11 Must-Watch Original Anime Series/Films For Summer 2024

Here is a comprehensive list of new anime series across various genres and themes, making their debut in Summer 2024.

Everyone knows about the big returning/continuing anime series like My Hero Academia , One Piece , or That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime for Summer 2024. But what about the completely original ones? This is why I have curated a solid list of anime series/films making their debut this season across various streaming sites beginning next week. There are a lot more great original series to check out this season, but these were some of the ones that caught my eye—from word of mouth, releases from Crunchyroll , Netflix , HiDive and forums. This season’s trend seems to be isekai , isekai, and more isekai. But there were some surprises mixed in.

1. Suicide Squad Isekai (WIT Studio) — Max, Hulu — June 27

Warner Bros. Japan announced this anime series back at Anime Expo 2023 , exciting a lot of fans. DC is also planning to announce the upcoming sequel to Batman Ninja, Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza , at Anime Expo this year. Suicide Squad Isekai will follow notorious criminals Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface, and King Shark, who embark on a dangerous mission to Isekai, an otherworldly realm of swords, magic, orcs and flying dragons. As with most of the Suicide Squad film/TV adaptations, we can expect a lot of the usual outlandish antics—just with an anime twist.

2. Senpai is an Otokonoko (Project No. 9) — Crunchyroll — July 5

This is a wild romance anime adapted from the manga of the same name, involving a love triangle between three Japanese high school students. The story primarily revolves around a young man, Makoto Hanaoka, who crossdresses as a woman while facing family disapproval. Saki Aoi is a girl who falls in love with him under the belief that he identifies as a woman. Meanwhile, Makoto’s childhood friend Ryuji Taiga also forms an intimate bond with Makoto but is initially unsure about being with another man. It was popular amongst readers for the story and its themes around searching for love beyond gender, and more through to human connections.

3. The Imaginary (Studio Ponoc) — Netflix — July 5

This anime film adaptation intrigued me from the moment I heard about it a few months back. It is based on the British children’s novel of the same name, written by A.F. Harrold. The narrative focuses on Rudger, a boy who is one of the invisible entities known as Imaginaries, created by a girl named Amanda who is coping with emotional loss. Studio Ponoc’s founder, Yoshiaki Nishimura, was a former lead film producer of Studio Ghibli and opened up the studio in 2015, making Mary and the Witch’s Flower their debut film. The Imaginary pays homage to the company’s roots, using intricate hand-drawn animation!

4. The Elusive Samurai (CloverWorks) — (No Streaming Service Announced Yet) — July 6

The Elusive Samurai has not been elusive to my eye! I heard rumblings that the manga had been going steady, with the narrative having some interesting twists to the genre. It is a historical adventure narrative (based on real time periods and named people) set between the Kamakura and Muromachi periods during the Kenmu Restoration. The story follows the tale of Hojo Tokiyuki, a boy on the run after his family is overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji. What makes it interesting is that the boy only has one special weapon: the superhuman ability to flee and hide.

5. Plus-Sized Elf (Elias) — HiDive — July 6

This one goes out to all my ecchi fans out there; you know who you are! Despite the racy, naughty content, it has been regarded to be a good comedic manga series too. The series is told from the perspective of dietician Tomoatsu Naoe who works at a relaxation clinic called Smiley Bear. He meets a new client named Elfuda, an elf who gained an excessive amount of weight during her stay in the human world, eating her favourite human dish, french fries! She needs his help shedding pounds so she can return to her home universe. Tomoatsu also assists other overweight mythical beings in the process.

6. Quality Assurance in Another World (100Studio and Studio Palette) — Crunchyroll — July 6

Quality Assurance in Another World has been a fan-favourite for manga readers (especially since its manga run announcement back at Anime Expo 2022). The story is lauded for its “intense” and “fun” storytelling, with some calling it an interesting spin on the isekai genre. Now, the anime will cover the story of how a village resident, Nikola, becomes intrigued by a man who comes to the village’s aid during a dragon attack. Haga, a member of a secret royal team of investigators called “Seeker”, intrigues her with his eccentric ways. Both of them hold secrets that could change each other’s existence.

7. Dungeon People (OLM) — HiDive — July 6

This anime is more like a light-hearted version of Made in Abyss , as it follows young expert thief Clay, who is searching the dungeon for her long-lost father. As Clay gains the most experience about the unexplored dungeon from any adventurer before while searching for her father, she is offered a job as the dungeon’s caretaker. She accepts it. With her new job, Clay must learn how to interview new monsters, set traps and position slimes around the dungeon. Overall, it looks to be a well-rounded comedy/fantasy adventure.

8. My Deer Friend Nokotan (WIT Studio) — (No Streaming Service Announced Yet) — July 7

If you want a strange, hilarious slice-of-life/comedy anime series, My Deer Friend Nokotan is a great place to start. The premise revolves around Torako Koshi, a popular girl who always keeps up her appearance as an upstanding student. However, a bizarre girl with antlers named Noko Shikanoko transfers to the school, and her keen deer senses can sniff out that Torako used to be a delinquent. As a counter, Torako begins to notice that Noko is also peculiar for her detachable antlers. If you are not sucked into this concept yet, Noko’s antlers have been known to be used as many things, from explosives to food storage!

9. Wistoria: Wand and Sword (Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures) — Crunchyroll — July 7

During their panel at Anime NYC, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the manga for English publication, with the first volume released in Q4 2022. The Japanese run began back in December 2020. If you have not seen the trailer, the animation is really captivating! It follows Will Serfort, who dreams of keeping his promise to a childhood friend by becoming a Magia Vander—a top wizard essentially. However, he is unable to use magic and can only rely on his sword skills. While it has some light-heartedness and playfulness in concept, similar to Mashle: Magic and Muscles , this anime seems to be on the more serious side. The animation is stunning, and those eyelashes—do not get me started!

10. No Longer Allowed In Another World (Atelier Pontdarc) — Crunchyroll — July 9

Loosely based on the real-life author Osamu Dazai, this anime series explores Osamu’s death in 1948—if he got isekai’d! Typically, the person entering an iskai world would be granted video game-like powers and go on a hero’s journey. However, video games have not been invented yet, and Osamu just genuinely wants to die in peace as a poetic end for a melancholic author. Despite running into various adventures and risking it all, everything keeps working out for him in this world. Follow the most miserable hero in this bleak isekai comedy/parody as he tries to die but sadly cannot be put out of his misery.

11. Delico Nursery (aka Trump ) (J.C.Staff) — Crunchyroll — August 8

This anime is probably one of the most intriguing ones for this summer 2024 anime lineup. It has some Castlevania vibes meets Game of Thrones/ House of the Dragon meets SPY x FAMILY ; it somehow works! This tale of noblesse oblige childcare struggles by vampire aristocrats revolves around one of the coolest named characters I have heard of, Dali Delico. He is an aristocrat from the prestigious Delico family and an elite member of the Blood Pact Council who has a promising future.

He is ordered to carry out a certain mission by the Blood Pact Council, the highest governing body of vampires, but Dali flatly refuses. When Gerhard, Dino, and Henrique, who are frustrated fellow members of the Diet, go to try to persuade Dali, they find Dali cradling a young child himself. He tells them that he wants to focus his efforts on his child-rearing abilities.

Meanwhile, a mysterious series of murders targeting vampires occur in the streets. There seems to be some sort of past connection between Dali and the anti-social organization Pendulum, which is believed to be the mastermind. While the premise seems a little aloof, it is very much serious. The Gothic world blended with Japanese animation is very immaculate; I personally love the thoughtful attention to the dark lines for each character’s unique eyelashes! Yep, it seems like this anime season is an eyelashes-on-fleek season too!

Check back here to see updates to the anime series that have not announced a streaming service yet as of the date this article is being published.