It seems that 2024 is shaping up to be an incredible year for anime movies. Many highly anticipated films, including those that fans have been eagerly waiting for over a decade, have already been scheduled for theatrical releases.
Makoto Shinkai, known for his three-year production cycle, released Suzume in 2022, while Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki took seven years to create The Boy and the Heron, which was released in 2023. Therefore, it’s unlikely that there will be major releases from these two prominent directors in 2024. On the other hand, Mamoru Hosoda, who typically produces movies at a three-year interval, released his latest work Belle in 2021, so there might be news of a new project from him in the near future.
In addition to brand-new original films by accomplished anime directors and screenwriters, there are plans for anime adaptations of highly anticipated manga, as well as sequels to popular anime series, all set to be released in 2024. Here, we will introduce the best anime movies of 2024 that you absolutely cannot afford to miss.
Which of these films will you be keeping an eye on?
Not only anime movies, but 2024 is also a bountiful year for TV anime series. Whether you’re new to anime or a fan, the anime series summarized in this article are must-watch: Best Anime Series of 2024.
1. Fureru
A new anime movie Fureru (ふれる。) is already set to be a major highlight of 2024, with high expectations largely due to its production team. The film is a work by the team Super Peace Busters, featuring director Tatsuyuki Nagai, screenwriter Mari Okada, and character designer Masayoshi Tanaka. This title follows their highly acclaimed works such as Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day in 2011, The Anthem of the Heart in 2015, and Her Blue Sky in 2019. The production studio is CloverWorks, whose predecessor, A-1 Pictures Koenji Studio, was responsible for the previous three works by Super Peace Busters, essentially maintaining the same team for this new project. CloverWorks, also known for producing series like Rascal Does Not Dream and Spy × Family, is rapidly gaining recognition.
Even though the detailed story has not been revealed, the direction of the work can be somewhat understood from the features of this production team and the trailer. It will likely focus on the realistic daily lives of young people, set against the backdrop of beautiful rural Japanese scenery. The story will evolve as small, extraordinary elements infiltrate this ordinary setting. While this might sound like a common contemporary anime plot, the details depicted in this movie are expected to be uniquely crafted by Super Peace Busters. This is a title highly anticipated as a candidate for the best anime of 2024.
Release date: Autumn 2024 (This is likely to be released around September to November.)
▶︎▷▶︎▷Check out 15 Best CloverWorks Anime!
▶︎▷▶︎▷Check out 5 Best Anime Movies Directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai!
▶︎▷▶︎▷Check out 7 Best Anime Written by Mari Okada!
2. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising
The most anticipated movie for anime fans in 2024 is Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ＜ワルプルギスの廻天＞). This is the latest installment in the Puella Magi Madoka Magica series, highly acclaimed as one of the best anime of the 2010s. Originally aired as a 12-episode TV anime series in 2011, the Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie trilogy was released in 2012 and 2013. The upcoming Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising serves as the fourth film in the series, and a direct sequel to the third movie, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion, released in 2013.
Like the previous movies, this latest part is produced by the studio Shaft, led by Chief Director Akiyuki Shinbo and Director Yukihiro Miyamoto, with Gen Urobuchi in charge of the screenplay, ensuring a certain level of quality in the work. The new film seems to focus on Madoka and Homura, and there’s a sense that a new story is beginning. The trailer gives off an ominous atmosphere characteristic of the series. In any case, it’s a must-watch for 2024.
Release date: Winter 2024 (This is likely to be released around January to February.)
▶︎▷▶︎▷Check out 5 Best Anime Written by Gen Urobuchi!
3. Look Back
Tatsuki Fujimoto, currently the most dynamic manga artist, has been releasing hit manga such as Fire Punch and Chainsaw Man since the late 2010s. His masterpiece short manga Look Back (ルックバック), published in 2021, is finally set to be made into an anime movie in June 2024. The production is handled by the new Studio Dorian, which has experience working on the Chainsaw Man anime series and the hit 2022 movie The First Slam Dunk. The director is Kiyotaka Oshiyama, who directed the 2016 anime Flip Flappers and worked on the design for Chainsaw Man and the late two titles of the FLCL series.
Spanning 143 pages, Look Back focuses on two girls aspiring to be manga artists while touching on several significant social issues and incidents. Ayumu Fujino, who has been good at drawing since around the age of 10, becomes aware of a girl named Kyomoto, a truant with overwhelming drawing talent. Look Back is a story of the girls’ growth, the harsh realities behind a manga artist’s life, and the shocking conclusion. Fans are delighted that this one-shot manga has been visualized in an anime movie, the ideal form for it.
Release date: June 28, 2024
▶︎▷▶︎▷Check out 6 Best Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Manga!
4. Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp
In the winter of 2024, another highly anticipated work by the studio Shaft, alongside Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising, is set to be released. It’s the remake of Kizumonogatari, titled Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp (傷物語 こよみヴァンプ), a prequel part of the popular Monogatari Series. Monogatari Series has been produced by Shaft since its inception in 2009 with Bakemonogatari. The Kizumonogatari trilogy, consisting of Tekketsu, Nekketsu, and Reiketsu, was released in 2016 and 2017. Now, this trilogy is being remade into a single film titled Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp. While the original trilogy was directed by Tatsuya Oishi under the general direction of Akiyuki Shinbo, this time, Tatsuya Oishi takes the helm as the sole director, with Akiyuki Shinbo’s name missing from the staff list.
This movie is highly recommended even for those who haven’t seen Monogatari Series, as it serves as a gateway to the franchise. It’s a prequel to the first work of the series, Bakemonogatari, telling the story of how the protagonist, Koyomi Araragi, meets the apparition king Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade, and how he becomes a vampire. The film promises to deliver all the essential elements of a great anime: a gripping and serious storyline, flashy action, humorous dialogues, and unique characters. There’s also keen anticipation to see how Studio Shaft will meet fan expectations and not just make it a mere remake.
Release date: January 12, 2024
5. Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction
It’s probably a surprise to many that Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction (デッドデッドデーモンズデデデデデストラクション) is being turned into an animated movie! This can be said to be the most anticipated anime film of 2024 by manga fans. This manga, which combines post-apocalyptic sci-fi elements with slice-of-life, was published by Inio Asano from 2014 to 2022. Speaking of Inio Asano, he is a manga artist who has created famous works like Goodnight Punpun and Solanin. The voice actors are also exciting, featuring the most popular JPOP artists of the moment, Ano and Lilas Ikuta from Yoasobi, as the voices of the two main female characters.
Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction is set in Tokyo three years after a giant spaceship appears above the city. The story follows high school students Kadode Koyama and her best friend Ouran Nakagawa as they navigate their everyday lives amidst the backdrop of this ongoing alien invasion. The manga blends slice-of-life elements with a sense of impending doom, exploring themes of adolescence, societal apathy, and the complexities of growing up in a world overshadowed by constant threat and uncertainty.
Release date: March 22, 2024 (Part 1)/May 24, 2024 (Part 2)
6. Kimi no Iro
The title Kimi no Iro (きみの色) means “Your Color”, and color is indeed a major theme of this anime film. The protagonist, a high school girl named Totsuko who attends a mission school in Nagasaki City, can see people’s emotions as colors. Because she can discern the colors of happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy in her friends and family, she becomes overly cautious not to trigger their negative emotions, often reading the room and telling lies to smooth over situations, losing touch with her true self in the process. She meets a beautiful girl who radiates stunning colors and a boy who loves music. These three delicate souls form a band and weave a new drama.
The gentle and delicate atmosphere of this story becomes clear when looking at the production staff. The director is Naoko Yamada, who established the genre of slice-of-life anime at Kyoto Animation with works like K-On! and A Silent Voice. The screenplay is by Reiko Yoshida, known for her work on Naoko Yamada’s projects, Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns, and Violet Evergarden. Adding emotional music to this story is Kensuke Ushio, known for his work on A Silent Voice and Chainsaw Man. The production studio, Science Saru, was established by Masaaki Yuasa, with Naoko Yamada having collaborated with this studio on the 2021 anime series The Heike Story. Originally announced for release in the autumn of 2023, the premiere was delayed to further enhance the quality of Kimi no Iro. Let’s look forward to it.
Release date: Within 2024
7. Trapezium
A unique new anime movie seems to be in the making. Set to be released in May 2024, Trapezium (トラペジウム) is a coming-of-age story about a girl who aspires to be an idol, spanning over ten years. The anime is based on a novel published in 2018, written by Kazumi Takayama, a former original member of Nogizaka46. Nogizaka46 is currently one of the most well-known female idol groups in Japan, having led the Japanese music scene since its formation in 2011. The movie Trapezium emerged from a story about idols that could only be depicted by someone like her.
Kazumi Takayama, the original author, is deeply involved in the movie’s production, which is being completed by CloverWorks, one of the most highly regarded studios today. Yu Azuma, a first-year high school student, sets four rules for herself to become an idol: “Don’t do social media,” “Don’t have a boyfriend,” “Don’t stand out at school,” and “Make friends with the most beautiful girls from the north, south, east, and west.” The story focuses on the outcome of the dream that Yu, who befriends three beautiful girls from different high schools, chases throughout her high school life.
Release date: May 10, 2024
8. Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture
Who could have predicted that a brand new installment of that popular franchise was on its way? It was announced in the Code Geass Next 10 Years Project that a new anime, Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture (コードギアス 奪還のロゼ), will be released from May 2024. This new series will feature new protagonists and will be developed over four acts. The popular mecha dark fantasy anime Code Geass has been praised as one of the best anime of the 2000s since its broadcast in 2006 and 2007. More recently, it garnered significant attention again with the release of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection in 2019.
The story of Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture unfolds around the “recapture” journey of the protagonist brothers, Roze and Ash, giving birth to a new Code Geass. The director is Yoshimitsu Ohashi, known for Galaxy Angel, and the original character design is by Clamp, known for the Cardcaptor Sakura series. Additionally, staff who supported the production of the previous Code Geass series are also assembling for this project.
Release date: May 10, 2024 (Part 1)/June 7, 2024 (Part 2)/July 5, 2024 (Part 3)/August 2, 2024 (Part 4)
9. Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Signpost
Every April, it has become a tradition for a new movie in the epic mystery series Detective Conan to be released. The 2024 release will be the 27th film in the Detective Conan series, titled Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Signpost (名探偵コナン 100万ドルの五稜星). This movie had long been hinted to feature Kaito Kid and Heiji Hattori as key characters, making it the first time since 2010’s Detective Conan: The Lost Ship in the Sky that Kid and Hattori appear together, a gap of 13 films. The original manga by Gosho Aoyama has already reached 104 volumes, and its popularity is at its peak.
What makes this year an exception is that another Conan movie will be released before the April new release. Detective Conan vs. Kid the Phantom Thief (名探偵コナン vs. 怪盗キッド) will hit theaters on January 5, 2024. This film is a recompilation of TV anime episodes centered around Kid and Conan, such as Conan vs. Kaito Kid and Gathered Great Detectives! Jimmy Kudo vs. Phantom Thief Kid. Since Detective Conan is enjoyable for people of all ages, its popularity is unlikely to wane.
Release date: April 12, 2024
10. Haikyu!! the Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump
When it comes to anime movies, they often refer to spin-offs of a series or standalone works. However, it’s not uncommon nowadays for anime movies to be produced as sequels to TV anime series. The popular sports anime Haikyu!! is one such example. Between 2014 and 2020, four seasons (85 episodes) were broadcast on TV, and it was decided that the continuation would be produced as a two-part movie called Haikyu!! FINAL. The first part, Haikyu!! the Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump (劇場版ハイキュー!! ゴミ捨て場の決戦), is set to be released on February 16. It will adapt the content from volume 33 onwards of the original manga, which spans a total of 45 volumes.
Haikyu!! the Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump covers one of the most popular sotry arcs in the original manga series: the match between Karasuno High School and Nekoma High School in the third round of the biggest Spring High Tournament (commonly referred to as the Garbage Dump Battle). In this crucial scene at the national tournament, Karasuno High School faces its first official match against its rival school, Nekoma High School. Haikyu!! is more than just a sports anime; it’s a drama that you can’t take your eyes off until its conclusion.
Release date: February 16, 2024
If you enjoy the following story after the latest Haikyu anime ends, check out this manga reading guide: Where Does Haikyu!! Anime End in Manga?
11. Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom
The latest work of Overlord, now considered one of the most popular anime in the Naro-kei and isekai genre, is finally coming to theaters this year: Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom (オーバーロード 聖王国編). Based on the light novel by Kugane Maruyama, which has been published since 2012, Overlord first realized its anime adaptation in 2015. Following that, seasons 2 to 4 were broadcast in 2018 and 2022. The new anime movie, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom, has been a highly anticipated title since then. Continuing from the TV series, Naoyuki Itou directs, with Madhouse in charge of animation production.
This The Sacred Kingdom Arc is an episode particularly popular among many light novel series fans and is a legitimate sequel to anime series season 4. This part, also known as The Paladin of the Sacred Kingdom, corresponds to volumes 12 and 13 of the original light novel. The Sacred Kingdom is attacked by Jaldabaoth, and now the question is how Ainz will face this challenge.
Release date: Within 2024
The continuation of the Overlord anime can be enjoyed first in the light novel. If you’re interested, check out this reading guide: Where Does Overlord Anime End in Light Novels and Manga?
12. Blue Lock: Episode Nagi
With soccer being a popular sport, there are many manga and anime on this theme, so it was surprising to see such a work become popular again. Blue Lock started broadcasting in 2022 and has since captured a wider audience beyond just anime fans. Following the first season of 24 episodes, a sequel is eagerly anticipated, and in April 2024, the series’ first anime movie, Blue Lock: Episode Nagi (劇場版ブルーロック -EPISODE 凪-), will be released. This story unfolds from the perspective of Seishiro Nagi, one of the most popular characters, and his best friend Reo Mikage, instead of the main protagonist.
The story begins as a prequel, where Reo Mikage quickly discovers the talent of Seishiro Nagi, who lived a life of listlessness, and immerses him in soccer before they enter the Blue Lock facility. In the TV series, which progresses from the protagonist Yoichi Isagi’s point of view, Seishiro and Reo appear in the middle of the story, but the movie will also depict episodes that weren’t shown in the series. For fans of Blue Lock, this is a must-see movie in 2024.
Release date: April 19, 2024
If you enjoy the following story after the latest Blue Lock anime ends, check out this manga reading guide: Where Does Blue Lock Anime End in Manga?
13. Bocchi the Rock!: The Movie
Bocchi the Rock! (ぼっち・ざ・ろっく!) is making its return to theaters in 2024. This anime, focused on the band activities of a group of girls, is originally based on a manga serialized in Manga Time Kirara Max, and was adapted into an anime by CloverWorks in 2022, receiving a great response. The anime series will be re-edited into two parts, with the first and second halves scheduled for release in the summer of 2024, respectively. It’s no exaggeration to say that Bocchi the Rock! is considered one of the best anime of the 2020s by many anime fans.
It follows the story of Hitori Goto, a high school student with extreme social anxiety, whose only passion was playing the guitar, as she gets dragged into a band and starts activities with its members. The process of how Bocchi-chan (her nickname) manages to play the guitar in front of people, amidst laughter and emotion, is beautifully portrayed. Bocchi the Rock! is an anime that makes you appreciate the charm of slice-of-life comedy. For those who haven’t seen the anime series yet, I recommend taking this opportunity to watch it. It will be interesting to see how the 12 episodes are restructured and reborn into two movies of 1-2 hours each.
Release date: June 7, 2024 (Part 1)/August 9, 2024 (Part 2)
If you find yourself captivated by the world of Bocchi the Rock!, it’s highly recommended reading the original manga as well: What Chapter Does Bocchi the Rock! Anime End in Manga?
14. Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, a series that has been doing well since its anime debut in 2018, is scheduled to release a new movie in theaters this May. The title of the movie is Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー 新時代の扉). The second season was aired in 2021, and the third season was just broadcast in 2023. The Uma Musume series, which made its name known through a breeding simulation game in 2021, is a unique series that depicts famous racehorses from the past as female characters through anthropomorphism.
While different protagonists have been featured in each season, Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era will revolve around a story centered on Jungle Pocket. She challenges the honorable Classic Triple Crown races, which can only be run once in a lifetime. Her rivals in the story are contemporary great horses such as Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe. A new story is now beginning.
Release date: May 24, 2024
15. Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation
The renowned author of ONE PIECE, Eiichiro Oda’s short story Monsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation (MONSTERS 一百三情飛龍侍極) has been greenlit for anime adaptation, which was finally released on Netflix globally in January, 2024. Announced in July 2023 during the ONE PIECE DAY’23 event, this project serves as a grand finale for the 25th anniversary year of One Piece serialization. Monsters is a short story included in WANTED! Eiichiro Oda Short Story Collection and is adapted into a one-shot anime episode lasting 20-30 minutes. This is a short animation, but since it’s a one-shot and broadly classified as an anime movie, it has been included in this 2024 Best Anime Movies list.
Intriguingly, the director for this anime is Sunghoo Park, known for his work on the first season of Jujutsu Kaisen and the movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0, heightening expectations. The studio behind the project is E&H Production, led by Sunghoo Park. The story revolves around the exploits of samurai Ryuma in a singular town, a swashbuckling tale of swordplay. Interestingly, the roots of the samurai in One piece can be traced back to this very story.
Who would miss the chance to watch every episode of the greatest ongoing anime series One Piece on a real-time basis? Mo[…]
This is a collection of lists of the best anime movies from the past.
This time, we have introduced the latest must-see anime movies above, but if you look at all-time releases, you should find many more fascinating titles. To further enjoy the world of anime, make sure to check out these best anime movies: 34 Best Anime Movies of All Time.
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