The Spring 2024 anime season is officially over, but it’s also a fitting moment to look back at the shows that made the season special. As always, the Anime Corner News team (and dev) is here to passionately share their favorites from the Spring 2024 anime season.
Please do keep in mind that this list is not a ranking (of the anime or the writers) and does not represent hard facts – it is simply our own opinions written down for fun. So without any further ado, let’s see which shows the ACN team enjoyed!
Wind Breaker – Eric
Going from not even being on my watch list to becoming my pick for anime of the season is something I never would’ve expected to happen. Wind Breaker surprised me in every possible way. I thought it would be another run-of-the-mill delinquent anime that just wouldn’t hold my interest. But I’m so glad to see that I was completely wrong.
The animation production was some of the best from any anime this season, giving studio CloverWorks another gem on their hands. Everything that came together, including the soundtrack and stellar voice cast, to bring this well-written, thought-out story to life has blown me away. Wind Breaker has become a “must-watch” at this point and I can’t wait for what’s in store! My runner-up for this season goes to Urusei Yatsura Season 2 after a near-perfect reboot that officially ended, which I also highly recommend everyone go to watch.
Kaiju No. 8 – Brett
I’ll be honest—the marketing drip for Kaiju No. 8 had me doubting whether Production I.G could bring Naoya Mastumoto’s hybrid of action and comedy to life, but Kaiju No. 8 has done nothing except deliver iconic music and edge-of-your-seat action. Bringing onboard Western artists for the OP and ED themes was a surprise choice, but YUNGBLUD’s “Abyss” and One Republic’s “Nobody” have become staples on my anime playlist. The animation, while a slight departure from the chunkier lines of Matsumoto’s manga, is fluid and nails the fight scenes.
With 14 million sales propelling Kaiju No. 8’s manga forward, there was a lot riding on this anime adaptation, but the production quality, sound design, and overall animation have been superb. The offbeat jokes land in all the right places and the “found family” aspect of Kafka’s relationship with his squadmates is, albeit a trope, pleasantly heartwarming. In a season of anime that’s really struggled to have any clear frontrunners, Kaiju No. 8 has been a consistently enjoyable shonen that has adapted its source material with ease.
Yuru Camp Season 3 – JP
Nothing has as big of a place in my heart as Yuru Camp. It’s the thing that both figuratively and literally keeps the rope away. Anime, like all media, is a form of escapism, something you retreat to and entertain yourself with. I’ve always believed the kind of shows you like mirror what you want most in life. And that’s true for me, while with a phone call, I could be living Naoya Mukai or Rokurou Okajima’s life, no matter what future I look at or what path I take in life, what’s depicted in Yuru Camp is the unreachable dream. Though for all the love, I’m still miffed that C Station wasn’t around this time.
I do think it’s a bit unfair to judge seasonals against well-established franchises. So if I ignore the continuing titles like Yuru Camp and KonoSuba, and the Spice & Wolf remake, I’d either give the win to A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics or Train to the End of the World. Both those shows were just outlandish and weird, and to me, that’s the two things that make anime so beautiful. There’s zero regard for established norms.
Delicious in Dungeon – Tamara
I know I chose the same thing last season and even though this cour of Delicious in Dungeon was quite different, I still enjoyed it very much. The world-building is simply amazing, the animation is very good, the characters are imperfect in a perfect way and their interactions are a joy to watch — it feels like Delicious in Dungeon had it all. My second pick goes to My Hero Academia 7.
Demon Slayer Season 4 – Bea
I was busy this Spring of 2024 and had been engaged in adulting stuff, but I would not miss watching the Hashira Training Arc of Demon Slayer. As someone who read the manga, let me tell you – I was really looking forward to seeing my favorite characters back on screen (and I feel like this is an understatement). The promotional posts of Demon Slayer were so huge that even my Facebook friends who don’t usually show their love for anime were sharing it. And just like every past season, the anime was beautifully animated. The first episode showed the breathing techniques of the Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro and Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinuzagawa. It was refreshing to watch, especially since it was the first time the spotlight landed on the two of them. Who would’ve thought they would make a fine pair in combat? It is never my intention to spoil anyone, but that scene where the two hashiras entered the infinity castle? Mindblowing.
The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc is my anime of the season because they kept showing Rengoku Kyojuro, the late Flame Hashira, who I bawled my eyes out for during Mugen Train Arc (which made me keep a lot of Rengoku merch, by the way, to remind me to set my heart ablaze every single time I decide to just lay down). To be honest, this season of Demon Slayer does so well in bringing me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. From being amazed at how good the breathing techniques are animated, to being emotional over Kanao’s simple ride back home, to feeling overjoyed to seeing Tengen Uzui again — I can’t help but feel wonder and anticipation for what’s coming next.
Kaiju No. 8 – Carla
As much as I love my bright blue slime and his many meetings, I enjoyed Hibino Kafka’s story a lot more! Kaiju No. 8 was so good from the first episode to the last. It was brilliant, exciting, suspenseful, and just overall a fun and interesting anime to watch (though that spider Kaiju in the first episode still haunts me). Whenever I met friends, I was always excited to talk about it. I would jump and say, “Have you seen the new episode???” and then scream incoherently about the cool or silly moments, the cliffhangers, the vice-captain, and everything else. The ending theme by OneRepublic is also one of my new favorites.
To be honest, this anime makes me feel reminiscent of the hype during the first season of My Hero Academia. It’s been a while since I felt this sparkling shonen joy. Kaiju No. 8 is my pick of the Spring 2024 anime season, and I enjoyed it so much that I already dove into the manga. And boy, it does not disappoint. I can’t wait for the next season!
Go! Go! Loser Ranger! – Zee
Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (Sentai Daishikkaku) is my anime of the season for Spring 2024 due to its unique take on the sentai genre. Instead of following the typical hero narrative, it focuses on the villain’s point of view, adding a unique and compelling twist to the story. The characters are well-developed, with distinct motivations that add to the plot, and the animation is excellent, bringing the dynamic action scenes to life.
Furthermore, the series expertly balances humor and serious themes, making each episode an engaging mix of emotions that ends on a cliffhanger, leaving us eager for the next. The world-building is excellent, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the action, elevating the overall viewing experience. The series stands out for its storytelling and memorable characters, making it my favorite and must-see of the season.
Sound! Euphonium Season 3 – Ken
Music and drama anime are hitting all the right notes this season. Girls Band Cry took me by surprise when it had some of the best storytelling, striking a chord with its seamless production. Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night is pitch perfect when it comes to voice acting and with its wonderful showcase of each character’s story and struggles. While it’s impossible for me to choose which I prefer more between these two, what’s also impossible is any anime from this season overtaking my top choice – Sound! Euphonium Season 3.
To say that Sound! Euphonium Season 3 made my heart full would be an understatement. Kitauji High School’s penultimate journey to winning gold at Nationals has been a symphony of excellence. Its main character, Kumiko Oumae, has become my favorite protagonist of all time. Her story is the best coming-of-age narrative I have ever seen. Not to mention, the anime’s production is stellar. The beautiful animation combined with its harmonious music and soulful voice acting, down to the most intricate details, have struck a perfect chord within me, thus, making this anime my favorite of the season.
KonoSuba Season 3 – Marko
While I heavily enjoyed the more serious stuff like Mushoku Tensei, Kaiju No. 8, Delicious in Dungeon, and of course ONE PIECE, my anime of the season for spring is KonoSuba. From the first episode to the last, it delivered the ~20 minutes of fun and humor I enjoy every week. The production itself was strong enough, and each of the characters got their moments despite it clearly being a Darkness-focused season. Not to say I minded Darkness getting the spotlight. She had been the least fleshed-out party member, a thing that is now clearly different.
Being a comedy show, I believe KonoSuba did the best job at being consistently good at what it was trying to do and so I have to give it the title of my anime of the season despite not really believing it was overall the best anime.
As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World – Dali
With a title that sounds like the most bland, generic trash isekai, it’s fair to say that I didn’t have very high expectations when I started watching this on a whim. However, this quickly became my favorite show of the week and the one I look forward to the most.
Do not expect any flashy action or suspense here; this anime is a slow burn, and they are definitely not afraid to lean into this. The story takes its time to set up all the world-building it wants to do, but instead of some long-winded exposition, you get to learn all about it through the experiences of the MC as he is growing up, which gives the characters the room they need to grow and shine. And shine they do, as the colorful cast keeps growing with more new and interesting characters, such as Rietz, Charlotte, Licia, and Raven. Likable characters and a solid fantasy background convinced me to pick this show as my anime of the season, and I look forward to seeing how the story evolves in future seasons.
And that’s it for ACN’s top picks from the Spring 2024 anime season! What was your favorite? You can vote for all your favorite shows, characters, and voice actors at Anime Corner’s Spring 2024 Polls. The new Summer 2024 anime season has also started so make sure to check our team’s seasonal reviews.
Featured Image:
Demon Slayer ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA / Aniplex / ufotable
Kaiju No. 8 © JAKDF 3rd Division © Naoya Matsumoto/SHUEISHA
KonoSuba © Natsume Akatsuki, Kurone Mishima / KADOKAWA / KonoSuba Production Committee
The comments are temporarily unavailable for maintenance.