2024 in Review: The Best and Strangest of the Year

As we say good-bye to 2024, it’s time to take a look at the highlights of the year as a whole, rather than just individual seasons.

2024 may have set a new record for anime debuts, with roughly 200 full or half-length non-kiddie titles debuting over the course of the year. Included amongst those were debuting or continuing remakes of a handful of prominent titles from 10 or more years in the past, including Ruroni Kenshin, Spice and Wolf, Ranma ½, and Grendizer U, and a sequel to a franchise whose last entry was in the early ’90s (Kinnikuman). Among the trends for the year were a growing number of “villainess” titles amongst isekai fare (at least one or two a season is now typical) and a notable uptick in fan service-focused titles. Outlets for streaming anime are also diversifying further, with Netflix, Hulu, and even Amazon Prime Video all starting to become more regular at carrying debuting anime series for weekly postings, rather than just batch releases. (Although that still is going on; see Terminator Zero.)

The Top Ten Series For 2024

2024 wasn’t as packed as 2023 was for quality series, but that doesn’t mean there was a shortage of titles vying for spots in this Top Ten. That’s due in part to some of the top performers from 2023 having second halves or second seasons in 2024. Because of this, the list this year may look familiar (especially in the top 5!) if you recall last year’s list.

But there were several strong debuts in 2024, too, and those are mixed into this list among the quality carry-overs. As always, there were also a handful of widely-lauded titles that I never got around to watching out; this time around, these included Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction and YATAGARASU: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master (and, to a lesser extent, Mayonaka Punch and season 2 of The Dangers in My Heart), so those don’t factor into my selections here at all. Among titles which I did consider but narrowly missed the cut this time around, the most prominent ones were Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V (probably my #11 pick), Kaiju no. 8 (impressive feature moments but more weak points than other series which made it), and the most recent seasons of Mushoku Tensei (good and compelling but slightly outshone by others in the same genre) and Re:Zero (it was hurt a lot by stopping after episode 8).

So what did make the list? Let’s find out!

Series of the Year – The Apothecary Diaries

I hated myself for having to place this one as low as #4 last year, but that was actually only a minor factor in this decision. The second half of the series’ first season is, simply, a bit stronger than the first, including having the first season’s best episode (#19) and its most compelling mysteries and plot developments. Compared to the other top titles this season, it also offers the most complete qualitative package. It features one of the best lead heroines of recent years, gorgeous design elements, sharp use of visual symbolism, involved and intelligently-designed mystery elements, compelling character development, top-rate voice work in both Japanese and English dubs, generally solid and occasionally beautiful animation, and perhaps most importantly, the most flawless balance of serious and light-hearted elements of any top series. It also has no soft points amongst any of its second half episodes. It’s one of my favorite series of the past few years for good reason, and I greatly look forward to its return in the Winter ’25 season.

2. Orb: On the Movements of the Earth – If you had told me at the beginning of the year that one of the year’s most disturbingly graphic series would also prove to be one of its most cerebral, I would have been quite skeptical. Yet that’s exactly what happened with this series about the exploration of the theory of heliocentrism in 15th century Europe. Unnerving depictions of suspected heretics being tortured and executed are interspersed amongst discussions about the merits of reading and learning, deep ponderings on faith, and the necessity of mankind to strive for more. A strong and interesting cast are highlights, but this one also excels in its artistic and design elements, dramatic staging, and musical support, as well as twists which leave viewers guessing about who will and won’t survive in the long run. Given the way its last episode of its 2024 portion plays out, and the major transition it fosters, I greatly look forward to seeing where this series goes next.

3. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – This is still one of the strongest of all fantasy anime series, but its second half is a little weaker than its first (primarily due to being dominated by its magic test structure), hence the main reason for its drop from its #1 position on my list in 2023. It still retains many of its strengths, though: fantastically-animated action sequences, compelling world-building, its sentimental spirit, and its skillful use of flashbacks to reveal greater truths, some of which trail back to the earliest stages of the series. (The way the spell which creates a field of flowers provides a narrative line navigating throughout the story’s various aspects is a particular highlight.) It also continues to do a capable job of balancing more serious and lighter elements and greatly expands its active cast. A second series for this one can’t come soon enough.

4. Oshi no Ko season 2 – To be clear, this is for the animated version rather than the much weaker live-action version. The Tokyo Blade arc offered a number of compelling character development moments and a couple of shocking twists, while the following Miyazaki arc featured some of the most heartbreaking scenes since episode 1. All throughout the series wowed audiences will all manner of clever visual enhancements, including late updates to its strong closer. Its pointed and sharply-written industry commentary also continues to be a highlight. With its second season, it proves again why the series has become such a huge hit.

5. Girls Band Cry – This one is a last-minute addition, as I marathoned it over the year’s final weekend after remembering that its very belated release on Crunchyroll garnered a particularly strong review on ANN. I’m glad I took the time to check it out, because after seeing it myself, I can appreciate why Nicholas Dupree’s review was so glowing. The all-CG animation definitely takes some getting used to and may not work for everyone, but the series is a fascinating look at the dynamics which eventually brings three teenage girls and two young women together to form an all-girl rock band. It is hurt a little by minimizing attention on some of the supporting band members in favor of fully playing out the development of lead singer Nina (which is why I can’t place the series any higher), but the angst and energy which powers the series is hard to deny, and it easily contains the year’s best collection of insert songs. The massive delay in the series finally being licensed did it a grave disservice.

6. Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! – This one has one of the best concepts of any series in 2024: have the male lead interact with the girls who end up on the losing end of standard romcom tropes, but don’t turn it into a harem situation. Each of the three main girls – Anna, Chika, and Lemon – was looking for love in different ways and copes with not getting it from their first choice in interestingly different ways, and I love how they became an impromptu support group for each other in the process. The writing here is sharp and intelligent, and the series features startlingly good animation for a non-action title. It’s a series I definitely need to go back and rewatch in English-dubbed form.

7. Delicious in Dungeon – This one earns its spot more for its stronger second half than for its first, but even so, there’s a lot to like here. A fantastic English dub and high-end visuals and animation are strong highlights as the series looks at a colorful group of dungeon delvers trying to “live off the land” as they seek to recover the body of a downed companion of some of them. Sure, the foodie aspect is cool, but the series also takes great delight in exploring the eccentricities of its cast and all the assorted dangers of a clearly RPG-influenced dungeon setting. The story gets stronger later on as it delves more into the consequences for the group’s actions and draws other adventuring groups into Laios’s grand quest. Its writing isn’t quite as compelling as some of the higher entries, but it never lacks for fun factor.

8. DAN DA DAN – I’m sure this one will be much higher on the lists of many, and I can’t at all deny that it features some of the year’s most impressive and inventive series animation, as well as a very likable lead duo (later trio and then quartet) and a catchy opener. Momo also ranks high among the year’s best heroines (though I can’t quite put her at #1 in that position; see below). It is definitely an outrageously fun series, and it shows with episode 7 that it can be hard-hitting on an emotional front, too. However, I can’t put it higher than this position because, unlike all the titles above it on this list, it was never a priority view for me. I more respect it than am a fan of it, but I do respect it this much.

9. Vtuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream – I’m not into the Hololive/Vtuber scene at all, and I still found this to be the most outrageously funny series of the year. (And I’m told that many of its antics are fairly typical for that scene.) It also features some remarkably sharp visuals and interesting visual gimmicks, but I loved it much more for its madcap, stream-of-consciousness-feeling antics. Kudos also to Ayane Sakura for turning in one of the year’s great vocal performances as Yuki/Awayuki.

10. Brave Bang Bravern! – This one delightfully flips the normal mecha dynamic on its head by making the titular mecha one of the star characters rather than star vehicles. It is carried by its strong spirit, clever twists on standard mecha tropes, the relationship dynamics at its core, and some surprising twists in its later stages. Of all the titles in my Top 10, it is the one that is most underwatched and underappreciated.

Individual Awards

Lead Character of the Year – Nina Iseri, Girls Band Cry

I’m skipping considering Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries here, since I gave her this award last year and want some variety. Even with that decision, I definitely had some other characters in mind before my late marathon of Girls Band Cry. But that just goes to show how much this cute little ball of rage bowled me over. No other character in 2024 more profoundly leaked raw emotion and passion than Nina did, and the way she performs and conflicts with others shows how she channels that emotion, lending her a greater sense of legitimacy than any other band frontwoman in anime in recent memory. In short, she elevates what would otherwise be just a good series into a great one. My top runner-up here is probably Alicia Williams from I’ll Be a Villainess Who Goes Down in History, for the delightful twist she gives to her series by embracing her own interpretation of the villainess role rather than trying to avoid it, and Utena Hiiragi/Magia Baiser from Gushing Over Magical Girls, for the way that being forced into a villain role brings out her delightfully perverse side (much to her horror).

Supporting Character of the Year – Yuki Suo, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

This award goes specifically to a character who isn’t a lead protagonist or ensemble member but nonetheless still makes an outsized impression. That’s definitely the case with Yuki, a clever, sharp-tongued little gremlin who steals nearly every scene she’s in and regularly outshine the titular character, even sometimes in sex appeal. Runner-up honors here go to Elsa, the young would-be female priest from Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets Wise Wolf.

Duo or Couple of the Year – Rika and Takuya, 365 Days to the Wedding

This was definitely one of the harder picks, as there are a lot of great choices this year, including obvious pick Lawrence and Holo from from the Spice and Wolf reboot, who are my #2 pick. In the interest of variety, though, I went with the couple that I most strongly felt deserved and complemented each other in terms of both appearances and personalities. (And them formally being together at the end of the series certainly doesn’t hurt.) Other strong contenders here include Zagan and Nephy from An Archdemon’s Dilemma – How to Love Your Elf Bride, Byakuya and Mira from The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to be Enemies, and (for a non-romantic pairing) Belle and Clay in Dungeon People.

Scene of the Year – Rafal takes a stand, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth episode 3

If Duo/Couple of the Year was one of my harder picks, this one was my absolute hardest, as this year had no shortage of stand-out scenes. I ultimately went with this pivotal scene marking the end of Rafal’s character arc because of how much it shook me to the core and changed my perception of what I was watching; it made me appreciate for the first time that this was not a series where a single protagonist was going to persist throughout, but rather a succession of caretakers for the pursuit of heliocentrism. It’s also a powerful but calmly-presented act of defiance and rejection, a recognition that taking the safe route which assured both his long-term success and survival wasn’t enough now that his eyes had been opened to the possible truths of the world, all delivered with flawlessly understated musical backing. Other strong contenders here include the moment Ruby’s star goes black in episode 24 of Oshi no Ko, Maomao saving Jinshi from the falling beam in episode 19 of The Apothecary Diaries, and Hestia’s Dios Aedes Vesta counter-charm in episode 9 of DanMachi V.

OP of the Year: “Kaijuu” by Sakanaction, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

Note: This is v1 of the opener. The visuals update a bit beginning with episode 4.

Compared to last year, this was an unexciting one for spectacle and/or impact OPs, as only a handful were memorable enough to be worth watching each episode. The popular choice here is probably going to be “Otonoke” from DAN DA DAN or “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” from Mashle 2, both by Creepy Nuts, and they’re both worthy of consideration on the strength of funky rap beats. Also worth considering here are “Ctrl C” by Kohta Yamamoto (feat. Shun Ikegai) for Strongest Magician in the Demon Lord’s Army was a Human, “Fatal” by GEMN for Oshi no Ko 2, “Sign” by Aimer for Spice & Wolf: Merchant Meets Wise Wolf, and “Jikai Yokoku” by Tatsuya Kitani for Go! Go! Loser Ranger. However, I ultimately went with “Kaijuu,” as it was an opener with a suitably dramatic air which gradually grew on me as the series progressed and the images in it grained greater relevance. Lyrics which somewhat speak to the feelings and themes of the series are also a plus.

ED of the Year: “Anytime Anywhere” v2 by milet, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

The first version of this was my overwhelming winner for 2023, and this second version (the second verse I think?) was always the one to beat for 2024, but for different reasons. The song’s still great, but the decidedly different visual approach plays out a story: decades or perhaps even centuries after the main story, Frieren is having trouble remembering Fern, so she takes a nap by Fern’s grave and searches for her through her dreams, with Fern’s red ribbon to guide her to the butterfly on Fern’s hair ornament, and thus to Fern. It’s achingly touching in a way that speaks to core themes of the series. Distant seconds here include “Burning” by Hitsujibungaku for Oshi no Ko s2, “Hitohira” by sweet ARMS for Date a Live V, and the very, very gay “Soen no Shozo,” which closed out Brave Bang Bravern!

Most Disturbing In-Series Music Video: “POP IN 2” by B Komachi, Oshi no Ko episode 24

While I say “disturbing” for this one, “heartbreaking” or “devastating” might be equally valid terms. It’s a catchy, cutesy pop song that would normally be quite enjoyable. . . except for Ruby’s eye star having gone black in some shots. The brilliance of the animation team’s effort here is that her star is normal in some of the video’s shots, thus differentiating shots taken before she turned to the dark side from shots taken after. I’ve never seen an in-series music video or performance pull off a stunt like this, and it’s not even necessarily the most impactful visual gimmick in the series.

Oddest Character: Noa Minakami, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics

She’s the leader of a cult who becomes a keyboard player in a girl band and then later gets arrested for insider trading. (And yes, this is pretty normal for this series, which definitely lives up to its name.)

Guilty Pleasure- An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride

This award goes to a series that I freely acknowledge may not be the best in a qualitative sense and yet still found endlessly entertaining. There were a few other candidates for this position, including The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor and A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics, but An Archdemon’s Dilemma wins out because it’s the one I most badly want to see a sequel for. Zagan and Nephy make such a cute couple but are far from the only good cast members, and the series has surprisingly rich world-building and some of the year’s better musical support. It’s also much less tawdry than the title might expect. It gets probably my strongest recommendation for the year among the year’s mid-tier and lower titles.

Most Perverse Fan Service: Plus-Sized Elf

Note: Censoring added.

Ranma ½ butt crack and no-nipples controversies aside, 2024 was a banner year for fan service titles, with more titles featuring nudity than any other year in probably the last decade. While Gushing Over Magical Girls was easily the most explicit title of the year, it was at least conventional in its use of nudity, sexuality, and fetish content. Plus-Sized Elf, however, glories in being one giant exercise in BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) fetish, and makes no pretense of being anything else. Not a fan of this kind of thing myself, but I have to respect the series’ moxie for going there.

And that’s now officially a wrap for 2024! Look for the Winter 2025 Preview Guide here.