by Discussions about how disappointing this anime season has been are rife on Japanese social media as the Winter 2024 anime season draws to a close. Viewers of anime, spoilt by several successful shows in earlier seasons, are complaining about what’s available right now.
Viewers were treated to a plethora of highly anticipated anime series in the previous anime season (Fall 2023), including Jujutsu Kaisen, Spy x Family, Frieren, Attack on Titan, and Dr. Stone.
The previous season was also amazing, drawing in viewers with shows like Bleach TYBW arc, Zom 100, Horimiya Piece, and Mushoku Tensei.
Regretfully, the Winter 2024 season doesn’t seem to have the depth and richness of previous seasons. Although a number of fans have identified Solo Leveling as the season’s best series, others argue that it falls short of the top offerings from previous seasons.
Notably, two well-liked shows, Frieren and The Apothecary Diaries, are not considered to be in the Winter 2024 schedule; they started broadcasting in the fall of 2023. This has strengthened the perception that the current season lacks both variation and quality.
Japanese fans have taken to X (previously Twitter) and the Yaraon blog to express their dissatisfaction. “It’s not good when a season concludes without a series that particularly stands out,” lamented one commenter. One more recalled fellow fans, “Neither Sousou no Frieren nor The Apothecary Diaries are from this season, keep that in mind.“
Lesser-known films have also proven to be comforting to some viewers; one user listed their season favorites as “Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete, Villainess Level 99, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash, ‘Tis Time for “Torture,” Princess and My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered.”
Fans have been especially irritated by Sasaki’s adaption for Pii-chan. Although fans were thrilled with the debut episode, later ones have disappointed them. One user bemoaned, “It’s the worst when Sasaki to Pii-chan gets its long-awaited anime adaptation and everything turns out to be a disaster.”
While some fans have identified Dungeon Meshi and Hazbin Hotel as the season’s standout shows, the general consensus is that Winter 2024 has fallen short of the thrills and caliber of earlier seasons.
Additional remarks from the Yaraon blog are as follows:
- I understand the excitement for the first season of The Dangers in My Heart, but the second season was disappointing.
- Kusuriya no Hitorigoto will surely continue to trend even after the anime ends, but Sousou no Frieren will disappear in an instant.
- The latest episode of Sasaki and Pii-chan ended with just a meeting of old men.
- I can only continue watching Level 99 and Tis time for Torture Princess. I’ve already dropped The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic.
- Is it I the only one who finds Solo Leveling interesting this season?
As the anime industry develops, it becomes clear that viewers have high hopes for every new season. Even while the Winter 2024 lineup may not have lived up to expectations, one can always hope that a new wave of critically acclaimed programs will debut in the upcoming season.
