Most anime that we see these days are adaptations of stories that have already been told through other mediums before. The most common sources are manga and light novels, but there’s a noticeable increase in anime adapted from Korean manhwa/webtoon as well.
However, that doesn’t mean original anime has disappeared entirely. Though often overshadowed by the sheer volume of adaptations and sequels, several original anime have emerged this year, offering fresh and unique storytelling. With the new year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time toreflect on 2024 and highlight some of its standout original titles.So here you go, the 10 best 2024 original anime that are not adaptations of anything, ranked according to their MyAnimeList score.
10Narenare -Cheer for You!
A Story of Overcoming Fears and Rekindling Dreams
Kanata Misora is a skilled Cheerleader and is on her way to conquering the national competition. Or at least she used to. After an unfortunate accident during a completion that leaves her dear friend with a terrible injury, Kanata develops severe trauma whenever she performs a high jump. Forget competing, she can’t even perform some basic acrobatic move these days. This is a story of how Kanata, along with her friends, tries to overcome their hardships and make their dreams come true.
Althoughthe main theme ofNarenare -Cheer for You!is cheerleading, this series also has so many other things to offer. After all, each character has their own problems and passions that they want to pursue. This makes the story feel vibrant and alive. The pacing can be a tad too slow at times, but the mesmerizing visuals more than makeup for it.
9Bucchigiri?!
A Chaotic Story About Delinquents, Fistfights, and Legendary Fighters
Bucchigiri?!is about the chaotic high school life of a teenage boy named Arajin Tomoshibi. He is forced to transfer toa school full of delinquentswho want to fight all the time. His childhood friend turns out to be incredibly good at martial arts now and has somehow developed a wrong impression of Arajin. The girl that he likes apparently has a huge brother complex. And as if that’s not enough, he is also haunted by the spirit of an ancient martial artist named Senya who is obsessed with being the best fighter on the land. Every day is a struggle for Arajin.
AlthoughBucchigiri?!is an anime filled to the brim with quirky characters doing quirky things, the most stand-out aspect of this series has to be the animation, especially during the fight scene. The kicks, the punches, the grappling, the jumps, the runs, everything looks fluid, smooth, and highly dynamic. But then again, that is to be excited from a series made by studio MAPPA.
8Astro Note
A Wholesome Story About Cooking, Courting, and Cosmic Mysteries
Takumi Miyasaki is the new head chef for a modest inn called the Astro-sou. Astro-sou is famous in the area as an inn that offers free breakfast for its tenants. The pay may not be big, but at least Takumi gets a room to stay in without having to worry about rent. Truth be told, the main reason why a talented chef like Takumi accepts the job is because he wants to get closer to the beautiful landlady, Mira Gotokuji. What he doesn’t know, however, is the fact thatMira is actually an alienfrom Planet Widi and she came to Earth in order to look for a special “key”.
Astro Noteis a quirky anime with lots of quirky characters. From the premise to the humor, everything feels so random and absurd. And that is the charm of this series. One minute you’ll smile and let out a chuckle or two, and the next minute you scratch your head and scrunch your eyebrows in confusion. This is the sort of randomness that you’re able to expect from an original anime.
7Ninja Kamui
A Tale of Grief, Rage, and Vengeance
Higan, a former ninja, has left his violent past behind to live peacefully on a secluded farm with his wife and son. To stay hidden, they rely on a mysterious device that alters their appearance. But one night, his past finds him. A battalion of ninjas descends on their home. Higan fights with all his skill and fury, but some slip past him. They murder his wife and son, and one puts a sword through his chest. Against all odds, Higan survives. Now, fueled by grief and rage,he embarks on a relentless path of vengeance.
Ninja Kamuicombines three things that every action enthusiast loves in an action story. Revenge, deadly ninja, and a story that is set in a modern world with VR and machine guns. The result is a fast-paced action with stunningly rendered fighting scenes and non-stop violence and brutality. The head-banging theme song by the Japanese rock band Coldrain is just the icing on the cake.
6Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms
A Story of Sentient Mechanical Arms, Greedy Corporations, and a Reluctant Hero
Hikaru Amatsuga hears a faint cry for help on his way to school and discovers it’s coming from a small cube. Upon touching it, the cube transforms into a sentient mechanical arm (Mecha-Ude) named Alma, and it attaches itself to Hikaru’s hoodie. Soon, Hikaru is caught in a battle between an organization called ARMS andan evil conglomerate called The Kagami Group,both vying for control of Alma, the most powerful Mecha-Ude.
The main idea behindMecha-Udeis quite similar toKill la Kill,which is all about sentient weapons that fight together with their hosts. In a way, you can say thatMecha-Udeis the less quirky version ofKill la Kill.Both are strange in their own way, but Mecha-Ude is a tad more serious than its predecessor. If you enjoyedKill La Kill, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoyMecha-Udeas well.
5Negative Positive Angler
A Story of Self-Transformation Through Fishing
It was a bright summer day when Tsunehiro Sasaki found out that he only had two years left to live. Overwhelmed by the news, Tsunehiro let himself fall into a downward spiral. He dropped out of college, fell behind on rent, and sank into gambling, racking up debt to a loan shark. On the brink of giving up, he crosses paths with Takaaki Tsutsujimori and his group of fishing enthusiasts. With nothing to lose, Tsunehiro joins them and, despite initial hesitation, discovers joy in fishing. This simple activity gradually helps him find his way back to a better path.
Out of every anime on this list, Negative Positive Angler is quite possibly the one story that is fully grounded in reality. In real life, a single moment or event beyond our control can lead to our downfall. Similarly, sometimes the simplest act can mark the beginning of our redemption. This isa slice-of-life story in the truest sense.Furthermore, the lessons and information about fishing are surprisingly quite interesting as well.
4Train to the End of the World
A Wholesome Train Journey Across A Dystopian Japan
In a world destroyed by the 7G network, rivers and cliffs appear out of nowhere, and most humans over the age of 21 undergo a mysterious transformation that turns them into animals and plants. Amid this dystopian backdrop, a group of high school girls embark on a journey aboard the old Odakyu 2000 series commuter train to search for their missing friend. They set out from Agano to Ikebukuro, but what used to be a two-hour commute turns intoa wild journey filled with surreal landscapesand encounters with bizarre, mutated humans.
That description might make this story seem like a dystopian horror, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As strange as it may sound, it is actually a rather wholesome slice-of-life story, despite taking place in a fantasy setting. Not only that, but it has quite a healthy dose of humor as well. Whether this sounds like your kind of jam or not, one thing’s for sure,Train to the End of the Worldis undoubtedly one of the most interesting anime in 2024.
3Brave Bang Bravern!
A Story of A Sentient Mecha, A Reluctant Hero, and Alien Invasion
During a multinational military exercise, Ao Isami of Japan’s Self-Defense Force (JSDF) demonstrated exceptional skill piloting his mecha, the Titatonostrider (TS), despite its inferiority to the advanced American machines. On the second day, several unidentified flying objects crash, releasing a swarm of hostile mecha that obliterate everything in their path, including the TSs. Just as all hope seems lost, another massive object descends—this time, a sentient giant mecha called Bravern. It urges Isami to enter its cockpit, and though hesitant, he complies. Together, they swiftly annihilate the alien forces in their area. That’s the day the Earth survives and Isami’s nightmare begins.
Brave Bang Bravern!offers a unique combination of realism that we often see in established mecha series likethe Gundam franchise,both in terms of the military conflict and human interaction, with the quirkiness and the over-the-top feeling of a tokusatsu series, likeUltraman. You can say a lot of things about this unlikely merger, but one thing’s for sure, it is certainly entertaining to watch.
2Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night
A Heartwarming Story About Art, Dreams, and Melodies
Mahiru Kouzuki was an artist who loved drawing jellyfish as a child, but a traumatic experience shattered her dream of becoming an illustrator. Kano Yamanouchi, a former idol, refuses to let heraspirations of becoming a singer-songwritercrumble without a fight. As fate brings them together, Kano—who happens to be a fan of Mahiru’s art—immediately asks Mahiru to collaborate. This chance encounter marks the beginning of their shared journey to pursue their dreams.
Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Nightis a story of rejection, acceptance, and redemption. The main characters in this series have experienced terrible rejections in the past. It is a difficult journey, but once they accept the fact that they don’t have to please anyone and only need to stay true to themselves and their art, they can move forward towards a better future. Everybody who’s ever dabbled in any form of art has been in this situation before. That’s why the story of Mahiru and Kano will undoubtedly resonate with a lot of people.
1Girls Band Cry
An Inspiring Story About a Chance Encounter and a New Beginning
Nina Seri comes to Tokyo without a clear objective of what she will do there. All she wants is to get away from the drama in her hometown. Unfortunately, as somebody who’s never been to such a big city before, Nina missed her train stop, couldn’t find her new apartment, and basically had no place to stay the night. However, out of an unfortunate series of events comes a fruitful meeting. That night, Nina meets her favorite singer, Momoka Kawaragi. This fateful encounter changes the course of both of these girls’ lives and now they are in the process offorming a rock band together.
It’s quite interesting how the first and s.econd spot in this list belongs to a slice-of-life story that revolves around songs and dreams. The only difference is in the way they approach their premise.Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Nightaccentuates the youthfulness and energetic nature of their characters, whileGirls Band Cryfocuses more on the chance of pursuing music as a serious career path.
One thing’s for sure, both tell their stories splendidly and you won’t go wrong with either one of them. In fact, you won’t go wrong with any of the anime mentioned in this list. After all, they are the best original in 2024.
