Best CG Anime Of 2024, Ranked

Summary

• CG anime quality and viewership are seeing a rise, with hit series like Beastars and Dorohedoro.
• CG anime remains niche due to limited studios, but quality series like Kamierabi and Kengan Ashura stand out.
• A diverse range of CG anime, from Gundam to Sand Land, offer unique storytelling and top-notch visuals.

Full CG anime has seen a notable rise in recent years, both in terms of quality and viewership. Gone are the days when CG anime was dismissed as inferior to traditional animation. With recent hit series like Beastars, Trigun Stampede, and Dorohedoro, to name a few, CG anime has earned its place among mainstream anime, attracting a growing number of fans from around the globe.

That being said, CG anime remains a niche project. After all, there are only a handful of CGI anime studios in the world — the most notable being Studio Orange — and they can only produce a handful of anime every year. 2024 was an especially lonely year for CGI anime, with barely a dozen series being produced. However, some of those series are among the best anime of the year.

7

Kamierabi 2nd Season

A Bizarre Yet Intriguing Battle Royale Story

• Japanese Title: KamiErabi GOD.app Season 2
• Release Date: Oct 3, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 6.21

KamiErabi GOD.app is a story about a handful of people who are selected to be “GOD” candidates. These people received the invitation through a strange app that suddenly appeared on their phones. Just like in the first season, viewers follow Goro, a high school boy and one of the “GOD” candidates, who is still struggling to accept the fact that he has been thrown into a battle royale with no way to escape.

This bizarre yet intriguing anime comes from the mind of Yoko Taro. Gamers might recognize the name as the man behind the iconic game Nier: Automata. Those familiar with his work will know that the story will be quite complex, and the visuals will be hyper-stylized. If that sounds appealing, then give KamiErabi a try.

6

Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance

One of the Best Gundam Series in Years

• Japanese Title: Kidou Senshi Gundam: Fukushuu no Requiem
• Release Date: Oct 17, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 6.45

The story of Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance revolves around a squadron of elite Zaku fighters called the Red Wolf Squadron as they try to defend the European Front from the Earth Federation’s relentless counterattacks. From the chaotic war at the frontlines to a secret infiltration mission, this short series has everything fans could possibly want from a proper Gundam series.

Requiem for Vengeance is actually quite a divisive series. Lots of avid Gundam fans abhor this series. However, other longtime readers and viewers like what it brings to the table. Seeing how terrifying a Gundam can be through the eyes of Zeon’s soldiers is a refreshing and interesting experience. And for fans who are tired of seeing angsty teenagers as the main characters, it’s nice to see a proper adult soldier taking the reins.

5

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac – Battle Sanctuary Part 2

The Battle Against the Gold Saints Continues

• Japanese Title: Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya 3rd Season
• Release Date: Apr 1, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 6.47

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac – Battle Sanctuary Part 2 is the second part of the second season of Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac series, a retelling of the original Saint Saiya from the 1980s. The second season focuses on the fight between the Bronze Saints and the mythical Gold Saints to save Athena. This second part begins with Seiya’s valiant battle in the House of Scorpio.

The original Saint Seiya is one of the most iconic Action Fantasy series that ever graced the world of anime. Those who have watched the original series may have some reservations about a full CG Seiya. However, it’s impossible to deny the improved and highly dynamic action sequences. The blinding and fast-paced visual effects capture the magnificent cosmic energy of these Saints and their shiny armor.

4

Sand Land: The Series

An Expanded Version of Akira Toriyama’s Short Story

• Japanese Title: SAND LAND: THE SERIES
• Release Date: Mar 20, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.51

The story of Sand Land revolves around a stoic, upright old man named Rao who wants to find a clean water source in a barren wasteland. Accompanying him on his journey is the energetic, kind-hearted, and naive prince of the Demon Realm, Beelzebub, as well as his old and cowardly advisor, Thief.

Sand Land is based on Akira Toriyama’s short manga by the same name, published back in the year 2000. It received a movie adaptation in 2023. Seeing the warm reception from the fans, they decide to expand the story into a full season of anime series. The first six episodes are a retelling of the movie with some additional scenes, while the seventh episode tells a brand-new story arc, written by Toriyama himself. Unfortunately, this legendary mangaka passed away on March 1, 2024, before the premiere of this series.

3

Kengan Ashura Season 2 Part 2

The Duel to Find the Most Powerful Martial Artist Continues

• Japanese Title: Kengan Ashura 2nd Season Part 2
• Release Date: Aug 15, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.85

Similar to Saint Seiya, this is the second part of the second season of Kengan Ashura. The story revolves around a martial artist named Ohma who becomes part of a secret society comprised of wealthy individuals who resolve their differences through a duel. However, rather than a duel between two CEOs, the ones who fight on their behalf are martial artists. Just like in the first season, audiences also see Ohma try to dominate this cruel and merciless underworld.

Kengan Ashura is an anime adaptation of a manga by the same name, Yabako Sandrovich, and drawn by Daromeon. The first season was actually an original anime exclusively made for Netflix. As it turns out, the fans loved it so much that they decided to create a second season. This time around, however, the rights to international streams go to Crunchyroll.

2

Beastars Final Season Part 1

Legosi’s Battle for Love and the Future

• Japanese Title: BEASTARS Final Season
• Release Date: Dec 5, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 7.99

In more ways than one, the final season of Beastars is the culmination of everything that has happened thus far. This is the part where Legosi begins to seriously think about his future. Legosi and Haru’s relationship enters uncharted territory, which makes them question the connections between predator and prey. The series also introduces its most enigmatic villain, a hybrid animal named Melon.

The story of Beastars may seem simple and straightforward at first, but the deeper audiences dive into the story, the more they will recognize how nuanced and complex the world and the characters of this story truly are. The second part of the second season is scheduled to premiere in 2025, though there’s no official release date yet.

1

Girls Band Cry

An Inspiring and Relatable Story of Music and Friendship

• Japanese Title: Girls Band Cry
• Release Date: Apr 6, 2024
• MyAnimeList Score: 8.39

Girls Band Cry is the story of Nina Iseri, a high school dropout who decides to leave her hometown and forge a new path in Tokyo. Unfortunately, her first day in Tokyo is marked by accidents. She misses her train stop, she is locked out of her new apartment, and she is stuck with a phone with a dead battery. However, a chance encounter with a singer-songwriter named Momoka Kawaragi forever alters the trajectory of Iseri’s life. This is the story of how they form a band together, and the start of their journey to stardom.

Girls Band Cry is one of the most surprising anime of 2024. The world of anime has no shortage of stories about bands and music. However, there is something incredibly human and relatable about the story of Girls Band Cry. Sure, its CG animation may seem unfamiliar to those who used to watch slice-of-life anime, but it won’t take long for viewers to look past the visuals and focus on the beautiful and inspiring story.