Solo Leveling failed to become the highest-rated Winter 2024 anime

The Winter 2024 anime lineup was a delight for fans who followed any series during this season. Many anticipated Solo Leveling to claim the top spot as the highest-rated anime, but to their surprise, a romantic comedy series surpassed this action-packed show.

The romcom series The Dangers of My Heart’s second season was declared the top-rated Winter 2024 anime on MyAnimeList, surpassing popular titles like Delicious in Dungeon and others that may come to mind.

One possible explanation for this could be that the romcom anime developed a fanbase that appreciated the series without having high expectations. In contrast, the action series had to live up to the expectations of fans with its flashy animations and well-crafted scripts.

Please be aware that this article includes possible spoilers from the recent episodes of Solo Leveling and the Dangers of My Heart. It also reflects the author’s personal views.

The Rise of The Dangers of My Heart: Breaking Records as the Top-Rated Winter 2024 Anime

Sung Jinwoo as seen in the anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)

The anime series Solo Leveling was highly anticipated for the Winter 2024 season.

Despite receiving criticism for its character designs, the series maintained a consistent flow throughout its airing. Fans were delighted by the aesthetic animation in every episode, but the climax of the anime may have hindered its chances of becoming the highest-rated.

The possibility of this flaw being the execution of Sung Jinwoo’s highly anticipated moment, where he speaks the phrase ‘Arise,’ was a concern due to its Japanese translation potentially making it sound lackluster. This, along with other minor factors, could have resulted in the anime series being overshadowed in ratings by two other shows, including The Dangers of My Heart season 2.

Ichikawa (left) and Yamada (right) as seen in the anime (Image via Shin-Ei Animation)

The second season of The Danger of My Heart was an animated sequel produced by Shin-Ei Animation. It was based on the manga series written and illustrated by Sakurai Norio.

The series began with a bang, showcasing an explosive opening song and over-the-top animation. The sequel was equally significant in the series as it saw Ichikawa proposing to Yamada in season 2 of The Dangers of My Heart. Yamada happily accepted and the two officially became a couple.

Despite not being the most highly anticipated anime series of Winter 2024, The Dangers of My Heart season 2 had a slow start but ultimately surpassed expectations and became the highest-rated anime of the season, surpassing even popular titles.

Additionally, the action series failed to secure the second spot in ratings, as it was taken by Kingdom season 5. The top 10 highest-rated Winter 2024 anime on MyAnimeList are listed below:

The Dangers of My Heart
Kingdom Season 5
Solo Leveling
A Sign of Affection
Ninja Kamui (Still Ongoing)
Delicious in Dungeon (Still Ongoing)
Classroom of the Elite Season 3
Mashle Season 2
Tsukimichi Season 2 (Still Ongoing)
Urusai Yatsura (Remake) Season 2 (Still Ongoing)

Conclusion

Mash (left), Itsuomi & Yuki (middle), and Makoto (right) as seen in their anime (Image via A-1 Pictures, Ajia-do, & J.C. Staff)

Despite the ratings of an anime series, the overall enjoyment of a series remains unaffected. There are many series that fans enjoy, even if they are not highly rated in the Winter 2024 lineup. However, The Dangers of My Heart should still be recognized this season for defying initial doubts from fans at the beginning of the Winter season.

Additionally, it was satisfying to witness the positive reception of newer anime titles such as A Sign of Affection and highly anticipated sequels like Tsukimichi season 2 and Mashle season 2. These shows were all featured among the top-rated anime series for the Winter 2024 season on MyAnimeList.