The Winter 2024 AniTAY Sequel Guide

Happy New Year! Out with the old and in with the new seasons of returning anime during Winter 2024! Feel motivated to carry out your New Year’s Resolutions by watching these anime sequels. Work on your body-building and get ripped enough to fake wizardry like Mash Burnedead in Mashle: Magic and Muscles. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki or The Dangers In My Heart are rooted in self-betterment and finding renewed vigour for life and people. Other anime like Banished from the Hero’s Party or Tsukimichi are about starting afresh in new lands. Or perhaps Classroom of the Elite will guide you to upend the status quo entirely in 2024. Whatever the case, start 2024 the right way with these entertaining series!

Banished from the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside Season 2

Presented By: Doctorkev
Studio: Studio Flad
Genres: Fantasy, Slice of Life

Spoiler-Free Synopsis: Red is a retired adventurer who moves to Zoltan, a remote frontier town, to open an apothecary store. Previously he’d been part of the Hero’s Party, led by his sister Ruti, but he was made to leave in disgrace due to conflicts and misunderstandings with the other members. Now in his new life, he hopes to spend his remaining years quietly helping others while avoiding politics and conflict. When Rit, a former princess and adventuring colleague, follows him to Zoltan, they build a life together. Unfortunately the past has a way of returning, and Red’s life doesn’t remain quiet for long…

Why You Should Catch Up: Don’t let the overly long, painfully descriptive, stereotypical light novel-originated title put you off. Banished from the Hero’s Party is an excellent and even thought-provoking fantasy — it’s not even an isekai! Set in a standard D&D-inspired world of differently-classed adventurers, monsters and magic, it eschews most of the tired, navel-gazing, JRPG-esque, stat-obsessed garbage that infects so many of its peers.

The people of Red’s world are bestowed divine “blessings” upon their birth, which determine their abilities, destinies, and even personalities, up to a point. Red’s blessing is “Guide”, which gives him an extremely useful and multipurpose set of soft skills that allow him to adapt to almost any situation. He also produces powerful medicines. It’s only after his unjust banishment that it becomes clear he was the glue holding the Hero’s Party together as a functional unit.

Other characters aren’t so lucky with their blessings: one minor character with the blessing “brawler” is seemingly destined to be a violent, petty thug, while Red’s sister Ruti’s “Hero’s Blessing” may be the cruellest of all. Ruri’s blessing overrides her free will, blunts her emotions, and flattens her sensations. She struggles to feel love, or friendship, or warmth, or taste. Her life is miserable and she can’t even perceive she’s unhappy. This is fascinating worldbuilding, and the story explores its concepts intelligently and in depth.

Bonus points are earned by the delightful relationship between Red and Rit — an anime romance that actually progresses naturally (and physically!). Ruti’s relationship with her brother is painful and conflicted, but comes to a satisfying resolution at the end of the first season. I’m unsure where the second season will go, but the source light novel has run for twelve volumes so far, so there’s plenty of material!

What You Need to Watch + Time to Catch Up:

• Season 1: 13 episodes — (5.5 hours approx)

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki 2nd Stage

Presented By: Raitzeno
Studio: Project №9
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Drama

Spoiler-Free Synopsis: High school student Tomozaki Fumiya, the top Attack Families player in Japan who goes by the name of NANASHI, has given up on the terrible game that is real life. After all, he’s been given a bottom-tier character to play, with no chance of a mulligan — who’d bother stepping up to the table when the premise is clearly unfair, right? But an offline encounter with his closest rival, the Number 2 Attack Families player NO NAME, is a mix-up he wasn’t prepared for: Hinami Aoi, the most popular girl in his school, who rips into him for panning the game of reality when he doesn’t even know the rules. With this pro’s guidance, Tomozaki takes on the challenge of having a social life anew!

Why You Should Catch Up: Tomozaki is a fascinating character drama, of which the multifaceted romantic comedy is merely one aspect. The show is a targeted, step-by-step dismantling of the popular claim that life as we know it, especially in high school, is a kusoge (‘shitty game’). The two regularly banter about the nature of the ‘quests’ she assigns him and of life in general, and many of the conclusions they reach together are surprisingly valid beyond the scope of high school relationships and into life on a broader scale. The stellar cast elevates this romantic comedy into a series of compelling essays on human nature and the various ways we perceive (and attempt to exploit) society as a system. The classmates around them bring a lot to the table, but the central relationship between Tomozaki and Hinami is where the show really comes into its own, despite not really being the primary romantic focus.

Hinami serves as a mentor, a rival, a foil, and an eventual potential love interest all at once, and has some surprising depth as the various aspects of their relationship grow and change. They share a stubborn and competitive frame of mind that frequently puts them at odds, even as they help each other make great strides in their respective fields. It’s a neat dichotomy that goes way beyond the normal wish-fulfillment relationship between a high school loser and the class queen.

Tomozaki himself has a surprising amount of backbone and gumption, especially given his initial slovenly state. He takes Aoi’s challenge with an open mind and genuinely puts in the effort to learn the game and ‘grind XP’ in the field of relationships, throwing embarrassment (and occasionally dignity) to the curb in pursuit of self-improvement. Once he has his feet under him, he even starts clapping back on assignments he finds objectionable — not out of laziness or distaste, but because his personal moral code is at odds with some of her methodology. Neither of them is a doormat, and it often makes their relationship more of a battlefield than a fireworks show.

What You Need to Watch + Time to Catch Up:

• Season 1: 12 episodes + 2 half-length specials — (5.5 hours total)

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll (S1 link)

The Dangers In My Heart

Presented By: Marquan
Studio: Shin-Ei Animation
Genres: Romance, Comedy

Spoiler-Free Synopsis: Kyotaro, an adorkable, edgy, and sometimes cringy middle schooler develops a crush on his equally adorkable classmate, Anna. Despite them being in completely opposite social strata, at least in Kyotaro’s mind, they constantly find themselves growing closer with every interaction that they share.

Why You Should Catch Up: The Dangers In My Heart shows that there is a unique relatability to first loves. A lot of people can remember the first time they were interested in someone in a way that eclipsed friendship. It can present differently: for some it takes the form of admiration or fascination; for others, you can’t help but visualize the many ways you could kill the object of interest. What? That’s only Kyotaro?

Seriously though, the fact that we get constant progression in their budding relationship already places this show above its romantic comedy brethren. Every episode offers a new way for these lovable goofballs to grow closer. While Kyotaro can be incredibly cringey sometimes, rather than turning you off, it’s endearing and transports you back to a time where you didn’t know how to express your romantic interest honestly and effectively. The Dangers In My Heart sets up its characters as believable youth who are just trying to figure it out, one clumsy step at a time and you can’t help but root for them. You want them to fully realize their feelings and everything that entails. You want them to grow closer and succeed.

There are too many anime series that go to the extremes when it comes to romance and comedy, but The Dangers In My Heart toes the line really well. The comedy is toned down while still doing its job and the romance is well-paced. You’d do well to catch up on this one before it’s time for another round of weekly dopamine servings.

What You Need to Watch + Time to Catch Up:

• Season 1:12 episodes — (approximately four hours)

Where to Watch: Hidive

Classroom of the Elite Season 3

Presented By: Alistair Hyde
Studio: Lerche
Genres: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Drama

Spoiler-Free Synopsis: After Kiyotaka Ayanokōji enrolls in Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, he finds himself in Class D, where this educational institution dumps those students considered inferior. Although the school ranks classes in order of merit, only the top classes receive favorable treatment.Class membership is permanent, students in lower-ranked classes can rise in rankings if they score better than those in the top ones do. Will Kiyotaka survive until graduation or end up expelled? Only his grades and record will reflect the fruits of his labor amongst his peers.

Why You Should Catch Up: This anime questions the ideal of meritocracy by establishing a hierarchy when students are divided into classes that reflect their social status to determine the structured privileges they can acquire.

The main character has a mysterious origin that will make you think about how he fits in his class and generation to change the school status quo. He is a shadow leader who knows how to maneuver the people around him to fulfill his agenda, like a game of chess. Kiyotaka is an engaging mix of an apathetic student and insufferable genius.

The plot develops smoothly, because each test feels like a legitimate threat to the members of Class D and has a few slice-of-life moments, creating a good balance between the survival elements and the fact that the characters are living their lives as normal students. I also found it interesting that the teachers show their students how to manage their resources wisely and satisfy their basic needs. It would be helpful in real life if educational systems did this more often with finances and economics!

The third season looks promising because Kiyotaka will face someone from his past who will try to probe what it means to be the best. Since he showed how capable he is during the first and second seasons, things can only be more interesting as more challenges test Kiyotaka’s manipulation skills. We might finally know more about Kiyotaka’s background, as well as why he is a child with a high IQ, but less empathic than the average angsty teenager.

What You Need to Watch + Time to Catch Up:

• Classroom of the Elite Season 1 (12 episodes, ~6 hours)
• Classroom of the Elite Season 2 (13 episodes, ~6.5 hours)

Where to Catch Up: Crunchyroll

MASHLE: Magic and Muscles Season 2

Presented By: Requiem
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Muscles

Spoiler-Free Synopsis:

In a world of magic, where your ability to use said magic determines your worth to — and place in — society, there lives a young man named Mash Burnedead (no, seriously, that’s his name) who cannot do magic at all. But to live a peaceful life, he’s going to have to fake it at Easton Magical Academy! Good thing he’s got muscles for days.

Why You Should Catch Up:

Mashle’s setup is pretty easy to understand: what if Saitama from One Punch Man went to Hogwarts and had a serious thing for cream puffs? Mash has no magic, but it’s fine, because he manages to fake it by using his frankly ridiculous physical strength;for example, pretending to fly a broom by hurling it like a javelin and grabbing hold whilst it “flies”.

Mash is a great deadpan comedy character, often responding to events with one liners, offhand remarks, or by just pulling out a previously unseen cream puff. Look, if a show undercutting an ostensibly serious moment by panning to the main character who is paying no attention and chowing down on delicious pastry isn’t funny to you, then I weep for you and the cold black stone you have for a soul.

Mash isn’t alone, the rest of the cast is similarly wacky and odd in the best ways, and the show just loves to poke fun at magical schools in general and the Harry Potter series in particular. It’s a riotous good time, and as Season 1 also featured one of the year’s best EDs, one has high hopes for S2.

So grab a cream puff, pump up your muscles, and catch up with MASHLE. SHUUUUUI CREAAAM!

What You Need to Watch + Time to Catch Up:

• Season 1: 12 episodes, 6 hours (approx)

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy 2

Presented By: Raitzeno
Studio: J.C. Staff
Genres: Isekai, Fantasy, Comedy, Action

Spoiler-Free Synopsis: High school student Makoto Misumi was overwhelmed in the school’s archery club, and had no idea how to escape…but he certainly wasn’t expecting to get summoned to another world! His initially-excited expectations were immediately overturned upon meeting the arrogant goddess, who derided him as ‘ugly’. She quite literally threw him into the vast wasteland of her world, far away from any human tribes. Now, he’s followed by a conceited dragon and harsh spider instead. Still, it’s a romantic quandary: will it be a dragon or a spider? Who knows what’s in store?Makoto’s determination will be tested, but he’ll take his best shot!

Why You Should Catch Up: Tsukimichi is a lighthearted, comedic romp through a fantasy world, most of the time. But there are plenty of hints at darker themes lurking behind the scenes, and this season will bring some more of them to the fore. The series never forgets its fantastical components; this world has all the pristine landscape you’d expect of an isekai, and Makoto’s godlike archery skills, unending reserves of magic, and monstrously powerful enemies and companions make for some striking combat scenes.

But there are more sides to the story: Makoto has unwittingly created an isekai within the isekai, an ever-expanding personal demiplane. His personal world plays host to a village of demihumans, a fruitful forest, and much more. Makoto’s more of a reader than a gamer, but he’s got his work cut out for him with this real (fantasy) territory management.

Tsukimichi also features a colorful cast of not-quite-human supporting characters, each with their own motivations and quirks. The arrogant yet upbeat Tomoe accompanies him primarily to read his memories of old samurai movies and period dramas; the elegant but sharp Mio has made the experience of cuisine into her life’s purpose. Meanwhile, Aqua and Eris (no relation, seriously), the comedic duo of Forest Ogres, in their quest for more bananas, are about to take on one of the toughest jobs in any world: retail.

Season 2 promises Makoto something of a respite in the form of a Magic High School arc; he was in transit to the school in question near the end of Season 1, before his journey was so rudely interrupted. Unfortunately, this world has a bad habit of overturning Makoto’s expectations, in ways both rude and unpredictable. His fantasy school experience will prove anything but relaxing…

What You Need to Watch + Time to Catch Up:

• Season 1: 12 episodes — (5 hours total)
• Optional: Episode 1 After Talk — (25m)
• Optional: Episode 10 After Talk — (30m)

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll (S1 link)

Urusei Yatsura 2nd Half

Presented By: Doctorkev
Studio: David Production
Genres: Romantic Comedy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy

Spoiler-Free Synopsis: Due to an intergalactic misunderstanding, lecherous Japanese loser Ataru Moroboshi becomes accidentally engaged to beautiful bombshell alien oni princess Lum. Ataru’s frequent and terrible womanising behaviour isn’t enough to discourage the smitten and faithful Lum from staying by his side, inadvertently attracting a huge cast of bizarre alien and mythological characters to spread chaos in the previously quiet Tomobiki town. Of course, should Ataru step too far out of line, Lum’s short temper and incandescent lightning powers are always primed and ready to punish him!

Why You Should Catch Up: Based on international megastar mangaka Rumiko Tahahashi’s (Ranma ½, Maison Ikkoku, Inu Yasha) 1978 debut manga serial, 2022’s Urusei Yatsura was the second attempt at bringing her very special brand of insanity to the screen. Famed director Mamoru Oshii helmed much of the preceding 1981 TV show and its first two movies. He left an indelible stamp on the material, drifting further from the manga as the show progressed.

David Production’s modern update aims to hew closer to the manga in terms of character design and content, excising Oshii’s non-manga characters and taking a more literal adaptive route with a “best-of” structure. This means that many new episodes feature new takes on previously-animated material, while also changing up continuity and structure in a concise and streamlined way. Sensibly, Urusei Yatsura (2022) remains a period piece set during late 70s/early 80s Japan: apart from the flashy opening sequences, cellphones and modern technology are nowhere to be seen in-story. This is to its benefit; despite a shiny and clean modern aesthetic, its tone remains resolutely retro.

Lum was the original tsundere female protagonist, and Urusei Yatsura (1981) set the blueprint for almost every anime harem comedy to follow over the next few decades. Some of the new version’s tropes seem a little outdated, but Takahashi’s sheer inventiveness and knack for weird characterisation and insane escalation are timelessly entertaining. With this second half we’re teased with characters from later volumes of the manga (like Inaba, who previously appeared only in a post-TV show OVA) that Oshii never got around to including in the original 195-episode run, suggesting that this version will tell a more complete and emotionally resonant story.

What You Need to Watch + Time to Catch Up:

Essential:

• Season 1: 23 episodes (9.5 hours approx.)

Optional:

• 1981 TV series: 195 episodes (81.5 hours approx)
• 1980s movies x 6 (9 hours approx)
• OVAs x 11 (6 hours approx)

Where to Watch: HIDIVE

Contributors in Alphabetical Order:

• Alistair Hyde
• Doctorkev
• Marquan
• Nomad
• Raitzeno
• Requiem

A special thank you to Stanlick for his continuously creative header images!

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