2021 was filled with awesome anime that kept us on the edge of our seats. Attack on Titan‘s final season was released last 2021, and many fans were kept waiting for more. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Kimetsu no Yaiba’s Mugen Train Arc, and Boku no Hero Academia’s 5th season were also released, with these titles being a few of the best of 2021.
Now that 2021 is officially over, anime fans worldwide have no reason to be down and out. Whether you’re one of the few people waiting for a new season to your favorite series or if you just want to catch gems like Odd Taxi and Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song this year, 2022 also has a lot in store.
Aside from Attack on Titan, Kimetsu No Yaiba, and other fan favorites, let’s look for more anime. Look no further as we tackle five of the most anticipated anime series this 2022. If you think 2021 was a blast, wait till you see what 2022 has to offer.
Let’s start the list with something fresh and new. This January 28 on Netflix, famed director Mitsuo Ito will be releasing Orbital Children. Little is known about the anime. However, from the looks of the trailer, we’re in for a really good watch.
The series follows several children stranded on a space station. With the limited supplies and often new technology available to them, the kids have to survive as long as possible. Although this series is short with six episodes, many fans predict that this series is an excellent dark horse for the best anime this winter season.
Though many anime can get annoying with this chibi-style animation, Made In Abyss perfectly captures the delight of audiences through the eyes of a very young and adventurous Riko and a curious Reg. Apart from the animation style, the crew behind Made In Abyss lets audiences into the world of the series. People will think that Made In Abyss is a feel-good anime with incredible imagery and world-building.
After a solid first episode that sets the premise and the world of Made In Abyss, viewers are then plunged into the darkness of the anime. The story to come is by no means cute and pampering. The characters are driven into a totally unforgiving wilderness, much like the reality we’re in. This is one of the true beautiful qualities that Made In Abyss has.
After the anime series, the animators made Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul for the big screen. The movie doesn’t shy away from the darkness that the series has built on. Don’t get it wrong, though; the movie is great and offers fans of the series a good reason to wait for the second season.
The long wait is almost over, and 2022 is here. The second season of Made In Abyss titled Made In Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun, is set for a late 2022 release. A trailer is already out, and we’re seeing a whole new cast of characters. The second season will build around these new characters, along with Reg, Riko, and Nanachi, traversing through the sixth layer of the abyss.
Technically the 5th installment in this flamboyant and glamorous anime series, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, continues to amaze. The series follows Jolyne Cujoh, the daughter of Jotaro Cujoh. As with any JoJo, Jolyne, a misfit at best, discovers strange powers after she’s framed up and taken away to prison.
She shortly discovers that she’s not the only one with extraordinary powers within the prison. Although the setting is “limited” because it’s in a prison, the viewer can really wonder what’s going on inside. With strange rules, weird and imposing correctional officers, and a mysterious force within the prison, Jolyne has to battle through it all to get out, help Jotaro, and know the truth behind her incarceration.
Although Netflix has shown episodes 1-12 for fans worldwide, Japan has yet to see it. The slated release date for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean aired on January 8, 2022, on Japanese tv. After this, it’s expected that the next episodes of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean Part 2 will begin airing. Fans from Japan and worldwide will finally see this fantastic season in its entirety this 2022.
2021 certainly didn’t leave on a sour note as one of the best anime to air came in a bit late. The first episodes of Ousama Ranking, more popularly known as Ranking of Kings, first aired in October 2021.
It’s currently airing today and is on its 2nd cour. The art style of this anime is similar to oldies like Crayon Shin-chan and the 1999 animated film, My Neighbors the Yamadas. Although some will get turned off by this style, it’s certainly a breath of fresh air for the anime scene.
Ranking of Kings has a lovable character in Boji, a deaf prince and son of the number one king and giant, King Boss. Boji is small, weak, and some think he’s also stupid. Deep down, however, Boji is agile and is at a godly level when evading attacks. He aspires to be the number one king and rule his kingdom at peace. He develops a friendship with Kage, a literal shadow and the last member of the Shadow Clan of assassins.
The story unfolds as Boji and Kage journey to improve their skills. The journey they take is warm and loveable but not empty of danger and threats. With key twists in the story, Boji slowly and subtly proves his doubters wrong.
Full of honest-good fun, the story is well told, and the pacing is on point. Due to the protagonist’s nature, sign language is used throughout the series. The Tokyo Federation for the Deaf supervises the sign language within the anime. Ranking of Kings is shaping up to be one of the best anime to date.
Chainsaw Man is one of the most anticipated new anime of 2022. Many fans who read the manga are delighted to see this action-horror masterpiece come to life. Originally penned for a 2021 release, Chainsaw Man’s pilot was moved to a 2022 summer date due to the pandemic.
Fans shouldn’t be worried about the delay, though, as the short delay is definitely worth the wait. MAPPA is producing the series, a known animation studio responsible for hit series like Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan. The anime is set in a world where devils take the form of human fears. Denji, the main protagonist of the series, is a young devil hunter dealing with a huge debt left by his deceased father.
With nothing left to do, Denji enlists the help of Pochita, a devil-dog. Together, they hunt down devils and make money off of it. A routine job goes terribly wrong, and both Denji and Pochita make a contract with each other to keep on living. This pact ultimately turns Denji, along with Pochita as his heart, into a strong human-devil hybrid aptly known as Chainsaw Man. Fans will have to wait just a little more to watch this awesome anime.
2022 is a new year, and there’s a lot of new and continuing anime to watch. Many anime are getting new seasons where fans can continue the excitement. New anime are also bringing fresh stories into the fold. 2021 in the anime scene was full of surprises and delights; this 2022 will be no exception.