Best 2024 Anime

2024 was a brilliant 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.

Updated on May 21, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Spring 2025 is roughly halfway through, and it has been a pretty good season so far. That said, at this point, most viewers have likely dropped quite a few shows, leaving their calendar open for some great series from yesteryear. Consequently, two more of 2024’s best anime have been added as recommendations, including a BL series since 2025 has yet to produce a decent show.

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 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
• Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? 5
• Kaiju No. 8
• Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
• Ranma ½
• Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3
• Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master

18

Welcome Home

A Wholesome Boys Love Anime

2024 was great for boys love anime; in fact, it might have been the genre’s best year ever. Except for Fall 2024, each season produced at least one very good series, all of which were wholesome and fairly mature. Despite being known for scandalous relationships, BL’s reputation mostly stems from its pre-2016 releases, and the genre nowadays prioritizes same-age relationships.

Welcome Home was 2024’s best BL anime, although it was not the most accessible. Part of the Omegaverse, the story is set in a world that uses a gendered class system that can be a bit complicated. However, the main thing to know is that, in this universe, some people are known as Alphas, meaning they can impregnate certain men and women, while others are Omegas, meaning they can get pregnant even if they are men.

Masaki, an Omega, is married to Hiromu, an Alpha, and they are raising two kids. Welcome Home is a slice of life romance about a young couple that is mostly just trying to do right by their children, while also connecting with their neighbors. For the most part, the anime is quite lighthearted and cozy; however, the show also touches upon Masaki’s feelings of inadequacy stemming from discrimination. It is handled very well.

17

Wistoria: Wand and Sword

A Safe But Well Executed Action Fantasy Anime

By the same creator behind Danmachi, Wistoria: Wand and Sword shines in pretty much the same ways as that long-running series. Despite not telling the most captivating story or featuring particularly novel characters, the anime executes its familiar tropes so well that it does not matter. Lavished with impeccable production value that compares favorably to other high-end 2024 anime like Solo Leveling, Wistoria delivers top-notch animation, especially during its many, many fight sequences. Action is 100% the name of the game, and the show completely delivers in this area.

Also, while nothing special, the plot is by no means terrible either. Set in a world where mages rule, Will’s warrior class puts him at direct odds with the rest of the students at Regarden Magic Academy. Despite having almost no affinity for magic, Will is still aiming to become a Magia Vander, a position that would allow him to connect with a childhood friend. Yeah, this story has been done before, but Wistoria presents a good example of this type of narrative. Will is a likable enough protagonist, and he is surrounded by mostly entertaining rivals (and a few friends).

16

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2

An Isekai Journey Through Heaven & Hell

In a genre known for divisive shows, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation arguably stands as one of the most polarizing. With gorgeous animation, top-notch world-building, ambitious storytelling, and a willingness to take risks, Studio Bind’s series has all the ingredients to craft a masterpiece and, for the most part, brings them together well. However, Rudy is the definition of a “love or hate” protagonist, particularly during the first season, and his early behavior can be off-putting enough to make the rest of the show not worth sitting through for some people.

Be that as it may, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation still deserves praise for its generally strong writing, and Season 2 Part 2 arguably represents the story’s peak so far. While the previous season dragged at times, the 2024 entry nailed its pacing by gradually transitioning from slow-life drama to nail-biting action. While initially starting with a feel-good moment, the first half of the season also challenges Rudy to explore his past life’s actions through one of his sibling’s struggles, giving both characters some much-needed development. The second half ramps up the action and intensity considerably, culminating in a final stretch of episodes that were among the year’s best.

15

Natsume’s Book of Friends Season 7

Another Masterfully Done Supernatural Slice Of Life Season

Natsume’s Book of Friends is nothing if not consistent. 15 years and seven seasons after its debut, the anime continues to deliver the perfect blend of supernatural and slice of life goodness, all wrapped up in an iyashikei bubble that heals the soul. At the end of the day, season 7 is just another 12 episodes of mostly cozy situations and cases, albeit with a few more high-stakes situations due to Matoba having more of a presence and a few yokai being genuinely intimidating.

Even during the more suspenseful episodes, Natsume’s Book of Friends always shows restraint and takes a matter-of-fact approach to these moments, never over-indulging in action or intensity. While hardly an easy recommendation for newcomers, anyone who has been following the series for years will likely love season 7.

14

Solo Leveling (Season 1)

An Important Adaptation That Delivers Impressive Action

While surpassed by its 2025 sequel season, Solo Leveling‘s debut was still a huge deal that largely succeeded in meeting expectations. Anime based on South Korean web novels predate 2024, but Chugong’s story is arguably the most popular and beginner-friendly manhwa of all time. A-1 Pictures needed to nail the adaptation, as a critical and commercial flop could have negatively impacted the changes of similar anime being produced. Manhwa is still very much an untapped market for animated series, and Solo Leveling had the potential to unlock or seal it.

Moving past its cultural significance, this series is just a plain old entertaining action extravaganza. Solo Leveling is set in a reality where Gates to dungeons have been popping up all over Earth, and they can only be closed if human hunters defeat the bosses within. Sung Jin-woo is an E-rank hunter, meaning he is so weak that he barely contributes anything during missions. During one particularly bad run, Sung is left to die by the other hunters, only for him to hear a strange voice that asks him if he wants to become the “player,” allowing him to improve his stats and skills. This moment starts Sung’s journey to becoming the strongest hunter.

Solo Leveling is a power fantasy, albeit one that chronicles its protagonist’s rise rather than just instantly making him OP. While the story is decent but nothing too special, the anime shines in its fantastic animation and constantly stellar fights, the latter of which were comfortably among 2024’s best action sequences.

13

Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

A Historical Epic Drenched In Tension And Ambition

A slow burner, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth is a two-cour series that achieved its peak in 2025; however, the 14 episodes released in 2024 were top-notch. Telling a genuinely unique story, the anime is set during the 1400s in Europe and follows different people who want to learn the truth about Earth’s place in the solar system. Yes, this series is about astronomy, but it goes well beyond stargazing. These characters exist in a society ruled by religion and undeniable truths, and challenging the latter is treated as heresy and punished with torture and potentially death.

Orb: On the Movements of the Earth is nail-bitingly intense. Every single action taken by the main characters could lead to the gallows, and there are spies pretty much everywhere. Along with tight storytelling, the anime has a fairly unique structure, with the narrative being split into parts with new protagonists who build on the research and knowledge of their predecessors.

This ranking is based solely on the content that aired in 2024; Orb had an even better 2025 – watch this show.

12

KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3

A Hilarious Isekai Anime Produces Its Best Season Yet

For the most part, 2024 was a solid year for isekai anime, with each season including at least a couple of good shows. While newcomers like Demon Lord 2099 and The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic proved to be fun additions to the genre, 2024’s best isekai releases were all sequels to established properties. Polarizing as its protagonist can be, Mushoku Tensei can be relied upon to deliver top-notch animation and world-building, and season 2 part 2 was no exception. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3 was mostly fantastic, but only eight episodes aired in 2024, with a return set for February 2025.

That leaves KonoSuba, a consistently great series. Even the comparatively forgettable Megumin spin-off is entertaining, and the main seasons represent comedy isekai at its peak. Except for maybe the movie, season 3 is arguably KonoSuba‘s greatest production yet, blending action, comedy, and character development better than anything else that came before it.

Despite being unapologetically dysfunctional and prone to arguments, Kazuma’s party has built a strong rapport throughout their adventures, and they nowadays feel like a proper family rather than individuals who are begrudgingly working together. Before the 2024 entry, Darkness was the group’s weak link, coming across as relatively one-dimensional. Fortunately, season 3 rectified this issue by focusing almost exclusively on her, fleshing out her family history, sense of responsibility, and integrity. While surprisingly dramatic, the core story never takes away from the humor, which is on point throughout the season.

11

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You Season 3

A Moving And Realistic Romance That Was A Long-Time Coming

A decade had to pass for a continuation, but Kimi ni Todoke made its long-awaited return in 2024. Fortunately, the wait was more than worth it, with Production I.G putting together not only the strongest season yet but also one that enhances its predecessors. While good, the anime was undermined by a reluctance to bring together Sawako and Shouta, with their romance only becoming official toward the end of season 2. The 2024 sequel follows from that point, with the duo finally being allowed to explore their feelings out in the open.

Sawako and Shouta serve as the beating heart throughout most of season 3, with the first episode seeming like a joyful celebration of their romance. After the honeymoon period fades, their relationship faces its first realistic challenge as neither character is great at communication. Beyond Sawako and Shouta, Kimi ni Todoke also explores a few other major potential romances, specifically Ryuu/Chizuru and Ayane/Kento. Ayane, in particular, is season 3’s MVP.

Season 3 is only on Netflix.

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.