These years just keep passing by faster and faster, unfortunately. It’s time for another year-end Top Ten list. These are always an interesting exercise for me for a lot of reasons. What stands out for me this time is that my recollection of how good or poor an anime year 2024 was didn’t align with the reality once I started grinding the details (I’ll let you guess in which direction). Also, there was no drama for the top few spots, which is rare – they were clear in mind before I started prepping the list and nothing about the process changed that in the slightest.
A reminder – once more I’ll be revealing the #1 series via an “Anime of the Year” video on the LiA YouTube channel (a video which I will of course link here).
A Refresher on Eligibility:
I’m going by the same eligibility standard I used for the 2012-2023 lists – that is, shows that finished airing during the year or split-cours that finished in 2024 are eligible. Split-cour series which finish in 2024 (like Dandadan) are not eligible for this list, but series that ended this year and weren’t officially confirmed as split cour when they did are eligible. Shows that aired for the entire year (there weren’t any in consideration for me this year) are also eligible.
This means that in effect, the only shows not eligible for this list are the multi-cour series that began airing from Spring 2024 onwards and are still airing into Winter 2025, or true split cours that will finish in 2025.
As you know I always like to do a little contest, so here we go… The winner will be anyone that guesses my Top 10, in order. If no one does that, I’ll go with the closest guess. Guesses made by 2200 JST 12/22/24 will be eligible. Here’s the prize: same as last year, I’ll do a “Top 5” list or haiku on any anime theme or topic you choose. Dealer’s choice – you make the call. Please post your guesses in the comments below!
As LiA regulars know I like to start these lists off with an “Honorable Mention”, so without further ado…
Honorable Mention – T.P. Bon
Netflix had an interesting and generally very good year in anime. More and more, I think, they’re a key player in keeping the medium from wholly descending into formula and mediocrity (a process asserting itself strongly as I look ahead to 2025, unfortunately). One way they’re valuable is that they fund the production of stuff that would otherwise never get a Yen from a traditional production committee – stuff like Pluto and Chikyuugai Shounen Shoujo to single out two of the finest examples. That role used to fall to NoitaminA (on a more limited basis of course) but they’re not really swimming in those waters these days.
That brings us to T.P. Bon, Fujiko Fujio’s “other” manga (Doraemon being among the biggest properties in Japanese media history). It got an anime in 1989 and it hardly seemed to be a candidate for another, but for whatever reason Netflix felt differently. And I’m very glad they did. Not only that, it was produced by Bones and directed by Andou Masahiro. Despite that it was roundly ignored by Western anime fans, bearing as it does the double-whammy of being a Netflix series and superficially a “children’s” show.
As usual, their loss. I don’t dispute that kids could enjoy T.P. Bon, or even that they were Fujiko’s main target audience. In fact I’d go so far as to say kids absolutely should watch it. But like any good all-ages entertainment, it has plenty for grown-ups. The writing is sharp and subtle, the humor has an edge to it, and the stories can get almost shockingly dark. Plus, of course given the pedigree the production itself is top-notch.
Most of all I’m glad T.P. Bon exists because it’s genuinely subversive – and that’s a quality Japanese society desperately needs more of. The overarching message is “think for yourself” – don’t just accept what you’re told (even by teachers and parents) at face value. It broaches subjects that make the Japanese uncomfortable, like institutional racism and censorship. Its take on history is genuinely interesting, and I suspect both kids and adults could learn a lot from it. It’s a good show, and it has a genuinely important perspective it’s not afraid to share. If that doesn’t deserve to be mentioned honorably I don’t know what does.
The post 2024 Anime Year in Review: The Top 10 – Honorable Mention appeared first on Lost in Anime.
