As the Winter 2024 anime season nears its end, Japanese social media is buzzing with discussions about how underwhelming this anime season has been. Anime watchers, who have been pampered by numerous hit series in previous seasons, are voicing their dissatisfaction with the current offerings.
In the previous anime season (Fall 2023,) viewers were spoiled with a wealth of eagerly awaited shows, such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Spy x Family, Frieren, Attack on Titan, and Dr. Stone.
The preceding season was equally remarkable, with titles like Mushoku Tensei, Zom 100, Horimiya Piece, and the Bleach TYBW arc capturing audiences’ attention.
Unfortunately, the Winter 2024 season appears to lack the richness and depth of its forerunners. While some fans have singled out Solo Leveling as the season’s standout series, others contend that it doesn’t quite compare to the heavy hitters of earlier seasons.
It’s significant to mention that two popular series, Frieren and The Apothecary Diaries, began airing in Fall 2023 and are not regarded as part of the Winter 2024 lineup. This has further added to the impression that the current season is deficient in terms of quality and diversity.
Japanese fans have flocked to the Yaraon blog and X (formerly Twitter) to voice their disappointment. One commenter bemoaned, “It’s not good when a season concludes without a series that particularly stands out.” Another reminded fellow fans, “Neither Sousou no Frieren nor The Apothecary Diaries are from this season, keep that in mind.“
Some viewers have found comfort in lesser-known titles, with one commenter listing “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” as their picks for the season.
The adaptation of Sasaki to Pii-chan has been a specific source of frustration for fans. While the first episode generated a lot of excitement, subsequent episodes have left viewers dissatisfied. “It’s the worst when Sasaki to Pii-chan gets its long-awaited anime adaptation and everything turns out to be a disaster,” one commenter lamented.
Other fans have pointed to Dungeon Meshi and Hazbin Hotel as the most noteworthy series of the season, but the general sentiment remains that Winter 2024 has failed to provide the same level of excitement and quality as previous seasons.
Here are some more comments from the Yaraon blog:
- 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 continues to progress, it’s evident that fans have lofty expectations for each new season. While the Winter 2024 lineup may not have lived up to the hype, there’s always hope that the next season will usher in a fresh wave of must-watch series.
Source: Yaraon
