As the year comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on Kongbakpao’s Favourite Anime Of 2024! Whether it’s a brand new series that has released or a new season of an older show, the team has come together to give you our top picks! If you’re a fan of anime features, check out our post where we rank Every Hunter x Hunter Arc. (Yes, Yorknew will always be the best).
Rachel – Black Butler: Public School Arc
Black Butler is my all-time favourite anime and manga. Having first watched it when I was 11. (Which yes, was probably way too young), I fell in love with it. Years go by, and 2 William tattoos later, imagine my surprise when I found out a new anime season is coming!
I loved the Public School Arc in the manga. Although seeing the new art style in the trailers made me doubt it at first. I fell in love with it instantly. The scene where Ciel removes his eyepatch for the first time to summon Sebastian was beautifully animated and had so much detail. I worried that things would feel too ‘predictable’ since I already knew what was coming. But the build-up to the final reveal kept me on the edge of my seat!
The art style grew on me and the soundtrack was perfect. I loved that even Grell and Ronald made a brief appearance. My only issue… where is William? How could the other reapers make an appearance, but he didn’t? Pettiness aside, they did a wonderful job at animating this. I’m so excited to see the Emerald Witch Arc in April 2025 (especially as William will be in it).
Adele – Dandadan
Dandadan is my pick for this year! As someone who started reading the manga before the anime came out, I’m absolutely blown away by how Science SARU has adapted the monochrome pages into a burst of colour, perfectly replicating the art style of Yukinobu Tatsu.
The comedy has transferred wonderfully to the anime and has made it even more entertaining. Seeing Momo and Okarun’s dynamic facial expressions in motion alongside the sound of their bickering (the voice actors, Natsuki Hanae and Shion Wakayama have done an excellent job!) is a pure joy. Whenever I get to watch them taking the mick out of each other, I can’t help but smile with each episode.
Aside from the excellent adaptation in general, Dandadan’s story is one I hold dear to my heart. It combines aliens and the supernatural, mixing it up with romance, drama, and a whole load of action. It’s made for me, I fear!
Meriel – Dungeon Meshi
Now even if you’ve not watched Dungeon Meshi, or Delicious In Dungeon, you may have heard of it as ‘the fantasy cooking anime’. And I came into it aware of that gimmick and expecting something a bit silly and entertaining.
What I honestly didn’t expect was a really good fantasy story that easily stands up on its own. Dungeon Meshi is a genuinely compelling tale about friendship and love for one another conquering the horrors of the world.
It treats all its characters with an admirable level of empathy and kindness.
While some scenes get extremely dark at points, to degrees you never expected from ‘haha dungeon crawler cooking anime’ it maintains a hopeful attitude to the world that is incredibly charming.
Even if the eating monsters part doesn’t appeal to you, I can thoroughly recommend this series if you want a wholesome adventure with enough edge to keep the stakes high. The true dungeon meshi was the friends we made along the way.
Sho – One Piece Egghead Arc
Okay, look. I know Egghead isn’t a new standalone anime, but given the length of One Piece and knowing I spent the majority of this year catching up on the series I think I’m allowed this exception. That, and Del claimed Dandadan who would be my runner-up.
Egghead, like Wano, has a refreshed art style to convey a certain aesthetic alongside the story. Egghead takes on soft rounded features and an almost pastel-like pallet. This choice hugely complements Egghead Island for all its wacky scientific greatness and the colourful characters met here. But, more than that, Egghead has some of the most intense lore drops and animation sequences, so the darker scenes greatly contrast the otherwise bubbly and vibrant island.
The talented hands that worked on this arc have spoilt us with their distinct art styles and hard work. It’s evident that the team love this decades-old series as much as the fans and that adoration comes to fruition with their dedication to telling a story through animation.
Thanks to the fluid movement and genius story writing, Egghead packed such an emotional punch and dragged me through feelings scene by scene. Shock, excitement, mourning, hopefulness. What an adrenaline rush! I can’t wait for the anime to come off break in April 2025… I need to see the conclusion of this masterpiece arc. And, if you haven’t watched One Piece yet, now’s your chance to start. (I’m looking at you, fellow staff writers).
