2024 was a pivotal transition year, accompanied by exciting new releases. From shonen action to romance to isekai, there have been some absolute banger anime series. Thanks to widespread releases on streaming services, anime also pushed its way further into the mainstream.
Despite the tremendous success of the past year, there has also been significant loss and change. The anime industry has seen more than its fair share of highs and lows. Tragedies and setbacks are inevitable, but if anime has taught its fans anything, it’s to never give up.
Without further ado, let’s celebrate the 2024 wins and reflect on the legacies left behind.
Shonen Triumphs, Bold New Ideas, and Surprising Flops
As always, shonen anime hit hard in 2024. Series like My Hero Academia Season 7, Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc, and Kaiju No. 8 showed there’s still demand for the tried-and-true action formula. Other shows like Wind Breaker, Mission: Yozakura Family, and The Elusive Samurai broke the mold and explored clever new ideas.
For every success, there is failure, and some shows fumbled so badly in 2024 that they became infamous for it. The first episodes of Blue Lock Season 2 suffered from incredibly boring and stilted animation, while the anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s horror manga Uzumaki failed to impress the fanbase.
Not all was lost, however. Coming in hot for the final 2024 anime season was DanDaDan. An eclectic blend of horror, occult, action, and rom-com that grabbed the fandom by the balls and became an instant hit. Such a great closer could have only succeeded with the support of great opening acts.
In With the New
Every season of anime is a chance for new series to strut their stuff, and this past year has had an incredible showing. Delicious in Dungeon saw massive popularity streaming on Netflix. Like a gourmet dish exploring bold new flavors, the fusion of fantasy and food flitted on fans’ felicitations.
Meanwhile, Solo Leveling, based on the popular Korean webcomic, was comfort food. Its characters, setting, and dark storyline made it one of the most hyped-up series at the start of the year.
For those who prefer sweeter dishes, romance anime did not disappoint. Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian and A Sign of Affection both tackled romances complicated by language barriers. Blue Box combined a charming love story with badminton and basketball, beset on all sides by beautiful backdrops.
The spice connoisseurs of the anime fandom also had plenty to sink their teeth into. Shows like Chained Soldier, Gushing Over Magical Girls, Plus-Sized Elf, and Vampire Dormitory provided just the right amount of heat to shake up the seasonal line-up.
Then there’s the novelty popcorn of anime series, a good variety for snacking and enjoyably one note. Mashle: Magic and Muscles dared to ask, “What if Harry Potter was swole?” and My Deer Friend Nokotan dared to ask, “How much deer is too much deer?” Both of these shows dominated TikTok with their meme-worthy openings. Meanwhile, isekai fans stuffed themselves on shows like Suicide Squad: Isekai, I was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince, No Longer Allowed in Another World, and any number of “insert long complicated title here” series.
Back for More
The wheels of anime never stop turning, and several ongoing series either finished in 2024 or continued into their next arcs. The Apothecary Diaries and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End both featured compelling female protagonists and instantly won over fans with their artistry and storytelling.
Last year’s sleeper hit, Shangri-la Frontier, reveled in its video game setting, proving that it didn’t need a “trapped in a death game” narrative to keep viewers invested. Season 1 set up so much, and season 2 continued to deliver a compelling story.
Oshi no Ko returned for its second season, shedding more light on the drama within the entertainment industry. Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon reached a pivotal moment in its newest season, and Beastars: The Final Season saw the return of everyone’s favorite wolf boy tackling the real world and the problems therein. There were also more returning isekai like Konosuba, Mushoku Tensei, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and Re:Zero.
Finally, let’s hear it for the enormous franchises that have remained relevant after all these years. One Piece was still going strong, entering its much anticipated Egghead Island Arc and even getting a special episode called One Piece: Fan Letter. Also, new cast lists for its live-action adaptation were announced in 2024. Fans got to see the new faces of Miss All-Sunday, Mr. 0, Dr. Kureha, Smoker, and even the first glimpse of Tony Tony Chopper. Fairy Tail returned stronger than ever with its 100 Years Quest arc, and Bleach continued its Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
Clearly, the anime fandom still had room in its collective heart for classic series that reminded them of why they fell in love with anime.
Classic Reboots and Theatrical Releases
2024 was an excellent year for older franchises to receive a modern tune-up. Starting with a lesser-known but beloved series, it’s the remake of the anime about economics with a wolf girl, Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf. This reboot takes the groundwork of the 2008 anime version and retells the story more in line with the light novels that inspired it. It’s a slow burn but still enjoyable.
Jumping further back in time, Rurouni Kenshin first aired in 1996 and received a modern remake that aired in 2023. The first season has since concluded and its second season, the Kyoto Disturbance Arc, started in 2024.
Another classic anime, Urusei Yatsura, which originally aired in 1981, pioneered a lot of modern rom-com tropes. It also received some modern flair with season 2 airing in 2024. The biggest buzz, however, was around the Ranma ½ remake. This is another classic 80’s anime that stood apart with its wacky blend of martial arts and romance. With the help of a vibrant pop-art-inspired style, the 2024 remake introduced a whole new generation to Ranma’s hijinks.
Some anime didn’t adhere to an episodic release, instead opting for a more theatrical approach. The beloved 2006 anime series Code Geass unexpectedly returned with a four-part movie series called Rozé of the Recapture. Both Haikyuu and Overlord continued their stories in theatrical format, while Attack on Titan stomped its way back into theatres with a compilation of its final chapters.
Finally, one of the biggest theatrical releases came from Tatsuki Fujimoto, the author of Chainsaw Man. In the movie adaptation of his one-shot manga, Look Back, two young girls face the trials and tribulations of becoming manga artists. Its poignant story and cinematic quality made it the must-see anime movie of the year.
Anime's Global Impact, Manga Milestones, and More
Over the years, anime has become increasingly widespread, to the point where it’s common for other industries to reference or be inspired by anime. Here are some of the biggest news stories from anime-adjacent fields.
In an announcement that caught everyone off guard, the Vatican revealed its anime-inspired mascot, Luce, the official mascot of the 2025 Jubilee Year. She was created to connect with younger audiences.
Another announcement, this time more bittersweet, came from Jump Festa 2024. Kazuki Yao, the voice actor for Franky from One Piece, officially retired from the role due to health complications. During the “graduation ceremony” held for him at Jump Festa, he passed on the character’s iconic briefs to his replacement, Subaru Kimura. Thank you, Kazuki, for your SUPER performance!
Though 2024 was also a great year for manga, sadly, readers had to bid farewell to My Hero Academia, which ended in August. As well as Jujutsu Kaisen, which ended in September. That said, plans to continue both anime series are underway! Even the spinoff My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is getting an anime adaptation.
In video game news, Nintendo announced the newest Pokémon game. Pokémon Legends Z-A, and released Pokémon TCG Pocket, a mobile game adaptation of the trading card game. Zenless Zone Zero, from the creators of Genshin Impact, graced players’ phones with satisfying action and snappy animation.
In Memoriam
With each passing year, it seems that more beloved celebrities and public figures pass on, and several big names in entertainment have passed away.
For anime fans and pop culture, 2024 will always be honored as the year the late and great Akira Toriyama passed away. In 1980, Toriyama made waves with his first serialized manga, Dr. Slump. His style and comedic charm instantly resonated with readers. He later applied those skills to his next and most famous series, Dragon Ball, in 1984. He also contributed as a character designer for the video game franchise Dragon Quest. A position he held from the first game’s release in 1986 to his death.
There’s not enough time in the day to analyze Akira Toriyama’s influence on pop culture. The Dragon Ball series is one of the best-selling manga of all time. It was the gateway anime for many Western fans. Watching Goku go Super Saiyan for the first time, yelling in victory as Gohan defeated Cell, and giving energy to the Spirit Bomb that destroyed Majin Buu are all core memories. It’s no exaggeration to say that Akira Toriyama’s death stunned the world and for the briefest moment.
Like every great legend, he didn’t leave us empty-handed. His final works, Dragon Ball Daima and Sand Land were released after his death—one last hurrah before embarking to the other world. The artist may have died, but his art will live on forever.
"“I’d want to be born once more as myself, but more talented.”
In addition to Akira Toriyama, we mourn the loss of Doc Harris, best known for his narration in Dragon Ball Z. For many anime fans, he was the voice of this beloved franchise. 2024 also saw the deaths of notable voice actors like Rachael Lillis (Pokémon, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn), Atsuko Tanaka (Ghost in the Shell, Jujutsu Kaisen, Bayonetta), and Dan Hennessey (Care Bears, Little Bear).
This is a moment of silence for those we lost in 2024. We honor all of these wonderful individuals and the contributions of everyone who has passed.
That's a Wrap
The world has undergone a lot of change in the past twelve months. Some of it’s been good, some of it not so good. The anime fandom has suffered a great loss, but pushing through that hardship and honoring that legacy is how we move forward.
There’s plenty of anime to look forward to and new developments on the horizon. 2025 is shaping up to start with a bang. From all of us at Anime Fire to you, here’s to the New Year!
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