The Fall 2024 season for Anime may have now started, but we’re still hot from the shows that made up the Summer 2024 season.
They say that the Summer season is where romance takes over and that was very much the case for Summer 2024 anime. Not only were there many romance-related shows this past season, but lots of them were debuts rather than highly anticipated sequels.
But of course, the Summer 2024 anime season had lots more else to offer. Here are our anime picks to catch if you’ve missed out!
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
Too Many Losing Heroines! is the first romance series on our Summer 2024 anime list, and boy, did the show make a big splash.
It follows the adventures of Kazuhiko Nukumizu – a self-proclaimed “background character” who witnesses popular classmate Anna Yanami get dumped by her childhood friend. Getting entangled in her situation proves to be the catalyst in him getting caught up in the relationship dramas of other ‘losing heroines’ along the way, eventually becoming a major character in their lives.
The plot may not be the most unique one you’ll see for anime, but the sum of its parts was executed to perfection. The main three ‘heroines’ are unreasonably endearing—each in their own way—but so is the extended cast as well. Interactions between characters feel so natural and bring lots of laughs and heart, with the soundtrack adding a sense of whimsy to the show.
And of course, I can’t forget to mention the visuals. A-1 Pictures did a very good job with their adaptation of the Kaguya-sama series, but they went above and beyond for this. Some of the animation and composition are of movie-level calibre and immerse you even more into the world of the show. I’d even say it is the best-looking anime out of the Summer 2024 season.
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! is available to watch on Crunchyroll and soon on Netflix.
The Elusive Samurai
Next to feature on our list is The Elusive Samurai, a show that is not quite like the traditional Shonen action series you may be familiar with. Loosely based on the historical figure of Hōjō Tokiyuki, it follows the bloody beginnings of his childhood—one that sees the traitorous Ashikaga Takauji overthrow his family, leaving him on the run.
Helping him is the eccentric Suwa Yorishige, a shady priest who claims to be able to see the future, and Shizuku, his adopted daughter and assistant. Together with other allies, they hone his unique skill of evasion as he seeks revenge on Takauji and regain his glory.
While the show has a lot of lighthearted scenes, particularly involving the outlandish Yorishige, they’ve managed to balance them out nicely alongside the serious moments—of which there is quite a number of. Helmed by Cloverworks, the animation is also a highlight when it comes to showcasing Tokiyuki’s fantastical elusive abilities.
The Elusive Samurai is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
Sometimes, a show can feature a character that surprisingly steals the spotlight from the main girl, and for the Summer 2024 season, it turned out to happen for Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian.
Half-Russian and half-Japanese Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou (Alya) is the school’s ice queen – a mesmerising beauty with an unapproachable air around her. The only student to receive her attention is Masachika Kuze, her seatmate, expressing her affection for him in Russian thinking he is none the wiser. But little does she know, he understands Russian!
Most would come into the show thinking that the playful relationship between the two would be the highlight, and it is indeed entertaining to see the reactions to that. However, it is the emergence of Suou Yuki, Kuze’s sister, that truly makes this show great. Underneath her formal lady-like student persona is a gremlin-like otaku who likes to tease her brother—her scenes often generate the biggest laughs.
As one of the many rom-coms in this season, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian stands out from the crowd with its modern take on the genre and tsundere tropes, combined with a delightful main trio.
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
Oshi no Ko Season 2
Oshi no Ko delivered an intriguing look at the entertainment industry while weaving a unique reincarnation element into its story. Now in its second season, the show has gone up a level and is at its riveting best as it enchants us with its engaging drama.
Season 2 centres on the ‘Tokyo Blade’ arc, with Aqua joining a big theatre production in hopes of getting closer to discovering his father’s identity. While this mystery is still the overarching plot, this season delves even further into the dark turns of the entertainment world than ever before.
A big reason why this season has been so engrossing is its increased focus on characters—not just for main characters like Aqua, Kana, and Akane, but also the characters with smaller roles. It adds further depth to the world of Oshi no Ko and immerses us further.
One surprise from this season is the animation quality. Oshi no Ko Season 2 perfectly weaved character drama with action sequences from the Tokyo Blade theatre performance to bring a visual spectacle to us viewers. If you’ve yet to be sucked into the series, there’s no better reason to do so than now.
Oshi no Ko Season 2 is available to watch on Netflix.
Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary
The dwindling possibility of BBC’s Sherlock TV series returning has left me longing for a good detective show. Luckily for me, Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary has left me satiated after a long search. But instead of heinous crimes or accidents, its mystery-solving scenarios are of mundane everyday occurrences – which makes it all the more interesting to watch.
Our detective is Jougorou Kobato, an insightful student gifted with deduction skills. However, those same skills have also led to unpleasant experiences for him. He makes a pact with his friend Yuki Osanai as they strive to become ordinary together. But even with this promise, Kobato continues to find himself facing everyday mysteries to solve.
A good detective show is determined by interesting mysteries and the way they are solved—Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary delivers on those aspects very well. Though the problems that the characters face are small in scale – compared to other series – it still manages to hook us in with the intrigue. And there is exceptionally smart writing in how the show shows its characters coming up with the solution.
It’s a slice of life in name, but the show is more compelling than it appears and deserves a watch; even for just a few episodes. Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
Honourable Mentions: Days with My Stepsister
Talk about a head-turning title. No, this isn’t some recommendation for an erotic video. Rather, it is a captivating story of blossoming love. Unlike most of the romance shows that premiered this Summer 2024 anime season, Days with My Stepsister is a slow-paced drama that is all about the burgeoning relationship between two people.
The show follows Yuuta Asamura and Saki Ayase, two schoolmates who become step-siblings after Yuuta’s father remarries with Saki’s mother. Initially distant because of their shared troubles with their parents’ divorces, the two slowly eventually warm up to each other over time and see a relationship form.
Studio DEEN, the animation studio behind this show, has a somewhat bad reputation for being lax with their adaptations. But director Souta Ueno deserves massive credit for how much love he has poured into this production. The direction of the show is expertly handled, with levity given to many of its scenes to draw you into the story. With this anime season filled with many rom-com series to catch, Days with My Stepsister is a breath of fresh air.
Days with My Stepsister is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
Honourable Mentions: Wistoria: Wand and Sword
We end our recommendations with the best-looking action show to come out from this Summer 2024 anime season. Wistoria: Wand and Sword has come out of nowhere and delivered on adrenaline that has largely been unavailable within this season’s roster of shows.
Its story revolves around a world of magic, though a boy named Will Sefort lacks the ability to use it. Despite that, he enters a magic academy to fulfil a promise made alongside his childhood friend to reach the top of the magic-dominated world. Armed with his exceptional strength and sword, Will is determined to prove his numerous doubters wrong.
Admittedly, this story isn’t something we haven’t seen before (remember Mashle and Black Clover?), but I’ll be damned if the action isn’t something to get hyped for. The animation for the show is extraordinary—there’s no reason this show should look this good for a story like this, and yet it does. The action scenes get hearts racing and sometimes, that is more than enough to provide a good watch.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword is available to watch on Crunchyroll, Netflix and Muse Asia on YouTube.
What do you think of our anime picks for Summer 2024? Have other recommendations to share? Drop us your take on our socials on Facebook, Instagram or even TikTok!
Cover visuals courtesy of Crunchyroll.
