I finally started watching some anime again, and ended up checking out quite a lot this season. For the last few years I had normally been reading manga/manhwa/webtoons instead, and only checking out a few anime. Now I'm getting back into seeing all the shows I missed, as well as the currently airing anime, which has been enjoyable to do.
I enjoyed a lot of anime this season, although there were quite a few shows where I'd say the first half of their season was better than the second half and how they ended.
My Recap for the Winter 2024 Anime Season (in order by favorite)
- Sousou no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End): This started airing in Fall 2023, and finally finished at the end of the Winter 2024 season. Frieren is an incredible anime, with solid animation by Madhouse. The story itself I thought may not be for everyone, but judging by it's rating on here, more people enjoyed it than I thought. It's a very laid back, passing of time, adventure story. There are some amazing action scenes as well, and I thought many characters were very likable. I enjoyed this anime from the start, but I honestly wasn't sure how I would rate it or where it would be among my favorites until later on. By the end, I felt it was worthy of a 10/10 rating and among my top 10 favorites. Definitely worth checking out.
- Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries): This was another anime starting in the previous season, Fall 2023, and ending in the Winter 2024 Season. The Apothecary Diaries has a nice blend of drama and mystery, with amazing visuals. The mystery felt almost like a detective show at times, with our main character Maomao uncovering the secrets. She has a fascination with poisons, and it continues to drive her to figure out a lot of what's happening with the people around her. Worth checking out for sure if the genre and setting are appealing to you at all, as it can keep you guessing and wanting to find out what happens next.
- Yubisaki to Renren (A Sign of Affection): I had my eye on this from the start of the season, and it ended up being even better than I was hoping and expecting it to be. It primarily follows Yuki, who is hearing-impaired and unable to hear anything, so much of her communication comes through text messages and sign language. It's a mature romance, following people around college age, with a lot of focus on how the characters interact with one another. The dynamics between all the characters were great, and seeing their interactions throughout, what motivates them to be who they are, was all very nice to watch.
- Ore dake Level Up na Ken (Solo Leveling): Solo leveling was definitely set to be the star of the season, and I'd say it did alright. This first season of it feels it a bit short, having only 12 episodes, but it still covers just enough to be exciting. I have read this series before, and I think I prefer that version over the anime. I still enjoyed watching this animated and its worth checking out if you're into game-like powerups and action series. Assuming a second season is on the way, I'll be looking forward to seeing that as I think it will be even better with the content it covers. Worth watching, and even more worth to read.
- Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu Season 2 (The Dangers in My Heart Season 2): I hadn't watched this series before so I ended up checking out both the 1st season and this 2nd season. Very solid comedy and romance, with many aspects that set it apart, while still feeling familiar. Ichikawa, Kyoutarou drives the story forward often with his inner monologues, as you get an inside peek into why he acts how he does, particularly when it comes to Yamada, Anna. I was a little skeptical after the first couple episodes of the 1st season, but I am glad I continued on through this 2nd season and got to see how the relationship progressed.
- Monsters: Ippyaku Sanjou Hiryuu Jigoku (Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation): This is like a special, somewhat related to One Piece, that can also be watched on it's own. It's a story taken from one of the old works of the author of One Piece, Oda, Eiichiro. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and I had read it a long time ago too. It's a short story, told within one 25 minute episode. I'd say worth watching if you've also watched and like One Piece, but maybe on it's own it's just alright and not as worth to check out.
- Dosanko Gal wa Namara Menkoi (Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!): I had only read a couple chapters of this series before it became an anime, but I knew I was interested in watching it. Overall I enjoyed seeing this animated, but the story was also maybe lacking a bit in some ways. As far as anime with a gyaru main character goes, I'd say "My Dress-Up Darling" was far superior, however I still found this to be a fun watch.
- Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu 2nd Season (Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy Season 2): Another anime I hadn't seen any of before, and ended up watching the 1st and 2nd season. This 2nd season so far hasn't been as great as the 1st was, however it is still going to be airing through the next anime season, so it's only half way through so far. The story itself is quite similar to "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime" in many ways, which is another series I enjoyed a lot. As one of the last anime I got around to checking out this season, Tsukimichi was surprisingly good. The main characters are all interesting, and I'm hoping the second half of this season is even better.
- Akuyaku Reijou Level 99: Watashi wa Ura-Boss desu ga Maou dewa Arimasen (Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord): This anime I was going to pass on, but ended up watching and was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. The main character, Yumiella Dolkness, is the highlight of the show with her responses to the other characters. The ending might be a little rushed, but at the same time I feel if the anime continued it may have felt like it was just dragging on, so overall I'm satisfied with how it went.
- Undead Unluck: Another anime that started airing in Fall 2023, and finishing at the end of Winter 2024, Undead Unluck is one of the anime I haven't actually caught up on yet. I've only seen 9 of the 24 episodes, but from that I've found it to be a very fun watch. There's action, comedy, and some crazy moments with a story that is passable so far. I'll try to finish this later, and I have liked it so far.
- Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha (The Unwanted Undead Adventurer): I was drawn in at the start, however I think some progress in the story was too fast, and some was too slow. Overall I believe it would have benefitted if the pacing in general was slower, and could really flesh out the story, but I still found it enjoyable. Seeing how a human person copes with waking up as a skeleton 'monster' was interesting to see.
- Gekai Elise (Surgeon Elise/Doctor Elise: Queen with a Scalpel/Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp): I was looking forward to this one, and I really liked the intro and early episodes, but then it fell off a bit for me as it turned a bit more political at times. There is definitely plenty on the doctor side of things though, it just feels like a lot of the actual story content centers more around the nobles, King, Prince and so on.
- Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsu suru (7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!): I quite liked the main character, and the start was interesting. As the story progressed though, I feel like I just didn't get as invested into any of the other characters appearing. This isn't always bad, but I do think for this anime I probably needed more than just the main character, Rishe. Maybe other people would like the other characters more though, and I think it's an alright watch.
- Saijaku Tamer wa Gomi Hiroi no Tabi wo Hajimemashita. (The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash): This is another anime that I liked a lot at the start and felt it was just okay in the later part of the season. I didn't hate the second half, it's more that there were just so many characters introduced (good and bad) involved in this conflict, and many of the characters you only just started to get to know. The main character is definitely interesting and likable, so I am curious to see how her journey continues if there are more seasons.
- Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e 3rd Season (Classroom of the Elite III): I actually had only started this series from season 1 during Winter 2024, so I was able to watch a lot all at once. This anime reminds me of a few other anime and manga like "Liar Game," but honestly just feels weird at times with the school setting. It seems like there is hardly much of any focus on 'school,' or at least what would typically be perceived as a school, so it just feels out of place to me. This 3rd season in particular brings in conflict from influences and characters that don't fit well in my opinion, and yet it was still interesting enough that I watched all 3 seasons and enjoyed it a fair amount.
- Ninja Kamui: Initially I thought this could be amazing, but now that I'm 6 episodes in, I'm honestly just unsure of what to make of it. It had a premise that made me want to know more, with a ninja in modern times including lots of action scenes with solid animation. However I just don't know the direction it's heading in, or what it will be like by the time it finishes. I think it's supposed to have 12 episodes, and there are currently only 7 released so far.
- Isekai de Mofumofu Nadenade suru Tame ni Ganbattemasu. (Fluffy Paradise): I liked the start alright enough, as a sort of relaxing series about a reincarnated character that just wants to enjoy the fluffiness of animals. Then the latter half was filled with conflict, that really made me wonder just what sort of direction the series was going. In the end, I didn't like it as is, and would have liked a more episodic and slice of life approach to enjoying fluff instead.
These are some anime that I went back and watched the 1st season of in order to also watch the current season airing in Winter 2024, but that I never ended up actually watching.
- Shin no Nakama ja Nai to Yuusha no Party wo Oidasareta node, Henkyou de Slow Life suru Koto ni Shimashita 2nd (Banished From The Hero's Party, I Decided To Live A Quiet Life In The Countryside Season 2): The 1st season was alright with some likable characters. I think there were many things that could have been improved about the quality and story telling that could have made it so much better though. I may still check out this 2nd season in the future, but I'm not sure if it is worth it.
- Mashle: Shinkakusha Kouho Senbatsu Shiken-hen (Mashle: Magic and Muscles - The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc): I didn't particularly care about the comedy in the 1st season, so I probably won't check out this season either since the comedy is a main focus. I believe there are many people who do like this type of show though.
There were a lot more shows than I expected this Winter 2024 anime season that I enjoyed to some extent, but only a few really stood out. Most of the ones that stood out actually started airing in the previous Fall 2023 anime season as well, and just happened to finish during this season instead. Even though this list is already huge as is, I was actually planning to check out the movies "Haikyuu!! Movie: Gomisuteba no Kessen (Haikyu!! Movie: Battle of the Garbage Dump)" and "Given Movie 2: Hiiragi Mix" as well. I also considered the Yuru Yuri spin-off "Oomuro-ke: Dear Sisters" and maybe even starting "Urusei Yatsura (2022)" that has a 2nd season half way through already.
Anyways, I hope some of you also found something to enjoy this season, and I'll be looking forward to the next Spring 2024 anime season coming up. Let me know what you liked as well if you want, or what you're looking forward to. |
