Although 2023 has been a great year for anime, that doesn’t mean that 2024 has to slack off in any way. In fact, on the horizon, we have some very promising series. While it is true that in this medium it is sometimes difficult to predict when a year is going to be good, since many unexpected things can happen, we are going to try at least to get a feel for a handful of things that we should keep an eye on. So that not everything catches us by surprise.
Bartender: Kami no Glass
With adaptations of manga that have already been adapted in the past, there is always the risk of encountering a failure. Especially when the previous adaptation was a cult success. Something that happens with Bartender: Kami no Glass, but that will not prevent us from having faith for two very specific reasons: the trailer has given us hope and the name Mariko Kunisawa inspires confidence.
Bartender: Kami no Glass is about a bartender who is able to create exactly the drink that each person needs to drink at the exact moment of their life they are in. Something that releases their repressed emotions, thoughts, and memories, leading them to talk about how they feel and allowing them to move forward with their life. And if we say that the name Kunisawa inspires confidence, it’s because she is the scriptwriter of Ascendance of a Bookworm and The case files of Jeweler Richard, two series that are very solid in their script and the treatment of their characters and their psychological development. Exactly what this Bartender needs.
Dandadan
This year we have two series with the potential to sweep everything in their path. One of them is Dandadan. The reason is quite clear: no Shonen Jump manga has had the success that this work by Yukinobu Tatsu has had in a long time. Even if it hasn’t been published in any magazine, being published directly on the digital service Shonen Jump+, it has been a great success. With 3.2 million copies in circulation of a total of 12 volumes, which is a huge but not overwhelming number, and 360 million views on Shonen Jump+, which is a staggering number, the series is an undisputed success.
But in addition, for the adaptation to anime they have not chosen just anyone. They have decided that those who have the potential to turn it into a mass phenomenon should take charge. Behind it is Science Saru, responsible for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off or Devilman Cry Baby, so success is practically guaranteed. Putting Dandadan in our list of series to watch no matter what when it premieres in October.
Dungeon Meshi
We don’t have to go far to know about the other series with the potential to sweep everything in its path. Dungeon Meshi, has everything to succeed. It has a cult manga, it is inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, it is produced by Trigger studio and it is premiered on Netflix. Everything is in its favor to be a success, because absolutely nothing stands in the way of people enjoying the series.
In addition, it’s easy to connect with its premise. A group of adventurers must descend into an unprepared dungeon to save a companion who was left behind. Because of that, they will have to feed on what they find along the way, which is basically one thing: monsters. Delirious, hilarious, and very, very fun, it has the potential to be the first great anime of the year. And perhaps the great anime of the year, in general.
Solo Leveling
Korea has slowly but steadily entered the world of comics, drawing inspiration from manga but giving it its own personality. Very focused on its own style, with its own personality, they have achieved many successes, especially in the romance and action genres, where Japan seemed unbeatable. In this second case, there is now an anime adaptation of one of Korea’s most famous webtoons: Solo Leveling.
Produced by A-1 Pictures, who are premiering this season the second season of Mashle: Magic and Muscles, the story puts us in the shoes of a notably weak young man in a world of monster hunters with supernatural powers. At least, until a mysterious program chooses him as a lone player and gives him a powerful ability that makes him unstoppable. Packed with action, we can expect spectacular animation and lots of fights, with healthy doses of adventure and classic life-threatening situations typical of this type of stories. Exactly what we are looking for.
Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san
Making a list of the most anticipated anime of a year without including a romantic comedy feels like a waste. To begin with, it is one of the most represented genres in anime and although underrated, it usually has a more than acceptable average quality. In the case of 2024, the most promising one so far is Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san. Or translated into English, Alya sometimes hides her feelings in Russian.
The premise is very simple. A demotivated boy named Masachika who always sleeps in class has a Russian girl as his desk mate, nicknamed Alya, who is always complaining about him. But from time to time she makes flirty comments to him, of course, in perfect Russian. What she doesn’t know is that Masachika knows Russian. All of this leads to a series of entanglements and situations that will bring them closer over time in a charming series that will delight lovers of romantic comedies.
