Summary
- New gen anime, like Dandadan & Spy x Family, brings fresh ideas & humor to the anime world.
- Kaiju No. 8 challenges the norm with humans using Kaiju to fight Kaiju, adding risk.
- Chainsaw Man offers dark humor & unpredictable twists in its intense story & characters.
Plenty of beloved anime series, like Cowboy Bebop, One Piece, and Naruto, have been around for a while. While these shows are among the best anime series ever developed, in the last decade, a new wave of anime has taken over the world.
Every New Horror Anime Announced For 2024
Horror anime are not very common in 2024. However, the genre has not taken the year off either.
These new anime series have brought with them new tropes and perspectives that have left viewers intrigued and hungry for more. From shows like Attack on Titan to Demon Slayer and Freiren, the new generation of anime has begun gaining ground, and fans can’t wait to see what it has in store. For the shows of the new gen anime that have already aired, the best of them are, without a doubt, incredible.
Updated March 29, 2025 by Oluwatokiloba Folami: The new generation of anime is marked by series that have crossed the line and changed the anime industry in recent years. These series are keeping an eye on the future evolution of anime in the world. Some of the best of these shows influence not only the industry but also the global anime community, committing and making a lasting impact on otaku culture.
Shows like Dandadan and many others continue to set the bar high in terms of creativity and relevancy, just like Bleach and Cowboy Bebop were the classics of their time. They continue to push ideas by offering fresh ways to tell these stories to new audiences. These anime aren’t just hits; they’re shaping the future.
The criteria used for next-gen anime include but are not limited to the recency of cultural impact, innovative animation style, and ever-evolving themes that bring fresh ideas to the anime industry.
1 Sakamoto Days
Assassins, Action, And Comedy Done Right
Sakamoto Days
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
- Studio
- TMS Entertainment
- Creator
- Yuto Suzuki
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
The action-comedy anime Sakamoto Days instantly gained popularity because of its combination of thrilling action scenes with absurd humor, together with an unlikely yet likable main character, Taro Sakamoto. Before starting a new life with his family as a convenience store owner, he abandoned his assassin career that brought fear to many. This past continues to haunt him, which pushes him back into action, but this time with his dad bod physique and a strong will to protect his newfound peaceful life.
The success of Sakamoto Days belongs to its perfect mix of martial arts with slapstick comedy and genuine emotional depth. Through his psychic employee, Shin, and his peculiar set of friends, who make running a store both hilarious and exciting, the anime presents a modern twist on the assassin stereotype.
2 Orb: On The Movements Of The Earth
Unraveling The Secrets Of The Universe
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Creator
- Uoto
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
This stunning show combines hard science fiction with philosophy. Set against the backdrop of a world where celestial mechanics governs survival, Cecily Aldrin, a brilliant but underappreciated astronomer, and her apprentice, Theo Marlowe, challenge the accepted knowledge regarding the motion of the Earth. Their discoveries place them in direct conflict with the Astral Order, a faction intent on stamping out disruptive knowledge that might upset the balance of the world.
What sets this anime apart is its commitment to scientific accuracy, turning orbital physics into a thrilling adventure. With breathtaking visuals and a gripping story, this anime is perfect for fans who crave depth, discovery, and cosmic intrigue.
3 Medalist
A Sports Anime That’s As Heartfelt As It Is Intense
Medalist
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 5, 2025
WHERE TO WATCH
- Studio
- ENGI
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
This inspirational sports anime delves into the world of figure skating through the dual perspectives of Inori Yuitsuka, a young girl with big dreams yet no formal training, and Tsukasa Akeuraji, a washed-up skater who now works as a coach. They defy the odds together in a sport that requires no small amount of ability coupled with unfailing discipline.
Medalist shines with its emotional depth and beautiful skating animation. Inori’s determination and Tsukasa’s redemption story is a heartwarming journey of passion, setbacks, and triumphs, making it a must-watch for dedicated fans of sports anime.
4 Shangri-La Frontier
From Trash Games To The Ultimate VRMMO
Shangri-La Frontier
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2026-00-00
- Studio
- C2C
- Creator
- Katarina
- Number of Episodes
- 50
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Few anime capture the giddy thrill of gaming quite like Shangri-La Frontier does. The series centers around Rakuro Hizutome, an elite gamer who lives for destroying low-quality, buggy games. Looking for a real challenge, he jumps into Shangri-La Frontier, a next-gen VRMMO, where his outlandish skills give him the leg up, even on seasoned players.
Rakuro starts as any typical player but soon becomes involved with high-level missions, battling against legendary monsters while joining forces with in-game big shots. With fast-paced combat, deep world-building, and a main character who loves gaming, Shangri-La Frontier is a must-see for adventure lovers.
5 Dandadan
Hilarity And Chaos Set This Rising Star Apart
Dandadan
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Studio
- Science Saru
- Creator
- Yukinobu Tatsu
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu
As a relatively new anime series, Dandadan is making waves in the anime industry. It combines fantastical elements in terms of supernatural abilities and yokai, and extraterrestrial life and technology in the form of aliens. It then combines all its intriguing aspects with drop-dead humor that makes the show stand out and hilarious at the same time.
The plot of the series is heavily focused on the discovery and entanglement of Ken Katakura, Ayase Momo, and the rest of their crew with aliens and yokai. Through their interactions, they also develop supernatural abilities that allow them to battle the supernatural and, of course, mess around with unpredictable and chaotic results.
6 Spy x Family
The Forger Family’s Secrets And Shenanigans Serves As An Interesting Watch
Spy x Family
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2025-00-00
- Studio
- Wit Studio, CloverWorks
- Creator
- Tatsuya Endo
- Number of Episodes
- 37
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
With its first season airing in the spring of 2022, this anime series went on to garner a solid rating of 8.49 on MyAnimeList and was generally well-received by fans. Fast forward to the autumn of 2023: Spy x Family releases a second season and a movie, and fans still love it.
What fans love the most is undoubtedly Anya Forger’s many antics with her mind-reading skills and Lloyd and Yor’s many dubious behaviors in their quest to prevent each other from finding out their true abilities as a spy and assassin, respectively. With Anya in the same school as Damien Desmond, she, alongside her adoptive father, must find a way to infiltrate the Desmonds' inner circle to prevent a war from breaking out.
7 Odd Taxi
An Award-Winning Masterpiece Featuring A Walrus Driver
Odd Taxi
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2021-00-00
- Network
- TV Tokyo
- Directors
- Sayaka Yamai, Mayu Numayama, Kenichi Nishida, Hideaki Ōba, Shigenori Awai
- Writers
- Kazuya Konomoto
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Creator(s)
- Kazuya Konomoto, Takeichi Abaraya
After airing, Odd Taxi went on to become an award-winning anime series with multiple awards to its name for good reason. The series features the protagonist walrus, Hiroshi Odokawa, who, despite being asocial, has varying discussions with his passengers as a taxi driver.
10 Great Anime Similar To Odd Taxi
With Odd Taxi: In The Woods releasing, many fans of the series and its new film want other anime just like it.
During these many discussions, Odokawa gets to know many things about Tokyo and its dark happenings, but the information comes at a cost as a missing girl is traced back to Odokawa, and the walrus must now become more than a simple taxi driver to clear his name. Winning various awards, such as the 2021 IGN Awards for Best Anime Series and the 2022 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards for Best Protagonist, Odd Taxi is a worthwhile watch.
8 Girls Band Cry
The Challenges And Triumphs Of Band Life
Girls Band Cry
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024
- Network
- Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, BS11
- Directors
- Miho Hirayama, Kenji Imura, Masayuki Iimura, Yasushi Tomoda
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hoopla
Music is often referred to as a universal language, and Girls Band Cry portrays that universal language as it impacts the various characters in the show. The show focuses on the clumsy 17-year-old Nina Iseri and four other girls who decide to start a band together after fated meetings.
As always, being in a band often has as many disadvantages as it has advantages, so struggles and various forms of disagreements are bound to happen. However, with passion uniting them all, the girls decide to push past their differences. As a next-gen anime series, Girls Band Cry stands out for its unique story and well-crafted CGI animation. Moreover, its focus on music makes it catchy, and the original songs fit the story well.
9 86 Eighty-Six
The Façade Of A Casualty-Less War Is Broken
86: EIGHTY-SIX
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2022
- Main Genre
- Animation
This anime series tells a gripping story between Lina and Shinei, two individuals from completely different worlds. During the era in which the series is set, the Empire and the Republic of San Magnolia are at war, using autonomous robots to ensure that there are no human casualties. However, it’s merely a façade, as the supposed autonomous units of the Republic of San Magnolia are piloted by a group of discriminated-against individuals collectively known as the 86.
When Lina, a handler who believes she is managing autonomous machines, uncovers the truth, she realizes the situation is far more disturbing than she ever imagined, and the complications spread far more than the Republic of San Magnolia.
10 Vivy: Fluorite Eyes Song
Humanity’s Last Hope: AI Vs. AI
Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2021
- Studio
- Wit Studio
- Creator
- Tappei Nagatsuki, Eiji Umehara
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
With humans and AI mentioned in the same breath, there are bound to be all sorts of theories about what AI's evolution could mean for humanity's future. In Vivy: Fluorite Eyes Song, AI is out to eradicate humanity, but it also remains humanity’s last hope from destruction.
100 years into the future, humanity is about to be eradicated by AI, which believes the best way to progress is to eradicate the inferior species. However, a scientist sends an AI, Matsumoto, back into the past to ally with the first-ever autonomous AI, Vivy, to stop the eradication of humanity. With the gripping storyline and intense combat scenes portrayed in the first few episodes, this series is one to look out for.