Summer 2022 is behind us and as we prepare for the exciting new anime titles and beloved sequels, we at Anime Corner News decided to pick our favorites for this past season. As always, this is just a fun little list picked by our writers and contributors since we leave the picking of the Anime of the Season to the voters on our polls.
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 the 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!
Best Summer 2022 Anime – By ACN Team
Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun – Tamara
I am not very good at keeping up with seasonals, but a sequel to the Made in Abyss was something I couldn’t pass up on. I only watched three things this summer and all of them were continuations, but even if I had watched more, Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun would still probably take the top spot. There is something magical about Riko’s adventure and even though each layer of the pit brings new horrors and a new kind of desperation it still manages to keep me hooked. Irumyuui, Vueko, and Faputa took the spotlight but their tragic stories were observed by our favorite trio, who ended up playing a detrimental part. Also, Maaa was adorable.
There is no doubt that their story will eventually continue and I, for one, can’t wait to see what awaits them at the bottom of the Abyss.
Call of the Night – Carla
A lot of vampire fantasy stories have come and gone but Call of the Night just hits differently. I personally loved every episode because of its gorgeous visuals, vibrant colors, lo-fi/hip-hop-like music, and at its core, a pair of quirky characters. There is some spicy tension now and then (you know, vampire stuff), but the entire storytelling is what really makes the show so charming. And oh, the action and the drama! There is so much to say but ultimately, my overall favorite thing about Call of the Night is how it captured the calm and freedom of the sleeping city that the day could never have. The night could lead to anything, and going along with that flow – Nazuna and Ko’s growing friendship/romance to be exact – made the late-night watching experience feel like a thrilling and comforting adventure. As a night owl, this was such a pleasure to watch.
When Will Ayumu Make His Move? – Ken
I know there are a lot of amazing shows that aired this season (Made in Abyss and Lycoris Recoil come to mind) but there’s something about When Will Ayumu Make His Move? (Soreayu) that made me love watching anime in general. I’ve always enjoyed the works of Soichirou Yamamoto because of his light-hearted storytelling and I would say Soreayu is my favorite although Takagi-san and Kunoichi Tsubaki were also amazing in their own right.
Soreayu is a feel-good show that is full of heartwarming moments that remind us of fleeting youthful romance. The story is cute and simple and the characters are adorable, especially Urushi. I didn’t really expect that this happy-go-lucky tsundere has the most adorable reactions out of all the characters I’ve seen this year. Not to mention, Kanna Nakamura (Urushi’s voice actor) did an incredible job in voicing Urushi considering the fact that this was her first big role. I fell in love with her voice acting in this series and I’m very much looking forward to hearing her again soon. In the midst of a season filled with mostly dark, thrilling, or action-packed settings, Soreayu was a gem this season for those seeking out a relaxing and wholesome show and that is why it’s my favorite.
Lycoris Recoil – Eric
Lycoris Recoil ended up being the best original anime series since Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song, in my opinion. Original anime have been proven to be more difficult to articulate due to everything being from scratch. And as the director for the series, Shingo Adachi worked his magic and gave us an incredible story from start to finish.
It felt fresh and kept the viewers excited for a new episode every week with staunch character development, intriguing storytelling, and even nods to memorable moments in cinema history. And the fact it was all done in the span of 13 episodes just goes to show Adachi, and everyone else who worked on the series gave us not just the anime of the Summer 2022 season but one of the best anime of the year.
Parallel World Pharmacy – Teddy
I was tempted to give my top anime pick this season to Lycoris Recoil, but for now, I have to choose Parallel World Pharmacy. The anime is more than just an isekai anime, and certainly is more than just a pharmacist’s journey into another world. For me as a Biology student, the anime is one’s attempt to discuss not just pharmacology but also other branches of healthcare such as epidemic prevention, medical sociology, public sanitation, and communal healthcare. The anime has helped me revive my past learnings of life sciences, which I deeply appreciate. The storytelling has been well-executed and shows a great purpose with a tangible process in line. Unlike other overpowered isekai characters who mindlessly show off their prowess, the anime’s protagonis- Farma de Medicis – uses his past knowledge as a way to reach an end goal. And that is to make healthcare truly accessible to all, with no discrimination. Despite the anime skipping over some important parts of the story, I had a lot of fun with Parallel World Pharmacy and I hope it gets further adaptations in the future.
Shadows House Season 2 – Zeerak
In its first season, Shadows House had set a quite deep tone, and the second season carried on with it successfully. Each episode was filled with a mysterious vibe, tension, and suspense, only to finally give us some answers in the end. The story was engaging, the characters were memorable, and the world-building was fantastic. I wish the second season were longer because there are still a lot of unanswered questions, but it’s still a great watch that managed to stand out from the crowd for me.
Best Summer 2022 Anime
And that’s it from us! An honorable mention goes out to our editor Marko, who started watching some things but hasn’t finished any of them. Once again, these are just titles that we enjoyed and think deserve praise. Until next time!
What was your favorite anime of the Summer 2022 season?
