10 Best Anime of 2024
List of the Best Anime Series to Watch in 2024
The expansion of streaming sites globally has made anime more accessible than ever. Just as the list of the best anime of 2023 offered many enjoyable series, 2024 is also set to broadcast a multitude of new anime series. Some of these are sequels to popular series with guaranteed quality, and others are completely new anime.
So, which anime should you watch in the coming year? To help you create your newest anime watchlist, here I introduce the best anime released in 2024. All of these can be viewed with English or other language subtitles, or dubbed. Watching at least the anime on this list should give you a good grasp of the current anime trends.
Note that one of the hottest anime right now, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which has been broadcast since last year, is not included in this list. This Best Anime 2024 list only includes anime that started in 2024. And for 2024 anime movies, please refer to this: Best Anime Movies of 2024.
Now, let’s start the best new anime experience!
1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Season 4)
Continuing from last year, the recent mega-hit series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃) is likely to be named as one of the best anime of 2024 as well. Since the original manga by Koyoharu Gotouge concluded in 2020, the completion of the anime adaptation has been highly anticipated. So far, three seasons and one anime movie have been released, but the fourth season, featuring the Hashira Training Arc (柱稽古編), is set to arrive in the spring of 2024.
Preceding this, a movie combining the last episode of the third season and the first episode of the fourth season will be released as a world tour starting on February 2, 2024. Moreover, Tanjiro and his companions, battling against even stronger demons, gains new powers through training under the Hashira, the most skilled swordsmen. This year too, it’s hard to take one’s eyes off this dark fantasy masterpiece.
Season: Spring of 2024
2. Dandadan
A newcomer to watch in 2024 is the supernatural action anime Dandadan (ダンダダン). Like the hit Spy x Family, it gained popularity after being serialized on the trendy online manga publishing platform Shonen Jump+, and the momentum led to its anime adaptation. Dandadan, a manga created by Yukinobu Tatsu, is animated by Science SARU.
The story centers around Momo, a high school girl who believes in ghosts, and Okarun, an otaku boy who believes in UFOs. Though they have completely different personalities and beliefs, leading to conflicts, they share the ability to deal with supernatural phenomena and fight evil entities that arise from it. This psychedelic anime is set to be the coolest of the year.
Season: 2024
3. Classroom of the Elite (Season 3)
The anime adaptation of Classroom of the Elite (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ), based on a light novel with a huge fan base, is set to conclude its first part with the third season in 2024. This anime, a mix of psychological thriller and high school life, was originally published as a light novel starting in 2015. The anime adaptation began in 2017 with 12 episodes, and an additional 13 episodes were added in 2022 as the second season.
The upcoming third season is highly anticipated by fans, marking the end of the long-running 1st Year Arc. The true nature of the protagonist Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who excels in both intelligence and physical abilities, is gradually being revealed, and the battle among the four classes is intensifying. In the light novel, the 2nd Year Arc is already underway, and fans are also looking forward to its anime adaptation.
Season: Winter of 2024
4. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Season 2 Part 2)
Last summer, the masterfully crafted Isekai fantasy anime Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (無職転生 〜異世界行ったら本気だす〜) proved its high quality again and is set to return as early as the spring season of 2024. Based on the light novel by Rifujin na Magonote, which concluded in 2022, the anime adaptation began in 2021 and captivated many fans. The second season aired in 2023 with a total of 13 episodes, including Episode 0, featuring the reunion of Rudeus and that childhood friend of him.
Many have been curious about Rudeus’s further adventures, and an additional 12 or 13 episodes are slated to begin airing this April. With the original story still having much to tell, it’s expected to remain a central anime series throughout the 2020s, making it a worthwhile watch for those who haven’t seen it yet.
Season: Spring of 2024
5. Kaiju No. 8
While there is high anticipation for the sequels of existing popular series, one of the most eagerly awaited new anime of 2024 is Kaiju No. 8 (怪獣8号). Like Dandadan, which is also starting this year, it is an anime adaptation of a manga that was originally serialized in Shonen Jump+. It’s one of the titles that had been most anticipated for an anime adaptation in recent years.
Set in a sci-fi world, it’s a hero action anime where members of the Defense Force battle against monsters called Kaiju that attack like natural disasters such as typhoons and tsunamis. The story begins with Kafka Hibino, an unremarkable character who has experienced setbacks, accidentally swallowing a small insect-like Kaiju and thereby gaining the power of the powerful monsters. Kaiju No. 8 is also highly regarded as the leading next-generation hero anime, following in the footsteps of My Hero Academia. It’s also novel in that it’s scheduled to be broadcasted worldwide in real-time on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Season: Spring of 2024
6. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict (Part 3)
The most globally famous long-running series in the currently ongoing anime is probably Bleach. Originally, it is an adaptation of Tite Kubo’s manga, which was animated from 2004 to 2012 for 366 episodes but remained incomplete for many years. Then, in 2022, Studio Pierrot started animating the final chapter, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (BLEACH 千年血戦篇). The second part, The Separation, was broadcast in 2023, and the third part, The Conflict, is set to be aired in 2024. Each episode consistently features high-quality animation, and there is no doubt that the series will continue to receive high praise in 2024.
Season: 2024
7. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Season 3)
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (転生したらスライムだった件), one of the most popular anime series born from a light novel, is set to return with its third and latest season in the spring of 2024. This fantasy adventure series holds a special place among younger audiences and has gained significant popularity since its inception. The anime first was released with Season 1 airing in 2018-2019, followed by Season 2 in 2021, which further boosted the series’ popularity.
In the upcoming Season 3, viewers can expect an intense showdown as the protagonist, Rimuru, faces off against his arch-nemesis and the strongest female swordsman, Hinata Sakaguchi. The season promises to focus on the epic battle between the two forces, drawing significant attention to the outcome of this much-anticipated confrontation.
Season: Spring of 2024
8. Sound! Euphonium (Season 3)
One of Kyoto Animation’s most renowned works, known for its emotionally resonant storytelling, Sound! Euphonium (響け! ユーフォニアム), is finally releasing a new season in 2024. The first season was broadcast in 2014 and 2015, followed by the second season in 2016. Since then, a new season has been long-awaited among fans. Although several anime movies have been released, this third season, positioned as a final chapter, is likely to be big news among anime fans this year. The third season will depict the Kumiko’s Third-Year storyline, which is also noteworthy that new students and transfer students introduced as new characters.
Season: Spring of 2024
9. The Dangers in My Heart (Season 2)
Did you watch the first season of The Dangers in My Heart (僕の心のヤバイやつ)? The first 12 episodes aired in 2023, captivating many with its romantic comedy world. And then, promptly the following year, the second season is set to be broadcast. The original work is a manga by Norio Sakurai, a relatively new series that started serialization in 2018. It focuses on the daily life of a gloomy second-year middle school boy, Ichikawa, and a bright, popular female student, Yamada. In the first season, the two of them got a little closer, but the point is that it’s not just about teenage romance. It’s fascinating to see how their relationship will continue to evolve.
Season: 2024 of Winter
10. Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (チ。-地球の運動について-) is one of the most talked-about works in the manga community in recent years. Many fans were likely surprised by its rapid adaptation into an anime. Orb: On the Movements of the Earth is a story set in 15th-century Europe, focusing on people who risk their lives to study the forbidden theory of heliocentrism. The manga began publication in 2020 and concluded in less than two years, making it a relatively short series.
In 2024, it is being reborn as a new anime anime produced by Madhouse. Its relatively brief length makes it an approachable series recommended for all audiences. Let’s pay attention to how this highly praised manga is reinterpreted in its anime adaptation and whether it will surpass the original work.
Season: 2024
I believe it’s clear that 2024 has been another splendid year for anime. However, looking back at history, it’s evident that the anime titles mentioned above represent just a fraction of the recommendable works. For those interested in knowing the best anime of all time, make sure to also check out this list: 30 Best Anime of All Time!
If you are interested in the recent finest anime in these few years, check these articles below!
▶️23 Best Anime of 2023 from Oshi no Ko to Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 3
▶️23 Best Anime of 2022 from Lycoris Recoil to Chainsaw Man
▶️20 Best Anime of 2021 from Mushoku Tensei to 86
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I'm writing by my motto: helping travelers spend their limited time experiencing something priceless in Japan. My articles won't let you down! Living in Tokyo and traveling many popular and hidden sites all over Japan, I deliver well-selected and latest tourist information to you from the perspective of “100% Japanese local”. My specific interests are island hopping, eating countless bowls of ramen, watching anime and reading manga. Enjoy Japan Web Magazine for recommended food spots, hidden gems Japanese Otaku (geek) culture, and everything about Japan :)