With plenty of Anime to look forward to in 2025, I’d like to take a moment and recap my 5 Favourite Anime Releases Of 2024. This list gives an insight into what I watched and enjoyed this year. And, assuming we don’t have identical tastes, you’ll hopefully find something new to add to your watchlist to see you through the holiday season heading into 2025!
5 Favourite Anime Releases of 2024!
Let’s get right into my top 5 of the year. Fan of opinion pieces like this? Check out what series Rachel looks forward to in 2025 right here!
One Piece Egghead Arc
Whilst not a standalone series that released this year, the Egghead arc doesn’t shy away from being stunning and sickening. It makes my list simply because I spent the majority of this year racing to catch up to One Piece before visiting the 25th Anniversary Orchestra this past November.
Egghead, like the Wano arc before it, bursts onto the scene with colourful smooth animation, engaging fights and wicked lore that forces you to sit and digest each episode. Fortunately, the anime is on break until April 2025. So, if you’re intimidated by the 1086 episodes before it, you’ve got a few months to catch up!
In terms of plot, Egghead pulls no punches and Eiichiro Oda has outdone himself with the bombardment of lore drops and twists weaved into this colourful arc. Long before reaching Egghead I was in deep with One Piece and knew I’d be a lifelong invested fan. However, reaching Egghead felt like such a pillar achievement teeming with visual rewards for my loyalty to the series.
One Piece Fan Letter
As an extension to Egghead and the series as a whole, this stunning masterpiece of an episode captured the hearts of every devoted One Piece fan new and old. Set just after the return to Sabaody arc, One Piece Fan Letter is a love note to the series so far.
During this short story, we meet a bunch of new characters residing or visiting Sabaody who have never met the Strawhats, but each feels influenced or has had their lives impacted by them for the better.
During the 23 minutes of run time, this emotional episode is laced with bittersweet love, care and admiration. It’s more than a fictional fan letter, it transcends the screen. Without the longevity of One Piece, we fans wouldn’t be blessed with such a lovely tribute, nor would the animators work so hard to show their love for the story.
Dungeon Meshi
Dungeon Meshi had me in a chokehold. A show I assumed was lighthearted and whimsical quickly became dark, thought-provoking and yet still humorous. Following a found-family team of fantasy folk, Dungeon Meshi takes you deep into the caverns as they hunt and eat monsters whilst travelling to the depths where a dragon lurks.
Each member of the team has a different goal but shares the desire to rescue Falin. Without spilling too much, if you’ve ever wanted forbidden food envy, a laugh and a cry I recommend checking DunMesh.
Dandadan
Released autumn of this year, Dandadan is a visual spectacle, hilarious and charismatic. If you’re like me, you’ll be following it closely and celebrating every Dandadan Thursday alongside the new episode releases.
One thing I haven’t yet mentioned for my picks is intros. Whilst I do adore the intro songs of the other series I’ve mentioned so far, Otonoke by Creepy Nuts is genuinely one of the best of the year. It’s hype, it’s upbeat, it’s gorgeous and it perfectly encapsulates the weirdness.
If I can be so bold, I believe Dandadan has set a new height for future anime releases thanks to the team working on it to bring this zany story of aliens, ghosts and unfortunate teenagers to life.
The series has such a charm that draws you in and keeps you longing for more. Often, I pause and rewind scenes just to absorb the genius handiwork of the animation. Not many series have this effect on viewers, and Dandadan could be the era of a new dawn of animation expectancy.
My Deer Friend Nokotan
Brainrot neatly folded into 12 episodes of nonsensical chaos. For the final entry of my weeaboo annual roundup, we have My Deer Friend Nokotan. This series follows a high schooler who happens to have unexplained deer genetics with a premium pass.
Nokotan can pop off her cranium, pluck antlers to throw around as bombs and so much more. But, fret not, she’s contained when surrounded by bottles of water…
Weaved with references to other shows and original humour, I recommend this series as a quick binge. It’s lighthearted, leans into popular tropes and almost reminds me of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K being in the same stretch of random and hilarious.
