Another season begins and that means new anime are landing. Here is our Fall Anime 2024 first episode Impressions list. Enjoy!
Trillion Game
Animation Studio: MADHOUSE
Synopsis: Two former classmates decide to team up to earn a trillion dollars. With one’s smooth talking and the other’s tech-savvy, will they be able to reach their goal?
What Works: Solid odd-couple chemistry between the two leads gives the show a firm base on which to build.
What Doesn’t: The visual style doesn’t land well.
Initial Impression: Fair
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Blue Box
Animation Studio: Telecom Animation Film
Synopsis: When Taiki heads for school every morning, he can’t wait to see his fellow student Chinatsu. Both athletes, they strive for greatness in their sports, while Taiki hopes to one day get Chintasu’s attention romantically.
What Works: Blending sports and romance, the series looks to deliver both through great animation and heartfelt writing.
What Doesn’t: The initial offering is everything one could ask for. No Notes.
Initial Impression: Fantastic
This series is streaming on Netflix.
You can check out our full review of episode one here and look forward to our weekly coverage.
Goodbye, Dragon Life
Animation Studio: Vega Entertainment, Synergy SP
Synopsis: Dolan once lived as an elder dragon till humans killed him. Now, reincarnated as a human, though retaining some of his powers, he lives a quiet life in a small village.
What Works: The first episode presents a solid balance of slice-of-life and adventure elements.
What Doesn’t: From the characters to the animation, nothing here stands out.
Initial Impression: fair
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms
Animation Studio: TriF Studio
Synopsis: Hikaru was a normal student till he became fused with Alma, a mecha-ude that grants incredible power. Now, with the help of the ARMS organization, he must protect Alma from those who look to exploit his special powers.
What Works: The striking art style makes combat eye-catching. Once the two leads are stuck together, they bring a fun energy.
What Doesn’t: A couple of jokes don’t land, and plot moments are forced by characters not bothering to talk to each other.
Initial Impression: good
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
365 Days to the Wedding
Animation Studio: Ashi Productions
Synopsis: To avoid being reassigned to Alsaka by their company, Takuya and Rika decide to pretend to get married. Both socially awkward, they hope their “engagement” passes with little notice.
What Works: Both leads are sympathetic and the reason their plan backfires on them is wonderfully heartwarming.
What Doesn’t: Centering a series around a pair of socially awkward people leads to a lot of silence when the duo are together. This keeps them from being able to hold onto the viewer’s attention.
Initial Impression: Fair
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
You can read our full review of episode one here and look forward to our weekly coverage.
Negative Positive Angler
Animation Studio: NUT Inc.
Synopsis: Tsunehiro Sasaki is drowning in debt and his doctor has told him he has only two years to live. One day, while being chased by debt collectors, Sasaki falls into the sea where he’s rescued by Hana, who introduces him to fishing and a small community of friends who share the hobby with her. Sasaki soon finds his life getting new hope as he finds joy in fishing and new friendships.
What Works: The pilot delivers a lot of great emotion without rushing. The characters also bring a lot of fun as they interact with each other.
What Doesn’t: No problems stood out in the premiere.
Initial Impression: Great
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Stories of Girls Who Couldn’t Be Magicians
Animation Studio: J.C.Staff
Synopsis: Ever since an encounter with a wizard as a child, Kurumi Mirai has always dreamed of becoming one herself. Now, having gained entry into her world’s premiere magical high school she faces the challenge of making her dream come true.
What Works: This series sports a lovely, pastel color scheme that makes the visual an appealing treat for the eyes.
What Doesn’t: Nothing from the cast to the world manages to stand out in a way that motivates viewers to return.
Initial Impression: Fair
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Dan Da Dan
Animation Studio: Science SARU
Synopsis: Momo doesn’t believe in aliens, Okarun doesn’t believe in ghosts. When a mutual dare causes them to confront the things they don’t believe in the pair soon finds themselves on a bonkers adventure as they fight supernatural forces.
What Works: Viewers will show up for the gorgeous animation and striking use of color, but stay for the amazing chemistry between the leads.
What Doesn’t: The pilot episode goes to a dark place as it sees Momo nearly asaulted by aliens. While it feels like there is a narrative reason for this moment, if it heralds a recurring threat to her, it could signal a problem for the series.
Initial Impression: Great
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
You can read our full review of the first three episodes here.
You are Ms. Servant
Animation Studio: Felix Film
Synopsis: Hitoyoshi Yokoya is living a slovenly lifestyle when he is approached by the mysterious Yuki, who offers her services as a maid. But she doesn’t know how to be a maid, as all her life was spent training her to be an assassin.
What Works: There is some strong cinematography at work here. Also, the opening and closing credits are well executed.
What Doesn’t: Yuki’s biggest feature is that she’s extremely clumsy, unless she’s holding a knife. Her inability to do anything without failing is played up to an obnoxious level.
Initial Impression: Bad
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Ranma 1/2
Animation Studio: MAPPA
Synopsis: Ranma is a young man who is cursed. When hit with cold water, he changes into a girl, while hot water changes him back. Now his father is looking to arrange a marriage for him with the daughter of his old friend. The only problem is that neither Ranma nor his bride-to-be are keen on the idea.
What Works: The visuals do a great job of taking the classic designs of the original series and combining them with modern animation.
What Doesn’t: The pilot puts all its eggs in its slapstick-style humor. Even if it lands at first, I can easily see the humor wearing out its welcome for many.
Initial Impression: Good
This series is streaming on Netflix.
You can read our full review of episode one here and look forward to our weekly coverage.
Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Animation Studio: MADHOUSE
Synopsis: Rafal is a brilliant young man living in 15th-century Poland. While he is expected to study theology, he has always longed to study the stars. When a chance encounter introduces him to the heretical theory that the earth isn’t the center of the universe, he finds himself at a crossroads.
What Works: The opening episode features an engaging cast and does a great job of establishing the peril that lies in the pursuit of heresy. Also, casting legendary voice actor Kenjirô Tsuda as a church inquisitor is an inspired choice.
What Doesn’t: This is another pilot that hits the ground running with no prevalent hiccups.
Initial Impression: Great
This series is streaming on Netflix.
Let this Grieving Soul Retire
Animation Studio: Zero-G
Synopsis: Krai Andrey and his friends wanted to be adventurous, fighting monsters and discovering treasures. But while his friends all excel at the trade, Krai just wants to retire. Unfortunately for him, nobody seems to listen.
What Works: The lead presents an intriguing personality. While he comes across as cold and manipulative, you quickly learn where his callousness comes from, creating an engaging personality.
What Doesn’t: Outside of Krai everything else feels like every other fantasy anime out there.
Initial Impression: Good
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Dragon Ball Daima
Animation Studio: Toei Animation
Synopsis: Threats from the Deom Realm set Goku and friends off on another adventure when they transformed into kids.
What Works: The premise delivers an interesting setup that could take the franchise to new places. A strong sense of both the fun and action that long-time fans expect is present here.
What Doesn’t: The pilot is very exposition-heavy as it lays out its foundation. If this isn’t an anomaly it could prove a problem.
Initial Impression: Good
Read our full review of episode one here and look forward to our weekly coverage.
This series is streaming on Crunchyroll with each episode coming to Netflix a week later.
And there it is. Early impressions on 13 new series streaming right now. We hope this helps you find a new favorite this anime season!