The must watch anime of 2024

2023 delivered a tremendous amount of strong anime, from returning series to debuts. From the long-awaited Shibuya Arc in Jujutsu Kaisen receiving its animated due to new, original series such as Buddy Daddies and Overtake! becoming worthy attention grabbers, to slice-of-life delight of romances like PA Works’s Skip and Loafer, there was an abundance of high-quality series worth tuning into. It got to the point where it became overwhelming with so many strong titles in the batch that some were bound to fall off of rotation. While there will always be a series such as My New Boss is Goofyready to catch us all off guard, there’s also a decent blueprint set at the start of the year that helps us anticipate where the biggest, most exciting names will drop and when. Here are the anime that we’re most looking forward to in 2024, including the return of particular favorites.

Winter

Solo Leveling (A-1 Pictures)

Based on the popular web novel written by Chugong, Solo Leveling (also known as Only I Level Up (나 혼자만 레벨업)  is one of the most prominent series debuting this winter. The action-fantasy series is set in a world where human warriors with supernatural abilities are known as hunters and must battle deadly monsters to protect humanity. Sung Jinwoo, our protagonist, is weak in battle, called in only for the “easy” assignments,” and his life dramatically changes after he’s given a new power that allows him to level up in strength. While the lore of the material is a bit dense in the initial setup, the visuals look remarkable with a likable, relatable main character. Promare composer Hiroyuki Sawano lends his addictive soundscapes to the project, too, which promises at least a certain level of quality. 
Release Date: January 6 on Crunchyroll. 

Delicious In The Dungeon (Trigger)

The latest from Studio Trigger, the home of IBD personal favorites such as Gurren Lagann and Kill la Kill, Delicious in the Dungeon looks to be an absolute treat. It also, in an inverse type of way, looks to be a good companion for the more sincere Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Based on the manga written and illustrated by Ryōko Kui, the series is set in a fantasy world made up of dungeon explorations as guilds set forth on expeditions to raise dungeons. Delicious in the Dungeon follows a group who, to survive, decide to try to find food from inside the dungeons rather than have to bring it with them. Playing within the rules and structures of Dungeons & Dragons, the series looks to be one of the more visually and narratively playful of the winter slate.
Release Date: January 4 on Netflix

A Sign of Affection (Ajia-do)

Based on the manga written and illustrated by suu Morishita, A Sign of Affection is the latest romance anime being released this upcoming winter. The series follows Yuki who was born deaf and has grown accustomed to communicating with others through either sign language or her phone. However, when she meets an oversea’s tourist who tries to communicate in English, she’s lost until a handsome stranger steps in to help. The two strike up a friendship and burgeoning romance. The animation style looks sweet and vibrant, with careful consideration put into animating sign language. 
Release Date: January 6 on Crunchyroll 

One Piece Egghead Arc (Toei Animation)

After several years fighting for its freedom, One Piece departs from Wano and catches up to the manga’s current story arc, beginning the series’ “final saga.” Fittingly, the adventure on Egghead Island promises major reveals not only for the Straw Hats but the One Piece world at large. Fan favorite friends, enemies, and those of questionable allegiance all begin to converge on the science-fiction themed island of Egghead; home to one of One Piece’s most teased but never-before seen characters: Dr. Vegapunk. If you somehow thought One Piece fans were maxed out on excitement during the climax of Wano, you have no idea. The increased quality that the Wano arc brought to the long running anime will be even more important for what’s to come, and Toei confidently moving right into the next story with little to no filler in between suggests the staff is playing for keeps now. 
Release Date: January 7th on Crunchyroll

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! (Satelight)

Based on the Japanese boys’ love manga series by Yuu Toyota, Cherry Magic is getting it’s official anime adaptation, following a live-action adaptation in 2020. The premise is, admittedly, ridiculous, following Kiyoshi Adachi who, upon his 30th birthday, becomes a “wizard” who can hear the thoughts of others by touching him. The cause of these powers? His virginity. These powers cause greater mishaps when, one day, he discovers his co-worker, Yuichi Kurosawa, is in love with him. 
Release Date: January 10 on Crunchyroll

BUCCHIGIRI?! (MAPPA) 

The upcoming original anime series from MAPPA, Bucchigiri?! (ぶっちぎり?!) gets increasingly more interesting the more you look at the talent involved. Director Hiroko Utsumi is best known for her work at Kyoto Animation and for having directed the Banana Fish anime adaptation and creating the original anime Sk8 the Infinity for Bones. The writer, Taku Kishimoto, has credits for series such as Haikyu!!, Erased, and the Fruits Basket remake. The story follows high school student Araji Tomobishi who reunites with an estranged friend at his new highschool of hoodlums and ne’er-do-wells. Things get stranger when he accidentally awakens a genie named Senya who offers to grant him his greatest wish. 
Released Date: January 11 on Crunchyroll 

Metallic Rouge (Bones)

An original series from Bones (My Hero Academia, Mob Psycho 100) Metallic Rouge is a futuristic, science fiction story directed by Motonobu Hori. The series follows a society where humans are coexisting with androids called Neans where a group called “the Immortal Nine” are rebelling against society and two individuals are set to hunt these rebels. Yutaka Izubuchi is handling the series composition, with Toshizo Nemoto writing the screenplay, Toshihiro Kawamoto on character design — who created the character designs for Cowboy Bebop — and Taisei Iwasaki as the composer. Bones has a credible history for original anime with popular series such as Carol & Tuesday and Sk8 the Infinity, making Metallic Rouge a must watch. 
Release Date: January 11 on Crunchyroll 

The Fire Hunter Season 2 (Signal MD) 1/14

After going somewhat under the radar in 2023 due to the sheer glut of shows being released, the second season of The Fire Hunter returns. The visuals continue to look beautiful in their singular peculiarity, the overall sense of unease and dread permeating throughout the unrefined animation style. The series is set in a world overrun by beasts known as Flame Demons, following a young girl, Toko, who must travel to a new city to discover more about her destiny. 
Release Date: January 14 on Crunchyroll 

Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation (E&H production) 

A surprising adaptation of a one-shot manga from One Piece’s author Eiichiro Oda, Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation follows a legend about a samurai who slays a vicious dragon. Despite being written as a complete story before One Piece’s publication, Monsters is considered canonical to the pirate manga through its main character, Ryuma. This OVA has plenty to offer even the rare non-One Piece fan out there, because Monsters will be one of the first productions from E&H production – a new studio founded by Jujutsu Kaisen Season One and Jujutsu Kaisen 0 director Sunghoo Park after departing the controversial MAPPA.

Park is also directing and leading composition for Monsters and the images released indicate a similar method to how JJK was handled: managing to clearly represent the original work’s designs but give those designs edges and clarity to make them far more striking. Monsters stands to be very distinctive from any other adaptation of Oda’s work to date and with Park at the wheel, probably a very good one. 
Release Date: January 2024 on Netflix

Spring

Kaijuu No. 8 (Production I.G.)

Kaiju No. 8 follows Kafka Hibino, a thirty-something washout that once dreamed of joining Japan’s Defense Force and fighting invading kaiju. Instead, Kafka ends up cleaning up the messes left behind and giving up on his dreams – until after one clean up job he gains the ability to transform into a super-powerful kaiju himself! Using this newfound strength while hiding its truth, Kafka finally chases his dream and finds himself in the middle of a shift in the battle between humanity and kaiju beyond his wildest dreams.

Production I.G. is a legendary studio able to bring this monster series to life, with plenty of big scale battle anime under its belt. Most notably is the inclusion of studio veteran Tetsuya Nishio, who’s character designs here are controversial compared to their manga counterparts, but Nishio is considered one of IG’s “three gods” for a reason and is famous in particular for his work on the Naruto franchise, so chances are good his influence is a net positive for this series. Fans of Godzilla or Pacific Rim should definitely bookmark this series to scratch that “kaiju war” itch, especially with the unique take that Kaiju No. 8 offers. 
Release Date: April 2024 on Crunchyroll

Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc (ufotable)

Tanjiro and the Hashira’s defense of the Swordsmith Village changed the game by not only tipping the scales in the favor of the Demon Slayer Corps but by revealing Nezuko’s growth. Now that she’s a direct target of their enemy, Tanjiro will be joining his allies to go through the grueling training that all Hashira go through in the hopes of joining those ranks. This arc will take Demon Slayer even closer to its final climax and also reunite Tanjiro with his friends, who sat out most of the previous season.

Every season the material has forced ufotable to also level up its game and every time the staff has managed to meet that challenge visually, but this new season will present a new challenge as more focus seems to be on the various members of the Demon Slayers rather than just setting up a fight against another big demon threat. Surely they will pull it off just like every other season, and the production seems very confident as they’re bringing the series back to theaters to preview the first episode just like with Swordsmith Village, and even expanding the number of theaters that premiere will be available in. It’s a strong show of confidence. 
Release date: April 2024 in theaters and on Crunchyroll

Laid Back Camp Season 3 (8bit) April TBD

The peak comfort watch, there’s no denying the soothing nature of 8bit’s Laid Back Camp which returns for it’s third season in April. With lovely and soft animation style, the show continues to focus on the personal journey’s of it’s characters through the wonder and healing nature of the outdoors. Based on the series written and illustrated by Afro, the anime is set in and around Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, the series chronicles the adventures of Rin Shima, Nadeshiko Kagamihara, and their friends as they travel to various campsites across the country.
Release Date: Arpil 2024 on Crunchyroll

Sound: Euphonium 3 (Kyoto Animation)

Frankly, anything that Kyoto Animation puts out is worthy of notice. Having created some of the most visually gorgeous anime of the past decade from A Silent Voice and Liz and the Blue Bird to Violet Evergarden and Tsurune, their work is constantly of the highest quality. Their latest project, Sound: Euphonium 3 is no different. The third season of the Sound Euphonium series, the story follows the Oumae Kumiko and the rest of the Kitauji High School Wind Ensemble as new leadership takes charge. Kumiko, now the club president, hopes to bring Kitauji to Nationals and achieve gold.
Release Date: April 2024 on Crunchyroll

My Hero Academia Season 7 (Bones)

Following it’s blistering sixth season that saw the heroes lose, season seven of My Hero Academia finds Midoriya and the rest of Class 1-A dealing with the fallout within the hero society. With the destruction of the ‘Paranormal Liberation Arc’ and subsequent healing of the ‘Dark Hero’ arc, season seven is poised to delve deeper into the history of the worlds heroics as heroes from all over the world are brought in to stop Shigiraki’s and All for One’s rising threat.

While the heart of the series remains in the continued growth of Midoriyia as a character and his relationship with Bakugo and the rest of his classmates, it will be interesting for non-manga readers to see how the show further opens up this world that we’ve only barely touched on. The season is expected to cover the ‘Star and Stripe Arc,’ ‘U.A. Traitor Arc,’ and start the Final War Arc. Despite the continued chaos the characters face it remains a genuine comfort watch.
Release Date: May 4 on Crunchyroll

TBD

Get ready for distractions as 2024 has a seemingly endless list of must-see anime, even if they don’t yet have an official release date. Oshi no Ko will be making a triumphant return following it’s very, very, successful first season. We’ll finally (hopefully) be given some closure on Legoshi and co., in the third and final season of Beastars on Netflix. The beloved Shōjo series Kimi no Todoke is getting a long awaited third season while Tower of God, based on the Korean webtoon, is coming back for it’s second after it’s season one cliffhanger. Dandadan, based on the manga written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu is one of the most anticiapted new series from Science Saru while The Elusive Samurai offers a change of pace with it’s historical setting.

Hell, who knows — maybe even Uzumaki will finally be released this year.