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Watch These Summer 2024 Anime Before It’s Too Late
Oshi no Ko Season 2
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
There were a lot of returns and new seasons this Summer, but the one that has made a huge impact has been Oshi no Ko. Season 2 of the anime took on a much different arc than seen in the first season, but expanded the roster to include some fun new characters and ideas that allowed the series to show off more of the Japanese entertainment industry. It was a fun season not only for its explanations of how a popular manga gets adapted into a stage play (and all of the issues that can arise as a result), but also made some big changes to the overall story.
Then it treats fans with incredible visual work from studio Doga Kobo. While this might not seem like an anime where you’ll get fantastic looking sequences every week, but Oshi no Ko has some truly experimental art that hits some of the highest Shonen peaks of the Summer overall. It’s a visual and narrative treat, so make sure you watch it before the year ends.
Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Speaking of Doga Kobo, the studio also lent their talents to an entirely different kind of series this Summer. Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian immediately stood out from many of the other romantic comedy offerings of the Summer for its central premise alone, but then it took things further with bursts of really impressive movement in the wildest of places. It’s surprising when you see a character move in a way you didn’t expect, and this show has plenty of those tiny surprises stacked within its 12 episode run time.
It also smartly incorporates a bit of the teasing trend seen in some romantic comedies as Alya teases the male lead, Masachika, by speaking in her native language, Russian. Just as the title suggests, she actually cares quite a deal for Masachika and hides it with her language. But the trick here is that Masachika actually is fluent in Russian, and thus sees straight through her teasing and lies. So it’s a balance of seeing him knowingly ignore her open confessions because he doesn’t want to embarrass her. All the while he’s feeling the same way. It’s a cute series that you can binge through with ease.
Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Let’s say you want a romantic comedy sort of show with tons of great character work and animation, but don’t want any of that actual romance within it. Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines is a show about the characters that always lose in romantic comedies. When a protagonist has many girls vying for them, and ultimately chooses one by the time the show comes to an end, it means the rest of the girls have to “lose.” This series instead focuses on those losers, and fleshes them out to the point where they become fully realized heroines in their own right.
Through the eyes of Nukumizu, a nerd who’s really into the light novels that a show like this is aping, fans get to know these side characters who lose at love and become much better people as a result. It’s a dramatic story full of love, loss, and tons of cute moments from these heroines as they all become friends with one another and find connection within all of their romantic losses. It’s not the kind of series that isn’t talked about every week, but now that it’s over, it’s the best time to binge it and check it out.
I Parry Everything
Where to Watch: HIDIVE
Speaking of shows that not many are talking about, I Parry Everything really went under the radar. There’s been a fun trend in recent light novel adaptations where older protagonists still find ways to achieve their dreams late in life despite those around them telling them that they don’t have the inherent skills or abilities to succeed. This Summer had two of those shows (with the second being The Ossan Newbie Adventurer), and both of them were quite fun in this aspect. But out of the two, I Parry Everything had a little more fun with the concept as the main character is unaware of just how strong he is.
Noor is an orphan who dreams of becoming an adventurer, and despite years of training only learns how to parry. But when he actually starts becoming a very low ranked adventurer in his 30s, his immense strength through his daily training make it to where he can literally parry everything from the strongest demons to dragon’s breath. He’s just a nice guy who succeeds, and continues to be humble because he never quite believes he’s as strong as everyone tries to tell him he is. Couple that with some truly awesome fight sequences (with a level of comedy injected from Noor’s inner thoughts throughout), and I Parry Everything has everything.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
In terms of traditional action, there’s no better series this Summer than Wistoria: Wand & Sword. It started out feeling a little bit same-y with its central conceit following a main character who lacks magic of his own trying to make it big in a world ruled by magic, but then it went on to find its own identity as the episodes continued. Will Serfort lives in a world full of prejudices, but he’s still trying to succeed in school despite not having magical abilities of his own. With his childhood friend ascending to the top of this world as one of its most powerful wizards, Will’s goal in life is to reunite with her. And he’ll do whatever it takes to do so.
Will fights through some intense battles over the course of the series to not only impress those who had previously doubted him, but also reveal the strength with a sword that he’s built up through hard work alone. It’s a traditional fantasy series (so fans looking for more non-Isekai fantasy will enjoy) with the fun of Black Clover and the action sequences to help back it all up. It might just have been the most impressive anime to watch this Summer overall.
