Spring 2022 anime season is behind us and as always, we were able to enjoy quite a few amazing titles. Picking the best one might be difficult for most, but it sometimes needs to be done. We’ll leave the top anime of the season title to the voters on Anime Corner’s polls and proceed with our own biased options.
Keep in mind that this list was chosen by some of the Anime Corner News writers (and dev) and that it in no way represents hard facts – it is simply our own opinions written down for fun. There is no ranking (of the anime or the writers) and titles below are not in a particular order. So without any further ado, let’s see what the ACN team enjoyed the most this season!
This season has a lot of good shows such as the exciting Spy x Family produced by WIT STUDIO and CloverWorks, the peaceful In the Heart of Kunoichi Tsubaki with its cute story, and more, which made it difficult to select one show for the Anime of the Season. And yet, right after I finished watching the final 1-hour long episode, I was pleased to announce that my Anime of the Season was Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 3. Overall, the voice actors, especially Aoi Koga’s splendid acting skills as Kaguya Shinomiya never ceased to amaze and amuse me, parodic music and effects on various scenes gave me somewhat nostalgic and funny feelings, and it’s also noteworthy that the anime’s scripts managed not to ruin the experience for me, even though I read the manga. Above all, the final episode was beyond satisfactory and on par with the series’ core, romantic and comedic parts, and the war of love. The 3rd season definitely deserves the title Ultra Romantic. Congratulations, and thank you for the wonderful entertainment in Spring 2022 anime season.
Flowing under the radar the entire Spring 2022 season, Birdie Wing oozes excitement that gets your adrenaline pumping almost every episode. The animation was great. The characters and their designs are both interesting to the core. And to take a golf anime and intertwine it with mafia deals, assassinations, underground gambling, and a mind-boggling story is what makes Birdie Wing more than deserving to be recognized as Anime of the Season.
I have three favorites this season — Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 3, Ya Boy Kongming, and Spy x Family. I really loved the weekends because I always had a lot of good laughs. The first two were especially awesome with their witty elements, but the one I want to celebrate the most is Spy x Family! I had read the manga before so I was really looking forward to the adaptation and gosh, it did not disappoint. Everything about this anime is so well-made — from the theme songs to the animation, the writing, and even Anya, Yor, and Twilight’s hilarious (memeable) expressions! It also satisfies all the marks for comedy, action, and the drama feels. Watching this “fake family” grow together while hiding their identities (for the sake of world peace!) is something I really fangirl about. It’s really cute, wholesome, and overall refreshing. Hands down, Spy x Family has made a special place in my heart. Very Waku waku, elegant, and wow!
I’ll admit that I was a little apprehensive because, on one hand, I had heard good things about The Executioner and Her Way of Life series, but on the other hand, I noticed that it was being adapted by J.C. Staff. There are some fan-favorite shows that were not adapted properly and had noticeable flaws, but the studio is by no means bad. If you watch Date A Live, you will recall what happened previously in the third season and how readers reacted to its rushed release. I expected the same to occur here, but that was not the case. I haven’t read the light novel, but I’ve enjoyed the adaptation, and the cast and music keep me interested. In addition, some of the fight scenes have some excellent cuts, and the story’s progression is fantastic as well. Even in Anime Corner polls, you’d notice that the series has frequent jumps (going up and down), and I believe that’s because it often surprises you with a great episode when you least expect it. I would recommend that everyone who hasn’t seen the series at least watch the trailers, as they were enough to get me excited.
I will never forgive Disney+ for putting Summer Time Rendering in streaming jail, as that was one title I was very much looking forward to and one title that I think would probably be on this list had circumstances been different. But, we can’t always get what we want, and my pick for this season’s top anime goes to Spy x Family. The premise didn’t seem all that appealing at first and I couldn’t understand the hype – until I watched the first episode. It was simply enjoyable and as the season went on I found myself looking forward to every Saturday. I had concerns about the potential drama since all Forgers are hiding something but they were dispelled quickly. The slower episodes were especially enjoyable to me, and as Carla said the meme potential was amazing. Even if you think the hype was too much, you really can’t deny that Spy x Family marked the Spring 2022 anime season. Definitely looking forward to the sequel.
Healer Girl may have gone under the radar for many due to a myriad of shows airing this season. While I was torn picking between this series and Deaimon, what makes Healer Girl stand out is its melodious songs, vibrant animations, and soothing storytelling. The premise is simple wherein it’s just a bunch of young girls striving to do their best to heal people through singing – yet it was so beautifully depicted that makes you wonder why there aren’t more musical anime like this. With that being said, it’s my personal favorite among all the shows this season.
Let’s be honest, Spy x Family is definitely one of the most-hyped anime titles this season and it never disappointed, so it is my pick for the Anime of the Season. Being a bit of a history nerd I that am, I am fascinated by anime titles that are loosely based on real-life historical events. Cold War/Germany-inspired espionage setting was a treat and very entertaining to watch.
Espionage aside, one of the reasons why Spy x Family won me over was how special the characters were, despite their hidden personas. It reminds me of titles such as Charlotte where characters possess an ability but are imperfect. Spy x Family’s cast is similar to it, but with an added level of action and greater storytelling and animation, thanks to joint forces of WIT Studio and CloverWorks. From Loid’s great multi-tasking skills, Yor’s noticeable appearance and physique, to our ‘Starlight’ Anya, who brings the most out of this story. Despite having several episodes that were seemingly slow, the anime managed to pick itself up, pack it up with memorable scenes, and of course, give you a fluffy feeling after seeing the bond the Forgers have made, even if they brandish themselves as a ‘pretend’ family.
Every season there seems to be a show that I have no interest in upon first glance, then astounds me every single week and becomes one of my favorites. In Spring 2022, that anime was Ya Boy Kongming. The series is just as incredible as its opening song, with its stunning animation, inspiring and lovable characters, many historical references, and unique premise. 96Neko gives life to the anime as Eiko with her famously beautiful voice that amazes the audience just as much as the characters. As well as an original, well-executed story by P.A. Works, Ya Boy Kongming has the big bonus of delivering the catchiest insert songs.
And that’s it from the ACN team, who diligently wrote about their best Spy x Family anime of the season! What was your favorite series and why?