Every year, it feels like anime becomes increasingly global, and the first half of 2024 has been no exception. Whether it be a series like Delicious in Dungeon breaking through on Netflix, the ongoing influence of big battle shōnen such as Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer, or the upcoming anime for franchises like Lord of the Rings, Terminator, and Suicide Squad, the medium feels more popular every day (although unfortunately those gains still aren’t reaching the underpaid, underappreciated animators who make them).
And for those interested in diving headlong into the best of what this year has to offer, you’re in luck, because these first few months have had some of the most impressive shows in recent memory. We had fresh takes on fantasy, heartwarming romance, oddball originals, and a lot of sapphic-tinged tales about bands. While the industry itself is still undeniably a mess and only getting worse as more and more programs are green-lit, the creators behind these 10 series were able to defy trends and put out consistently animated spectacles that showcased their craft.
Honorable Mentions: Laid-Back Camp Season 3, Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf, Big Bang Bravern!, Kaiju No.8, and ‘Tis Time For “Torture,” Princess
10. Train to the End of the World
From its first episode, Train to the End of the World has brimmed with creativity and chaos, resulting in the type of weirdo anime original we see too little of these days. After the botched rollout of the “7G cellular network” warps reality into an unrecognizable wonderland, Shizuru and her buddies set out from their hometown to find their estranged friend Yuko, who, before the disaster, was headed to the big city of Ikebukuro, Tokyo. As the group co-opts an abandoned train, they run into episodic hijinks as they’re repeatedly waylaid along the way. It’s in these encounters where much of the series’ originality lies, and it’s an exercise in futility to guess what’s in store any given week: malicious mushrooms, zombies allergic to Lady Chatterley’s Lover, and cartoons come to life are just a few of the strange sights they witness.
And beyond these wacky adventures, the whip-sharp dialogue and characterization from veteran screenwriter Michiko Yokote (Shirobako, Princess Tutu, Mononoke, etc.) makes the lightning-fast interactions between this group of teen girls feel both honest and hilarious. The bizarre happenings may draw you in, but it’s the overarching relationship drama between Shizuru and her distant bestie that pulls everything together, both literally and figuratively. Thanks to this focus, Train to the End of the World is able to maintain its insanity without going off the rails.
9. Undead Unluck
Undead Unluck has quickly proven to be one of the more quietly bonkers action anime in recent memory. Similar to Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure before it, this series is about duels between opponents with outlandish abilities, resulting in puzzle-box battles that are as much about brains as brawn. But perhaps even zanier than these powers is how its worldbuilding slowly reveals the extremes of this setting, nonchalantly dropping exposition bombs that carry all sorts of fascinating implications. We follow Andy and Fuko, a pair who come into the crosshairs of an enigmatic organization that hunts down “Negators,” people who can nullify the rules of reality.
David Productions and director Yuki Yase capture these negation abilities through idiosyncratic editing and layouts that convey the strangeness of these metaphysical powers while also heightening the juicy melodrama surrounding its characters. Although this one was visually impressive from the jump, perhaps the biggest point of improvement is that, over its run, it has done a much better job building out the relationship between Andy and Fuko, pairing down the disconcerting “gags” between them in the process. With that unfortunate bit largely tossed aside, the show has continued to build on its avant-garde animation and intriguing premise to make for a well-produced and exciting action romp.
8. Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night
Delighting in emotionally hard-hitting turns, Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night is a musical coming-of-age story bolstered by sharp direction and timely commentary on internet culture. It follows four girls, Mahiru, Kano, Kiui, and Mei, each facing problems in their personal lives that are at least partially alleviated when they come together to form the online music group JEELE. One of the series’ standout elements is how effectively it gets inside the personal hangups of its central cast, exploring each of their anxieties as they face whatever they’ve been running from, whether it’s peer pressure or manipulative parents. In particular, the story hones in on what it’s like to grow up with the internet, exploring social media self-consciousness, ego-surfing, idol culture, and more. The group’s growing bonds, including queer ones, culminate in big-swing dramatic moments that are elevated thanks to Ryouhei Takeshita’s confident direction and studio Doga Kobo’s consistent production. Although the show has a bad habit of wrapping up some of its messy arcs a little too cleanly, when everything else aligns, this musical act is tough to beat.
7. A Sign of Affection
Thanks to its lovingly rendered visuals and empathetic tone, A Sign of Affection has proven itself a heartwarming romance story. It follows Yuki, a young woman attempting to broaden her horizons at college, as she navigates what it means to no longer attend her high school for deaf students. As someone who isn’t deaf or hard of hearing, I can’t fully speak to the quality of the representation here, but I will say that events are firmly presented from our protagonist’s point of view, delivering internal monologues and grounded details that convey the nuances of her experience. It never shies away from showing the challenges of her circumstances, mostly around how others unfairly try to shelter her, but it also doesn’t come across like she’s typecast into a particular role due to her deafness, as her arc is largely about the joy that comes from meeting new people and trying new things.
However, while Yuki was a compelling character from the first episode, as the series has continued, it’s done a much better job fleshing out her love interest, Itsuomi. Although he initially came across as too invasive of other people’s personal space, these elements have eased up, and we’ve seen much more of why Yuki is interested in him. Specifically, we see how his love of learning languages, openness toward other cultures, and penchant for travel make him a perfect match for our protagonist. Plus, he’s hot (and considerate, too)! Between its soft color palette, lovingly animated sign language, and well-portrayed heroine, A Sign of Affection radiates good vibes.
6. The Dangers in My Heart
Simply put, The Dangers in My Heart is one of the most affecting, adorable, bubbly rom-coms in a minute, building out its hot-mess leads into people we can’t help but root for. It follows Kyotaro Ichikawa and Anna Yamada, two students who couldn’t be more different at first glance: Ichikawa is a gloomy, anti-social boy, and Anna is a tall, popular model. Although that sounds like fodder for boring male wish-fulfillment that’s common in many anime, the pair end up feeling like complete people in ways that justify this premise. Ichikawa nurses self-doubt from a previous incident that undercuts his confidence, while Yamada’s outwardly perfect appearance belies her own insecurities and flaws (and deep love of snacks). But thanks to their burgeoning relationship, they’ve each helped the other move past some of these hangups in scenes brought to life with explosive emotion.
Through the second season, Shin-Ei Animation has upped their game, as emotional cuts and the sentimental rush of the score deliver constant late-episode crescendoes that convey these characters’ soaring emotions. It’s tough to space out a will-they-won’t-they without introducing conflicts that feel contrived, but this series creates a consistent feeling of progression between this would-be couple. The off-putting elements from its first episode feel entirely in the rearview mirror at this point, and thanks to its bracingly honest depiction of adolescence and wonderful central pair, this one is an absolute delight.
5. Sound! Euphonium 3
It’s been more than seven years since Sound! Euphonium was last on the small screen (although there were some movies in between), and the latest season of Kyoto Animation’s masterfully animated music story demonstrates what a loss this absence has been. Things pick up where they left off with Kumiko in her last year at Kitauji High School, as she and the rest of the concert band aim to win Gold at the national competition. From the opening moments, it’s clear that the studio’s rigorous approach to portraying everyday life is in full form, as they render some of the most impressive character animation you’ll see on TV.
This thorough attention to detail captures the intricacies of subtle motion, such as playing instruments, and works perfectly with a narrative similarly obsessed with the minute emotional turns of its cast, as Kumiko attempts to hold together the egos and concerns of their band. You wouldn’t think a grounded account of a high school club could be so dramatic, but through its sustained hyperfocus on the little things, it has put us in the room with these characters so intensely that returning to this group after so long feels almost like being among old friends. Kyoto Animation has earned a reputation by putting out many of the most gorgeously produced TV anime we’ve ever seen, and Sound! Euphonium’s third season is no exception.
4. Girls Band Cry
I’m not sure who needs to be held responsible, but it’s a high anime crime that Girls Band Cry, one of the best series of the year thus far, isn’t being distributed to watch legally in most regions outside of Japan. However, if you find a way to see it, you’ll be treated with delightful animation and loveable disaster characters that make this another banger in the increasingly crowded “girls start a band” sub-genre. The story centers on Nina, a teen who drops out of school to move to Tokyo and crosses paths with her favorite musician, Momoka. Before long, Nina finds herself not just admiring from afar but making music for herself as she comes together with a group of fellow misfits to form a band.
The most immediately noticeable boon for the show is its intensely expressive 3D animation whose contorts and bounces sell physical comedy and weepy turns in equal measure. And as for the main cast, they’re an absolute mess in the best way possible, crashing through the streets of Tokyo as they flip people off, struggle against themselves, and find purpose in music. This is one of those series where the characters jive so well (or poorly, depending on the scene) that I could watch them hang out forever and never get sick of it.
3. The Apothecary Diaries
There are plenty of reasons why The Apothecary Diaries rose to near the top of this strong lineup, but one of the most straightforward is how good it is at balancing episodic storytelling with its overarching ambitions. Week to week, we watch as our genius apothecary, Maomao, uses her deep knowledge of science and remedies to piece together mysteries within this fictionalized rendition of Ming Dynasty China’s imperial court. These whodunits are deeply entertaining in their own right, detailing complicated conspiracies and alchemic phenomena while offering ample room for our medicinal detective to flex her sharp wit. However, where they gain even more impact is in how these machinations connect to implicit critiques of the power imbalances and misogyny that define this historical setting. For Maomao, cracking these cases is frequently the easy part, and the true difficulty comes from navigating an invisible web of royal court procedure and faux pas that could lead to her getting expelled (or much worse) if she makes even a minor misstep.
But while this setting can be oppressive, the series also highlights how the people trapped in this walled garden carve out little spaces for themselves. Maomao is a lovable medicine goblin who’s quickly become one of my favorite anime protagonists, and this story is so good at capturing her over-the-top glee at gathering herbs and crafting concoctions (especially poison). We see other people’s passions, wants, and loves—the things that persevere despite these stifling circumstances. Toho and OLM’s consistently beautiful backdrops further put us in this historical moment as the show deftly balances its many tones and political circumstances. More of Maomao’s weekly adventures can’t come soon enough.
2. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Last year, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End stole the show. Its first sixteen episodes were a melancholic look at what it means to live forever, as the elf Freiren reflected on her place in a changing world. It riffed on high fantasy tropes in compelling ways, not only interrogating its protagonists’ circumstances but also revealing a complicated setting, well-thought-out magic systems, and clever spins on what it means to be a hero. Although this year’s second cour wasn’t as outright emotionally affecting as what came before, in large part because these episodes switched gears into a tournament arc, it still slipped in interesting character moments and bittersweet recollections in between all of the fisticuffs, which thrived thanks to studio Madhouse’s tremendous work.
In a modern anime industry where most series that run for back-to-back seasons eventually hit a noticeable dip in animation quality, by contrast, this is among the most consistent productions we’ve seen. In fact, it’s gotten even more flashy as these duels have taken center stage, bringing to life earth-shattering displays of magical acumen that fully sell the destructive power of these incantations. And even if this stretch is a little less thoughtful than the show’s first half, it still sprinkles in rewarding development and compelling dynamics (while also doing the very fun thing of introducing a bunch of cool guys with colorful abilities). Through the end of its first season, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End remains an easy recommendation.
1. Delicious in Dungeon
Delicious in Dungeon juggles a lot and juggles it well. Through gut-busting humor, savory cooking sequences, impressive worldbuilding, colorful animation, and increasingly affecting character development, this series is a well-balanced meal that’s only gotten tastier with time. We continue to follow Laios (the Tallman warrior), Marcille (the elven mage), Senshi (a monster meal-obsessed Dwarf), and Chilchuck (a halfling locksmith), as they cook up creatures while journeying to save a lost party member from this dungeon. Although I was impressed with this fantasy tale from the jump, over its 24-episode run, the story has gone from amusing to outright devastating, as it has expertly built up its characters alongside all the mouthwatering meals. These dorks are the key to the show’s success, and it’s a delight to watch them deliver tasty dishes that feel like they’re from a fantasy rendition of the Food Network as we slowly uncover their backstories.
And it’s not only the cooking and cast, but just about every element of this anime based on Ryōko Kui’s manga that lands successfully as well; Kui’s creative spins on high fantasy tropes make this world feel unique and flavorful, and Studio Trigger captures these details via a slightly toned-down version of their trademark maximalist presentation. Oh, and did I mention it’s funny—like really funny? There aren’t many shows that, within 10 minutes, can seamlessly jump between a brutal backstory concerning potential cannibalism and a brilliant visual gag where a character is transformed into a doofy-looking dog, but Delicious in Dungeon does so with ease.
Elijah Gonzalez is an assistant Games and TV Editor for Paste Magazine. In addition to playing and watching the latest on the small screen, he also loves film, creating large lists of media he’ll probably never actually get to, and dreaming of the day he finally gets through all the Like a Dragon games. You can follow him on Twitter @eli_gonzalez11.
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