From sequels to My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer to brand new anime like Kaiju No. 8 and Delicious in Dungeon, there were a lot of exciting anime releases this year.
However, there are still some interesting anime that inevitably get pushed aside and fail to attract the attention of the audience.
Here are 10 underrated anime of 2024 that deserve more recognition:
1. A Sign of Affection
A Sign of Affection is based on the manga of the same name, which debuted in January 2024. It is a lighthearted romantic comedy that revolves around Yuki, a deaf college student who rarely communicates with anyone other than his best friend, Rin Fujishiro.
However, her life begins to change after she meets Rin's mutual friend, Itsuomi Nagi.
2. Mr. Villain's Day Off
This adorable anime follows Warumono-san, a member of an evil organization whose mission is to invade Earth and destroy humanity. Despite being an evil alien, Warumomo is still looking for a place to rest.
Enjoying a peaceful life after committing a crime, he visits pandas at the zoo, buys ice cream, and spends time enjoying the simple life of a human. This wholesome story revolves around Warumomo's inner thoughts, as he tries new experiences or does mundane things like going to the convenience store.
3. Sasaki and Peeps
Sasaki and Peeps is an interesting Isekai anime. To fill the void in his life, the main character Sasaki goes to a pet shop and adopts a bird. What surprises him is that the bird is a legendary magician with the ability to travel between worlds.
Sasaki's everyday life is turned upside down when a bird pulls him into a fantasy world. He wants to use these new powers to live a peaceful and comfortable life, but there are always people standing in his way.
4. The Witch and the Beast
Blending dark and bold characters in a fantasy setting, The Witch and the Beast is a captivating anime revolving around Guideau and Ashaf.
One day, the unlikely pair land in a village ruled by a wizard who is considered the hero of the village. However, the truth is very different, and Ashaf and Guideau know it all too well. The mystery, the action, and the complexity of the plot will captivate viewers from the start.
5. Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf
This is an anime reboot based on the manga Spice and Wolf by Isuna Hasekura. The series follows Kraft Lawrence, a traveling merchant, who finds Holo sleeping in his cart. She introduces herself as a wolf god.
Holo bargains with the merchant to take her along on his journey, in exchange for sharing her wisdom of “Holo the Wisewolf” and increasing his profits. So Lawrence sets out on his journey with her, finding new meaning in life along the way.
6. Wind Breaker
This underrated 2024 anime is based on the manga by Satoru Nii. Winter Breaker follows Haruka Sakura, who is shunned by everyone around her because of her unusual appearance. After transferring to Furin High School, she begins to avoid weak people and only cares about strong people.
This school is famous for its perverts who are known for their fighting prowess, but that's not the case. In a town overrun with crime, students at Furin use their powers to protect ordinary people.
7. The Elusive Samurai
The Elusive Samurai revolves around Tokiyuki Houjou, a carefree eight-year-old noble boy. He is not interested in the responsibilities that come with being the heir to a Shogun. He often runs away and avoids practicing swordplay and archery.
However, his easy life is destroyed by a sudden coup d'état and the loss of his entire clan. Just as Tokiyuki is sinking into despair, he comes across the mysterious priest Yorisige Suwa. The story continues as the young Samurai finds his new purpose in life.
8. Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Wistoria: Wand and Sword is one of the most underrated fantasy anime of 2024. The main character Will Serfort wants to keep a promise to his close childhood friend by becoming Magia Vander. This title is only given to powerful mages who sit at the top of the Wizard Tower.
However, his dream is difficult to achieve as he struggles to perform even the simplest of spells. The anime follows his journey as he joins the Regarden Magic Academy, which serves as the first step to learning about magic.
9. Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary
The film revolves around two high school students Jougorou Kobato and Yuki Osanai. Kobato has incredible investigative abilities but he realizes that this is worthless.
So he makes a deal with his friend Yuki to live a normal life. However, they get caught up in a series of mysterious incidents that endanger their goal of a peaceful, simple life.
10. Twilight Out of Focus
Twilight Out of Focus is an anime about Mao Tsuchiya and Hisashi Ootomo. They are roommates and set some boundaries by making three promises in front of the camera: Mao must not tell anyone that Hisashi is gay, Hiashi must never fall in love with Mao, and neither of them must ever disturb each other's private time.
