T5W#489-Top 5 Best Titles Ive Reviewed in 2024

Merry Christmas Dear Readers from the Gundam Anime Corner.  And wouldn’t you know it, this also happens to be the last Wednesday of 2024.  That means you’re not only getting a special extra review of Konosuba 2 but also I get to list off my favorite titles that I’ve looked at this year.  2024 felt a bit rocky overall in terms of my working on the blog (not that you’d know).  But I still managed to come across some solid titles.  Heck three of them on this list are all Perfect 10/10s…but are any of them my absolute favorite of the year? Well let’s not waste anytime and jump into my Top 5 Best Titles Ive Reviewed in 2024 and see who made the cut.

 
#5-Hazbin Hotel (Season 1)

Musicals and I have an interesting relationship.  Theyre not my first choice to watch but when I do, most times I end up liking them.  Hazbin Hotel is another example of this relationship and holy crap is it good.  The music freaking slaps no matter who’s belting out the lyrics and the Animation is both Anime inspired and a nice call back to the old days of pioneering Adult Animation.  I love the characters, the art, the music, and I cant wait to see more of Charlie and her embarrassingly loveable ensemble in Season 2 (and 3…I think they’ve greenlit a Season 4 too?).

 
#4-Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

I love the Scott Pilgrim Graphic Novels.  I think the Scott Pilgrim Movie is ok.  Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, however, shoves aside all of expectations set by those two and does its own thing and it’s all the better for it.  Equal parts alternate story and sequel, Takes Off decision to have its show largely devoid of its title protagonist does wonders for the rest of the supporting cast.  I dare even say the entire returning cast from Edgar Wrights 2010 feature film does a superior job with their characters.  The video game nerd references and action are still top notch and that soundtrack?  I’m still humming Envy Adams’ cover of Sarah McLaclan’s I Will Remember You cause she made that song epicly slap.  It’s a shame this isnt getting another Season but Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a perfect stand alone show you owe it to yourself ot check out if you love the franchise.

 
#3-Spirited Away: Live On Stage

How do you even pull off a stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s Best Animated Feature Oscar Winner? The answer is something you have to see for yourself.  The Stage Play of Spirited Away is a magnum opus of stage design with sets constantly warping and changing much like they do in the actual film.  The creative costumes and creature designs are top notch too, they even recreate one of my favorite little creatures (and one of my favorite scenes from the movie too) perfectly.  Throw in some great performances and some catchy tunes and it’ll make you wonder if other Anime stage plays like Sailor Moon, Gundam 00 or Fate are worth checking out too.

 
#2-Konosuba & Konosuba 2

Considering there’s still a little bit of the Second Season to cover, that should tell you just how good Konosuba is that I can pop it into my #2 spot on this list.  It’s one of the funniest Anime I’ve ever seen and the shot in the arm an exhausted Isekai fan needs.  It takes the tropes of that genre, turns them on their head and has some serious fun with them.  An abundant lack of drama helps keep Konosuba fun at all times and the writing is pretty sharp too.  Cudos to the English Dub too for giving some of my favorite voice actors and actresses a chance to cut loose with some hilarious (and often risque) dialogue.  I cant wait to look at Season 3 in 2025 (still deciding if it will open Year 12 in April or if it’ll go up after Otakon in August…kind of leaning towards the former).
 

#1-Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom

It’s not a Perfect 10 like most titles on this list.  But you know what Gundam SEED Freedom is?  It’s a huge rebound and redemption project for the Cosmic Era and IT KICKS ASS!!!  The second you hear T.M. Revolution’s opening theme you’re right back in the early 2000s in the best possible way.  Sure it has some of the same storytelling pratfalls of SEED Destiny.  But Freedom surpasses those flaws by refocusing the plot on Kira and Lacus while giving Athrun some ass kicking action scenes and the Seed Destiny cast a chance to show they’re actually worth investing time in.  I was wowed by it when I saw it in theaters.  And I was even more wowed when I watched it again after binging SEED and SEED Destiny back to back again.  Bring on Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom Zero and welcome back Cosmic Era, you’ve been missed.