Japan’s ABEMA streaming service, often dubbed “the television of the future,” has announced its top five new anime series for the first half of 2024. The list showcases several globally popular fantasy titles, reflecting current trends and viewer preferences.
ABEMA’s Top 5 New Anime of Early 2024
In a recent press release, ABEMA, sometimes referred to as “the Netflix of Japan,” revealed its rankings for the top new anime series based on view counts. This ranking was determined by aggregating live and on-demand views from January to June 2024. The top five anime series, as reported by PR Times, are:
- The Apothecary Diaries
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2
- Delicious in Dungeon
- Classroom of the Elite Season 3
While specific view counts were not disclosed, The Apothecary Diaries emerged as the most-watched anime of the first half of 2024. This series, produced by OLM and Toho Animation, follows Maomao, a poison taster in an imperial palace who uncovers mysteries within the royal court. Initially a light novel in 2014, it was adapted into a manga in 2017 and gained significant popularity with its anime adaptation in October 2023. Praised for its humor and unique art style, The Apothecary Diaries has received acclaim both in Japan and internationally.
Rising Stars in Anime: Non-Isekai Fantasy Leads
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End #22#frieren
it’s such a sweet scene of Frieren thinking back to what Himmel told her about helping and changing peoples lives for the better. Just like how he has impacted her life too. Her smiling was so wholesome it’s a nice and chill episode👌 pic.twitter.com/2XrCxugJm7
— Mars. (@AwayOnMarss00__) February 9, 2024Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, produced by Madhouse Studio, took second place among new anime series and also ranked third overall for the first half of 2024. This series explores the adventures of Frieren, an elven mage with a remarkably long life span, and her journey with various adventuring parties over the years. Originally a manga series that began in Weekly Shonen Sunday in 2020, Frieren quickly became a best-seller. Its anime adaptation, which premiered in September 2023, has been highly praised, achieving a top spot on MyAnimeList with an impressive rating of 9.33.
The remaining spots on the list were filled by Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2, Delicious in Dungeon, and Classroom of the Elite Season 3. These series feature male protagonists and combine elements of comedy with mystery, though none fall into the isekai (alternate world) genre. Instead, all five series prominently feature fantasy and supernatural themes, underscoring a strong preference for these genres in early 2024.
What’s Next for Anime Fans?
Looking ahead, Japanese audiences are eagerly anticipating new releases, with notable excitement surrounding Fall 2024 anime, such as Re:Zero Season 3. As ABEMA continues to track viewing trends, it will be interesting to see how these rankings evolve and which new series capture the public’s imagination in the coming months.
Overall, ABEMA’s rankings highlight a diverse range of anime that resonates with viewers, reflecting both enduring and emerging trends in the anime industry.
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