The Spring 2024 anime season is almost over at this point, and plenty of anime have left their mark on audiences. As always, the lineup includes sequels and new properties, with the former hogging most of the attention. Still, there are more than a few newcomers that have the potential to become hits, potentially spawning their own sequels later down the line.

Spring 2024 covers most of the popular genres and demographics, even if the selection is not split evenly. Regardless of personal preferences, most fans should be able to find a story that suits their needs. However, if someone is not sure what to start with, they can check out the following recommendations that represent the best Spring 2024 anime.

Updated June 18, 2024, by Mark Sammut: With the season almost done by this point, the time has come to start finalizing this ranking of the best anime of Spring 2024. That said, a slightly underrated dark comedy has been added to the list.

Honorable Mentions

While not granted separate entries, the following Spring 2024 anime deserve honorable mentions as they might scratch an itch other shows cannot reach:

• Mission: Yozakura Family – Fun action-comedy with likable characters and decent humor. Nothing special, but a fine way to spend 20 minutes per week.
• Viral Hit – A bullied guy starts a YouTube channel that involves fights against far stronger people. Excessive and periodically uncomfortable, this manhwa adaptation can be entertaining in a car-crash sort of way.
• Welcome Home – Wholesome boys love anime and the first adaptation of the Omegaverse. An acquired taste but tells a pretty compelling parenting story.

18 Whisper Me A Love Song (-5)

MyAnimeList: 7.27

Based on Eku Takeshima's beloved yuri manga, Sasayaku You ni Koi wo Utau is all about young, passionate love. Energetic and just plain old bubbly, Himari Kino is a high-school first-year student who immediately experiences "love at first sight" when she sees Yori Asanagi perform a song during the opening ceremony. In this case, Himari loves Yori as a fan. Determined to let her senpai know, Himari confesses to Yori, who mistakes the moment for a declaration of romantic love. And, Yori instantly falls head-over-heels for HImari. While she quickly realizes her mistake, Yori hopes that she can make Himari genuinely fall in love with her.

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HIDIVE may not have many seasonal exclusives this time around, but Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night and Whisper Me a Love Song are both among Spring 2024's best anime. Instantly endearing, Himari and Yori are both charismatic and lovable, and they share quick chemistry. The former is such a force of nature that she dominates every scene she is in; meanwhile, Yori's realistic shyness helps ground the show, setting the stage for a cute romance.

As pleasant as it has been, Whisper Me a Love Song can threaten to be a bit too saccharine at times. The romance genre has room for all types of shows, and a wholesome girls' love story is a nice change of pace from the theme's typical risqué content; that said, this series has no bite. The anime has not built up all that much momentum so far and comes across as idealized rather than mature. There is nothing wrong with that, but it does make for a somewhat forgettable watch.

17 The Fable

MyAnimeList: 7.22

Partly due to its Disney+/Hulu exclusivity, The Fable has not attracted too much attention. Even going beyond its streaming platform, the anime was always destined to be an acquired taste due to its dark humor, mature themes, and stiff animation. The latter takes some getting used to, but it fits the story's grounded tone fairly well, even if the adaptation compares poorly to the source material's art.

The Fable follows a hitman and his driver as they are forced to lie low for a year, which involves moving into an Osaka safe house run by the yakuza. Renamed Akira, the hitman knows nothing but the job, and his deadly precision is so legendary that he is a mythical figure in the underworld. Meanwhile, Yoko, the driver, gets bored quickly and loves to mess with men.

Although initially quite silly due to both Akira and Yoko's shenanigans, The Fable gradually morphs into more of a thriller with splashes of humor. The anime takes its setting very seriously, particularly its depiction of the yakuza and their cutthroat nature.

16 Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 7.52

Sentai is a staple of Japanese entertainment, and it has some presence in Western countries due to the popularity of Power Rangers. Go! Go! Loser Ranger! turns this genre on its head by going down the route of The Boys, turning the traditional "heroes" into vicious monsters who are still adored by the public. More than a decade after the Dragon Keepers annihilated an invading force, the latter's footsoldiers are forced to put on weekly sham fights against the domineering heroes. Sick and tired of this public torture, a footsoldier called D decides to infiltrate the Dragon Keepers and tear them down from the inside, a mission that puts him squarely in the belly of the beast.

Dark, intense, and funny, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! takes full advantage of its inspired premise, delivering an engaging story with a sympathetic protagonist and deliciously terrifying villains. The Dragon Keepers, both the heroes and the overall organization, are shrouded in mystery, which has made for a gripping journey as D (and the audience) slowly peels back the layers.

15 Date A Live 5 (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 8

Date a Live is way better than it has any right to be, and that has been the case for most of the anime's run. Building on its very strong predecessor that introduced Phantom, the fifth season has, so far, delivered a sense of scale that matches the previous arc, with Shido, the Spirits, and especially Kurumi engaging in what is effectively an all-out war against DEM (and AST) in preparation for a battle against the Spirit of Origin.

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Obviously, any series that is in its fifth season cannot be recommended to newcomers, and Date a Live is far from an exception. While still containing the occasional slice-of-life harem moment, the anime is nowadays focused on its overarching story and action sequences, both of which are strong enough to carry the show. Shido's complicated history with the Spirit of Origin has also been spotlighted, adding weight to the current war while setting things up for the endgame.

14 Train to the End of the World (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 7.45

One of the more unusual debuts of Spring 2024, Shuumatsu Train Doko e Iku? envisions a version of Japan that has been turned upside down by the introduction of 7G. The system's launch messed with the fabric of reality, turning each town and city into an absurdist nightmare; for instance, Agano's villagers are doomed to become animals when they turn 18. A group of girls who only know this small town's strange circumstances decide to go on a trip when they see one of their friends in another city's newspaper. Therefore, they jump onto a train and head out into the post-apocalyptic unknown.

Train to the End of the World is charming and refreshingly peculiar, and it is constantly raising questions that will hopefully lead to fun answers. Boasting a lighthearted tone while still taking its premise seriously, EMT Squared's anime delivers thrills, laughs, and suspense. Even though the girls have a destination in mind, the story's main appeal is all the wacky towns they encounter along the way, many of which slip into subgenres like zombie horror. From mushroom-influenced cultists to miniature warfare, every stop has been otherworldly in the best possible way.

13 My Hero Academia Season 7 (-1)

MyAnimeList: 7.88

Boku no Hero has been a staple of shonen anime for nearly a decade, and it has been a bumpy ride at times. Following a generally good first three seasons, My Hero Academia hit a slump during its fourth and fifth entries, only to roar back with the Paranormal Liberation War and Dark Hero arcs. Season 7 finds Bones' superhero anime entering its endgame, starting with the short but intense Star and Stripe arc. Ultimately, this will lead into the ongoing Final War arc, by far the longest saga in the manga.

At this point, every viewer knows where they stand when it comes to My Hero Academia. Season 7 finds the heroes completely on the back foot as they try to protect a Japan overrun with villains while lacking a symbol capable of motivating the terrified masses. Compared to most of season 6, Deku is finally surrounded by the rest of Class 1-A, a situation that should hopefully allow MHA's support characters to shine for the first time in quite a while.

The first couple of episodes of the Spring 2024 anime season revolved almost entirely around Star and Stripe's battle with Shigaraki, a short but powerful encounter that served as something of a sequel to All Might and All for One's season 3 fight. Since then, the season has moved on to a traitor arc, which will be the last puzzle piece that sets the stage for the final war arc.

12 That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 (-1)

MyAnimeList: 7.99

Isekai tends to attract hate for its overreliance on basic power fantasies. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime fits that descriptor like a glove, but it also serves as a prime example of this type of story's appeal when executed to near perfection. Rimuru's journey to bring peace to monster-kind is predominantly defined by a carefree tone that only sporadically dips into tense situations. Even though season 2 had some shocking moments, things largely worked out for the Jura Tempest Federation.

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Season 3 is mostly maintaining this course of balancing political intrigue with well-animated action, and the ever-expanding hero worship revolving around Rimuru. Like in the previous cours, the protagonist acts as a glue that brings together a wide assortment of more interesting and charismatic characters, be it Diablo or the Demon Lords. As the arc progresses, Reincarnated as a Slime further highlights Otherworlders, mainly through Hinata's attempts to balance her responsibilities as a saint and her rocky dynamic with Rimuru.

Although still pretty good overall, Reincarnated as a Slime has stumbled a bit in the last month, to the point of establishing itself as the weakest isekai sequel of the Spring 2024 anime season. The last two episodes have been an improvement, though.

11 Black Butler: Public School Arc (+2)

MyAnimeList: 8.11

As Black Butler loves to make fans wait for new anime entries, they need to be worth it when they arrive. Fortunately, the source manga is consistently great, so the adaptations tend to be of high quality. Spring 2024's Kuroshitsuji: Kishuku Gakkou-hen seems to be continuing that good form, at least going by the currently available episodes. CloverWorks is a great match for Black Butler, with the studio delivering gorgeous animation that fits the story's gothic nature.

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At the behest of the queen, Ciel infiltrates a school that houses the children of Britain's most powerful and wealthy families. Recently, the students have started to distance themselves from their parents, refusing to even leave the academy; consequently, Ciel is hoping to get close to the school's four Prefects since they are likely at the heart of this strange mystery. Oh, and Sebastian is supporting his master by becoming a staff member.

As always, Ciel and Sebastian are the stars of the show here. Although still more intelligent than most, the former feels a bit out of his comfort zone, especially as he is still trying to come to grips with Weston College's politics. Conversely, the demon butler is just enjoying the ride, which makes for a hilarious and entertaining watch. As the pair gradually unravel the academy's mysteries, they will encounter enemies and perhaps even a couple of unexpected (or unwanted) allies. Also, Ciel got to (socially) slap down an arrogant con boy at one point, which was just delightful.

As the mystery has begun to unravel, Black Butler has thrown out a few exciting twists and callbacks.

10 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Hashira Training Arc (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 8.12

Beginning late but with a bang, Demon Slayer has entered the Hashira Training arc. With demons lying low for the moment, current and retired Hashira are taking it upon themselves to train the more inexperienced soldiers, all in preparation for an upcoming decisive conflict against Muzan and his remaining Upper-Rank killers. Opening with a double episode, the new season has already done a fine job of establishing the stakes of the present arc while also shining a spotlight on the Stone Hashira, who will be a major player moving forward.

Similar to My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer is a known quantity by this point, and the Spring 2024 season will not hold too many surprises. The show will deliver stylish action, simple but effective storytelling, and polarizing humor that will test someone's patience for Zenitsu. That is Demon Slayer's formula, and it has been proven to work. To its credit, this season has opted to shine a more intimate light on the Hashira, expanding their backstories in an attempt to grant them additional emotional weight. Considering the previous arc consisted of nothing but fights, this shift was required to reduce the change of audience fatigue; more importantly, the story is very much in the calm before the final storm stage.

Demon Slayer has primarily focused on the Hashira training the rookies so far, which has started to get slightly dull since so many of the no-name Demon Slayers have the same personality.

9 Wind Breaker (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 7.82

Sometimes, simplicity is the best policy. Wind Breaker follows Haruka Sakura, an angry teenager who has always been an outcast through no fault of his own. Finding solace in violence, Haruka joins Makochi's notorious Furin High School in the hopes of facing off against strong fighters. However, he quickly learns that the town and school have changed considerably in recent years thanks to Furin's Bofurin gang working to keep the streets safe. While battles are still common, Haruka might have to accept that he cannot be an island.

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Wind Breaker has a shonen-standard protagonist and a delinquent-fueled setting that is hardly breaking new ground for action anime. However, tropes are inescapable for a reason: when done right, they work. Haruka is easy enough to like, and he is surrounded by characters who help balance out his angry outbursts. Also, CloverWork's animation is great, both in the quiet moments and the well-choreographed fight sequences.

For its first major conflict, Wind Breaker set up a neat 5v5 competition pitting Furin's heavyweights against another school's strongest members. Driven by conflicting ideologies, these fights should help showcase the strengths of the main characters, along with just being satisfying. All of Furin's fighters have gotten great moments to shine, and even a few of Shishitoren's students have been proven to have more depth than initially seemed to be the case. Crucially, the action sequences are spectacular.

8 Girls Band Cry (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 8.24

Spring 2024 is the season of girl-band anime. Seriously, multiple shows deal with this theme, and they are all, at the minimum, good. Girls Band Cry has, unfortunately, slipped somewhat under the radar due to not airing on a streaming service in North America, a situation that could be rectified in the future but means little for its current popularity. Still, this series is worth tracking down, especially since it is shaping up to be one of the best examples of CG animation in anime. The visuals are so impressive and expressive that they justify watching Girls Band Cry on their own; fortunately, they do not need to carry that burden solo.

Leaving her home and overbearing parents, Nina finds her way to Tokyo, where she plans to attend school on her own while hoping to discover her passion (which is mostly for music). Due to some bad luck turning into good luck, Nina meets Momoka, an accomplished underground guitarist who is just starting to put together a band. While they have a few spats, they become fast friends, and Momoka pushes Nina to get out of her comfort zone and, more importantly, to let her guard down around new people. While the music they create is emphasized, Girls Band Cry is a very character-driven drama that touches upon dreams, isolation, regret, and friendship. Although initially a bit unlikable due to seemingly always being on the verge of starting a fight with everyone, Nina morphs into a pretty great protagonist, and the rest of the girls are also fantastic.

7 Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf (-1)

MyAnimeList: 8.131

Revisiting a classic is risky. Not only is Isuna Hasekura's Spice and Wolf light novel an all-time fantasy great, but the 2008 anime is also excellent. Consequently, Ookami to Koushinryou: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf has to live up to the source material's brilliance and, arguably, surpass a beloved adaptation. Passione must bring its A-game. The studio might just be able to pull off this difficult feat.

Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf seems to have nailed Holo and Kraft Lawrence's personalities, with both characters instantly coming across as fleshed-out individuals with long histories that drive their presents and futures. More importantly, they complete each other perfectly, with Lawrence's pragmatism complementing Holo's otherworldliness and whimsy.

6 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 (+1)

MyAnimeList: 8.40

Despite producing plenty of polarizing anime, isekai's most controversial representative is unquestionably Mushoku Tensei 2: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu. For some, this series not only showcases isekai at its peak but is also among the best fantasy series produced by the industry. For others, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is undermined by an unlikable protagonist who starts awful and has only shown minor growth since then. At this point, most people should know if they want to be part of Rudeus' journey or not, and trying to change anyone's opinion is an exercise in futility.

Focusing solely on the current cour, Mushoku Tensei seems to be setting the stage for an exciting arc that will hopefully explore more of this world's politics and mythology, which have always been this anime's strongest points. Rudeus and Sylphy are settling down, with marriage and a house on the horizon. However, the former also finds himself acting as the caregiver for his two half-sisters, a situation that forces Rudeus into a makeshift parental role. Although uneven at times, Mushoku Tensei produced one of Spring 2024's best anime episodes when Rudy's past and Norn's present overlapped. Now, Rudy is finally back in the larger world, bringing to an end a long stretch of slow and stationary episodes that, while enjoyable, dragged at times.

5 Jellyfish Can't Swim In The Night (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 8.17

An original anime with a hard-to-decipher title, Yoru no Kurage wa Oyogenai could have been anything, and Doga Kobo's recent successes led to the show attracting high expectations. The story follows a few girls who form an artists' collective with a jellyfish logo. A musician and former idol, Kano wants to eradicate the memories of her previous persona and rise out of the ashes as a V-Tuber with an authentic voice. A once aspiring artist who left behind her passion after receiving unexpected criticism from her friends, Mahiru is encouraged to start drawing again by Kano, who happens to be a fan of a jellyfish mural she created as a kid. They are joined by Kimura, a superfan of Kano's idol days who is also a talented composer.

So far, Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night has dedicated all its time to establishing its four main characters' pasts, insecurities, aspirations, and hang-ups. Although their backstories are different, the girls are all ultimately trying to find their identities, and they can only step forward together. Beyond the strong writing and predictably great animation, Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night is consistently witty as well, with Mahiru being one of Spring 2024's low-key sharpest characters.

Although touching upon idol culture due to Kano's past, Doga Kobo's series is not part of that genre, at least not for now. The girls are primarily looking to become online sensations through music and street performances, with their presentation leaning into mystery and anonymity.

4 Kaiju No. 8 (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 8.30

Despite not containing anything as hyped up as Solo Leveling or Frieren, Spring 2024 still has its share of highly-anticipated new anime. Out of all of them, Kaiju No. 8 is almost unquestionably the top pick, and Production I.G's adaptation has gotten off to a stellar start. To protect the country from the constant threat of kaiju, Japan employs a special military force that utilizes weapons created from the same monsters they hunt. As he could never quite manage to pass the Defense Force's exam, Kafka had to settle for the thankless job of cleaning up post-battle wreckages; however, his life changes when he swallows a little kaiju and transforms into one.

Launching with a non-stop opening episode that accomplished a lot, Kaiju No. 8 managed to establish its world's current station, the Defense Force's importance, Kafka's dissatisfaction with his life, and set up a nice friendship between the protagonist and Reno. At the same time, the anime has delivered a few impressive action sequences, which introduced fun kaiju designs that foreshadow the diverse roster of monsters still to come. Despite everything around him, Kafka is a surprisingly relatable character who should work well as a reluctant everyman forced into an extraordinary situation.

As Kafka and Reno attempt to join the Defense Force, they have to contend with preserving the former's secret while also trying to stand out amidst a crop of very competent candidates. While still early days, Kaiju No. 8 is steadily establishing the story's core team dynamic, which involves the likes of Kikoru.

3 Laid-Back Camp Season 3 (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 8.27

Slice of life stories have become oddly rare in this day and age. Sure, most seasons include one or two SOL series, but that is usually it. Fortunately, Spring 2024 contains one of the genre's standout names, with Yuru Camp airing its third season. Relaxing and freeing, this show eases the mind and feeds the soul, all the while showing viewers a few of Japan's most gorgeous vistas.

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As always, the Outdoors Activities Club's members are looking ahead to their next camping trip, although they are still coming up with ideas. In the meantime, Rin heads on solo expeditions while reminiscing about her grandpa, the person who sparked her love for camping. Sweet, funny, and peaceful, Laid-Back Camp just has a way of improving even the most stressful of days.

2 Sound! Euphonium 3 (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 8.60

Out of Spring 2024's many, many sequels, Hibike! Euphonium 3 has the potential to be among the best and also the most ignored. Kyoto's music-based series has a cult following but is hardly mainstream, and at this point, it is unlikely to attract all that many new viewers. While that's somewhat disappointing, existing fans can look forward to high-quality weekly episodes that chronicle Kitauji High School's band club's latest attempt to win a national competition. As Kumiko is in her final year at high school, this will be her last opportunity to achieve her dream.

Sound! Euphonium 3 has done a great job of introducing a plethora of new club members without overwhelming viewers. Beyond just that, Kumiko and Reina are still settling into their roles as the club's President and Vice-President respectively, which has naturally come with some growing pains. Both characters have changed quite a lot throughout the three seasons, and their development has always been earned. With stellar animation, mature writing, lovable characters, and a constant sense of drama, Sound! Euphonium 3 is among the best Spring 2024 anime.

1 KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3 (+/- 0)

MyAnimeList: 8.48

Kazuma, Megumin, Aqua, and Darkness are back and funnier than ever. The definitive isekai parody, Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! manages to hilariously mock the genre while simultaneously offering similar enough thrills to entertain fans. Filled with irreverent humor and driven by "awful" but irresistible characters, the series is constantly willing to push boundaries, all the while still knowing when it would be best to just rely on the effortless banter between the four leads.

For better or worse, season 3 has, so far, been just more KonoSuba. The humor has not evolved much, the characters are still largely the same, and the storylines are generally inconsequential. Ultimately, if something is not broken, there is no reason to fix it, and KonoSuba is far from broken. The main characters' banter sizzles with each line, blending ridicule and frustration with genuine affection and camaraderie built upon dozens of misadventures. Although maybe not as spectacular as a few other Spring 2024 anime, the animation is consistently good, with the occasional moment of greatness whenever Megumin needs to let out an explosion.