The best anime of 2024 so far

2023 was an distinctive 12 months for anime. And if the primary weeks of 2024 are any indication, audiences can probably count on one other nice 12 months of terrific exhibits.

From new seasons of returning favorites like My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Sound! Euphonium, and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation to thrilling new premieres like Scrumptious in Dungeon, Kaiju No. 8, Dragon Ball Daima, and Lazarus, anime followers have quite a bit to stay up for in 2024.

That can assist you sustain with every part that’s popping out this 12 months, we’ve gathered a quorum of Polygon’s resident anime lovers to create a listing of the 12 months’s best in anime. For readability and comfort, these exhibits are offered in reverse chronological order, so the latest releases will all the time present up first. We’ll be updating our listing periodically, season by season, so test in usually to see what new, what’s sizzling, and most significantly of all — what’s best. Take pleasure in!

Bucchigiri?!

The place to observe: Crunchyroll

Sk8 the Infinity director Hiroko Utsumi is again with yet one more authentic anime sequence. This time it’s a fantasy comedy about Araji Tomobishi, a shy younger pupil who transfers to a brand new college crammed with roughnecks and gangsters. Worse but, he will get possessed by a strong genie whose energy inadvertently pits him between two of the strongest gangs in his college. To prime it off, the poor man simply desires to lose his virginity, and as an alternative he simply finally ends up by chance punching folks, getting himself into more and more deadlier and extra precarious conditions.

For those who’re searching for a nonsensical motion comedy with over-the-top antics, JoJo’s Weird Journey-esque battles, and memorable character designs, Bucchigiri?! is an absolute delight. —Toussaint Egan

Courageous Bang Bravern!

Picture: CygamesPictures/Crunchyroll

The place to observe: Crunchyroll

Followers of final 12 months’s Cellular Go well with Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, rejoice: There’s one other nice large robotic anime to observe this 12 months, and as soon as extra, it’s additionally simply one of the funniest anime comedies of 2024.

Directed by veteran mecha anime director Masami Ōbari, Courageous Bang Bravern! follows the story of Isami Ao and Lewis Smith, two mech pilots who meet throughout a joint American-Japanese navy train in Hawaii. When their navy base is besieged by an extraterrestrial menace, all hope appears misplaced — till a huge humanoid robotic named Bravern comes to save lots of the day… however provided that Isami agrees to pilot him.

The place precisely did Bravern come from, although, and the way does he know who Isami is? The reply, for proper now at the least, is don’t fear about it — simply vibe! A giant-hearted parody of “super robot” anime with explosive motion, enjoyable characters, and intense homoerotic overtones, Courageous Bang Bravern! is an early contender for one of my favourite anime of 2024. —TE

Metallic Rouge

Picture: Bones/Crunchyroll

The place to observe: Crunchyroll

Bones, the critically acclaimed studio behind in style anime like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Eureka Seven, Mob Psycho 100, and My Hero Academia, is celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary this 12 months. What higher technique to rejoice the long-lasting manufacturing home than with an all-new authentic anime that mixes tokusatsu-inspired motion with a byzantine sci-fi conspiracy plot?

Set in a future the place humanity has colonized the inside photo voltaic system and androids generally known as “Neans” serve their each beck and name, Metallic Rouge follows the story of Rouge Redstar — a Nean with the power to disguise herself as a human who’s dispatched to Mars on a top-secret mission. Alongside along with her associate Naomi Orthmann, Rouge battles towards a terrorist faction of androids bent on toppling society, all whereas remodeling right into a superpowered armored battle type generally known as “Metal Rouge.”

Co-written by Yutaka Izubuchi (RahXephon) and Toshizo Nemoto (Log Horizon), the sequence appears like a pitch-perfect throwback to the aesthetic and storytelling of early-aughts sci-fi anime, full with wild left-field plot twists, dense world-building, and a New Jack Swing-inspired bop of a theme song. It’s definitely an entertaining watch, one which calls for repeat viewings to be able to choose up on each new element and clue the sequence manages to throw at its viewers. —TE

Solo Leveling

Picture: A-1 Footage/Crunchyroll

The place to observe: Crunchyroll

Going into Solo Leveling, I didn’t know something about it aside from it was one of probably the most anticipated anime releases of the season; I didn’t even lookup the premise earlier than diving in. By the point the credit rolled on the third episode, I truthfully nonetheless couldn’t have informed you what exactly was occurring in Solo Leveling, however I did know I used to be hooked.

Mixing typical fantasy journey beats with online game components, Solo Leveling is a novel and thrilling tackle the standard zero-to-hero narrative. Sung Jin-woo just isn’t probably the most dynamic protagonist, I need to admit, however the spectacular animation, impeccably choreographed motion, and relentlessly paced storytelling all the time leaves me itching to smash play on the subsequent episode. —Sadie Gennis

Scrumptious in Dungeon

Picture: Studio Set off/Netflix

The place to observe: Netflix

Scrumptious in Dungeon (also referred to as Dungeon Meshi) is the anime this 12 months, sporting a enjoyable forged of characters and a pleasant plot: As a crew of adventurers makes their method by way of a dungeon to save lots of one of their fallen mates, they’re making an attempt to economize by consuming the creatures they slay. It seems that the critters down on this labyrinth are extra edible than anticipated. Alongside the best way, the gang learns quite a bit in regards to the dungeon and the folks inside of it by way of analyzing the creatures they slay and eat.

The writer behind Scrumptious in Dungeon, Ryoko Kui, has a transparent love for the fantasy style, as you may actually see her consideration to element on the subject of fantasy races, designs, and world-building that might rival even the best Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters. All of the characters are charming in their very own methods, and every episode will go away you extra excited for the subsequent one. —Julia Lee