Best New Anime of 2024 You Can’t Miss
This year’s anime lineup felt a bit underpowered for fresh series, but a few newcomers still managed to shine. Dandadan, Solo Leveling, Delicious in Dungeon, and Blue Box stood out as must-watches. If you’re tired of sequels (which were solid, to be fair), these shows bring something unique to the table.
Anime Chatter: Community Reactions
- “Dandadan is chaotic in the best way. It’s like Chainsaw Man met FLCL, but with aliens and ghosts. Wild ride.”
- “Solo Leveling’s animation is top-tier, but the pacing feels a bit rushed. Still, Jin-Woo’s glow-up scenes? Chef’s kiss.”
- “Delicious in Dungeon is the D&D campaign I always wanted to watch. Who knew food and fantasy could mix so well?”
- “Blue Box hits different. It’s not just romance; it’s sports, friendship, and the art of growing up.”
- “Honestly, 2024 is mid for new series, but Blue Box ? saved the year.”
- “If you’re skipping Delicious in Dungeon because of the cooking angle, don’t. It’s more adventure than you’d expect.”
Breaking It Down: A Closer Look
2024 hasn’t been the strongest year for fresh anime, and let’s be real, most of us spent it soaking up sequels. Re Zero Season 3 delivered (finally), and KonoSuba didn’t disappoint either. But if we’re looking at completely new series? It’s slim pickings, and yet, a few new gems have emerged from the rubble. These aren’t your “meh” seasonal fillers. They’ve got staying power, and if you’re willing to dive in, they’re worth looking at.
Take Dandadan, for example. It’s like someone threw JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Mob Psycho 100 in a blender, added a dash of Urusei Yatsura, and set it to “chaotic energy.” The result? A supernatural rollercoaster with some of the most ridiculous but endearing characters of the year. You’ve got a girl who believes in ghosts teaming up with a guy who’s all about aliens, and together, they attract every kind of bizarre threat you can imagine. The art? Sharp and dynamic. The humor? Hits like a crit. And the pacing? Perfectly unhinged. If you’re into stories that don’t take themselves too seriously but still land those emotional gut punches, something like Gintama, then this is your jam.
Then there’s Solo Leveling. Let’s not pretend this wasn’t on everyone’s radar. Adapted from the massively popular webtoon, it’s the closest thing we’ve got to an isekai megahit without being an actual isekai. Jin-Woo’s journey from weakest hunter to overpowered badass scratches that same itch as Demon Slayer’s Tanjiro leveling up against impossible odds. But there’s more polish here, Ufotable-level animation quality meets tight fight choreography. Sure, they crammed a lot into the episodes, so it sometimes feels like they’re speedrunning the story. But honestly? Those transformation scenes make up for it. If you love gaming mechanics in your anime, this one’s got dungeon raids, class upgrades, and boss battles that’ll remind you why we grind for hours in RPGs.
Delicious in Dungeon deserves a shoutout for being the weirdest yet most delightful addition to this list. Imagine a Final Fantasy party running low on HP and deciding to cook their way out of trouble. That’s literally the premise, and it works way better than it sounds. Every episode is a mix of quirky monster encounters, heartfelt character backstory, and food porn that’ll make even Food Wars! look tame. What really hits home, though, is how the story weaves in emotional stakes. These adventurers aren’t just cooking for survival, they’re trying to save someone they love. If you’ve ever played D&D and wanted a slice-of-life twist, this is your show.
Finally, there’s Blue Box. Now, sports anime and romance aren’t exactly groundbreaking genres, but this show blends them so well it feels fresh, and a palate cleanser from Blue lock s2. Taiki’s basketball grind and his crush on a badminton star give us the best of both worlds: intense sports moments and painfully relatable teenage awkwardness. If you’ve been missing that Kimi ni Todoke emotional depth but also want the adrenaline rush of Haikyuu!!, this one’s for you. What sets it apart is its quiet moments, the little scenes that hit like a soft volley to the heart. It’s not flashy, but it’s real, and that’s what makes it stick.
No, this isn’t the golden year of anime debuts, but these four series prove there’s still gold in the pan if you dig deep enough. Between the supernatural chaos of Dandadan, the RPG grind of Solo Leveling, the heartfelt feasts of Delicious in Dungeon, and the emotional volleys of Blue Box, there’s something here to remind us why anime is still worth showing up for, even in a “weak” year.
Wrapping Up
Even in a year that felt light on fresh hits, shows like Dandadan, Solo Leveling, Delicious in Dungeon, and Blue Box prove that anime still has a way of surprising us. They’re each doing something unique, whether it’s blending genres, redefining character arcs, or just delivering top-notch storytelling, and that’s what makes them worth your time. If you’ve been on the fence about 2024’s lineup, consider these your starting point.
So, what do you think? Have these shows earned a spot on your watchlist, or did we miss any newcomers you’ve been vibing with? Let’s keep the chatter going, drop your thoughts, hot takes, or recommendations in the comments. You never know, your next favorite anime might come from a post just like this.
You Might Also Like...
