As we’re past the halfway mark of the year, it’s time we take a look at what the best anime studios of 2024 have done so far, what they have in store for the Summer and Fall seasons, and to give credit to staff who have done a marvelous job this year bringing us all of our favorite anime.
The studios on this list were picked out of more than 200 that released or announced future projects this year. That being said, let’s dive into which anime studios are having the best 2024 and what they have planned for the future!
12. Ufotable / Kyoto Animation
I gave the 12th spot to both studios Ufotable and Kyoto Animation seeing as, despite them each releasing one single project for the entirety of 2024, they each had rather healthy productions for Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc and Sound! Euphonium Season 3 respectively.
While other studios have produced many more projects, not just TV anime series, Kyoto Animation and Ufotable both showed fans this year that keeping projects to a minimum can also be of great benefit to a studio’s reputation once the final results speak for themselves.
Many have hailed Kyoto Animation as the best studio in the industry. MAPPA CEO Manabu Otsuka stated in 2023 that he wants the studio to reach Kyoto Animation and Ufotable’s level of production in of quality output.
The recent season of Demon Slayer covered just three chapters but was stretched into eight episodes that took years of honing which, in turn, gave fans a jaw-dropping spectacle of a finale leading to the promotion of the series’ three movies for the Infinity Castle arc. And if they’re anything on the level of Mugen Train‘s success ($507.1 million worldwide, #1 highest-grossing anime film ever), then Ufotable has a lot to be excited about.
Meanwhile, fans of Sound! Euphonium Season 3 got to enjoy one of the most solid productions of the year. The detail and care that went into continuing the beloved story cannot be unnoticed; some fans pointed out that Kyoto Animation gave a touching tribute to their colleagues who lost their lives during the 2019 arson attack in one of the episodes. Combined with the traditionally good standing KyoAni has with animators, this truly earned them a place on this list.
11. Bones
After what seemed like a bust with their original anime 25th Anniversary project in My Hero Academia Season 7. The studio is also shaping up to end its year on a higher note after the release of My Hero Academia: You’re Next.
The movie grossed its highest opening weekend earnings in the franchise’s film lineup, earning over $6.2 million. TOHO is bringing the movie to theaters in the US on October 11, 2024, so it’s safe to say the movie is currently on pace to sur its three predecessors at the worldwide box office.
The studio also has an under-the-radar rom-com series airing this summer titled The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies. The series author, Cocoa Fujiwara, ed away before finishing the manga. But Gachiakuta anime adaptation also has fans extremely excited for what’s to come.
10. Doga Kobo
Doga Kobo continues to be one of the biggest heavy-hitting studios in the rom-com and drama department, especially after receiving a major popularity boost in the anime community with eye-popping quality production. The studio currently has two big names airing this summer season in Oshi no Ko Season 2 and own weekly rankings. Oshi No Ko Season 2 has, specifically, been a step up in of production, trending numerous times for its high-quality animation production.
But the two are backed by what some may consider the best original anime of the year up to this point—being acquired by Kadokawa might not be the best look for the studio’s future. Hopefully, I’m wrong.
9. 8bit
8bit has emerged in recent years as a heavy hitter that can stand with other major studios. Blue Lock became a major hit in the sports anime community and the recent movie, Blue Lock: Episode Nagi, has grossed over $13.3 million worldwide, $2.9 million on opening weekend.
The studio took over the beloved Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3, one of the biggest isekai names worldwide, also one of the highest-rated, currently in its second cour. With Blue Lock Season 2 airing this fall, there’s no doubt that 8bit is having a great 2024.
But much like Doga Kobo, 8bit was acquired by Bandai Namco Pictures as a subsidiary, so we’ll see how things look out for them and their projects from here on out.
8. David Production
Despite having two anime this year that have already finished airing in Undead Unluck and Urusei Yatsura Season 2, David Production and the staff for both of these series deserve praise. I’ve said before that the color design work by Ayaka Nakamura for the Urusei Yatsura reboot is some of the best work I’ve ever seen since the turn of the decade.
The direction under Yuki Yase for Undead Unluck was phenomenal with a lot of credit also going to Tatsuya Kyogoku, who directed seven episodes and storyboarded five, and Mamoru Kurosawa, who storyboarded seven episodes. While the manga sales for Undead Unluck unfortunately didn’t receive much of a boost from the anime, David Production is already working on a sequel which is set to release in 2025. But. many fans of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure are currently awaiting an announcement of the Steel Ball Run anime
7. Toei Animation
Girls Band Cry was never released on a popular worldwide streaming service, there’s no denying that the studio has trended throughout the year for many reasons, one being for its high-quality production output.
The celebrations globally for the 25th Anniversary of One Piece have been impressive to say the least, even going as far as having the series on the now iconic Las Vegas Sphere and a new English YouTube channel. That’s not even ing for the merchandise profits.
Girls Band Cry surprisingly killed it with its Blu-ray/DVD sales in the first week, with a digital release date in North America set for August 13 as well. Outside of those two and Wonderful! Precure, the studio hasn’t dished out too many big and popular projects this year.
That being said, Dragon Ball Daima is on the way this October, which is the final Dragon Ball series that creator Akira Toriyama worked on before his ing. So I can imagine Dragon Ball fans everywhere will be tuning into the series. It doesn’t seem like Toei’s biggest year, but they undoubtedly deserve to be on the list of best anime studios of 2024 so far list.
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