Best Summer 2024 Anime

Even though they are not all born equal, every season contains dozens of anime that successfully manage to keep viewers coming back for roughly three months. The best Summer 2024 anime will not only inspire weekly discussions during their runs, but they are also likely to be remembered for years after their conclusions. The quarter is shaping up nicely and features plenty of new shows and sequels that are worth watching; however, a few series stand out from the crowd.

As the Summer 2024 anime season progresses, certain anime will naturally fall to the wayside as people begin to streamline their calendars. Simply put, keeping up with everything is rarely worthwhile. Therefore, let's highlight the season's greatest series to make picking what to watch as easy as possible. Which are the greatest anime of Summer 2024?

Updated on September 22, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Summer 2024 is nearly done by this point, so this might be the last proper update. An additional anime has been added, one that falls within the polarizing isekai genre. At this point, the focus is shifting toward Fall 2024.

16 The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses Season 2 (-2)

MyAnimeList: 7.37

Nothing exists in a vacuum, and that extends to anime. The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses is very much a traditional harem that caters to a very specific target audience, and if somebody does not usually enjoy these types of shows, they are unlikely to get much out of this series. Conversely, anyone fond of harems with ecchi content will find one of the genre's best representatives. Even though Summer 2024 might have "better" shows, most of these will likely not be remembered as all-time greats for their respective genres; meanwhile, The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses reached that status after its first season, and the sequel is even better.

As the title suggests, the anime follows Hayato as he manages his grandmother's cafeteria while employing five girls who also live with him. The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses takes this fairly straightforward concept and delivers a story that gets most of its basics right. Assertive, confident, and mature, Hayato is a fantastic male lead who has strong and, more importantly, unique dynamics with all five potential suitors. He is comfortably among the harem genre's best protagonists.

The girls are also pretty good in their own right, with each one of them getting their moments to shine. The sequel has added quite a bit of depth and nuance to Ami, Akane, and Riho, all of whom are likable characters in their own right.

15 My Deer Friend Nokotan (-2)

MyAnimeList: 7.21

My Deer Friend Nokotan is kind of weird. The anime garnered quite a bit of attention before its debut, attracting excitement as a potential meme generator that leans into absurdist humor. That marketing strategy helped establish Wit Studio's comedy as one of Summer 2024's most highly-anticipated series; however, that fervor died down considerably after a few episodes, and the show nowadays feels like a footnote rather than a standout release. My Deer Friend Nokotan can be pretty amusing, but it is not shaping up to be an all-time hilarious anime. Honestly, it is not even the funniest show of this season.

Just to be clear, My Deer Friend Nokotan is not a disaster or anything like that. Unpredictable, likable, and chaotic in a good way, Noko Shikanoko is a great comedic force and among 2024's funniest characters. Although nothing amazing, Torako works well as a counter who exists to react to Shikanoko's antics. Whenever the focus is exclusively on these two, My Deer Friend Nokotan is an unspectacular but cute gag anime that is good for a few laughs.

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Unfortunately, the show has done very little with the rest of the characters, most of whom are introduced as tropes and have yet to evolve into anything more. Torako's sister, Anko, is the worst example. She is uncomfortably obsessed with her sibling, playing into the tired perverted archetype that has grown somewhat out of fashion. That is not a bad launchpad for a character, but Anko's contributions have amounted to repeating the same joke in nearly every scene. She is just a trope and nothing else. This character's direction is devoid of any creativity.

14 No Longer Allowed in Another World (+2)

MyAnimeList: 7.09

Overall, Summer 2024 will not be remembered for its isekai. Polarizing as the theme tends to be, most seasons tend to produce two or three exciting shows, be it newcomers or sequels. Summer 2024 only has That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime that could be considered great, and the third season is arguably the worst in the series. Suicide Squad Isekai is pretty disappointing, while Failure Frame requires a great tolerance for edgy content. The rest are just kind of forgettable. Out of all the season's new isekai anime, No Longer Allowed in Another World is comfortably the best, along with being the only one worth recommending to viewers who are tired of the theme's formula.

Osamu Dazai, known as "Sensei" in the anime, gets hit by a truck and sent to another world. Once there, he sets out to find his lover while craving death, all the while an elf and beastgirl try to keep him alive. While he does not generally want to get involved, Sensei ends up running across other summoned heroes, most of whom have let their new powers go to their heads. No Longer Allowed in Another World has a wicked sense of humor that pokes fun at isekai tropes without looking down upon them. Sensei is a refreshingly dark and mature character for this type of story, and his fatalistic personality blends well with the other characters.

No Longer Allowed in Another World starts decently and gradually improves, leading to a few surprisingly powerful standalone episodes that highlight different other-worlders who are just trying their best.

13 Twilight Out of Focus (+2)

MyAnimeList: 7.54

A long time ago, boys' love anime had a reputation for being "trashy," and that's not meant as a criticism. They just emphasized certain tropes and dynamics that were not exactly positive, even if some of these classics were (and still are) entertaining in a SOAP opera type of way. However, in recent years, the theme has evolved quite a bit, offering more mature content that focuses on healthy relationships. Sasaki and Miyano helped spearhead this shift, and nowadays, every season seems to include one show that fits the mark. In the case of Summer 2024, Twilight Out of Focus is that representative.

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While it might not initially seem to be the case, this anime focuses on a series of relationships, all of whom are loosely connected to a high school's film club. Mao and Hisashi take center stage for the first few episodes, and their relationship gradually transforms from roommates to lovers. Along with a few rather steamy scenes, Twilight Out of Focus is not afraid to get "real" either, particularly when highlighting Hisashi's former relationship.

After this arc, the anime shifts attention to Jin and Giichi, who have a somewhat contentious dynamic that jumps back and forth between love and hatred. They are completely different from Mao and Hisashi, and the same can be said for Shion and Rei, the last couple to receive the spotlight.

12 The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 7.52

An adaptation of Cocoa Fujiwara's final manga that was left incomplete when the author tragically passed away in 2015, The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies is not only a cute show in a vacuum, but also a fitting tribute to its creator. As the title implies, the story revolves around two "enemies" who would rather go on dates than engage in battles over the world's future. Mira seems like the ultimate evil lieutenant at a glance, but he turns to mush whenever in the presence of the slightly absent-minded Byakuya, who very much regards her magical girl role as just another job (and she has plenty of them).

Sometimes, predictability is perfectly fine. The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies has delivered very few surprises so far, instead focusing on its adorable main relationship while occasionally parodying magical girl tropes. Although mostly cute, the anime introduces a couple of surprisingly dark ideas, mainly on the side of the heroes. Byakuya is a rather tragic figure when her full situation is taken into account, and she seems to be isolated and easily manipulated. The anime is at its best when the Magical Girl takes center stage, which does not happen as often as it should.

11 Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 7.32

Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary might be the most relaxing mystery anime of all time. Basically, the anime revolves around Yuki and Jougorou, two gifted students who are trying to act "ordinary" in high school, going against their middle-school personalities. Both of them are inquisitive and enjoy a good brain-teaser, although they used to have a habit of bulldozing over other people's opinions. While they mostly want to stay out of trouble, they cannot help but get dragged into a few mysteries, although most of them are completely inconsequential.

Putting aside the dilemmas, Shoshimin works due to its three main characters. Yuki and Jougorou have a really cute and supportive dynamic that brings out the best in both of them, and their social awkwardness comes across as genuine rather than stereotypical. Kengo, Jougorou's friend, is also a scene stealer, especially since he constantly pushes both leads to be more like themselves.

Lighthearted as the stories are most of the time, Shoshimin is very much grounded in reality, to the point of being quite sobering at times.

10 Senpai is an Otokonoko (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 6.99

Summer 2024 is stacked with romances, none of which are as unique as Senpai is an Otokonoko. Saki instantly falls for her senpai, Makoto, and that feeling does not change when the former learns that the latter is a boy who cross-dresses like a girl. Ryuuji is also in love with Makoto, although he keeps it a secret since he is not quite sure how to process these emotions.

While a love triangle is forming, Senpai is an Otokonoko primarily focuses on exploring its characters' gender and sexual identities, particularly Makoto. Due to his mother, he cannot be his true self at home, a situation that amplifies his stress and shame. Fortunately, Saki and Ryuuji are both incredibly supportive, allowing Makoto to slowly grow more confident in himself.

As Saki has taken something of a backseat, Ryuuji and Makoto have assumed center stage, and their complex relationship has been a delight to watch unfold. Neither character is 100% sure how to manage their emotions and interests, but they are willing to put themselves out there. It is, honestly, great and addictive.

Although mostly wholesome, Senpai is an Otokonoko can get very heavy at times. The anime focuses quite a bit on parent-child dynamics, showing that abuse and neglect can take many forms beyond physical violence. Saki's relationship with her father is a particularly sensitive and powerful exploration of this concept.

9 Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 7.93

Fairy Tail is back with a proper sequel rather than just a new season. At this point, most people should be well aware of what to expect from Hiro Mashima's franchise, and 100 Years Quest largely maintains its predecessor's course, delivering action, comedy, fanservice, and a decent sense of adventure. Although things are explained well enough to follow the basic plot, newcomers should start with the 2009 show since Team Natsu's members have already gone through most of their character growth and development.

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As far as the best anime of Summer 2024 are concerned, 100 Years Quest is harder to rank than any other sequel as, for better or worse, it is just more Fairy Tail. There is nothing wrong with that, and the season should hit the mark with die-hard fans while having almost nothing to offer anyone else. Compared solely to its predecessor's quality, the sequel is generally better than Fairy Tail's final few arcs, at least going from the content released so far. 100 Years Quest has been very action-packed so far, with most episodes revolving around fights in some form or another. They have not all been fantastic, but they generally have a decent sense of scale and showmanship. The new characters have also been pretty interesting, even if they are almost all exclusively villains.

8 Pseudo Harem (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 7.86

Perhaps the cutest Summer 2024 anime, Pseudo Harem revolves around two awkward teenagers who are more than happy to be clumsy around each other. In an inspired take on a divisive genre, the anime presents a one-woman harem, with Rin – a member of her school's drama club – utilizing her acting chops to play different archetypes who take turns teasing her senpai, Eiji. Yes, this is a rare "harem" story that allows every girl to win.

While romance is undeniably in the air, Pseudo Harem is primarily a slice of life, one of the genre's few proper entries airing during the current season. The episodes largely consist of 2-3 segments chronicling Eiji and Rin's adorable but mundane interactions, and their banter is immediately charming. Even if it is nothing too amazing in the grand scheme of things, this anime is pleasant and features two protagonists who are near-impossible to not love. Their relationship changes very slowly, but Pseudo Harem is not completely static, regardless of how minimal the growth might seem. The anime ended on a fairly high note as well, making the journey worthwhile.

7 NieR:Automata Ver1.1a – Cour 2 (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 7.96

Returning after a rough first season in terms of production, NieR:Automata Ver1.1a has largely managed to steady the ship, delivering a sequel that has so far matched and even surpassed its ancestor. Now, the new entry is not designed for new viewers, and people will need to watch its prequel to have a general idea of what is going on. Even then, the sci-fi anime is rather convoluted at times, with the story introducing so many characters that keeping track of everyone can be harder than it should be.

All that being said, NieR:Automata Ver1.1a is still among the best Summer 2024 anime in a few key areas. For one, the animation compares favorably to nearly every other show, only being topped by a couple of visual juggernauts like Wistoria and Monogatari. While their journeys are not always easy to follow, 2B and 9S are great leads, with their tragic relationship serving as the story's steady beating heart. This universe's lore is also fascinating, and the sequel does a better job of sprinkling in reveals than its predecessor.