driven adventure. However, the second season took on a different route that had Thorfinn renounce violence, the very skill that took him through season one.

10 Solo Leveling

A Cutthroat Journey From The Bottom Of The Barrel To The Very Top While The World Is At Stake

The Solo Leveling anime series has quickly taken a spot as one of the best next-gen anime series due to the immense hype surrounding it. After the first season aired, the show lived up to the hype with the stunning visual animations and fight choreography portrayed. Moreover, watching a protagonist rise up from zero to become the strongest is highly intriguing in the anime community.

With Sung Jin-Woo as its protagonist, Solo Leveling portrays how the world’s weakest hunter turns into the strongest. The journey is made even more dangerous as Sung Jin-Woo is inserted into a war between rulers and monarchs, beings created at the beginning of the world from light and darkness, respectively.

11 Made In Abyss

A Journey Through The Unknown With Little Hope Of Making It Out

A big, giant hole that stretches deep into the earth lies at the center of a town. Civilizations have always been curious to explore the unknown, so individuals known as cave raiders sprung up. These individuals journey into the deep stretch of darkness to explore what secrets lie there, as it contains remnants of ancient civilizations.

Meanwhile, Riko, a young girl, dreams of becoming a White Whistle Cave Raider, a title given to the most accomplished cave raiders. Riko’s dream of becoming a cave raider lies in her dream to follow in her mother’s footsteps. However, the deeper one enters into the abyss, the harder it is to come out.

12 The Apothecary Diaries

With Political Intrigue At Its Helm, This Series Offers Something Unique

Set during the Tang dynasty in ancient China, Apothecary Diaries lacks the element of supernatural abilities. However, with its portrayal of court battles and dastardly plots, it offers something unique among next-gen anime and has gone on to make a name for itself.

The series portrays young Maomao working as an apothecary (a medical professional) and tending to sex workers. However, when her father sends her to gather herbs, she’s kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace. As a servant to the court, Maomao hears that the emperor’s children have contracted an illness and proceeds to use her apothecary skills to solve it.

13 Attack On Titan

Epic Titan Battles

This anime series has without a doubt left its name among the anime greats. The series depicted epic themes of violence, war, loss, and the need for redemption that had fans hooked and on the edge of their seats.

With the backdrop of its game-changing narrative of titans and humans duking it out for supremacy, the characters in the series also had a story to tell. Each character has their own goals, motivations, and ideals that led them to either disagree or agree with each other. The resulting cooperation, disagreement, or competition between characters led to a greatly intriguing anime that fans simply couldn’t get enough of.

14 Jujutsu Kaisen

A World Of Curses And Sorcerers

Jujutsu Kaisen is, without a doubt, one of the new generation’s best. The show starts off solid, following Itadori Yuji, a young teenage boy who becomes a vessel for Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses.

Despite the looming threat of Sukuna, with the presence of Satoru Gojo, the greatest sorcerer in modern times, many remained at ease. However, the second season of the show tipped the scales completely. Moreover, the best — and deadliest — events are yet to come. Jujutsu Kaisen offers an action-packed narrative that has every character facing the risk of death, the protagonists included, and this makes it that much more intriguing.

15 Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Unmatched Emotional Depth

Unlike other anime series that show a hero on a journey to defeat the Demon Lord, Frieren begins at the end of the hero’s journey. With its incredible pacing and unique cast of characters, few new-gen anime can compete with Frieren.

The titular protagonist goes with the hero to defeat the Demon Lord, but after the eradication of the Demon Lord and the hero’s death, Frieren has lingering regrets. To resolve them, she begins a journey to Aureole, the land where souls rest, and gathers new party members.

16 Demon Slayer

Top-Notch Story And Animation Quality

Kamado Tanjiro is drawn into the world of demons and demon slayers after his family is killed, and his sister is turned into a demon by Kibutsuji Muzan, the progenitor of demons. Swearing to have Muzan’s head, Tanjiro embarks on a treacherous journey.

Among next-gen anime, Demon Slayer has gathered one of the largest fan bases. Alongside its story and cast, the animation of the show has done wonders for it. With its top-tier animation, many anime fans are drawn to the show as they witness the many battles between demon slayers and demons.

17 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Beautiful World Building And Character Development

After leaving a less-than-ideal life, a 34-year-old NEET meets his death in an unfortunate accident. Fortunately for him, he is given a chance to redeem his past mistakes as he is reincarnated into another world as Rudeus Greyrat.

In the new world, he finds himself in, Rudeus is a skilled mage, better than even those far above his age. While his skill as a magician gives him many things, it doesn’t give him the only thing he needs: a better version of himself. And so, Rudeus must confront his past and his weaknesses while forging a desirable future for himself.

18 My Hero Academia

An Astounding Journey From Zero To Hero

Many shows portray a weak protagonist who eventually gains the power he has always wanted. However, few shows do it as wonderfully as My Hero Academia. The show kicks off with Izuku Midoriya, a quirkless boy born into a society where quirks (superpowers) are widespread.

Even without a quirk of his own, Izuku continues to chase his dreams of being a superhero, and he comes across a chance that changes his life forever. However, even with his lucky break, Izuku must confront what it means to wield tremendous power, and in his case, the fate of the world rests on his shoulders.

19 Black Clover

The Series’ Magic System Is Well Demonstrated

Among next-gen anime characters, Asta has seen significant improvement since his conception. He’s gone from being a random individual who couldn’t use magic, to one of the more powerful individuals in his universe. And as he did, his character and personality have grown too.

B lack Clover has only grown in popularity since its debut. While the series follows popular tropes found in shows like Fairy Tail, it has surpassed many of its predecessors, and its use of magic and grimoires has made it intriguing and unique to boot.

20 Blue Lock

Cutthroat Competition In The World Of Sports

In recent times, the world of sports anime has grown to love Blue Lock. The rigorous training the players go through, the constant desire to win through their goals, and the egotistical choices they must make to rise to the top are all relatable concepts to fans who participate in sports and watch sports anime.

While Blue Lock centers on soccer, the show portrays a story that has even non-soccer fans hooked. As Isagi Yoichi takes an egotistical approach to becoming his best self, he has many fans interested in seeing his end and how he will achieve his dreams.