Anime That I’ve Given a 10/10 in 2024 (Part 1)

2024 had been another year where i managed to find quite a lot of gems that were either airing this year or titles that are more on the older side of things. I make it known that i’m the kind of fan that watches almost every and any genre or demographic to keep things interesting, but mostly due to my tastes being sporadic at best. That year, i had another opportunity to find some shows that managed to impress me quite a bit and some that i’d easily recommend to any of you wanting to look at something that you probably aren’t too familiar with. So today, i wanted to list several anime that i’ve given a 10/10 this year to keep up with this tradition that i’ve been doing here for about three years now. Bear in mind that this is just a personal list of mine so i advise saving the comments for what show should’ve been on here since it’s based around my own preferences. With that being said, let’s get on with the blog shall we?

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#AnimeHunters

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1.)Yubisaki to Renren

If there’s one sort of anime that i really like, i’d probably say Shojo. The world of Shojo has given me some of my all time favorites such as “Kimi ni Todoke”, “Kare Kano”, “Banana Fish”, and so on. “Yubisaki to Renren” was particularly special considering that it’s female lead Yuki had a disability given that she doesn’t have the ability to hear. Portrayals of deaf people come and go in anime with “A Silent Voice” being a shining example of writing a character with that sort of impairment. This anime however takes this into a far more romance driven direction as Yuki and Nagi’s connection blossoms with each episode. Since Yuki isn’t able to hear (although somewhat with her hearing aid), we almost always hear her inner dialogue while she uses sign language to communicate her thoughts and responses. The show itself has a nice little blend of comedic moments and drama fueled scenes that makes this show all the more worth watching. “Yubisaki to Renren” was also done by Aija-do who made another favorite of mine called “Kakushigoto” a few years ago, so that’s probably why this show turned out as good as it did. All in all, i highly recommend checking this series out if you want something more romance driven and nothing in the world of epic battles or psychological thrillers if you want a bit of a break from that sort of stuff.

2.)UFO Robo Grendizer

Mecha anime in general has shown me some of the high points of anime whether it was in the backdrop of a series such as “Giant Gorg”, “Heavy Metal L-Gaim”, or even “Armored Trooper VOTOMS”. Older mecha shows usually get my attention a lot more since they just have something special going for them in their own way. “UFO Robo Grendizer” is no exception as it’s seen in most mecha circles as one of Go Nagai’s best work and after having watch the full series i can see exactly why. While not mirroring the exact same success as “Mazinger Z” during it’s hayday, the show still managed to draw in a crowd with it’s writing and mecha designs as well as the show’s charming “saturday morning cartoon” feel that i got from it. That’s not to say the show was a walk in the park as “Grendizer” (like other 70s mecha shows) wasn’t afraid to depict death and tragedy whatsoever. Duke Fleed was actually a really serviceable protagonist with his internal conflict about his past becoming another feat that i loved about the show. In short, “UFO Robo Grendizer” is a fun mecha series that i’m sure some of you might like if you have some familiarity with mecha anime.

3.)Kotaro Lives Alone

In the past i’ve seen my fair share of tearjerker anime that’s went on to become my favorite anime in the past. “Kotaro Lives Alone” became yet another example of a series that has a good blend of drawing the viewers in with lighthearted moments right before sucker punching them with drama and sadness. The series deals with some heavy elements such as the loneliness children can go through, abuse, abandonment, and emotional neglect to some extent. It’s simply the story of a little boy who finds a resemblance of a family and learns more about his new found system as the show goes along. Like many shows of this nature it didn’t make me cry but i’d be lying if i said it didn’t depress and shock me once the show started to shed light on Kotaro’s heartbreaking past. Everything from the characters, themes, and writing were very well done here so there wasn’t too much in the way of major flaws or instances where the tonal shift got stale. “Kotaro Lives Alone” is yet another crown jewel in the world of anime that i’m glad i had the chance of seeing and probably one that i’d love to revisit the most.

4.)Speed Grapher

Out of all the shows i’ve seen this year, i think this one was probably the weirdest and one of the more entertaining titles from this list as well. “Speed Grapher” isn’t exactly something that’s held in a high regard compared to other 2000s anime but in my eyes i feel like it’s yet another hidden gem. The series boasts a story of a journalist saving a young girl who’s been a victim of a secret club full of seedy politicians and celebrities with the kicker being that she grants various participants with great powers. “Speed Grapher” really pulled me in with how it executed a rather “out there” story with characters that ranged from being either decent people or just flat out psychotic and vile. I’d also like to say this series is definitely an acquired taste because the show to some extent has it’s fair share of detractors even into this very day who weren’t to pleased with how the anime illustrated it’s themes around corruption among the higher class and Japan’s economic situation at that time. So if you’re skeptical about this series i can’t totally say that blame you, but i will say is that “Speed Grapher” is far from being as bad as what some reviews make it out to be. From it’s clash of weirdness and grim imagery, “Speed Grapher” was an absolute wild ride from start to finish and i hope some of you reading this might give this one a go.

5.)The Millionaire Detective: Balance Unlimited

A few years ago when a certain virus was running rampant across the globe, there were several anime that ended up being delayed often due to the crisis and rightfully so. “The Millionaire Detective” sadly became victim to this which meant it’s initial hype had subsided once it came back. The series proved to be a really good detective show with an interesting dynamic revolving around the stupidly wealthy Daisuke and the straight laced Haru. Both characters worked quite well as Daisuke himself stole the show with his impressive tech that would make Batman glance in envy. The writing was as good as the show could get it to be and the animation was top notch. When it came to the actual detective work between the leading duo i found it to be entertaining to see the contrast between the two and their growing connection by the end of the series. I wouldn’t say the twist in the final episode was the greatest in the world but i’d say it’s decent enough to make you shocked if that makes any sense. In short, this show was honestly great from start to finish and i wonder if we’d ever get a chance to see Haru and Daisuke again in another season.

6.)TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You

It’s not unusual to see a romance anime focus on the beginning of a couple whether it’s a workplace story like “The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague”, or a school romance series like “The Dangers in My Heart”. This anime however is different since it focuses on a young newlywed couple and the steps they make along their way of romance and marriage. “TONIKAWA” was a series i was familiar for a little while but didn’t get to it until this year. It follows the simple story of Nasa and Tsukasa, a couple who just got married and are currently learning to live with one another as well as adjusting to their new lives together. From here you get sweet moments such as one of them being too shy to cuddle with the other, or the typical meeting of the spouse’s parents. There honestly wasn’t a moment where i thought the wholesomeness of the anime got annoying nor did i think that the flow of Nasa and Tsukasa’s relationship felt off. “TONIKAWA” is also a very easygoing anime that even newbies could enjoy since all you’re getting is a straightforward story that’s all about a blooming marriage and those around the main couple aiding them as the show goes on.

7.)Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Madhouse really struck a gold mine with this anime and it’s not hard to see why. “Frieren” proved to be one of the most acclaimed anime to come from the 2020s with a somewhat impressive feat of dethroning FMAB from it’s number one spot on MyAnimeList many months after it’s final episode. The series was yet another anime that i went into with little expectations so the hype for me didn’t fully hit just yet. As i got knee deep into the show i saw something that was actually really special and honestly brilliant in it’s presentation. From it’s characters to it’s themes and lore, “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” was an amazing series that i think will still hold up in 10 years time. Many other seasonal shows that have gotten this much praise usually getting forgotten about but i don’t truly see this happening with this anime. It’s emotional moments hit rather hard and the lighthearted ones have the best laughs such as Fern’s signature pouting or Frieren’s pension for getting stuck inside of various chests. “Frieren” as an anime works in a lot of areas that explain why the show continues to do as well as it’s doing right now. Simply put, this is just one show that’s better to be experienced than just reading through reviews of it.

8.)Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Surreal comedy has always found it’s way onto my list at some point or another. Whether it’s the randomness of “Pop Team Epic” or the chaotic weirdness of “Mgi to Dali”, this brand of comedy can make for a good experience if you’re used to that sort of thing. “Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei” is no exception to this rule with how off the wall and strange it can be. It follows the simple story of a depressive character named Nozumi who only ever sees the world around him in a brutally negative lens. He also happens to be a school teacher where the students themselves are anything but normal. From a student who has an obsession with animal tails to one who’s a straight up stalker, all of their eccentric personalities are what really shapes the show’s bizarre comedic formula and manages to work in the span of three seasons. Shaft really didn’t hold back with the writing and visuals of the show and you can see some of the techniques used in this series showing up in their later work such as “Monogatari” just two years later. In short i can only day that this show managed to get a great deal of laughs out of me since it’s not everyday that i find a comedy driven title that grabs my attention like this. So if you’re someone who’s never heard of this show then i honestly recommend giving this one a go.

9.)The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Back in 2020 i had first laid eyes on “Haruhi Suzumiya” and wasn’t all that stoked about the series at first. I was well aware of the legacy it had but even then it didn’t move me the way it did with others. Fast forward to 2024 where i rewatched it on a whim and suddenly it became another one of my all time favorites. The series has been lauded as one of KyoAni’s greatest works coupled with its garnering a cult following since it’s initial 2006 release. “Haruhi Suzumiya” delves into the world of fantasy and the supernatural with a memorable cast to boot. It’s the story of a girl who’s practically like a god who can shift reality into what she wants it to be with the kicker being that everyone in her inner circle know this except for Haruhi herself. The show also follows a watch order that in subsequent releases is made easier so you don’t have to conjure up some sort of roap. Everything about the show’s characters, premise, writing, and so on made it a fun rewatch for me and i definitely see why this show had such a stranglehold on anime fans during the mid to late 2000s. Even despite the infamous “Endless Eight” arc the show remains having a devoted fanbase that’s surprisingly warmed up to that part in the show which would’ve been inconceivable 15 years earlier. In general i just think it’s a great highlight of where the industry was heading to in the following years, and as a staple of it’s time.

10.)The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

What better way to follow up with an entry about Haruhi with another one? During the aftermath of the show’s second season, a film titled “The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya” found it’s way into Japanese theaters in early 2010 where it was met with much praise from Haruhi fans alike. I do have to specify that if you intend on watching the series, then it’s advised you watch the film right after the second season. Anyways, the film centers around Kyon traversing through an alternate world where Haruhi and the S.O.S Brigade itself are practically nonexistent. This leads to Kyon spending the first half of the film looking for answers that actually comes to fruition as the movie progresses. I had a hunch that this movie would be entertaining but it went above and beyond to be another hit with me. The hopelessness of Kyon was well executed with the changes in most characters such as Yuki and Itsuki being my favorites since they’re very much the opposite of who they are in the show. Throw in the premise and the twist at the end and you pretty much get a film that resulted in being Haruhi’s finest hour. I’ve done a blog regarding both the show and the film so if i went on a bit longer then I’d definitely be making this entry way longer than it should be. So i advise checking those reviews out as well as the series itself because it’s just darn good.

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So that wraps up the first installment of the list and i really hope you guys enjoyed it. I’m honestly glad that this time around my list was way shorter than the one from last year because i felt like i was too generous with my 10s in 2023. Thankfully now they were much shorter and didn’t need to be broken into three parts. 2024 in general has been an alright year for me watching anime although i’ve spent time not watching much and sporadically checking out a few titles here and there. Maybe next year i’ll be a little more focused but then again, taking breaks isn’t a bad thing and this isn’t a relay race so i don’t worry much about catching up with anyone else’s lists. Anyways, what were some of your favorite anime from this year? Let me know in the comments below! Make sure to like and share this post with your friends as well as to check out my other blogs where i make anime/manga reviews, chronicle anime history, discuss anime related news, and make opinion pieces regarding the medium and the industry itself. See ya~!!