GN Expansion Pak: The Can't-Miss Anime of 2024 (so far)

Welcome to GoNintendo Expansion Pak! Every Friday we’re going to have a feature that goes beyond the world of Nintendo. That could mean an article concerning games on other platforms, a review of a recent movie, a discussion about a TV show, a thought piece on anime…you get the idea. Everyone at GoNintendo has an undying love for Nintendo, but just like you, we have other passions as well!

Back in the late 80s and early 90s, anime was just starting to find its footing outside of Japan. While the industry was booming in its native land, coming across anime in places like North America and Europe was considerably tougher. You’d consider yourself extremely lucky if your local movie rental store bothered to stock Akira, or the SyFy Channel (Sci-Fi at the time) was showing Vampire Hunter D at 2 in the morning. You’d take what you could get, and be incredibly happy to do so.

In the decades since, anime has gone from being a topic of discussion sure to get you bullied to very much a key part of modern pop culture. Anime is bigger worldwide than ever, and it’s thanks to Cartoon Network’s efforts through Toonami, anime-centric streaming services like Crunchyroll and HIDIVE, and the extensive anime libraries on platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and so on. Anime now sits among the most popular genres on streaming platforms, and that reach only continues to grow.

(Anime has also flourished hand-in-hand with manga worldwide, but that’s a topic for another day!)

Along with a reach far greater than ever, there’s also a plethora of shows to pick from. Not a week goes by without a new anime being announced or kicking off its TV run, and thanks to simulcast options on multiple services, you barely have to wait to check out the latest offerings. Keeping up with all of it can be incredibly daunting, and sometimes you need a little help navigating to the good stuff. That’s where we come in!

Rather than wading through streaming services and losing hours to choice paralysis, why not trust us for some anime picks? We’ve spent way too much time watching anime this year, but that dedication led to pulls we think are more than worth your time. As far as the 2024 season goes, we’ve got 8 shows that should win over both anime newcomers and seasoned vets alike.

Please keep in mind that we haven’t watched EVERYTHING that’s released in 2024 (although we’re trying!), so don’t take it personally if your top choices aren’t mentioned. Instead, leave us your suggestions in the comments and we’ll add them to our binge list!

Crunchyroll was pushing Kaiju No. 8 hard leading up to its release, and now with the first season complete, it’s very easy to see why.

While there are plenty of anime that spotlight giant monsters, Kaiju No. 8 instead shifts the story to those who are battling the menaces. When your adversaries are literally 20 times bigger than you, it takes a well-oiled machine to stand the slimmest of chances. That’s where the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force comes in.

Instead of following the Defense Force’s seasoned veterans, Kaiju No. 8 puts the focus on the latest class of hopefuls that want nothing more than to protect their city from destruction (and maybe show each other up as well). The entire group is filled with interesting personalities hoping to become Defense Force members, but it’s the main character of Kafka Hibino who is the linchpin of the entire series.

Kafka Hibino is perhaps one of the most likeable, personable protagonists in anime…period. He’s shy and silly, which makes for great humor, but he’s also brave and steadfast when push comes to shove. Most of all, he feels like the kind of guy who can win over anyone, no matter how different his contemporaries are. Simply put, you can’t help but want to see Kafka win.

Kaiju No. 8 weaves together humor and heartbreak, action and slice-of-life with ease, and each episode builds perfectly upon the last. There’s also a major twist that takes place in literally the first episode, and if that hook doesn’t sink itself deep into your brain, we don’t know what will!

Surprise, surprise…the anime with the furthest reach and biggest impact of 2024 wiggled its way onto our list!

Jujutsu Kaisen is the definition of a worldwide phenomenon. Its pulled in a global audience unlike any other, and its impact has been unbelievably far-reaching. It sits atop the anime charts, countless musicians reference the series in their tracks, social media discussions have amassed millions of comments, major apparel retailers jumped at the chance to do collabs…the list goes on and on. Hell, even McDonald’s teamed up with JJK for a series of dipping sauces! Everyone everywhere is eager to hitch a ride with Jujutsu Kaisen, and for very good reason.

Grotesque monsters, super-powered humans, over-the-top battles, heart-wrenching relationships, gut-punching emotional beats…Jujutsu Kaisen has it all. At the center of everything is Yuji Itadori, a teen thrust into a role of incredible importance purely by chance, but he’s not going to let that stop him from doing everything he can to save the planet from destruction.

Yuji’s grandfather convinced him it was his mission to spread good throughout the world, even if that meant saving just one person. It’s that mantra that guides Itadori into an unseen realm teeming with monsters hiding in plain sight. Once Yuji’s eyes are open to this alternate universe, he bravely aligns with the good guys to do battle against some truly horrific villains. Unfortunately for the viewer, you’re going to feel every hit Yuji takes along the way, and that goes for both physically and emotionally.

JJK may read like a traditional anime on the surface, but it’s done with an astonishing amount of style and substance. There are characters you’ll love and hate, action scenes that are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, a soundtrack that amps up every single moment, and some shocking twists and turns that keep you on your edge of your seat. JJK is one of the rare examples where the insane amount of hype is warranted.

What happens when a rescue mission requires a deep dungeon dive, but you don’t have cash to purchase the necessary provisions? You start to look at the dungeon creatures as a tasty treat rather than a fearsome foe, of course!

Delicious in Dungeon follows a core group of four adventurers into a dungeon’s depths as they aim to rescue a lost partner. With little money to fuel their adventure, one of the crew decides to act on his lifelong curiosity of monster-snacking to satiate their needs. When you can’t afford traditional meat and vegetables, what’s wrong with substituting pork or beef with some goblin or cockatrice?!

The reason why Delicious in Dungeon is such a delight is due to the main party of adventurers. The group consists of a dedicated, yet dim-witted knight, a grumpy thief, a talented and high-strung mage and a sturdy dwarf who happens to be an expert chef. The mix of personalities makes for a ton of laughs and a lot of heart, and watching them delve into the dungeon together really makes you feel like part of the team.

While the show certainly has a strong focus on cooking, it manages to weave those elements together with an alluring story that offers comedy, mystery, intrigue and a surprising amount of action. This dungeon is hiding a lot more than just monsters waiting to become a meal, and the deeper the quartet goes, the more surprises await. You’ll instantly get hooked by the premise, but halfway through you’ll be glued to the screen by the greater story.

Delicious in Dungeon might not have the same amount of buzz as other anime on this list, but it more than deserves your attention. If there’s one sleeper hit on this list, Delicious in Dungeon is it.

Depending on the circles you run in, Demon Slayer might catch a lot of flak. We’re here to tell you that backlash is undeserved, and if you’ve been listening to the naysayers, you’re depriving yourself of one of the most enjoyable anime in recent years.

The biggest pushback on Demon Slayer is that it doesn’t offer a sophisticated story. We actually agree with that assessment, but that doesn’t make the series a bad one. A simple story, told well, can be just as engaging and engrossing as any other high-level narrative. Demon Slayer doesn’t offer heaps of lore or ask its viewers to decipher intricate mysteries, but it does present a wild ride with clear goals and immaculate action.

In Demon Slayer, Tanjiro Kamado’s entire family has been slaughtered by demons, save for his sister…sort of. Due to the demon attack, Tanjiro’s sister Nezuko has started to transform into a demon herself, but Tanjiro isn’t willing to let her go to the other side without a fight. Rather than ending his sister’s misery, Tanjiro makes it his mission to keep her alive as he hunts down a cure.

Not surprisingly, Tanjiro will stop at nothing to protect his sister and hopefully return her human attributes. This leads him down a path of self-discovery and introduces him to not just horrendous monsters, but others who have dedicated their lives to squashing the demon deluge. It’s clear to Tanjiro from the start that the path ahead is an arduous one, but with his sister walking between the lands of the living and dead, he needs no other motivation to push on.

It is true that some of Demon Slayer’s characters may grate on your nerves a bit with their screaming and over-the-top antics, but the show’s well-told story, amazing battles, gorgeous animation, pitch-perfect soundtrack and undeniably loveable lead help the minor quibbles fade away. Demon Slayer is a tried-and-true story of good versus evil, but it’s one that shows why the decades-old trope remains a modern storytelling pillar.

Prefer stories that are rooted in the real world rather than ones filled with monsters or magic? Want a slice-of-life series that tackles topics that are ultra-relatable? Enjoy bittersweet moments, happy coincidences and extremely awkward interactions? Well look no further than Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!.

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! follows the lives of various high school boys and girls as they learn how to navigate social interactions. At the center of it all is Kazuhiko Nukumizu, a guy who considers himself a background character, but that changes one day when he watches a popular high school girl get shot down by her crush. This sets off a chain reaction where Kazuhiko gets to know his fellow classmates one by one, and witnesses their triumphs and heartbreaks along the way.

It’s impossible not to relate to Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!. The show is full of painful, yet humorous moments we’ve all experienced. Romantic misunderstandings, embarrassing rejections, social missteps, and so on. What really impresses here is the expert tightrope walk that combines the sad and serious aspects of growing up with light-hearted humor and small, yet meaningful personal victories.

You’ll cringe, cheer, smile, and you may even shed a few tears. Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! is just the right show to remind yourself that absolutely everyone goes through the same growing pains, and we all manage to come out alright on the other side.

GoNintendo is a videogame blog first and foremost. That means if you’re here, you’ve probably spent a good amount of time playing videogames over the years. If there were ever an anime to recommend to the gamers out there, Solo Leveling is the ultimate choice.

Right when the world became overrun with horrific monsters, supernatural abilities started to awake within humans. These superpowered people came together to fight the monsters and push them back into their own realm. Now, whenever a gateway to the demon realm opens on Earth, the super-powered fighters gather to fight the baddies back and seal off the portals.

Sung Jinwoo happens to be one of the lucky few who possesses innate superpowers, but there’s just one flaw. Sung registers just about as low as you possibly can on the hunter scale. In other words, while he is permitted to enter portals and fight monsters on paper, he’s pretty much useless in combat…or any other supporting role. That is, until Sung’s life changes when he’s met with certain death…

For reasons unknown, Sung gains the ability to level up his stats videogame-style. By completing real-life challenges like running for a certain distance or lifting weights, Sung gains stat points that he can slot into any attribute he likes. Continuing with the videogame theme, Sung can also unlock new weapons and items to help him in battle by leveling up. Who or what’s behind this videogame-like leveling system, and why was Sung chosen? You’ll have to watch to find out!

Solo Leveling doesn’t exactly break the mold when it comes to anime ideas, but its not any less engaging for it. It’s supremely satisfying seeing Sung grow stronger with each episode, but you also see how it changes his personality. I mean, you can’t expect to get 100 times stronger in 30 days and have it not impact your ego! Can Sung not only figure out what’s behind this stat-boosting, but also stay in touch with who he was before the upgrade? It’s not going to be an easy fight, but it’s sure fun to watch.

Even for anime, Oshi no Ko has an absolutely wild premise. Sharing the full details would ruin much of the fun, but let’s just say the 90-minute premiere episode covers a ton of ground and ends in a very, very different place from where things start.

Oshi no Ko took the world by storm with its first season in 2023, and the series returned with its second season just a few weeks back. As long as you’re willing to go all-in on the bonkers premise set in the show’s debut, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most unique and mystifying anime in recent memory.

It might sound cliché to say that Oshi no Ko has it all, but it honestly applies. There are so many areas covered that it’s mind-boggling. Oshi no Ko is a murder mystery, an examination of the entertainment industry, a slice-of-life comedy, an exploration of the idol scene, a psychological thriller, an unflinching look at the dark side of internet culture, a spotlight on mental health…the list goes on and on. The seriously impressive part is how Oshi no Ko does this all and handles every bit with the utmost care.

Oshi no Ko also does an excellent job at making you care about things you might never take an interest in. There are multiple instances where the plot steers in a direction that swerves opposite the main story, and while it can be jarring at first, by the end of the episode you’re completely sucked in. Something you didn’t even think or know about just 20 minutes ago is now fascinating in ways you could have never imagined. The skill with which Oshi no Ko does this is nothing short of staggering.

It’s also worth mentioning that this series is not only drop-dead gorgeous, but it also uses animation in-and-of itself to do some stupefying storytelling. The way in which certain beats are portrayed or enhanced through the beauty of animation is second to none. There are multiple moments, particularly in the second season, where our jaws were left on the floor from the brilliance of what was on display. It was almost too impressive to be true.

Oshi no Ko isn’t afraid to blaze its own path and zig when you think it should zag, and the show is all the better for it. It disarms you from the get-go and then drags you along for a ride to destinations unknown. While the first season was easily one of the best last year, Oshi no Ko is outdoing itself in just about every way for season 2.

While this list was put together in no particular order, we’d be lying if we didn’t at least slightly feel we’ve saved the best for last.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End starts out right where any other series would end. The main character, Frieren, along with her powerful party, have just finished their 10-year journey to defeat the Demon King. Now with the land saved, the adventurers make their way home to live out their lives as heroes…but for Frieren, the journey is just beginning.

Frieren happens to be an elf, which means she’ll live an incredibly long life. Two of the members in her party are human and one is a dwarf, so sadly, they’ll all be long gone before Frieren’s time in this world has barely started. Defeating the Demon King, which would be considered a life’s work for most, hardly amounts to the blink of an eye for Frieren. It’s not something Frieren ever really thought about, but that all changes when the Demon King falls.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is beautiful in every since of the word. It’s an exploration of what it means to not only live, but to be alive. It puts every human interaction under the microscope; from exchanging pleasantries with a stranger to traveling side-by-side for a decade. Moments that mean absolutely nothing to some become life-changing for others. Through these depictions, the series forces you to step back and examine your own life, whether you want to or not.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End takes what many might consider to be the mundane and turns it into utterly compelling content. Hardly an episode went by where we weren’t tearing up or flat-out bawling. It’s a series that strings together the small, seemingly insignificant moments in life and shows you how impactful they can be. Watching Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is going to make your heart ache like none other, and it will no doubt convince some of its audience to look at life through a different lens. That’s some seriously powerful stuff, and anime like this doesn’t come around often.

If you’re looking for a series to turn the anime-haters in your life into fans, look no further than Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

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