Anime fans would agree that 2022 brought with it quite the anime series lineup. From highly-anticipated adaptations to well-known series returning with an additional season and even some remarkable originals, the year has been full of some delightful anime shows. Whether one is an avid watcher or is looking to plunge into the world of anime, these titles from 2022 are worth watching. Here are some of the most popular anime of 2022:
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6 Mob Psycho 100 III
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Mob Psycho 100 follows Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, who has strong psychic abilities and struggles to find happiness. Many anime fans enjoyed the paranormal action-comedy anime as it attempts to poke fun at the usual Battle Shonen tropes with its “might-makes-right” narrative, while at the same time providing the viewers with a high tier of action animation cuts. Fans were thrilled to find out when Mob Psycho 100 III was announced for 2022. And the anime did not disappoint. The recent season does well to balance between humor and the more serious struggles that the characters face. What makes Mob Psycho 100 enjoyable is that it does an amazing job of portraying its characters, regardless of whether they’re morally ambiguous or good-natured characters.
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Despite the outrageous powers Mob holds, he still struggles to fit in with his peers. Season three does well to highlight the inner and outer emotional turmoils of growing up that Mob struggles with. Despite the slightly ridiculous situations the anime brings, it is quite relatable, making it one of the most promising anime of the year.
5 My Hero Academia
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My Hero Academia follows Deku as he enrolls in a superhero high school hoping to one day become the best superhero. Over the years, the anime has received a mixed reception. For the first three seasons, My Hero Academia enjoyed quite a lot of popularity and appreciation. However, the following seasons received some criticism for their slow pacing and for being lackluster in terms of production. Fortunately, it seems that the most recent addition to the anime just might be its saving grace.
Season six builds on the previous season, fleshing out the villains; it does a good job of switching between the protagonists and the antagonists to weave an intricate tapestry. In addition, this season comes with the promise of exploring morality and other emotional dynamics between the characters. The main characters are definitely facing their biggest challenge yet so interesting to see how this will add to their development in the series.
4 Blue Lock
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Recently, death games and battle royale-type fiction have become increasingly popular. Blue Lock adopts the trend and fuses it with high school sports. The anime follows Yoichi Isagi, a striker on his high school soccer team, who is recruited into a government program that seeks to produce a star player who will lead the Japanese team in the World Cup. This is a challenging task as Isagi must compete with 300 other students to be allowed onto the National Team.
Unlike the usual death game fiction, there’s no compulsion to fight to the death. However, one would think that maybe lives are at stake with the way most of the students face each task. The anime has a melodramatic yet serious atmosphere that sometimes even comes off as slightly comical at times. The anime touches upon the brutal selfishness that comes with sports, which often leads to confusion between the individual and the collective. Blue Lock is definitely an interesting series to binge.
3 Chainsaw Man
Those that are new to the world of anime, might find the premise of Chainsaw Man a little bizarre, but the anime brings a one-of-a-kind story that is absolutely brilliant. Chainsaw Man has been one of the most, if not the most anticipated anime of the year. Adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga of the same name, Chainsaw Man follows Denji, a teenager who makes a deal with a devil that allows him to turn his limbs into chainsaws. Denji eventually joins a government organization that works to protect humanity from powerful monsters called Devils. Perhaps one of the most delightful aspects of the anime is its characters. From the protagonist to the antagonists, Chainsaw Man doesn’t shy away from portraying morally ambiguous characters. Makima, in particular, was quick to become a fan favorite, despite being the main antagonist of the show.
2 Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War
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Bleach was first released in 2004, and ran for eight years spanning over 16 seasons, with the final one airing in 2012. Many fans were left a bit unsatisfied with the conclusion of the anime, as it strayed from the source material, leaving many pages from the manga unanimated. Now, ten years later, the anime returns to screens with Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War. The long wait was definitely worth it, as not only did the anime adapt the final arc of the manga, but just the opening shot is enough to ensure that something big is coming. It seems that the Quincies have returned; but this time they seem to be part of the Wandernreich and follow Emperor Yhwach. Not only do they conquer Hueco Mundo, but they also attack Seireitei (Soul Society).
Despite the long wait, as soon as the first episode starts, it feels as if we never really stopped watching Bleach. The anime has lighthearted moments, but this time around the series is definitely darker. Moreover, this season fans finally get to see the Bankai of Yamachi (Head Captain of Soul Society). Not to mention, the stunning animation that adds even more dimension to the story and characters. Many fans would call Bleach a classic anime, so the series returning with its new season for the final arch is not something to miss!
1 Spy x Family 2
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There’s no doubt that the Forger family from the action comedy anime Spy x Family has taken the world by storm. In fact, even people who haven’t delved into the genre have been charmed by Spy x Family. The show follows Twilight, an undercover spy, who has formed a fake family as part of a high-stakes secret mission. He starts by adopting Anya, who unbeknownst to him is a telekinetic mind reader. Later, he marries Yor, who unbeknownst to him is an assassin. The trio form quite the family often falling into ridiculous situations that have one clutching their stomachs as they laugh.
The second season of the show does not disappoint. Anya, the heart of the show, is as adorable as ever, and now has a pet dog to accompany her during her adventures. The found family anime does a remarkable job of balancing between tense, serious moments and family comedy. There’s no denying that some aspects of the show are rather dark, but Spy X Family does a great job at addressing some serious issues while also giving the audience some really well-delivered gags.
