The year 2023 has been a fabulous one for anime fans. So many must-watch anime were released this year that it feels like the second coming of ‘Anime Golden Age’. We have been mesmerized by the action-packed Cour 2 of Bleach TYBW Arc, awe-struck by the visually stunning Demon Slayer Season 3, soothed by the romantically charming My Happy Marriage, surprised by the unconventionally amazing Ooku, and many more. I expect this upward trend to continue in 2024 and that’s why it was really difficult to pick the ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’.

5 Best Upcoming Anime 2024

Bleach TYBW Arc Cour 3 – The Conflict: The return of Bleach anime with the final ‘Thousand Year Blood War Arc’ has been nothing short of sensational. When Cour 1 was released late last year, it immediately broke the highest-rated anime ever record held by Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. It had been more than a decade of Bleach fans waiting for that moment and when it arrived there was every reason to celebrate. And with Cour 3 set to release in 2024, I have confidently included it in my list of ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’.

Demon Slayer Season 4 – Hashira Training Arc: Demon Slayer has been a revelation in the anime industry for the past few years and the upcoming Hashira Training Arc is rightfully in my list of ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’. This anime has garnered a huge fan following over the years with stunning visuals, captivating animation, trancing music, exciting action, and a gripping storyline. Demon Slayer is part of the new ‘Big 3’ (according to fans) and its influence is undeniable.

Solo Leveling: The next title in my list of ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’ is Solo Leveling. Now, this one is a completely new anime and is being adapted from the globally popular Manhwa of the same name. This unique Isekai plot boasts a fascinating fantasy world with action, adventure, drama, lore, and wild imagination all put together. The Manhwa is one of the most recognized Korean titles ever and has rightfully been up for anime adaptation. Solo Leveling is arguably the best Isekai ever.

Classroom of the Elite Season 3: This anime is a true mutant and it is extremely difficult to put it in a specific box. The MC is an aloof teen with hidden talents and ambitions. He is sometimes the most annoying procrastinator and sometimes the most industrious schemer. Always hiding his true colors, he tries to control everything that is going on in the entire school. The genius is his actions cannot mask his desire for ruthless euphoria that envelops the consequences making this character one of the most intriguing antagonistic protagonists ever.

Kimi ni Todoke Season 3: Here comes the rom-com entry. Kimi ni Todoke is another title that has been on hiatus for a long period of time. It is arguably one of the best rom-com anime ever and so the upcoming third season is obviously in my list of ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’. The shy & awkward yet loving & passionate interactions of Kazehaya and Sawako are a treat for the eyes. The coming-of-age love story is a soothing ailment for our stressful lives.

Inclusion Reasoning

My reasons for including the 5 aforementioned titles in the list of ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’ are quite multivariant and it is difficult to thread them together. However, there is obviously a parameter and it all boils down to fame, popularity, hype, quality, and fan following. Let’s talk about Solo Leveling first. The title is very popular worldwide and the hype around the anime adaptation is surely enough to include it in the list.

As for Bleach, it is the most famous name in the bunch. Part of the famed ‘Big 3’ it is always in contention if new content is up and coming. The anime series wasn’t as successful as the manga because of various lackings. However, the final arc adaptation after a decade has had full-blown exposure due to its amazing quality and fan following. Another famous and popular title is Demon Slayer. With a huge fan following this anime boasts the highest level of quality.

In the event of Classroom of the Elite and Kimi ni Todoke, none of these titles are on par with the other three regarding fame, hype, and fan following criteria. However, both anime display top-notch quality in either field. One is a paramount connoisseur of slice-of-life rom-com classics with a distinct coming-of-age love story. The other treads the paths of schemes, ambitions, politics, and betrayals. All in all, I believe the inclusion of these 5 titles in my list of ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’ is more than justified.

5 Best Upcoming Anime 2024 Knowhow

Since I have dared to pick the titles as the ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’, I have the responsibility to inform you of the basic know-how about them and where you may watch them. Bleach is a fantasy shonen anime that debuted first in the 2000s’. It is one of the most beloved titles ever. The recent Thousand Year Blood War is the final arc of the series and it is something that cannot be missed if you’re an anime fan. Primarily, you can watch it on Netflix as the streaming giant caters the anime to the global audience.

Demon Slayer Season 4 is slated for release in Spring, 2024. You can watch this periodical fantasy shonen title on Netflix of course. Ufotable Studio can be proud of creating this visually stunning masterpiece and the fans can expect another entertaining season ahead for sure. Solo Leveling is the upcoming highly anticipated anime adapted from the very successful webtoon of the same name. It is being produced by A-1 Pictures, another hot-shot name in the anime industry and will be available to watch on Crunchyroll.

Classroom of the Elite is a Studio Lerche production and the studio has done an amazing job in the previous two seasons. Hopefully, they will continue with the quality work to engage the fans once again for this encroaching ride. It will be streamed on Crunchyroll most probably. Production I.G is handling the return of Kimi ni Todoke to the small screen and the fans have their fingers crossed for this one to meet the expectations. We will get to watch it on Netflix. And folks, that is it for Deshi Geek’s first list feature and my ambitious picks of ‘5 best upcoming anime 2024’!   

With Spy X Family 2 (Season2) ongoing I seriously pondered one critical question in my mind. Was 2023 a good year for anime? On one hand, heavy hitters like Jujutsu Kaisen faced serious issues with MAPPA’s overworking schedules hitting a boiling point with the animators. On the other hand, small-time anime or adaptations from cult-classic manga got their well-deserved attention that they might not have received had the heavy hitters succeeded. Oshi No Ko, Ooku, and My Happy Marriage are a few of those.

But let’s put all of them aside and focus on the big ones. Or at least, one of the few that survived the bad luck that befell the heavy hitters of anime. Let’s talk about Spy X Family 2. The anime that struck hard in the Anime Industry raised the bar on the Kawaii factor. This year I talked about my expectations of the movie that was coming from the show. And now, I will talk about the second season, which I am thoroughly enjoying viewing.

Where We Left Off?

The last season of Spy X Family ended with Loid finally getting his chance to meet Donovan Desmond, his target and getting acknowledged by him. It was not much for Operation Strix, but it was a start for Loid as he was able to get in contact with his elusive high-profile target. But what happened afterwards?

Well, our typical “make-believe” family full of Spy, Assassin and Telepath, with a Clairvoyant Dog that can see the future, went about their way with life and dealing with the consequences of what followed. And the episode began with Yor literally being shot in the A$$. And that was not by Loid. For four episodes straight, the anime followed the typical stand-alone chapters of the manga till the second half of the season which changed the tide.

Cruise Ship Arc Deserves A Movie.

Episode 5 of Spy X Family 2 begins with Yor being assigned a mission out of her comfort zone, an escort mission. Tasked with protecting the last daughter of a criminal family with only her child and a loyal member by her side, whose family business had been taken over and has a target painted both on her and her child’s heads. Due to some prior favor the Garden owed to the former patriarch, The Shopkeeper tasked Yor with her safety, as she escaped Ostania through a Cruise Ship. Surprisingly enough, Anya won two tickets to that same cruise ship.

After years of service, Yor questions her motive to affiliate with The Garden and considers resigning her career as an assassin after the mission. But if that didn’t interest the viewers, surely Anya’s outlandish attempts to keep her family together by keeping each party’s identity a secret must have put a smile on everyone’s faces. And of course, if the bar wasn’t set high enough, Loid is challenged to balance his role as a father and a spy as he tries to please Anya while uncovering a threat to Princess Lorelei. It was an arc made for the movies.

Is Spy X Family 2 Worth The Watch?

Most definitely. Even though in my article about Code: White I mentioned my disdain of creating an Anime-only story while disregarding the two movie-worthy arcs. One being the Terrorist Attack Arc and the other being this one, and I still stand by that statement. However, we can’t deny the enjoyment we are getting from Spy X Family 2 nonetheless. Had it followed the same stand-alone story format, Spy X Family 2 would have been a massive disappointment and fallen victim to the sequel curse.

And of course, like the previous movie-worthy arc, this season had a similar flavor with different seasoning. We get to follow Yor’s journey as an Assassin while we follow Loid’s journey as a Spy in the prior season. And of course, Anya’s struggle to keep her family together is something that gives us a good time. Even if it meant putting Loid through Emotional Damage multiple times and making him overthink things. But I stand by my statement. This arc deserved to be a movie.

My Thoughts On Spy X Family 2

This year’s anime belongs to small-time productions and adaptations that stole people’s hearts while the big ones remained a hit-or-miss. Sure, we had Bleach’s TYBW, Luffy’s Gear 5 and so on, but with the recent drama with MAPPA, it seemed that the big-wigs of the anime industry took a big hit. At that moment we got Spy X Family 2 to keep our minds away from that drama.

It felt refreshing watching something known and genuinely enjoying it. And for that I am grateful. And I heard that Tokyo Revengers dropped its season 3, and it is doing better than season 2. So, I have to give that a watch as well. But before leaving, I have to say, that Spy X Family 2 kept me from ending this year’s anime viewing experience on a sour note.

Then there are the popular titles of Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Revengers, and so on. Now that is what you call a frenzy. Oh, I forgot to mention, One Piece is still running and Luffy got his Gear 5. Talk about a barrage of premium content. In the midst of all this, Netflix decides to release My Happy Marriage, a light rom-com with some elements of action and fantasy. Some expected it to fail miserably. However, that was not to be the case.

On July 5, 2023, Netflix released an Original Anime based on a Light Novel named My Happy Marriage. The show had not much to offer other than the same tropes in a different setting. But despite that, Netflix managed to pull the rug under by presenting us those very tropes, yet giving us a fresh taste. As if it was something new. Today, I am going to review the anime. My Happy Marriage.

My Happy Marriage Origins

My Happy Marriage is a Japanese light novel series written by Akumi Agitogi and illustrated by Tsukiho Tsukioka. It was initially published online via the publishing website for independent artists, Shōsetsuka ni Narō, it was later acquired by Fujimi Shobo and was later released as a Light Novel on January 2019 under their Fujimi L Bunko imprint.

Currently, 7 volumes of the novel have been released; along with a manga adaptation with 4 volumes; a Live Action film on March 17, 2023, and a Stage Play that ran from August 11-20, 2023 in Tokyo. On the 5th of July of the same year, a 12-episode ONA (Original Net Animation) on Netflix, which has currently released 7 episodes and episode 8 to air on 23 August 2023.

The setting of the story takes place in an alternative Meiji Restoration timeline, where Magic and Spirits exist, but they are on the decline. This makes sense because this show doesn’t entirely focus on that aspect. The story follows the life of Miyo Saimori, the eldest daughter of the Saimori family who has given in to the life of being a maid in her own home.

Miyo’s life has never been easy. After her mother’s death, her father remarried his former lover with whom he later had a child. If being neglected by her father, abused by her step-family and losing every last memorabilia of her late mother was not enough, Miyo’s role in the family was reduced to that of the maid due to failing to inherit the ability of magic or spirit-sight and became a shell of a human being in the process.

That is until she was betrothed to marry Kiyoka Kodou. The head of the Kodou Family, and a man rumored to be “a ruthless soldier,” and “a cold and merciless human being,” whose fiancées end up leaving him after three days. Miyo thought her life was over, but she had accepted her fate. But when her eyes met with her fiancé, she realized there was more to him than meets the eye.

The Underlying Information

When I was tasked with writing a review of My Happy Marriage, I had just finished my work on Zom 100. Nevertheless, I was intrigued. It had been a while since I had seen a romantic anime. Due to some personal reasons, I tended to avoid the category in general, but since it was for work, I thought I could give it a try. And boy did I make the right call.

Of the 7 episodes released, I only watched 6. And that was enough for me to review My Happy marriage. Kinema Citrus was responsible for the animation and had previously worked on Black Bullet, Barakamon, The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 (the show that killed the Shield Hero in my opinion) and Made in Abyss. Therefore, the animation was spot-on and smooth. And for a show about Romance and Marriage, smoothness is necessary.

As for the characters, I don’t know if that was the intention of the author or the animation team, but they made sure that you despise Miyo’s family with a burning passion. Whether it is her neglectful father whose sole intention of her betrothal was to have her driven away, or her abusive stepmother that spares no moment to point out her insecurities. But Miyo’s stepsister Kaya takes the cake in this hate game.

Seeing the face of Kaya, you know that she’s in trouble. Although she can never top Malty Melromarc from The Rising of the Shield Hero, and she takes after her mother in her quest to torment Miyo, she exceeds her own mother in that game so much that we hate her. Especially in Episode 4 and Episode 6. In both these episodes, I had wished to be an advocate of Gender Equality and beat the living crap out of this girl.

But she gets her just comeuppance in each of those episodes. And her face, when she learns that her sister is living the best moment of her life rather than being tormented, is the icing on the cake. And of course, that wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our MC’s beloved betrothed and his caretaker. Both of them provide the love and care Miyo had never received. And even though the former takes longer to do it than his own caretaker, when he does show affection, he gives you butterflies.

Did The Anime Do Well?

At first glance, when you read the plot of My Happy Marriage, you realize that there’s nothing new to offer. It has the same old trope that is used in all Shojo Anime. The heroine is mistreated, abused and bullied to the point that she loses her sense of self. She meets a man who seems cold-hearted at first but has a warm personality underneath. They fall in love and slowly, she finds the happiness that she had once lost. And you wouldn’t be wrong to think that.

But despite that, the Anime did well along with the other mediums. And why is that? Well, they may have Netflix to thank for that. Netflix has this weird relationship with Anime in general. Where their own Original Net Animation such as Baki, Records of Ragnarok, Way of the House-husband, Castlevania etc shine, their Live Action attempt with the Anime tanks so much, they replaced the “Live Action,” section of the comparison memes. But that doesn’t mean, we can deny that Netflix indeed produces some great Animation and they know how well to promote it.

Where Kinema Citrus was responsible for animating My Happy Marriage, Netflix was in charge of the distribution and promotion. And boy did they do it. Unlike other shows which overplay their cards in attempts to promote it, Netflix knew that what this show had, had already been consumed by everyone already. So, they thought to themselves, how can we make it feel unique? And they did so in the most minimalistic way.

If you were to view the trailers of My Happy Marriage, you’d realize, this isn’t much. It just gives you a general idea of what you had already read in this article. But that’s exactly what they intended. With clever editing, music and key points within the first episode of the animation, Netflix managed to grab your attention, made you sympathize with the character and made you hope that she gets her happy ending. Even though that ending was spoiled in the title.

And the anime didn’t drag their romance too much to make it seem bland. They had taken it at a pace that we were neither bored nor bemused but rather satisfied. In short, even those who believe that romance is dead might come to appreciate the anime.

My Verdict

In my last article regarding JJK, I mentioned how big animation studios failed with their Magnum opus, but within those failures were some silver linings. And that Silver Lining was that many underrated, yet original anime that would fall under the rug of the massive franchises due to their success, are getting proper attention.

And then I went ahead and wrote an article on Zom 100, which had two different adaptations and none of them sucked. On the contrary, they ruled. And now there’s My Happy Marriage.

Despite being made of the same trope consumed by everyone, with the support of Netflix and fans, the show exceeded expectations.