John’s Picks for 2024’s Best TV Anime

Since at least 2001 I’ve deliberately tried to sample as many of the new anime TV and web titles released in Japan each year as I could access. I like knowing about anime. And I find that first-hand experience is useful because occasionally new series surprise me by being vastly different from my expectations. A case in point is 2024’s Duel Masters Lost: Tsuioku no Suishou, a show that exhibits almost no similarity at all to the prior 22 years’ worth of Duel Masters anime. I consider “new” anime titles ones with literal title changes or new seasons that re-start their official episode numbering from one. By those criteria, I counted 228 “new” anime and web series that premiered in 2024. Doubtlessly my count misses a few obscure titles. My count also excludes non-Japanese productions aired on Japanese television during 2024 including Hyakuyoufu (Bai Yao Pu), Rekka Gyoushuu (Liehuo Jiao Chou), and Shita no Kai ni wa Mio ga Iru (Aishang Ta de Liyou), to name a few. Of those 228 “new” titles, I was able to sample at least one episode each of 225 of them during 2024 (plus about three hours into 2025). The three “new” 2024 shows that I didn’t watch any of were Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjou, Aruiwa Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen season 2, Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha 20th Anniversary Selection, and Sylvanian Families: Flare no Piece of Secret.

In my observation, 2024 was an anime year comparable to 2016 through 2018 and 2023, years with a lot of new titles yet few brilliant breakthroughs. Across the web, many critics have acclaimed Kusuriya no Hitorigoto and Sousou no Frieren among the best anime series of 2024. Both titles are excellent, but neither of them premiered in 2024.

I’m fond of spotlighting new anime that were unique, creative, and exceptional. Natsume Yuujincho was great in 2024, but it was also the seventh season of a show that’s been consistently great. Hibike Euphonium may have been beautiful in 2024, but it’s also the third season of a show that’s always been gorgeous, so it’s hardly unique. Using my subjective standards, four new 2024 series deserve mention, along with two runners-up.

Dandadan from acclaimed, eclectic production studio Science Saru, falls just short of being a home run due to its frustrating cliffhanger non-ending. (A second season is coming.) Dandadan manages to be wildly stylized yet simultaneously grounded. The characters are clearly scripted, artificial creations yet still feel like fully rounded, dynamic humans. The show is zany and ultra-kinetic nearly to a fault, yet it also has a heart, an emotional and affecting undercurrent that’s predictable yet still effective at hitting viewers’ heartstrings. From characterization to story development to action to animation quality Dandadan delivers everything that viewers instinctively expect from the wild and crazy foreign art form known as anime.

Jiisan Baasan Wakagaeru seems to be one of 2024’s overlooked little gems. This heartfelt and charming modern folktale is rooted in the traditional Japanese Momotaro myth and is steeped in modern Japanese culture and social philosophy. A show that could have very easily been a redundant one-trick pony is uplifting and rewarding, consistently delivering a sense of loving joy and respectful nostalgia for family loyalty, loving devotion, the rewards of hard work, and living life to the fullest.

NegaPosi Angler takes a vastly different modernist approach to similar themes. The series uses fishing as a symbol for whatever singular passion gets us through the stresses and anxieties of our daily lives. When all looks bleak, there’s still something to live for, no matter how simple, mundane, or personal that rationale is. And the show serves as an illustration that even though every human is broken or inadequate in some way, we all have a support system that’s willing to pick us up off the ground, even if that support system is total strangers or (in the case of NegaPosi Angler, literal) ships passing in the night. At a more technical level, NegaPosi Angler is populated by a great, dynamic cast of characters, beautiful art design, and a strong sense that series director Yutaka Uemura is personally an avid fisherman.

I’m personally very fond of anime that enlighten niche aspects of Japanese culture. Japan has previously produced anime starring VTubers such as Virtual-san wa Miteiru, Stars*Collection, and Holo no Graffiti, and at least one series about a VTuber-in-training, Kizuna no Allele, but 2024’s VTuber Nanda ga Haishin Kiri Wasuretara Densetsu ni Natteta is unique in anime history for providing such an incisive look inside the sub-culture of Japanese VTuber fandom. While the show is filled with anime references and in-jokes, the show is equally rife with examples and instances of exclusive VTuber fandom slang, perspective, and personality. The show gives “normie” anime viewers a window into a niche culture within an already niche fandom. Moreover, the VTuber Legend anime was clearly a labor of love for its production staff. The show exhibits unusually strong animation quality and art design, and even each episode’s ending credits scenes and music are entirely exclusive.

The first of two 2024 anime series that didn’t quite reach the pinnacle of my selection but still warrant mention is Yubisaki to Renren. Although not especially common, anime about handicapped characters aren’t especially rare. Most of them, like Hurdle, 5-tou ni Naritai, and Momoko, Kaeru no Uta ga Kikoeru yo, are formal educational anime productions. The beloved feature film Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice) and the two Ousama Ranking television series are examples of better-known, more mainstream productions. Yubisaki to Renren takes the traditional approach of shoujo romance anime like Kimi ni Todoke and Ao Haru Ride and applies it to college students, adding the unique twist that the protagonist is deaf. The 2004 Makasete Iruka! OVA was heavily touted for featuring authentic sign language, but the use of sign in the OVA was actually minor and sidelined. Signing is a prominent, central conceit of A Sign of Affection, making the show somewhat unique. But like so many shoujo romance anime, Yubisaki to Renren develops its story so slowly that it feels non-committal even when it does depict concrete relationship developments.

Shoushimin Series capably treads a fine line between pretentious and satirical. The show, and particularly its two primary characters, seem terribly self-serious, yet they also know that they’re being conceited. The series is ostensibly about solving mysteries, yet the mysteries are almost always trivial or insignificant. The characters challenge each other and themselves to unravel mysteries as a form of friendly teasing and an idiosyncratic, peevish way of amusing themselves. In addition, the show has a lovely, vivid art design featuring highly cinematic editing. And once again demonstrating the show’s own pretentious bias, the show isn’t shy about making its editing over-obvious. In effect, the show is a dry, witty, and cynical joke, one that puts a wry smile on the viewers’ face when the viewer understands the fundamental absurdity and silliness of the show’s concept.

2024’s New Anime Series:
0 Saiju Start Dash Monogatari
2.5-jigen no Ririsa
30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Narerurashii
Acro Trip
Ageo to Time
Akuyaku Reijou Level 99 ~Watashi wa Ura-Boss desu ga Maou dewa Arimasen~
Amagami-san Chi no Enmusubi
Ao no Exorcist Shimane Illuminati-hen
Ao no Exorcist: Yuki no Hate-hen
Ao no Hako
Ao no Miburo
Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou 3rd Season
Asatir 2: Mirai no Mukashi Banashi
Astro Note
Atashin’chi Next
Ateuma Chara no Kuse shite, Super Darling Ouji ni Chouai sareteimasu.
ATRI-My Dear Moments-
Bananya: Around the World
Bartender: Kami no Glass
Blue Archive the Animation
Boku no Tsuma wa Kanjou ga Nai
Boukyaku Battery
BUCCHIGIRI?!
Bye Bye, Earth
CARDFIGHT!! VANGUARD Divinez
Chi. -Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite-
Chibi Godzilla no Gyakushuu 2nd Season
Chiyu Mahou no Machigatta Tsukaikata
Chou Futsuu Ken Chiba Densetsu
Dandadan
Date-a-Live V
Dekisokonai to Yobareta Motoeiyuu wa Jikka kara Tsuihou sareta node Sukikatte ni Ikiru Koto ni Shita
Delico’s Nursery
Dosanko Gal wa Namara Menkoi
Dragon Ball Daima
Duel Masters LOST: Tsuioku no Suishou
Dungeon Meshi
Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru no Darou ka V: Houjou no Megami-hen
Dungeon no Naka no Hito
Egumi Legacy
Elf-san wa Yaserarenai.
Enter the Garden [web anime]
FAIRY TAIL: 100 Years Quest
Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf [Netflix anime]
Gekai Elise
Gekkan Mousou Kagaku
Gendai Goyaku
Giji Harem
Gimai Seikatsu
Girls Band Cry
Goukon ni Ittara Onna ga Inakatta Hanashi
Grendizer U
Grimm Kumikyoku [Netflix anime]
Haigakura
Hamidashi Creative
Hananoi-kun to Koi no Yamai
Hari Maware! Koinu
Hazurewaku no “Joutai Ijou Skill” de Saikyou ni Natta Ore ga Subete wo Juurin suru made
Henjin no Salad Bowl
Hibike! Euphonium 3
HIGHSPEED Etoile
Hime-sama “Goumon” no Jikan desu
Himitsu no Aipli
Hitoribocchi no Isekai Kouryaku
Hoshifuru Oukoku no Nina
Housou-Shitsu no Chaku-Gurumi garu [web anime]
Idolmaster Shiny Colors 2nd season
Isekai de Mofumofu Nadenade suru Tame ni Ganbattemasu.
Isekai Shikkaku
Isekai Yururi Kikou ~Kosodateshinagara Boukensha Shimasu~
Ishura
Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun 2nd STAGE
Jantama Kan!!
Jiisan Baasan Wakagaeru
Kabushikigaisha Magi-Lumière
Kagaku × Bouken Survival!
Kaii to Otome to Kamikakushi
Kaiju 8-gou
Kami no Tou 2nd season
Kami wa Game ni Ueteiru.
Kankin Kuiki Level X
Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai
Katsute Mahou Shoujo to Aku wa Tekitai shiteita.
Kekkon suru tte, Hontou desu ka
Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari
Kenka Dokugaku
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Fukushuu no Requiem [Netflix anime]
Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjou, Aruiwa Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen season 2
Kimi wa Maid-sama.
Kingdom 5th season
Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin-hen
Kinoko Inu
Koi wa Futago de Warikirenai
Koneko no Chii: Ponponra Natsuyasumi [Netflix anime]
Kono Sekai wa Fukanzen Sugiru
Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! 3
Kumaba
Kumarba season 2
Kuromi’s Pretty Journey: Escape from the Multiverse! [web anime]
Kuroshitsuji: Kishuku Gakkou-hen
Kyuujitsu no Warumono-san
Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsu suru
Love Live Superstar 3rd Season
Lv2 kara Cheat datta Motoyuusha Kouho no Mattari Isekai Life
Maarui Kanojo to Zannen na Kareshi
Madougushi Dahliya wa Utsumukanai: Kyou kara Jiyuu na Shokunin Life
Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha 20th Anniversary Selection
Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete
Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei 3rd season
Mahoutsukai ni Narenakatta Onnanoko no Hanashi
Majo to Yajuu
Make Heroine ga Oosugiru!
Maou 2099
Maou no Ore ga Dorei Elf wo Yome ni Shitanda ga, Dou Medereba Ii?
Maougun Saikyou no Majutsushi wa Ningen datta
Maou-sama, Retry! R
Mato Seihei no Slave
Mayonaka Punch
Mecha-Ude
Meiji Gekken: 1874
Meitou “Isekai no Yu” Kaitaku-ki ~Arafou Onsen Mania no Tensei Saki wa, Nonbiri Onsen Tengoku Deshita~
Metallic Rouge
Mirai no Kuromakukei Akuyaku Reijou Moriarty no Isekai Kanzen Hanzai Hakusho
Mob kara Hajimaru Tansaku Eiyuutan
Modaete yo, Adam-kun
Momochi-san Chi no Ayakashi Ouji
Monogatari Series Off & Monster Season
Murai no Koi
Murder Mystery of the Dead
Nageki no Bourei wa Intai shitai
na-nare hana-nare
Natsume Yuujinchou Shichi
Naze Boku no Sekai wo Daremo Oboeteinai no ka?
NegaPosi Angler
Neko ni Tensei shita Ojisan
Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi
Nijiyon Animation 2
Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha
Nyaaaanvy [web anime]
Oi! Tonbo
Okaimono Panda!
One Room, Hiatari Futsuu, Tenshi-tsuki.
Ookami to Koushinryou: merchant meets the wise wolf
Ore dake Level Up na Ken
Ore wa Subete wo “Parry” suru: Gyaku Kanchigai no Sekai Saikyou wa Boukensha ni Naritai
Oroka na Tenshi wa Akuma to Odoru
Party kara Tsuihou sareta Sono Chiyushi, Jitsu wa Saikyou ni Tsuki
Pochars
Pon no Michi
Puniru wa Kawaii Slime
Punirunes 2
Raise wa Tanin ga Ii
Ramen Akaneko
Ranma 1/2
Re:Monster
Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 3rd Season [continues numbering]
Rekishi ni Nokoru Akujo ni Naru zo
Rick and Morty: The Anime
Rinkai!
Rising Impact [Netflix anime]
Roly Poly Peoples
Saijaku Tamer wa Gomi Hiroi no Tabi wo Hajimemashita.
Sai-Kyo-Oh! Zukan: The Ultimate Battles
Saikyou no Shienshoku “Wajutsushi” de Aru Ore wa Sekai Saikyou Clan wo Shitagaeru
Saikyou Tank no Meikyuu Kouryaku ~Tairyoku 9999 no Rare Skill-mochi Tank, Yuusha Party wo Tsuihou sareru~
Sand Land: The Series
Sasaki to Pii-chan
Sasayaku You ni Koi wo Utau
Sayonara Ryuusei, Konnichiwa Jinsei
Seirei Gensouki 2
Seiyuu Radio no Uraomote
Sengoku Youko
Senpai wa Otokonoko
Sentai Daishikkaku
SHAMAN KING FLOWERS
SHIBUYA?HACHI
Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan
Shin no Nakama ja Nai to Yuusha no Party wo Oidasareta node, Henkyou de Slow Life suru Koto ni Shimashita 2nd
Shin Tennis no Ouji-sama: U-17 WORLD CUP SEMIFINAL
Shinkalion: Change the World
Shinmai Ossan Boukensha, Saikyou Party ni Shinu hodo Kitaerarete Muteki ni Naru.
Short Anime Daisakusen
Shoushimin Series
Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku?
Snack Basue
Sokushi Cheat ga Saikyou Sugite, Isekai no Yatsura ga Marude Aite ni Naranaindesu ga.
Suicide Squad Isekai
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II
Sylvanian Families: Flare no Piece of Secret
Tadaima, Okaeri
Taishou Itsuwari Bridal: Migawari Hanayome to Gunpuku no Mouai
Tasogare Out Focus
Tasuketsu
Tensei Kizoku, Kantei Skill de Nariagaru
Tensei Shitara Dainana Ouji Datta node, Kimama ni Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu
Tensui no Sakuna-hime
Terminator Zero [Netflix anime]
The Fable
The iDOLM@STER Shiny Colors
THE NEW GATE
Togane! Omatsuri-bu
Tohai – Ura Rate Mahjong Tohai Roku
Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san
Tonari no Youkai-san
Tono to Inu
Tougane! Chronicle
Touken Ranbu Kai: Kyoden Moyuru Honnouji
Trillion Game
Tsue to Tsurugi no Wistoria
Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu 2nd Season
Tsuma, Shougakusei ni Naru.
Uji ni wa Monogatari ga Aru [web anime]
Unnamed Memory
Vampire Dormitory
VTuber Nanda ga Haishin Kiri Wasuretara Densetsu ni Natteta
WIND BREAKER
Wonderful Precure
Yami Shibai season 12
Yami Shibai season 13
Yarinaoshi Reijou wa Ryuutei Heika wo Kouryakuchuu
Yoasobi Gurashi
Yoru no Kurage wa Oyogenai
Youkai Gakkou no Sensei Hajimemashita!
Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e 3rd season
Yozakura-san Chi no Daisakusen
Yubisaki to Renren
YuruCamp season 3
Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern