These series prove that the anime industry continues to take risks and produce original content.
2024 has given the anime community not only major premieres, but also a number of hidden gems. Despite their bold artistic decisions and narrative depth, these projects risk remaining in the shadow of the mainstream.
1. Girls Band Cry, 2024
Nina Iseri is a school dropout and runaway who arrives in Tokyo. To her surprise, she is not greeted warmly but with the cold indifference of the big city.
After finding herself on the street at night, the confused girl crosses paths with Momoka Kawaragi, a former member of her favorite band, Diamond Dust.
This encounter makes Nina rethink her life and exposes her emotional wounds. She is faced with a painful choice: a safe academic life or a risky career in music. Although there is no answer yet, deep in her heart, the sound of real rock is already resonating.
2. Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season, 2024
The story begins with an unusual encounter. When high school student Koyomi Araragi's classmate, Hitagi Senjogahara, falls onto him, he is surprised to find that she is practically weightless.
Their acquaintance continues in a peculiar manner – the girl hits him on the head with a stapler. Afterward, she reveals a terrible truth, which draws Araragi into a series of supernatural events. The first event is an attempt to help Hitagi find a specialist in such anomalies.
3. Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night, 2024
Set in the bustling Shibuya district, the series follows four talented girls – an illustrator, an idol, a composer, and a VTuber – who come together to form the band JELEE.
The band's unique professions and vibrant personalities form the basis of a plot that combines creativity, modern trends, and inspiring moments.
The project stands out for its fresh approach to exploring the lives of idols, musicians, and content creators in relation to current issues.
4. Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary, 2024-...
Following an unpleasant incident at their graduation, high school students Jogoro Kobato and Yuki Osanai made a promise to themselves.
They planned to spend their senior year quietly and unnoticed, becoming model students who avoided any trouble. However, their plans are ruined when the school's secrets and strange occurrences begin to haunt them.
Kobato tries his best to stay out of the spotlight, but his keen observational skills constantly draw him into detective stories. Meanwhile, Osanai's reserved facade clearly hides more than just a desire for a quiet life.