Can you believe that there is only a quarter of 2024 left? Time sure goes by fast these days, bringing us ever closer to the heat death of the universe. But aside from continually racing towards our extinction, the constant passing of time also means that we’ve got a whole bunch of new anime coming out this Fall 2024 season! From long-awaited adaptations to sequels I never thought would see the light of day, the Fall anime lineup has it all. To help you get started on this next wave of anime goodness, I’ve picked out a few shows coming to Crunchyroll that I’m certain will be absolute bangers.
BLUE LOCK is back with Season 2, and it’s all leading up to the biggest game of the series: BLUE LOCK vs Japan U20s. I stumbled upon this ego-filled soccer anime when Season 1 aired last year, and since then, it’s gone on to be one of my favourites. So much so that when I was in Japan earlier this year, I went to see the EPISODE NAGI film at a Japanese cinema. I didn’t understand a word, but I still loved it, so I know for a fact that the 2nd Season of BLUE LOCK is going to be amazing. Once again being animated by 8bit, this season will once again follow Yoichi Isagi and the other diamonds in the rough as they compete against each other to earn a spot in the BLUE LOCK Eleven. Those who make the cut will get the chance to prove their worth on the grand stage in a match against Japan’s U20s team. I can’t wait to see what happens next when the 2nd Season of BLUE LOCK starts on October 5th.
Almost two years ago, I was browsing the manga section of a local bookstore, trying to find something to read on an upcoming flight. And that’s when I first laid eyes on DAN DA DAN. The bright colours, unique character designs, and overall vibe drew me in immediately, and since that day, I’ve been patiently waiting for the anime adaptation. Now I don’t need to wait any longer because the DAN DA DAN anime is dropping this Fall. Science SARU will animate the series, which is the story of high schoolers Momo and Okarun and their encounters with aliens, ghosts, and everything in between (including a spirit called Turbo Granny). They’ll have to work together to combat these other-worldly threats while keeping themselves alive in the process. While it may look a little odd, I implore you to give DAN DA DAN a chance when it starts its run on October 3rd.
Three years have passed since Season 2 of Re:Zero aired, and until earlier this year, I had lost almost all hope of seeing a continuation. Normally with anime, another season is announced within a year or, in some cases, right after the current season ends. If the series is radio silent for over a year, there’s a good chance you’ll never hear from it again. Now, this isn’t always the case, but it’s the general rule I’ve followed to keep my expectations in check. So I was over the bloody moon when Season 3 of Re:Zero was confirmed earlier this year, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting its release. Animated by White Fox, Season 3 takes place a year after the end of Season 2 and the main character Natsuki Subaru is finally living the life he has wished for since the beginning of the series. But after a mysterious letter arrives inviting himself and royal selection candidate Emilia to the Watergate City of Priestella, that ideal life will be thrown into chaos. I’m so excited to see this story continue and to see Subaru die again and again and again when Season 3 begins on October 2nd.
Dragon Ball has been a mainstay of the anime and manga world for decades. You could show anyone a picture of Goku, and they’d know who it is, even if they’d never watched the show or read the manga. With Dragon Ball Super still a ways away from returning to our screens, Dragon Ball DAIMA is here to fill that Dragon Ball-shaped void in your heart. Being handled by Toei Animation, Dragon Ball DAIMA takes place between Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super and tells an all-new original story. After a conspiracy, Goku and Co are transformed into their childhood selves and are sent to an all-new world called the Demon Realm. Will Goku and his friends solve the mystery of this new place and why they’ve been turned into kids? Will there still be spectacular fights? Will this series finally give me that last push I need to start Dragon Ball from the beginning? All these questions and more will be answered when Dragon Ball DAIMA starts on October 11th.
Out of all the new anime dropping this season, this one took me the most by surprise. Similar to Re:Zero, this series was radio silent after Season 1. But unlike Re:Zero, Gun Gale Online ended almost six years ago! If you were to tell me that instead of making more Sword Art Online: Progressive content, we’d instead be getting a Season 2 for a 2018 spin-off, I’d call you crazy. But we live in crazy times, so we’re getting Season 2, baby (and I’m here for it)! I found Season 1 to be a charming breath of fresh air to the otherwise rather serious main SAO series, so to have more silly, goofy fun without the constant threat of character death will be nice. A-1 Pictures is once again animating the series and will continue the story of Karen Kohiruimaki and her friends as they play together in the VR game Gun Gale Online. There will be more gun fights, more secrets, and, most of all, more chaos! Be sure to give this series a look (and watch Season 1 while you’re at it) when it airs on October 4th.
Those are my picks for the 2024 Fall anime season coming to Crunchyroll. If you want to check out the full schedule, you can find it here, and be sure to keep it locked to Couch Soup for all the exciting anime content this Fall season!
Are you gonna check out any of these series? Any that I missed? Are you also surprised with some of the returns? Let us know in the comments where we can talk all things anime.
