The best anime of 2024 so far

2023 was an exceptional year for anime. And if the first months of 2024 are any indication, audiences can likely expect another great year of terrific shows.

From new seasons of returning favorites like My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Sound! Euphonium, and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation to exciting new premieres like Delicious in Dungeon, Kaiju No. 8, Dragon Ball Daima, and Lazarus, anime fans have a lot to look forward to in 2024.

To help you keep up with everything that’s coming out this year, we’ve gathered a quorum of Polygon’s resident anime lovers to create a list of the year’s best in anime. For clarity and convenience, these shows are presented in reverse chronological order, so the newest releases will always show up first. We’ll be updating our list periodically, season by season, so check in regularly to see what new, what’s hot, and most importantly of all — what’s best. Enjoy!

Our latest update added Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, The Apothecary Diaries, A Sign of Affection, and Sand Land: The Series.

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Sand Land: The Series

Where to watch: Hulu

For fans of the late Akira Toriyama, Sand Land: The Series is one of the most bittersweet anime releases of 2024. Based on the original single-volume manga, the series is both an adaptation and expansion of its source material, chronicling the adventures of an elderly sheriff named Rao who journeys across a vast and treacherous desert in search of a legendary spring to rescue his village from drought. With the aid of Beelzebub, a high-spirited demon prince with a love of video games and mischief, and his companion, Thief, Rao faces off against the royal army led by the nefarious supreme commander Zeu in their quest to liberate the people of Sand Land.

The anime does justice to one of Toriyama’s most underrated stories, deftly blending 3D and 2D animation to bring all the personality, charm, and humor of the original manga to life. The latter half of the series features an all-new storyline penned by Toriyama himself, introducing a dazzling new locale known as Forest Land and a stylish new antagonist. As heartbreaking as it is that Toriyama passed away too soon to see this adaptation praised, it’s heartening to know that Sand Land: The Series is an anime worthy of carrying the torch of his legacy. —Toussaint Egan

Bucchigiri?!

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Sk8 the Infinity director Hiroko Utsumi is back with yet another original anime series. This time it’s a fantasy comedy about Araji Tomobishi, a shy young student who transfers to a new school filled with roughnecks and gangsters. Worse yet, he gets possessed by a powerful genie whose power inadvertently pits him between two of the strongest gangs in his school. To top it off, the poor guy just wants to lose his virginity, and instead he just ends up accidentally punching people, getting himself into increasingly deadlier and more precarious situations.

If you’re looking for a nonsensical action comedy with over-the-top antics, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure-esque battles, and memorable character designs, Bucchigiri?! is an absolute delight. —TE

Brave Bang Bravern!

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Fans of last year’s Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, rejoice: There’s another great giant robot anime to watch this year, and once more, it’s also easily one of the funniest anime comedies of 2024.

Directed by veteran mecha anime director Masami Ōbari, Brave Bang Bravern! follows the story of Isami Ao and Lewis Smith, two mech pilots who meet during a joint American-Japanese military exercise in Hawaii. When their military base is besieged by an extraterrestrial threat, all hope seems lost — until a gigantic humanoid robot named Bravern comes to save the day... but only if Isami agrees to pilot him.

Where exactly did Bravern come from, though, and how does he know who Isami is? The answer, for right now at least, is don’t worry about it — just vibe! A big-hearted parody of “super robot” anime with explosive action, fun characters, and intense homoerotic overtones, Brave Bang Bravern! is an early contender for one of my favorite anime of 2024. —TE

Metallic Rouge

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Bones, the critically acclaimed studio behind popular anime like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Eureka Seven, Mob Psycho 100, and My Hero Academia, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. What better way to celebrate the iconic production house than with an all-new original anime that combines tokusatsu-inspired action with a byzantine sci-fi conspiracy plot?

Set in a future where humanity has colonized the inner solar system and androids known as “Neans” serve their every beck and call, Metallic Rouge follows the story of Rouge Redstar — a Nean with the ability to disguise herself as a human who is dispatched to Mars on a top-secret mission. Along with her partner Naomi Orthmann, Rouge battles against a terrorist faction of androids bent on toppling society, all while transforming into a superpowered armored battle form known as “Metal Rouge.”

Co-written by Yutaka Izubuchi (RahXephon) and Toshizo Nemoto (Log Horizon), the series feels like a pitch-perfect throwback to the aesthetic and storytelling of early-aughts sci-fi anime, complete with wild left-field plot twists, dense world-building, and a New Jack Swing-inspired bop of a theme song. It’s certainly an entertaining watch, one which demands repeat viewings in order to pick up on every new detail and clue the series manages to throw at its audience. —TE

Solo Leveling

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Going into Solo Leveling, I didn’t know anything about it other than it was one of the most anticipated anime releases of the season; I didn’t even look up the premise before diving in. By the time the credits rolled on the third episode, I honestly still couldn’t have told you what precisely was happening in Solo Leveling, but I did know I was hooked.

Blending typical fantasy adventure beats with video game elements, Solo Leveling is a unique and thrilling take on the typical zero-to-hero narrative. Sung Jin-woo is not the most dynamic protagonist, I must admit, but the spectacular animation, impeccably choreographed action, and relentlessly paced storytelling always leaves me itching to smash play on the next episode. —Sadie Gennis

The Apothecary Diaries

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, the daughter of a talented pharmacist and a poor girl from the slums in a world inspired by imperial China. One day, she gets kidnapped and sold to be a slave in the emperor’s palace. After solving the medical mysteries of some of the emperor’s concubines, she suddenly finds herself at the center of politics among the highest echelons of power. It’s kind of like House, except with swoon-worthy characters and an emphasis on showing the varying ways women navigate political systems that can both benefit and oppress them!

For me, I just love to see Maomao at work. She can get all dolled up and glitter like any anime protagonist, but she’s also a feral little medicine-obsessed goblin who has a sick desire to test poisons. She’s a girl who knows her interests and pursues them with dedication. It’s no wonder that every character in the show — and I as a viewer — can’t help but feel immediately endeared to her. The Apothecary Diaries has mystery, palace intrigue, and a dash of romance, and it’s one of my favorite anime series this year so far. —Ana Diaz

A Sign of Affection

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Every year I fall head over heels for a new romance anime, and this year I’m obsessed with A Sign of Affection. The series follows Yuki Itose, a deaf woman who falls for a classmate named Itsuomi Nagi. He might seem a bit distant at first, but the feelings are mutual, and the series quickly settles into depicting their relationship as they both navigate how to express their feelings toward one another.

The actual animation might look a bit off at points, but this series still has plenty going for it. For starters, it follows two college-aged adults, so it feels a bit more aged-up than a lot of the other romance options out there. But what I appreciate the most about A Sign of Affection is that it isn’t about a love where they save each other, but where the central relationship inspires growth in one another. Itsuomi expands his world by learning sign language, and Yuki takes the steps needed to start traveling. I love to love love, and the two main characters just make it so easy. —AD

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Where to watch: Crunchyroll

I don’t gravitate to many fantasy series, but the melancholic premise of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End captured my attention in a way few series do. The story follows Frieren, a powerful elven mage who can live thousands of years and once belonged to a party of heroes who defeated the greatest evil monster in the land. Instead of depicting her grand story of defeating the Demon King, the show follows Frieren decades after those events and shows her quest to reunite with her departed friends in the resting place of souls.

While the show contains its fair share of contemplative moments, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End brings together the best of both worlds. You’ll get to watch Frieren cast sick magic that overwhelms her enemies with a barrage of glittering attacks and also revel in the sense of loneliness that can only come with outliving almost everyone you’ve ever cared for in a long lifetime. It’s got a little bit for everyone, making it an easy recommendation from the slate of anime to air in 2024. —AD

Delicious in Dungeon

Where to watch: Netflix

Delicious in Dungeon (also known as Dungeon Meshi) is the anime this year, sporting a fun cast of characters and a delightful plot: As a crew of adventurers makes their way through a dungeon to save one of their fallen mates, they are trying to save money by eating the creatures they slay. It turns out that the critters down in this labyrinth are more edible than expected. Along the way, the gang learns a lot about the dungeon and the people inside of it through analyzing the creatures they slay and eat.

The author behind Delicious in Dungeon, Ryoko Kui, has a clear love for the fantasy genre, as you can really see her attention to detail when it comes to fantasy races, designs, and world-building that would rival even the best Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Masters. All of the characters are charming in their own ways, and each episode will leave you more excited for the next one. —Julia Lee