Anime in 2024 has been gloriously messy. Deliciously unpredictable and perpetually unbothered by the confines of genre, logic, or expectation; as always, there are masterpieces to celebrate and missteps to lament — for every swing-and-a-miss this year has thrown our way, there’s been a knockout that has left us reeling.
This year, the medium has once again thrown us into a whirlwind of fantastical worlds, existential musings, and the occasional descent into head-scratching absurdity. It was a year where volleyball showdowns reached operatic heights, samurai redefined heroism, dungeon crawlers moonlit as master chefs, and jazz found its loudest, most emotional voice yet. Yet, alongside these highs, we endured the agony of climactic U21 matches rendered in presentation slides and the persistent heartbreak of iconic horror manga proving infuriatingly unadaptable. It was, in other words, anime at its most exhilaratingly, frustratingly alive.
Earlier this year, Miyazaki-san reminded us all why he’s the closest thing animation has to an actual wizard, with The Boy and the Heron clinching Ghibli its second Oscar and the Cannes Film Festival 2024 bestowing upon the studio an honourary Palme d’Or. The fact that it took half a year and a stack of awards to finally secure Indian distribution was a bittersweet victory for Indian otakus.
Studio Ghibli’s Academy Award for Best Animated Feature film for ‘The Boy and the Heron’ on display
| Photo Credit:
X/ @laciryr21
India continues its burgeoning tryst with anime. Crunchyroll’s localization efforts — Hindi, Tamil, Telugu dubs galore — transformed the niche into a nationwide phenomenon. Streaming platforms are fast evolving from pipelines for escapist fantasy to cultural touchstones, bringing stories of pirates, ninjas, spies and sorcerers to screens across the subcontinent. And in a historic move from our neighbours, Usman Riaz’s The Glassworker marked Pakistan’s first ever anime feature that doubled as the country’s official submission at the Oscars 2025.
Meanwhile, the Paris Olympics became an unlikely stage for weebs with athletes sneaking Dragon Ball poses and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards into the global spotlight. And in its 25th year, Eiichiro Oda’s unstoppable One Piece has hit milestones across mediums that most pop culture franchises wouldn’t dare to dream of, let alone achieve.
Noah Lyle’s performs a Kamehameha after bagging gold at the Paris Olympics 2024
| Photo Credit:
Instagram/ @nojo18
Yet, for all the highlights, anime’s messy brilliance remained intact. There were dazzling moments of artistry and storytelling that brought tears to our eyes, followed promptly by plot twists that had us questioning our life choices. That duality — its uncanny ability to be at once profound and preposterous — is what makes anime impossible to pin down and even harder to ignore.
It’s clear we’re living in a golden age of anime ubiquity. As we look back at what 2024 has had to offer, what seems more than certain is that anime is constantly evolving and this has been but a taste of what’s in store for years to come. To the stories that move us, challenge us, and remind us why we fell in love with anime in the first place, here is a ranking of the best of the year, preceded by some honourable mentions that deserve a tip of the (straw) hat.
Honorable Mentions:
A still from ‘Kaiju No. 8’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
Who says shounen protagonists have to be fresh-faced teenagers? Hibino Kafka proves that middle-aged malaise pairs surprisingly well with Pacific Rim nostalgia. Watching him juggle a mid-life crisis with his new monster-slaying powers is oddly cathartic. A mature protagonist in shounen, who knew the subgenre could still surprise?
A still from ‘Blue Box’
| Photo Credit:
Netflix
At first glance, Blue Box might seem like another textbook high school sports drama. Yet, it’s the story’s tenderness that truly sets it apart. This quiet little gem wraps its slow-burn romance in the sweat-soaked energy of a sports anime. If you’ve ever been a teenager yearning for something just out of reach, Blue Box will hit you right in the solar plexus.
A still from ‘Solo Leveling’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
The meteoric rise of Solo Leveling to anime stardom was as inevitable as its protagonist Sung Jin-Woo’s ascent from zero to hero. Sure, it’s formulaic, but when a formula works this well, weebs won’t be complaining anytime soon. Watching Jin-Woo rise from a nobody to a near-deity is popcorn entertainment at its best. It’s Dragon Ball Z, but for the MMORPG generation — pure, unfiltered power-scaling, and proud.
A still from ‘The Colours Within’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
Naoko Yamada trades the dramatic heft of A Silent Voice for something quieter but no less affecting. This coming-of-age story is a pastel dreamscape, full of small revelations rendered with exquisite care. It’s an anime that feels like reading someone’s most beautiful, bittersweet diary entries.
The 10 best anime of 2024:
A still from ‘Wistoria: Wand and Sword’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
Fantasy school anime are a dime a dozen, yet Wistoria: Wand and Sword slices through the mediocrity with superb production value. Will Serfort’s journey as a non-magical student in a world of spellcasters feels refreshingly subversive, turning the trope of the “chosen one” on its head. The animation is polished to a shine, and while the story isn’t without its clichés, it has enough heart to make you forget them. It’s imperfect but undeniably enchanting, earning its second season with an underdog charm you can’t help but root for.
A still from ‘One Piece: Fan Letter’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
In a franchise as intimidating as One Piece, a standalone special could easily feel like filler. However, Fan Letter isn’t your typical One Piece fare, and that’s precisely what makes it so incredible. Megumi Ishitani’s direction shifts the focus away from the Straw Hats, offering instead an intimate glimpse into the lives of ordinary citizens touched by their adventures. It’s a meta-commentary on the power of storytelling itself and a love letter to the fans who’ve stuck with this epic for 25 years.
A still from ‘Terminator Zero’
| Photo Credit:
Netflix
The Terminator franchise has been on life support for years, and yet, against all odds, Netflix has managed to resurrect it from its own convoluted timeline with Terminator Zero. After years of limping along, Zero accomplishes this feat by reimagining the series as a cerebral anime set in the neon-drenched ‘90s of Tokyo. Equal parts nerve-wracking and thought-provoking, finally, Skynet gets the anime it deserves.
A still from ‘Delicious in Dungeon’
| Photo Credit:
Netflix
Monster hunting meets haute cuisine in this delightful mashup that turns dungeons into kitchens and danger into dinner. Ryoko Kui’s quirky tale of culinary creativity is served up with a side of RPG nostalgia, and Studio Trigger’s vibrant animation brings every bizarre meal to life, making it a feast for the eyes and the imagination. It’s an anime that’ll make you laugh, cry and maybe even crave a serving of grilled living armor.
A still from ‘Dandadan’
| Photo Credit:
Prime Video
Look Back proves that less can be more. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one-shot manga is transformed into a 53-minute masterpiece in Look Back. Raw, vulnerable, and achingly personal, Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s direction makes the film feel like flipping through an artist’s sketchbook — unpolished yet perfect in its imperfections. It’s an ode to art itself, and a stirring reminder of the weight of creation.
A still from ‘Dandadan’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
Absurdity is the lifeblood of Dandadan. This madcap cocktail of aliens, ghosts, and romantic comedy defies all logic, yet somehow makes perfect sense in Science Saru’s capable hands. Frenetic, ridiculous, and brilliant, it’s pure madness in motion that somehow coalesces into a coherent, exhilarating whole. It’s not for everyone, but for those willing to embrace the anarchy, Dandadan offers a ride like no other.
A still from ‘The Elusive Samurai’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
Historical anime often leans into the grandeur of the past, but The Elusive Samurai takes a different route. Its titular protagonist, Hojo Tokiyuki, isn’t a selfless, battle-hardened ronin; rather, a master of running away. The subversion of samurai tropes is a hilarious, poignant romp that proves survival is just as honourable as swordsmanship. CloverWorks’ lush animation brings the beauty of the Kamakura period to life, making this overlooked gem a must-watch.
A still from ‘Blue Giant’
| Photo Credit:
GKids
Jazz is far from dead — it’s kicking, screaming and never been more alive than in Blue Giant. This thunderous tribute to the genre pulsates with emotion, delivering a sensory overload of stunning visuals and gut-punching soundscapes by maestro pianist Hiromi Uehara. If you’ve ever doubted the power of anime to move you towards an out-of-body experience, Blue Giant is a high that you’ll never stop chasing.
A still from ‘Orb: On the Movements of the Earth’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
Set in a world where science is heresy, Orb delivers a slow-burning masterpiece of intellectual rebellion that rewards patience with profound insights. The writing is leagues ahead of most of its seinen contemporaries, exploring themes of truth, persecution, and the cost of enlightenment. Those willing to place their trust in its pace, will witness a revelation in storytelling unlike any other this year.
A still from ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’
| Photo Credit:
Crunchyroll
Every so often, an anime comes along that redefines the genre. Even fewer dare to disrupt the status quo altogether. Kanehito Yamada’s Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, brought to life by Studio Madhouse, transcends the confines of fantasy and offers a deeply human tale wrapped in otherworldly beauty. This meditative masterpiece explores grief, memory, and the quiet ache of outliving those you love. With breathtaking animation, exquisite writing, and gorgeous original music from Evan Call, there’s a universality to Frieren’s journey of reflection and rediscovery that earns it its spot as the year’s crowning achievement in anime that will be remembered for years to come.
And so it’s only natural that the year’s otaku odyssey should drift to an extraordinary close under the sleepy gaze of a wistful elf — the untold adventures and treasures 2025 holds for anime waiting just beyond journey’s end…
Published – December 27, 2024 11:56 am IST
World cinema
/
television
/
cartoons and animation
