The Winter 2024 season is slowly coming to an end, and it was an excellent start for the anime shows that were lined up this year. Like every other season, some shows have surpassed expectations, leaving numerous fans in awe. For instance, Solo Leveling and Frieren have continued to make an impact with each new episode.
With so many exciting anime shows releasing this year, it is no surprise that some of the great ones would become underrated. Here is a list of some of the most underrated anime shows released in the beginning of 2024.
Brave Bang Bravern!
Since the end of Neon Genesis Evangelion, fans have overlooked the mecha subgenre in anime. Although it has a large fanbase in Japan, mecha anime have failed to meet expectations outside the country. This applies to Brave Bang Bravern! too. The story follows Isami Ao, a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force member attacked during training by aliens. However, Bravern, a sentient robot, arrives and asks him to be the pilot. While the series does not offer much, the dynamic between Bravern and Isami Ao is indeed wonderful.
Mr. Villain’s Day Off
Slice-of-life has always fallen behind popular genres like Isekai and Romance. So, it is no surprise that this anime series flew under the radar this winter season. Mr. Villain’s Day Off is a fantastic watch for viewers looking for a relaxing watch. It follows the story of Warumono-san, an alien general tasked with destroying the Earth. However, alien generals too need breaks. Hence, Warumono-san decides to see what the planet has to offer, which causes him to get obsessed with pandas.
Fluffy Paradise
Fluffy Paradise is one of the most underrated Isekai anime shows released this season. However, it did fall behind in terms of fight scenes compared to others in its subgenre, such as Villainess Level 99 and Ishura. The story follows Midori, who travels to another world after dying due to overwork. She strikes a deal with God, who tries to gauge how troublesome humans are by giving each of them a skill. For her love of animals, she is given the skill to communicate with them. The show is a breath of fresh air for anyone looking to kick back and enjoy their day.
Sengoku Youko
Sengoku Youko was highly anticipated before its release, for its manga’s success and resemblance to Inuyashua. Due to the huge number of action anime shows released this season, Sengoku Youko went unnoticed. The story takes place in a world divided by humans and monsters. It follows the story of Tama and Jinka, half-monsters and half-humans, having different ideas about humans. The siblings uncover a plot to turn humans into monsters and decide to stop it. The show has a fantastic story with decent fight scenes, and deserves way more attention than it got.
Sasaki and Peeps
Sasaki and Peeps is a hidden gem. The anime offers everything one would want in a good anime — loveable characters and a good storyline. It follows the life of Sasaki, an office worker dissatisfied with his life. This leads him to a pet store to buy a bird, which turns out to be a powerful mage. The bird gives Sasaki the power to cross between worlds, that he plans to use to live comfortably. However, it is easier said than done. The anime offers a fresh take on the isekai genre and deserves much more attention than it is currently getting.
