Best Anime 2024

2024 will go down as a great year for anime. Every season had at least a couple of fantastic series and covered a wide spectrum of genres to ensure there was nearly always something to complement every taste. Romance, action, isekai, comedy, sci-fi, and drama all received exciting representatives that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all-time classics. While a couple of disappointments slipped through, the positives far outweighed the negatives. Simply put, it is an exciting time to be an anime fan.

With so much content out there, picking out the shiniest stars in the universe can be a tough task. However, the best 2024 anime have a way of differentiating themselves from the crowd. They stand out and deserve to be noticed. Let’s go through them.

Here are a few important criteria:

• Only new anime and sequel seasons that debuted in 2024 will be considered
  . Therefore, never-ending juggernauts like
  One Piece
  will not be included. Also, anime that started in the Fall 2023 season (
  Frieren
  and
  The Apothecary Diaries
  ) will be omitted. Both of those series were highlighted in
  last year’s “best of” discussion
  .
• No movies or specials.
• Fall 2024 anime will be included, even if they still have an episode to go.
• MyAnimeList scores are included as a reference, but they are just one piece of the puzzle and not the sole determining factor.

Honorable Mentions

2024 produced so many great shows, there simply is not enough room to spotlight all of them. Consequently, let’s mention a few series that came very close to landing among the best anime of 2024:

• Blue Box
• Kaiju No. 8
• Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You Season 3
• KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3
• Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
• Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2
• Natsume’s Book of Friends Season 7
• Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
• Ranma ½
• Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
• Solo Leveling
• Welcome Home
• Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master

10 The Fable

Hilarious Dark Comedy Anime That Just Kept Getting Better And Better

Katsuhisa Minami’s The Fable manga is a masterpiece that should be read by anyone craving a seinen story that blends humor and mature content. While not fully replicating the magic of the source material, Tezuka Productions’ anime is very good in its own right and does an outstanding job of balancing comedy and drama. The series has a peculiar art style that can take a few episodes to get used to, but it works well enough to complement both the bizarre jokes and the splashes of violence that happen throughout the series.

Forced to lie low for a year, Fable, a hitman, and his driver move to Osaka, where they become the Satou siblings. Despite trying to stay out of trouble, they end up getting dragged into the local Yakuza’s underworld, along with having to step in to protect two women who are being specifically targeted. While both main stories are captivating, The Fable is at its best when Akira and Youko are just messing around, be it the former’s attempts to act normal or the latter’s games at the expense of men.

9 [Oshi No Ko] Season 2

Setting The Stage Alight

For better or worse, [Oshi No Ko] had a big 2024. The manga’s conclusion garnered quite a bit of attention, but that is not something anime-only fans have to worry about for the time being. Instead, they can just enjoy the pretty great sequel season, one that took a surprising detour by shifting focus to a theatrical production based on a popular manga.

The anime dedicates plenty of time to exploring the adaptation process, emphasizing that conflict can arise even when everyone is trying to do their best. The play is also incredible and contains standout moments for nearly every major character, particularly Kana, Akane, and Aqua. Even Melt goes through an impressive arc that comes a bit of nowhere considering his depiction during season 1’s Show Business storyline. The main plot hook, Aqua’s revenge, takes a backseat for most of season 2, but it does get a couple of pushes forward.

8 Sound! Euphonium 3

The End Of An Era

Sound! Euphonium came to a close with its third season, showing Kumiko’s final year as part of Kitauji High School’s concert band. While an easy recommendation for anybody interested in music, this series is primarily a character-driven drama rather than a concert band alternative to idol anime, with the focus being on the main girls’ journeys as they embrace their passions while also thinking about their futures.

The latter is emphasized in the final season, especially since Kumiko is not quite sure if she wants to prioritize the Euphonium after leaving high school. Although not lacking in optimism, slice-of-life moments, or lighthearted exchanges, season 3 maintains a ping of sadness throughout, with the characters and audience being fully aware that change is imminent, unavoidable, and scary.

7 Girls Band Cry

2024’s Best CGI Anime…And Just An All-Around Great Show

Garnering a swell of support due to not being made available on North American streaming services during its initial run, Girls Band Cry was perhaps the biggest anime surprise of 2024. The 2020s have produced more than a few “girl band” stories, and they have been consistently great. Girls Band Cry follows Nina, a teenager who heads to Tokyo in search of an identity. Carrying trauma from bullying and a tense family dynamic, Nina is relatable and realistic, and her journey to find her place in the world is moving. Eventually, she meets a guitarist named Momoka and gets involved with a band called Togenashi Togeari.

The anime’s opening few episodes are quite heavy, with the main characters being quite volatile and prone to outbursts, especially Nina. However, the group’s dynamic strengthens as the girls become more of a unit, leading to a second half that is defined by warmth and acceptance. Also, Girls Band Cry has some of the greatest CGI of all time, at least in anime. Just jaw-dropping stuff.

6 Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict

The Redemption Story Continues With One Of The Best Action Anime Of 2024

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has barely set a foot wrong since 2022, with each part being among the best shonen releases of their respective year. The Conflict is no exception and arguably the strongest entry yet, and it immediately set the pace with a visually striking opening episode that seemed like it should have been in theaters.

After that, the anime constantly throws out top-notch fights along with spreading out a few genuinely shocking moments, all the while bringing back familiar faces who still have things to contribute. Thousand-Year Blood War‘s animation and fight sequences tend to earn most of the accolades, but the story also deserves praise. While not amazing, it is paced expertly and manages to accommodate a huge cast of characters. The Conflict even includes a couple of genuine gut punches.

5 Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season

A Niche Work Of Art

The greatest anime that is almost impossible to recommend to most people, Monogatari is overwhelming. As brilliant as anything Shaft has produced for this series, Off & Monster Season has arguably the best direction out of any 2024 anime, along with stellar voice acting, dense writing, and absurd humor (with slightly toned-down fanservice compared to previous seasons). If somebody loves Monogatari, they will adore the latest entry; otherwise, the sequel really has nothing to offer anybody else due to being so inaccessible.

Off & Monster Season covers three stories: Nadeko Draw, Acerola Bon Appétit, and Shinobu Mustard. They are all wildly different, with the first arc having a coming-of-age quality, the second saga exploring Shinobu’s turn into a vampire, and the final storyline playing out almost like a murder mystery. All three are great, but Acerola Bon Appétit is the season’s highlight due to featuring a Gothic-esque change of scenery and the introduction of the charismatic Deathtopia Virtuoso Suicide-Master.

4 Kingdom: Season 5

The Epic Continuation Of An Epic Saga

Kingdom should be way more well-known than it is, at least outside of Japan. The manga is an all-time masterpiece, but the adaptation got off to a rough start in terms of animation quality. Despite spot-on writing, seasons 1 and 2 can be hard to get through due to their utilization of CGI. Since about season 3, Kingdom has not had any major animation issues; consequently, it has been comfortably one of the best historical anime ever since then.

Season 5 revolves around a campaign between the Qin and Zhao to claim the Koku You Hills, a large forest area defined by three massive hills. Shin finds himself having to work with General Kan Ki, a notorious figure who is willing to use any means to get the job done, including turning his allies into pawns. While the focus is primarily on the battles between the two opposing forces, Kan Ki’s presence adds a chaotic element that raises the stakes, making it feel like the Hi Shin Unit is surrounded at all times by danger.

With large-scale action and well-defined characters who (usually) emphasize strategy over just might, Kingdom season 5 is a thrill ride from beginning to end and one of the best 2024 anime, even if it is not particularly accessible.

3 The Dangers in My Heart Season 2

A Teen Romance Executed To Perfection

Some shows transcend genre, and The Dangers in My Heart is arguably the closest an anime rom-com has come to breaking through that barrier. The Spring 2023 season picked up a lot of momentum as it went along, especially once Ichikawa’s “dark” fantasies were largely pushed aside in favor of focusing solely on the budding relationship between him and Anna. The sequel builds beautifully on this foundation, allowing the protagonists’ refreshingly heartwarming dynamic to carry everything forward.

Despite being idolized somewhat during the early parts of the first season, Anna is a completely three-dimensional figure throughout The Dangers in My Heart‘s Winter 2024 cour, and the anime does an admirable job of highlighting her insecurities while also showing why she is interested in Ichikawa. For his part, the latter grows a lot in a rather short time, as he gradually becomes more willing to not only accept his feelings for Anna but to also acknowledge that they might be reciprocated. As far as anime rom-coms are concerned, this season is nearly untouchable.

2 Delicious In Dungeon

A Mouth-Watering Fantasy Anime That Goes From Strength To Strength

Perhaps due to initially airing alongside the second half of Frieren and being a Netflix exclusive, Delicious in Dungeon‘s rise in popularity was a slow burn that did not fully ignite until about halfway through the season. By the end of its 24 episodes, Trigger’s adaptation of Ryoko Kui’s seinen manga had taken viewers on an incredible journey filled with dark humor, gorgeous animation, and fascinating lore, all the while making them fall in love with a set of adventurers who might have initially seemed to lean heavily into fantasy archetypes.

While the heroes are always driven by an important goal, Delicious in Dungeon maintains a lighthearted tone throughout most of its opening 12 episodes, a decision that should help endear characters like Laios and Marcille to audiences. Eventually, the anime takes an intense turn that significantly shakes up the overall tone, and this shift is handled perfectly and without eliminating the elements that made the first half of the show so enjoyable. Season 2 cannot come soon enough.

1 Dandadan

A Stunningly Complete Blend Of Comedy, Romance, Action, And Animation

Hype is a powerful tool that can also be a curse. Due to the source material’s positive reputation, Dandadan had to meet lofty expectations that would have sunk anything but a near-perfect adaptation. Fortunately, Science Saru was more than up to the task, delivering a visual tour de force packed with lovable and well-written characters. After defending him from bullies, Momo strikes an odd friendship with Okarun (not his real name) as they accept a bet to see who can prove the existence of yokai or aliens first. They end up in a draw, dragging themselves into two strange worlds filled with creative and dangerous monsters. Okarun also loses his balls.

A lot of great things can be said about Dandadan‘s vibrant, energetic, and slapstick-heavy action sequences, and just as much praise can be levied at the show’s tactful dip into heavy content, courtesy of a haunting look into the backstory of one specific spirit. However, Dandadan‘s success primarily comes down to its characters, particularly Momo and Okarun. They are just all-around fantastic, and their relationship grows beautifully throughout the first season. They are delightful as individuals and even better as a unit, and they are hardly the only great characters in this series. As a full package, Dandadan is the best anime of 2024. The only negative was that season 1 only lasted for 12 episodes and ended on a bit of an awkward note. Fortunately, Dandadan season 2 is just a few months away.