Best Fall 2024 Anime

As the year steadily comes to a close, the last batch of Japanese animated shows are airing, and the best anime of Fall 2024 ranks among the strongest offerings of the last 12 months. As with all quarters, this season has nearly every genre covered, including romance, action, fantasy (isekai and otherwise), sports, sci-fi, and even horror. At a glance, Fall has the most well-rounded lineup of the year, most of which are airing on either Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, or Netflix in North America.

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By  Mark Sammut

With 40+ Fall 2024 anime series, viewers are spoiled for choice, which is both a blessing and a curse. Keeping up with everything can be downright exhausting, so knowing which shows to prioritize can be helpful. Let's go through the season's best anime.

Updated on December 21, 2024 by Mark Sammut: At this point, the Fall 2024 anime season is basically over, with just a small handful of shows still having an episode or two to air. It has been a good run, but now it is time to turn to the upcoming Winter 2025 lineup.

Honorable Mentions

Every anime season has a plethora of niche shows that are the definition of an acquired taste. They might not hit the mark with everyone or even most viewers, but they could be just perfect for people who are craving a specific type of story. While not quite warranting a spot among the season's best series, the following Fall 2024 anime merit a quick mention for offering something a touch different (or very familiar).

• Let This Grieving Soul Retire – A fantasy comedy about a leader of the strongest party who is secretly incredibly weak and wants to just retire, this anime has a couple of Fall 2024's biggest laughs, even if it does tend to recycle the same punchlines. The characters can be a bit obnoxious, but they are also pretty funny.
• Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. – Both of Fall 2024's magical girl anime are worth watching for fans of the genre. Acro Trip is a silly comedy with a fun "villainous" duo, while Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. Images mahou shoujo as a more conventional business. The latter is the more interesting of the two, but they are both good.
• MF Ghost Season 2 – For better or worse, season 2 is just more MF Ghost, which means pretty much non-stop racing. The characters are not that memorable and the episodes can get repetitive at times, but the actual action is top-notch.
• Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister – A fairly "safe" harem, this anime works due to featuring four likable main characters, all of whom are allowed to exist beyond just their relationships. That said, this series is just for harem fans.
• Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii – A darker seinen romance, Yakuza Fiancé has been all over the place in terms of quality, both in terms of storytelling and animation. Still, Yoshino is a pretty great female protagonist, and the mix of romance and Yakuza is entertaining.

17 365 Days To The Wedding (-1)

A Unique Romance Anime About Two Awkward People Who Have To Fake An Upcoming Marriage

Based on a manga by the same author behind The World God Only Knows, 365 Days to the Wedding takes a peculiar look at marriage by revolving around two coworkers who decide to pretend they are engaged to reduce their chance of being relocated to Alaska by their employer. Rika and Takuya both struggle with communication, to the point that almost nobody at their job truly knows them (or even their voices). The workplace environment and adult cast instantly set the show apart from most other anime romances, and those are hardly its only unusual elements.

Now, Rika and Takuya are not instantly likable. The former's pragmatism keeps both the latter and the audience at a distance; meanwhile, Takuya's subdued personality is relatable but not captivating. However, they both start as fully realized characters, and 365 Days does a great job of immediately establishing their dispositions, insecurities, and comfort zones. As the season developed, both characters steadily started to let down their guard, while also overreacting to this development. This has resulted in a bit of a stop-start rhythm, and the characters' lack of experience does kind of make them seem like teenagers who just happen to be working in an office rather than attending school.

While overall a respectable romance anime, 365 Days struggled a bit to pick up steam during its second half.

16 Demon Lord 2099 (-1)

A Demon Lord Gets A Second Chance At Ruling The World (And Becomes A Streamer)

Demon Lord 2099 has everything. Not only is it a fantasy cyberpunk anime with a reverse isekai twist, but it technically qualifies as a streamer show as well. Also, the protagonist can scratch that OP power fantasy itch if somebody wants that type of story. Throwing so many ideas at the board could have resulted in a derivative hodgepodge that never comes together to form a cohesive whole. Fortunately, while somewhat uneven at times, Demon Lord 2099 mostly works and is pretty darn entertaining.

After roughly 500 years, Veltol (the eponymous demon lord) wakes up to find Alneath has changed significantly in his absence. About 50 years before his resurrection, the planet fused with Earth, resulting in a new realm that blends fantasy with science, paving the way to a cyberpunk metropolis populated by magical entities like immortals. Due to his power depending on supporters who have fate in him, Veltol is rendered relatively weak due to being reduced to a footnote in history; consequently, he becomes a streamer to try and amass followers. Honestly, it is a lot more charming than it sounds.

Eventually, Demon Lord 2099 does start to go down the OP route, but this shift is at least somewhat earned and comes at the expense of a really detestable character. If there is one criticism that can be leveled at this series, it would be that the main city is a bit generic.

15 How I Attended an All-Guy's Mixer (-1)

Just An Adorable And Lighthearted Romcom

Fall 2024 is shaping up to be fantastic for romance. The lineup not only has multiple options that fit the genre, but they are also quite diverse. While not attracting the same degree of attention as a few other love stories, How I Attended an All-Guy's Mixer is arguably among the season's most comforting and cozy series. It is also pretty funny, to the point of having quite an even divide between romance and comedy.

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The title explains the inciting incident: three guys go to a mixer and find three girls dressed as guys waiting for them. Although a bit awkward at first, they hit it off and quite quickly separate into three couples, albeit ones that are not officially dating yet. All six characters are clearly defined, and each couple's dynamic is unique and endearing. As far as just cute rom-coms that lean quite heavily into the "com" part, How I Attended an All-Guy's Mixer is generally a treat that does justice to the genre.

14 Love Live! Superstar!! Season 3 (-1)

Multiple Steps In The Right Direction

Love Live! Superstar!! Followed a great opening season with an underwhelming and messy sequel. While not terrible, season 2 dedicated a lot of time to an arc that ended up being somewhat pointless, along with introducing a one-note antagonist who was frustratingly undermined during the final performance showdown to give Liella the win. Season 3 needed to set the ship right to prove that its predecessor was a stumble and not the new norm, and so far, it has done an admirable job.

Season 3's hook is that Margarete joins Yuigaoka Girls' High School and starts an idol club to compete against Liella. Also, Kanon (who did not go abroad to study) joins Margarete's club, along with a new girl who happens to be Sumire's sister. Consequently, the anime now has two groups who are striving to qualify for Love Live, which raises the stakes quite a bit. This premise shifts Kanon away from Leilla, granting space for the latter's other members to shine, which was an issue during season 2. Margarete also transforms into a three-dimensional character rather than just an obstacle.

13 TsumaSho (-1)

The Long Road To Moving On

With an alternative title of If My Wife Becomes an Elementary School Student, TsumaSho could be one of those series that people dismiss without watching a single episode. While that reaction is understandable, that title paints a technically accurate but largely misleading picture, one that does not highlight the emotional journey these characters go on. About a decade before the events of the story, Takae Niijima passed away in a tragic accident. Her husband, Keisuke, and daughter, Mai, have been stuck in limbo ever since, grieving this indescribable loss while being unable to move on. Crucially, the distraught Keisuke spent the following decade emotionally neglecting his daughter.

One day, a girl named Marika appears claiming to be Takae's reincarnated form, and she has the memories to prove it. Accepting this reveal extremely quickly, Keisuke and Mai's lives restart as they become a family once again. However, Marika/Takae's main goal is to help both of them move on, all the while dealing with a challenging home life with a distant and verbally abusive mother.

Although the first few episodes focus more on comedy and slice of life moments, TsumaSho becomes far more nuanced during its latter half, delivering some of Fall 2024's biggest emotional gut-punches. There is even a pretty big twist that changes a core dynamic and forces all three main characters to recontextualize their current relationships.

12 The Most Notorious "Talker" Runs the World's Greatest Clan (+3)

An Edgy Dark Fantasy That Is Relentlessly Entertaining

Look, "trash" is not innately a negative term when it comes to anime, particularly in the fantasy genre. At this point, isekai trash is basically a subgenre, and as easy as these shows are to mock, they also have a weird charm. While not isekai, The Most Notorious "Talker" Runs the World's Greatest Clan has many of the same ingredients as a few of the "darker" representatives of that theme: angst, video game mechanics, questionable dress codes, and a protagonist who is not afraid to be bad. It is essentially Fall 2024's version of Failure Frame, albeit with a far more interesting set of characters and power system, along with more consistent animation.

Noel works as a Seeker (aka, an adventurer) and he is a Talker, the weakest class due to his skills revolving entirely around supporting others. While this category puts a ceiling on his physical abilities, Noel's ambition knows no bounds as he seeks to reach the absolute top of his profession, a journey that involves using strong allies and punishing anyone dumb enough to consider betrayal. The latter part is this anime's selling point, as Noel's destruction of his enemies is ridiculously satisfying and deliciously devilish. He is supported by Alma and Kouga, two characters who are mostly style with a hint of substance.

Honestly, an argument could be made that Talker was the biggest surprise of the Fall 2024 anime season, showing that some edge can go a long way when it is sharpened by charismatic characters who are willing to do anything to accomplish their goals. The last few episodes were particularly entertaining.

11 Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Disturbance (+/- 0)

Threading Familiar Ground Confidently

An all-time great anime, Rurouni Kenshin did not need an update. Still, the 2023 season was decent, setting the stage for a 2024 follow-up that covers arguably the story's most famous arc, at least for anime-only fans. On the one hand, Kyoto Disturbance very much feels like a rethread with modern visuals, especially since the '90s series was very loyal to the manga. The scenes are almost one-to-one at times, which might bore people who have watched the original version fairly recently.

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That said, Rurouni Kenshin is considered a classic for many reasons, and Kyoto Disturbance showcases its well-written characters, historical depth, and explosive fight sequences. The animation is also fantastic, and the show has some of Fall 2024's biggest laughs. This remake might be unnecessary, but that does not mean it is underwhelming or unenjoyable. The action is well-done, and the same can be said for the humor. It has just all been done before.

10 Dragon Ball Daima (+/- 0)

A Fitting Tribute To And Celebration Of Akira Toriyama's Legacy

Months after the untimely passing of Akira Toriyama, the legendary mangaka's final project, Dragon Ball Daima, has finally started airing. So far, it is fantastic. Gorgeously animated and drenched in timeless whimsy reminiscent of Dragon Ball's early sagas, Daima has all the makings of a modern classic that blends adventure, action, and comedy perfectly, something not every storyline in this (generally great) franchise manages.

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The first episodes do a great job of balancing nostalgia through revamped sequences of DBZ's Buu Saga while also using these moments to spin a fresh tale, one that dives into concepts only previously touched upon. While Daima has just barely gotten going, the future is bright and exciting, especially as Goku and Supreme Kai have now arrived in the Demon Realm. Despite a set-up that impacts pretty much all the Z Fighters, the story has been pretty silly and lighthearted so far, which is not a bad change of pace from the likes of DBZ and Super.

Daima is kind of a weird one. The show is entertaining, well-animated, and pretty creative at times. Goku's kid form feels true to his history, and the new characters have been good so far. Overall, it is an all-around fun adventure. However, the story has not built up that much momentum or stakes, despite the core dilemma impacting all the Z-Fighters and potentially presenting a serious threat. Daima is certainly a more kid-friendly entry than DBZ, which is by no means an immediately negative thing. That said, the show is oddly low-intensity.

9 Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? 5 (+/- 0)

A Date, A Goddess, And Complications

Although always decent, DanMachi upped its game during season 4, delivering by far its best run of episodes to date. The Fall 2024 entry has to live up to its predecessor's lofty standards, a tough task considering the anime uses a structure that rotates through different girls in each arc. Consequently, Bell's dynamic with Ryuu is not a focus of season 5, despite going through so much development in the previous saga.

While this aspect can be frustrating, DanMachi has still been pretty great, and season 5's opening few episodes even opted for a refreshing lighthearted touch, with Bell being invited to a date for the Goddess Festival. Naturally, it does not take long for the series to shift and take on a more serious tone, with Bell finding himself in a world that has been twisted by an obsessed goddess who is willing to do anything and everything to get her way.

Now that the main conflict is well-established, DanMachi season 5 has proven to be a more than adequate follow-up to its successor, despite being wildly different at its core. In many ways, the current arc is the show's most ambitious to date, introducing a twist that directly changes the entire city of Orario while shining a light on one of the strongest Familias.

8 Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 (+/- 0)

The Best Game Anime Ever?

Fall 2024 is overflowing with great action anime. While perhaps not attracting the same attention as some of its contemporaries, Shangri-La Frontier's fight sequences compare favorably with pretty much any other show, except for maybe Bleach and Dandadan. They are beautifully animated and well choreographed, all the while incorporating gaming-related mechanics that make sense within the framework of an MMORPG that is presented as being at least somewhat realistic.

Now, admittedly, the premise – characters playing a game just to have fun – puts a ceiling on just how intense these battles can be since, ultimately, there are no real stakes; however, that also means Shangri-La Frontier can simply focus on delivering character-driven encounters filled with humor and over-the-top absurdity. Rakurou is a fantastic protagonist, and he is supported by nearly exclusively great and hilarious characters. The anime delivers a constant sense of adventure that will make any gamer long for the day when VR technology can replicate this sort of immersion.