The best anime of 2022 to watch, so far

2021 was a great year for anime. Regular favorites like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, JoJo’s Bizarre AdventurePlease see the following: My Hero AcademiaAs well as exciting original anime, Oddtaxi, Heike Story, Sonny BoyPlease see the following: SK8 The Infinity. With popular series such the Mob Psycho 100, Vinland Saga, The Devil is Part-TimerYou can even get it! BleachThey are expected to return in the latter part of this year. All signs point towards the eagerly awaited debuts Chainsaw ManAnd Uzumaki!

There’s a wealth to choose from, and not nearly enough time in the day to watch it all, which is why we’ll be updating our list of the best anime airing in 2022 throughout the year as the seasons progress. Here’s a list of the top anime this year. We will be updating our list in spring. For clarity and convenience, this year’s list is in alphabetical order.

Attack on the Final Season

Eren Jeager roaring as a Titan in Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2.

Final season Attack on Titan may be the most contentious anime on this year’s best-of list. Many things have been written and said about the last chapters of The Last Chapter. Attack on Titan manga, from creator Hajime Isayama’s inferred pro-Imperialist sentiments to the series’ uncomfortable allegorical parallels to real-life historical atrocities. Bearing these criticisms in mind, it’s understandable to ask why Attack on TitanThis is the list.

Answer: Director Jun Shishido and Yuichirohayashi of studio MAPPA, have worked together to create the best animated version possible. The combined one-two punch of the season’s 20th and 21st episodes alone easily ranks as one of the most shocking revelations of any anime in recent memory, rendered through some of the most apocalyptic violence and imagery depicted in the series to date.

There’s nothing quite like being along for the ride of a Big Anime Event, where it seems everyone is watching (and dissecting) each new development in the series’ ongoing climax right alongside you. The final season of Anime Event was a triumph despite all the controversies. Attack on TitaThe culmination of one the most important animes of the past decade is represented by n. It also undoubtedly ranks as one the best anime events to watch in 2022. —Toussaint Egan

Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2.Can be streamed on FunimationAnd Crunchyroll.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc

After the horrendous Mugen Train Arc Demon Slayer Returns with higher stakes. In the Entertainment District Arc, Tanjiro, his friend Inosuke, and Zenitsu follow flashy Uzui (the Sound Hishara), as they go undercover in The Entertainment District in order to find a demon hidden in its midst. The arc begins with more subterfugee than usual. Demon SlayerEpisode, in which Tanjiro disguises himself as a courtesan and tries to find the demon hiding. Most of the episode is taken up by the final battle, which involves a brutal fight between two Demon Slayers. Two powerful demons. It’s all gorgeously animated, with twists upon twists and most heartachingly, a brother-sister parallel between Tanjiro and Nezuko and the two demons. —Petrana Radulovic

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District ArcAvailable to stream online FunimationAnd Crunchyroll.

My Dress-Up Darling

Marin Kitagawa and Wakana Gojo, high school students from Japan have different hobbies. Marin loves to create hina dolls, traditional Japanese dolls. Gojo is into making them while Marin enjoys anime and games. Marin has a passion for cosplay. Marin is a bubbly, girl-like character who loves to dress in traditional gyaru clothing. Gojo asks Marin to make her cosplay, and the two become a great duo. Marin’s bubbly and kind personality mixed with Gojo’s reserved-but-determined mindset makes for an interesting relationship that breaks free of the usual set-up of a gyaru girl with a quiet boy (in which the gyaru girl simply teases the boy relentlessly while hiding her own feelings for him). Marin obviously cares for Gojo and isn’t doing anything to purposely hurt him or stress him out, even if he ends up getting embarrassed while taking her measurements. My Dress-up DalingThere is an inordinate amount of fan service, which makes it difficult to know if I can. Really Recommend it. But the story is so refreshing, I couldn’t resist including it in this list. —Julia Lee

My Dress-up DalingOn stream FunimationAnd Crunchyroll.

Orbital Children

Nearly 15 years have passed since the last anime he created. Dennou CoilMitsuo Iso, director returns Orbital ChildrenThe anime ‘The Six-Episode Anime’ (released in Japan with two feature films) tells the story about five children trapped aboard a space station commercial on the edge of disaster. Through a dizzying tapestry of rich worldbuilding brought to life through beautiful animation, Iso and co. weave a coming-of-age story that takes the lives of five unsuspecting children and places them at the precipice of humanity’s expansion into the vast unknown of space. It’s a brilliant anime with dense, beautiful visuals that rewards both attentive first-time viewers and repeat watches alike. —TE

Orbital ChildrenYou can stream it on Netflix.

Ranking of Kings

Ranking of KingsThis fantasy series shows how monarchs can be measured by the quality of their actions and, more importantly, their strength. Bojji is a small, kind-hearted boy, and he is the next to inherit the throne. His ailing father is also king. Bojji isn’t physically strong, and struggles to speak, thus leading him to communicate primarily through sign language. His characteristics may be lacking in comparison with more established leaders, but he has a lot of heart. The first episode shows him literally taking off his shirt to help someone in distress.

Bojji is one of the most moving and compelling anime protagonists I’ve seen on screen, ever. Ranking of KingsThe most innocuous moments can have the greatest stakes. Bojji fighting his half-brother makes it seem like an important fight. Bojji is the perfect character, his small stature and sense for awe makes a fantasy world populated by wizards and golems seem larger than life. Bojji, however, is not the only one who stands out. Kage, his companion from the once-persecuted clan is now the sole survivor, while Daida, his half brother, struggles to reach power.

Ranking of Kings works because I would die for Bojji. This series goes beyond being an underdog tale. The anime is based on SosukeToka’s manga. It features intriguing characters, dark and mystical magic, palace intrigue and an adventure that sends the boy to the edge of the pits. It’s an incredible series so far, and one that I can’t recommend enough. —Ana Diaz

Ranking of Kingsstreaming on FunimationAnd Crunchyroll.

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