10 most underrated Summer 2024 anime series

Calling the Summer 2024 Anime Season the season of romcoms would not be wrong, considering how we got more than twice the amount of good romcom series than each season. Some examples of such an anime series are Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian and Makeine, which could become generational after they finish airing.

However, while the romcoms enjoyed the limelight, fans didn't pay attention to other series, including over-the-top aesthetically animated anime series and some Ecchi series that redefined the genre on their own.

So, for the convenience of true seasonal anime fans, we have compiled a list of some of the most underrated Summer 2024 anime series that the fandom needs to add to their list so they can see what this season offers apart from the rom-com genre.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this article solely belong to the author.

Shoushimin, Days with My Stepsister, and 8 other underrated Summer 2024 anime series

10) The Café Terrace and its Goddesses Season 2

The Familia Café Terrace girls as seen in the anime (Image via Tezuka Productions)

The Café Terrace and its Goddesses Season 2 is the sequel of one of the most promising Ecchi series of the modern era of anime. It is also one of the most underrated Summer 2024 anime series, which was ignored probably due to its 'Ecchi.' However, unlike the prequel, season 2 focuses more on the story than the fanservice, making it a worthy watch.

After keeping his grandmother's legacy alive, Hayato and the five maids of Familia Café Terrace face their next challenge: competing against a rival cafe run by the same person who was trying to shut them down.

9) 2.5 Dimensional Seduction

Ririsa as seen in the anime (Image via J.C. Staff)

Although the Ecchi fandom disapproved of the anime series for its over-the-top censoring, 2.5 Dimensional Seduction is one of the most underrated Summer 2024 anime. It is a nice gateway to the Ecchi genre for fans of other genres due to its healthy amount of fanservice, combined with otaku culture representation.

The series follows the story of otaku high school student Masamune, whose love for anime is relieved after he meets Ririsa, who loves to cosplay. Together, these two strive to reach the top of cosplay through Ririsa's cosplays and Masamune's judgment.

8) Shoushimin: How to Become Ordinary

Osanai as seen in the anime (Image via Lapintrack)

The successor of the Hyouka anime series, Shoushimin: How to Become Ordinary, is one of the most underrated Summer 2024 anime series. Although it is not as strong as the former series, it is still a fun watch for mystery lovers as it dwells on the everyday part of life.

It follows the tale of high school student Kobato, who finds himself entangled in solving the mysteries in his school. His classmate, Osanai, sometimes assists him, but Kobato's life gives him no chance to rest since new mysteries keep popping up every day.

7) My Wife Has No Emotions

Mina as seen in the anime (Image via Tezuka Productions)

Another underrated gem of the Summer 2024 anime season is My Wife Has No Emotions. The series follows the happy life of Takuma and his robot maid, Mina, as the former tries to make his robot a decent life partner.

While the series is a decent rom-com, it has a dark undertone because it portrays the loneliness of someone who has to rely on artificial intelligence to get happiness.

6) Senpai is an Otokonoko

Makoto, as seen in the anime (Image via Project no. 9)

Senpai is an Otokonoko is one of the most underrated romance Summer 2024 anime series that hardly got any spotlight, although it deserved a lot. This anime is about accepting your true self, and it is not spoiled by combining genres like comedy.

It follows the story of Saki, a high school girl who confesses to her female senior. Saki later learns that her crush, Makoto, is a boy and likes to cross-dress as a girl. However, Makoto's reality doesn't faze Saki, and their relationship becomes pretty interesting as the plot progresses.

5) Giji Harem

Rin as seen in the anime (Image via NOMAD)

A fun romcom anime series that could get the spotlight it deserved, Giji Harem is one of the most underrated Summer 2024 anime series. It was overshadowed due to the big romcoms that aired this season.

The series follows the story of Eiji, a high school boy who wants to fulfill his dream of becoming popular and having a harem. Rin, Eiji's junior, fulfills his dream by becoming a girl from every popular anime trope, giving the protagonist the feeling of having girlfriends of all kinds in one girl.

4) No Longer Allowed in Another World

Sensei as seen in the anime (Image via Atelier Pontdarc)

No Longer Allowed in Another World is one of the most underrated Summer 2024 anime with an interesting plotline. It is a series that sends the legendary Japanese author Osamu Dazai into another world where he looks for the love he was about to depart from before they died.

While it is hard to pinpoint why most of the fandom overlooked the series, the default reason would be that the excessive number of good romcom series overshadowed the series' performance.

3) The Elusive Samurai

Tokiyuki as seen in the anime (Image via CloverWorks)

The Elusive Samurai is arguably the most aesthetic animation out of all the adventure anime series from the Summer 2024 anime season. It's criminal how most of the fandom is still unwilling to give it a chance.

Taking place in ancient Japan, the anime tells the tale of Tokiyuki, the son of a shogun, who is set to succeed his father. However, Tokiyuki's entire clan gets wiped out through a sudden coup. Thinking of dying, Tokiyuki is saved by Yorishige Suwa, a priest, who changes his way of thinking, thus making Tokiyuki brave enough to seek revenge for his family.

2) My Deer Friend Nokotan

Koshitan and Nokotan as seen in the anime (Image via Wit Studio)

Despite the series being on the top charts in every anime database on the internet, it lost its charm pretty soon because the fandom considered it an everyday comedy anime. However, anime could be considered a generational comedy because of its quality of slapstick comedy that rivals some big names.

This Summer 2024 anime series follows the story of Torako, a former delinquent high school girl who is trying to hide her past through her good study records. However, her existence is endangered after the entry of Nokotan, a deer girl who can see her past and tell us what deeds she did in the past. Will Torako take care of Nokotan, or will the roles be reversed?

1) Days with My Stepsister

Saki as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Deen)

Days with My Stepsister explores one of the most niche themes in anime about stepsiblings without blending the over-the-top Ecchi and adding a dark undertone, making it the most underrated Summer 2024 anime series.

Days with My Stepsister is neglected due to the norms created in society regarding this theme. Yuuta and Saki are united as their parents marry each other, and they become stepsiblings. As these two strangers meet, they slowly start to get interested in each other's lives, and this interest soon dwells into their past lives.

As they share their life experiences, Saki, in particular, starts to have feelings for his brother that are unbecoming of a family. So, will she keep them to herself?

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Edited by Shreya Das