Best Manga and Anime of 2024: The Ultimate Guide to the Year's Most Anticipated Titles

After manga and anime became more easily available in the US, they remained popular forms of entertainment. Each year, an increasing number of people dive into the world of manga and anime. That means there is a growing excitement for the new manga and anime releases every year. With 2023 offering many highly anticipated manga and anime, 2024 is coming in hot with even more exciting options.

 

This guide includes some of the best manga and anime titles this year. In this guide, you'll find info on the titles releasing this year, including a sneak peek into plots, art styles, thematic depth, and more.

 

The Rise of Manga and Anime

Before streaming services and English dubbed anime, manga, and anime were a niche interest. Not many people knew the exciting worlds and characters explored in these types of entertainment. However, there was a boom in both industries in the late 1900s as they became more widely available in the US. Once streaming services began offering anime and anime adaptations of manga, they gained even more popularity.

 

With the increase in popularity of anime and manga, more people outside of Japan have become interested in Japanese culture than ever before. About 72% of people in the US regularly watch anime. This increased interest in Japan has led to fan conventions with more attendees than before, more options for merch, and higher demand for online communities.

 

These are a few trends to keep your eye out for this year:

In manga, expect to see many romance and horror stories. Additionally, action manga with unconventional main characters and LGBTQ+ stories are on the rise in 2024. Regarding anime, it seems this year will be filled with several storylines revolving around gaming. Other themes this year to look out for include robots, apocalyptic settings, and some fun sports anime shows.

 

Most Anticipated Manga of 2024

The manga titles below were selected based on a few factors, including critical acclaim, popularity, or potential cultural impact. Through a careful process, we've curated this list to include the best manga options arriving in 2024.

 

1. Pokemon Adventures: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Manga

Pokemon has been a favorite series for many years, so it's no surprise this new Pokemon manga is one of the best manga in 2024. This storyline follows new characters - Sapphire, Emerald, and Ruby as they do whatever it takes to save the world from an impending meteor! Unlike other Pokemon storylines, this manga does not solely revolve around Pokemon battles. With the success of previous Pokemon stories, this will likely be a hit with manga lovers.

 

2. Tokyo These Days

This manga is written by award-winner Taiyo Matsumoto, who also created the art for this story. It's a unique offering that focuses on how a manga editor, art, manga creators, and life intersect. The manga follows Kazuo Shiozawa, a manga editor who decides to quit his job after 30 years.

 

After quitting, he is summoned to a bookshop to deal with a manga creator who only wants to work with Shiozawa. This manga is ideal for those who want a story based on more realistic scenarios. Tokyo These Days may encourage other manga creators to craft manga that explores the connection between work and art.

 

3. One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji

With the popularity of Netflix's One Piece live-action show in 2023, this spin-off focusing on Sanji's character is sure to be a top choice for many. This manga follows Sanji in his own adventures, allowing for a deeper dive into his life. Depending on how popular this manga becomes, it may push the manga world to consider focusing on spin-offs for side characters.

 

4. Drifters Manga Omnibus 1

This manga has already been released (January) but is considered a must-read amongst the manga community. It includes volumes 1, 2, and 3 all in one large book, making it easier for readers to keep up with the characters. This story follows warriors and warlords as they're transported to a new world and expected to help fight a civil war against monsters. This Isekai story includes real commanders and heroes from history, making it a unique read.

 

5. I Want to End This Love Game

This romance manga follows Yukiya Asagi and Miku Sakura, childhood friends who have established a game where the first person to admit they have feelings for the other loses. Throughout the manga, each character does their best to fluster the other. This manga offers a unique perspective as you read the experiences from both party's points of view. This light, fun read will be successful for people who enjoy cutesy romantic stories.

 

6. Steel of the Celestial Shadows

Steel of the Celestial Shadows is another manga that has already been released this year (January). It's set in Japan in the 1800s and follows Ryudo Konosuke, a cursed samurai who cannot get near metal. As he decides to end things, he is saved by a mysterious woman who brings him into the world of magic and new mysterious power. This manga presents a refreshing take on typical samurai stories, which accounts for its popularity.

 

7. My Name Is Shingo Perfect Editions

Kazuo Umezz is well-known for its sci-fi horror manga stories, and this manga doesn't disappoint! It focuses on the story of Satoru, an employee of his father's factory who happens to meet Monroe, an industrial robot. As he gets to know Monroe more, he discovers there's more to this AI than originally thought. This story is important as we continue to include AI more in daily life.

 

8. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You Soulmate

This is a sequel to Kimi ni Todoke, which follows the main character Sawako Kuronuma, a high schooler who resembles a horror character as she tries to fit in with the other high schoolers and find love. This sequel focuses on Sawako's friend's (a former rival) experience during college life as she discovers a new love interest. This series offers an interesting storyline - a reformed mean girl who is on the hunt for love.

 

9. Panorama of Hell

Panorama of Hell is a horror manga that explores an artist's view of his own work, which is created with his blood. The images in his work are described as hellish. Throughout the manga, the artist delves into his personal experiences, leading the reader to understand the dark images created by the artist better. This manga offers a look into mental health and trauma, two relevant topics that will likely be explored more in the near future of manga.

 

10. Stitches

If horror manga is your preferred genre, you'll love Stitches. It was created by Junji Ito, a famous manga artist, and Hirokatsu Kihara, a horror manga writer. These two creatives have come together for an anthology of scary stories. Crafted based on true unsolved mysteries, this manga will ensure you don't sleep after reading it. This manga series mirrors the appeal of social media - short-form entertainment that keeps the readers on their toes.

 

Most Anticipated Anime of 2024

It seems this year, there is a good mixture between adaptations of manga stories, games, and anime originals. Of course, there are some spin-offs and continuations of series launching this year as well.

 

1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Season 4)

Demon Slayer has been a top pick for anime lovers for quite a while, making season 4 a highly anticipated option. This season, Tanjiro is set to face even more dangerous demons, so he trains with Hashira (the best swordsman around). During his training, Tanjiro becomes more powerful as he gains new powers. Since this follows the manga fairly closely, it will be a top choice for Demon Slayer fans.

 

2. Dragon Ball Daima

Dragon Ball Daima is a new spin-off that follows Goku and friends as they try to solve their dilemma - they have been turned small! This anime shows their adventures as they travel to a new world in hopes of returning to their normal size. Since the franchise is so popular, this spin-off will likely be a top choice for anime fans.

 

3. Kaiju No. 8

Here's a new anime you don't want to miss! Kaiju No. 8 is based on a manga with the same name. It's a sci-fi story where members of the Defense Force battle monsters (known as kaiju). These monsters attack the world as natural disasters, leaving devastation in their wake. One thing that sets this anime apart from others is that it will be broadcast globally on the social media platform X.

 

4. Dandadan

Originally a manga shown in Shonen Jump+, Dandadan has been brought to the anime world. This story follows Momo and Okarun, who each believe in different supernatural beings (ghosts vs. aliens). Even though they fight, they are able to band together when evil supernatural phenomena arises. The manga featured a unique style of art that has intrigued readers and will hopefully flow over into the anime version.

 

5. Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

It often takes quite long for manga to become anime, but not in this case! This story began as a short manga, so viewers are unsure of what to expect when the adaptation comes out. Dive into 15th-century Europe with this anime, which follows a group of people who put their lives on the line to explore heliocentrism (a forbidden topic).

 

6. The Dangers in My Heart (Season 2)

The Dangers in My Heart is a relatively new anime series, as the first season appeared in 2023. It's a romantic comedy that follows the relationship of Ichikawa and Yamada. While the series is not focused on a romance between the two, it does explore how their relationship continues to evolve (a unique plot for romance anime).

 

7. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Season 3)

This series began as a light novel and now remains one of the most popular anime series. This year, season 3, which focuses on a highly anticipated confrontation, is released. The third season shows Rimuru in a confrontation with Hinata Sakaguchi, the best female swordsman. Because of its previous popularity, this is set to be one of the best anime this year.

 

8. T.P Bon

Here's another anime that's set to release on Netflix this year. It's about a high school student (Bon) who is given the responsibility of traveling through time to major historical events. Bon works with a team of time travelers to save people during these events. Fans will be excited to know the music is composed by Michiru Ōshima, one of the most famous anime, TV, film, and video game composers.

 

9. A Sign of Affection

In A Sign of Affection, Yuki, a deaf girl who has not had hearing since she was born, meets a romantic interest in an anxiety-inducing scenario. This show focuses on the relationship between Yuki and Itsuomi, though it's uncertain whether their feelings will explode or fizzle out. With its exploration of teenage relationships, this will be a top choice for younger romantic anime fans.

 

10. KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! Season 3

Those who are already fans of KonoSuba will be excited to hear the third season will be available on April 10. This season, Kazuma Satou (a teenager with a video game obsession) dies in a mysterious accident. He is brought back to life in a fantasy world where he and his friends must defeat the Demon King. With a combination of video games, fantastical occurrences, and a fun storyline, this anime will be a hit.

 

Industry Insights

Here are some interesting notes on the creators of the best manga and anime releases of 2024. We also explore manga production aspects and more in this section.

 

Taiyo Matsumoto

Matsumoto has a unique art style which fans can typically pick out in manga stories. It's said he is inspired by Akira Toriyama and Moebius (aka Jean Giraud), two artists with very different mediums. His unique style also extends to the colors he uses in his artwork, which revolve around the characters in the stories.

 

Junji Ito

Junji Ito takes inspiration from horror classics like Frankenstein and Dracula, particularly the versions released in the 1900s. Ito also has a unique inspiration - Rakugo storytellers, a type of Japanese spoken entertainment.

 

Hirokatsu Kihara

Well-known for producing and writing for Studio Ghibli, Hirokatsu Kihara is now known for creating horror manga stories. His inspiration is unique, as he creates stories from the "unexplainable things" in life, like spirits. According to Kihara, "I think there are so many unexplainable things in life. It's not just dividing the after-life and life. Living and alive. Spirits and humans".

 

Behind the Scenes: Scriptwriting

One of the major processes that goes into anime creation is scriptwriting, which occurs once the concept is finished. The dialogue, narration, and scenes are created during scriptwriting, allowing the story to be told properly.

 

Behind the Scenes: Character Design

Each character must have a distinct background, personality, and characteristics to ensure they're easy to distinguish. During this process, characters are established with specific features and attributes that are kept throughout the anime.

 

Behind the Scenes: Animation

What once was completed all by hand is now created with digital techniques to make the process even smoother. During this step, scenes are created frame by frame and then assembled.

 

Behind the Scenes: Voice Acting

Also known as seiyuu, voice acting helps bring animes to life. Many people don't realize how many famous actors truly appear in anime, from Robert Pattinson to Willem Dafoe. This step requires matching the animated characters to the voice actors so it looks flawless.

 

Behind the Scenes: Quality Control

Once the anime is prepped, it's run through a quality control team that meticulously checks for errors or inconsistencies throughout. It's then adjusted to create a finalized product before distribution.

 

Engaging the Community

With many exciting manga and anime launching this year, the fans have quite a bit to say! Here are some predictions and reactions from the anime and manga communities.

 

ReZero Season 3

Multiple fans are hoping for ReZero season 3 to come out in 2024. However, there has been no news on this season yet. Another community member noted, "I hate that we don't have a confirmation yet." Unfortunately, it seems a season three of this anime will likely not occur until 2025 at the earliest.

 

Solo Leveling

This anime is one of the most anticipated for 2024. It's based on a South Korean web novel that explores Sung Jinwoo's story, a hunter who randomly gains powers in a world with monsters. The anime adaptation only recently came out (January 2024).

 

Oshi no ko Season 2

Another highly anticipated anime in 2024 is Oshi no Ko Season 2, though the storyline and launch date have yet to be confirmed. This anime explores the story of a doctor and patient combo that is born again to a Japanese pop star. The story follows the twins as they get to know the pop scene while navigating growing older. One fan noted the first season was "Another top 5 contender for 2023 for me."

 

Conclusion

With so many popular anime and manga coming out in 2024, it'll be tough to narrow down which titles to dig into! From spin-offs to new stories, fans will enjoy a wide array of hits from Japan this year. Though this year's entertainment is focusing on romance, horror, and unconventional main characters, there are plenty of options to dig into in other categories.

 

While the trends for 2025 remain uncertain, fans are predicting the trending genres will be stories focused on supernatural topics, demons, and individuals with superpowers. Who knows, perhaps we'll even see more One Piece spin-offs focusing on other characters from the series.

 

Manga Crate by Japan Crate

While you're awaiting the release of the best manga and best anime stories this year, you can get your fill of manga with Japan Crate. This monthly subscription includes 14-16 delicious snacks (sweet and savory) sourced from Japan. These premium snacking items are limited edition and seasonal, providing a fun way to explore Japanese culture.

This month, Japan Crate is focusing on manga with its Manga Crate. This crate helps bring the latest and most exclusive manga-related snacks and collectibles directly to you (like a Spy X Family acrylic stand!). With this crate, you can celebrate your love of manga with fun, manga-themed packaging. Each crate includes exclusive merch and first access to titles you won't find elsewhere. Additionally, subscribing to Japan Crate means you can connect with a global manga community who also can't wait for the exciting manga releases this year!

Subscribe to Manga Crate now to get fun manga-themed snacks, join the community in competing for prizes via the Manga Art Showdown, and enjoy the collectible item!