There's no doubt that Solo Leveling Season 1's victory at the 2024 Crunchyroll Awards sparked strong reactions among viewers, especially since the nominees on the slate have been somewhat of a mixed bag, with each title being groundbreaking in its own way. Even if some of them have some glaring flaws, after digging beneath the initial reactions, there's a lot to love about these series, and they deserve to be on any anime fan's watchlist.

2024 had amazing gem series like Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2, Yatagarasu, or Dead Dead Demons Dededede Destruction. So whether some believe that Solo Leveling Season 1 deserves the accolade or not, for those searching for what makes these nominees' titles so noteworthing and deserving of being recognized, here's how the Anime of the Year at the 2024 Crunchyroll Awards nominees should be ranked and why viewers need to check out each one of them.

6 Kaiju No. 8

Animated by Production I. G and Studio Khara; Based on the Manga by Naoya Matsumoto

Bringing the MonsterVerse into anime, Kaiju No. 8 is a refreshing shōnen that knew how to appeal to a broader audience by making its protagonist, Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old man who has given up on his dream instead of the typical teenager in every other anime of the demographic. While its goofy, charismatic characters create many hilarious moments, making the anime easy to binge-watch due to its lighthearted tone, the best part of Kaiju No. 8 is undoubtedly its exciting battles against the humongous kaijus who run rampant, destroying everything in their path.

Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 will premiere in July 2025.

Furthermore, Kaiju No. 8 perfectly sets up its world and hints that there's more behind the enemies they face, building up its plot and leaving viewers wanting more. As a result, Kaiju No. 8 Season 1 feels like an extended introductory arc. The anime still needs to develop its story to stand out from the other hit animes of 2024 and achieve success in the long run. Additionally, the anime features stunning animation during its major fights, but its inconsistent character design was a negative aspect of the series that has fortunately been addressed ahead of Kaiju No. 8 season 2.

5 Dandadan

Animated by Science Saru; Based on the Manga by Yukinobu Tatsu

Dandadan was the unexpected hit anime of 2024, surprising viewers with its unpredictable story that managed to perfectly balance widely different genres in an entertaining way. Dandadan is a dark fantasy shonen, rom-com, and sci-fi with paranormal horror elements all at once, but far from what it sounds like a parody series, the anime skillfully uses its unique setting to its benefit to convey deep themes like friendship, acceptance, family, and regrets in an emotional way that hits harder to viewers through heartbreaking backstories.

While its eccentric and bizarre story may not be everyone's cup of tea, as some early scenes in the series could be too much for sensitive viewers, Dandadan has stood out by embracing its weird premise and enhancing it with a unique animation style that uses vibrant colors, frenetic action sequences, and chaotic scenes that don't resemble anything seen in the anime medium before. Dandadan has something for everyone, casually going from fights against paranormal creatures from Japanese mythology to interplanetary creatures that kidnapped humans to slow-burn high school romance and introducing the most bizarre quest ever seen in shonen.

4 Delicious in Dungeon

Animated by Studio Trigger; Based on the Manga by Ryoko Kui

Delicious in Dungeon mixes both gastronomy and fantasy, turning dungeon exploration into a gourmet adventure in the purest form of those who do not eat are eaten. The anime features high-quality animation, lighthearted comedy, and great character dynamics, but the aspect that makes Delicious in Dungeon one of the best animes of 2024 is its amazing worldbuilding, as the series features a complex underground world with a balanced ecosystem that hosts many dangerous creatures, building out the series' overarching plot as the characters go deeper into this dungeon and get closer to rescuing their companion.

Furthermore, it may seem like a slice-of-life anime about life in a dungeon, but Delicious in Dungeon excels at introducing its darker, more serious elements in an unexpected way that breaks the tone of the series, making viewers anticipate more of this side of the story and resulting in the show feeling too slow-paced at times. However, as the later events feel like a herald of things to come, they tease that Delicious in Dungeon's season will be even better and bring the anime to its absolute peak moments.

3 The Apothecary Diaries

Animated by OLM; Based on the Light Novel by Natsu Hyuga and Touko Shino

Not only did The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 have one of the best opening sequences in recent years, enthralling viewers with a display of animated beauty with a sound proposal at its finest point, but more than being visually excellent, the anime captivates with its fascinating plot. Beyond the typical romance (which still builds up slowly throughout the story), The Apothecary Diaries has a more detective approach, with great mysteries that tie in with a greater political conspiracy, managing to redefine its genre and appeal to a broader audience.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 manages to make palatial life interesting for any type of viewer, even those who enjoy another genre of anime

As the series reveals the past and the true identity of important figures within the imperial court who may influence changes in the power games of the palace and, subsequently, the life of Maomao, The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 manages to make palatial life interesting for any type of viewer, even those who enjoy another genre of anime. Furthermore, it delves into its cast, developing endearing and complex characters, leaving viewers wanting to continue Maomao and Jinshi's story.

2 Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

Animated by Madhouse; Based on the Manga by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is one of the most beautiful adaptations of the last decade and well-deserved for its great reception among fans of the medium for how it subverted the classic fantasy anime. The anime's greatest strength is precisely its focus on interior development instead of the physical or power growth of the characters, becoming a journey whose true purpose is to create lasting bonds and reflect on the importance of the twists in life and the meaning of human connections hidden in the facade of a great adventure on the outside.

This introspective story where Frieren learns about how ephemeral life is and learns to interact with others has touched the sensitive fiber of viewers, receiving worldwide acclaim thanks to Madhouse's breathtaking artistic direction with beautifully colored landscapes and a soothing soundtrack that elevates the heartwarming and emotional moments in the series. Additionally, the series is filled with comedic and dramatic moments and action that blend in an organic way.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has a confirmed Season 2 in production.

Frieren may feel slow at times, but its deeply human story that intertwines the past and present with startling emotion makes it one of the most unique animes in recent years. Being placed after Solo Leveling, which caters to more viewers in today’s anime landscape due to its fast-paced story, has been divisive, and rightfully so due to Frieren’s critical acclaim. Still, the anime is a subtle work of art that takes its time but develops into a comforting viewing experience, which makes it all the more powerful for it.

1 Solo Leveling

Animated by A-1 Pictures; Based on the Web Novel by Chugong

Solo Leveling's immense popularity is by no means undeserved, as it took further ahead the common power fantasy premise and enhanced it into a series that viewers can't help but look at. With an unprecedented success not seen since anime like Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling takes the crown as the rising anime of 2024, thanks to the high-quality and technical proposal by A-1 Pictures that brought to life some of the best action sequences in animation, being a visual feast for the eyes and following the path set by anime like One Punch Man Season 1.

From a fantastic soundtrack by the renowned Hiroyuki Sawano that conveys the atmosphere of dreadful life-or-death situations and brilliant battle choreography that knows how to make use of perspective and movement to showcase speed and intensity, Solo Leveling builds up tension to keep viewers hooked and waiting for the next episode. Moreover, the fact that Solo Leveling Season 1 managed to break record after record is a bigger feat as it also became the first adaptation with a non-Japanese source material to be nominated for best anime of the year.

So, even though Solo Leveling Season 1 mostly focuses on fights that seem unconnected, each of them serves as development for Jinwoo, who starts as the weakest hunter but tries to gain the strength he needs to survive inside the dungeons. Furthermore, the anime subtly gives hints about the mystery surrounding the system that forces him to keep leveling up, being more than a plot device but something that ties into the series' overarching plot, teasing that the story only gets better from that point onward.