Top 10 Anime of 2022
Top 10 Anime of 2022
Top 10 Anime Fights of 2022
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we are counting down our picks for the Top 10 Anime of 2022. For this list, we’re tackling the big one. The pinnacle of this year’s anime selection, the jewel in the crown that is 2022 weebdom. Sequel seasons and new releases are all fair game, just as long as they made one hell of an impact! Did we leave off a crucial anime that you felt defined the year? Give your personal top tens in the comments!
#10: “Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun” (2022)
Top 10 Anime Moments That Made You Die Inside
We knew it was going to be beautiful, we knew it was going to be heart-breaking, and yet Riko and company’s continued descent into the abyss hit us with more despair than we ever could have expected. And it was extraordinary to behold. Sure, the visuals are absolutely sensational, and the world-building continues to surpass itself, but what truly gripped us (a little too tightly at times) was the introduction, characterisation and tragedy of Faputa. Even by Made in Abyss standards, watching her arc unfold was beyond the scope of painful, and yet we couldn’t turn away even if we wanted to.
#9: “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury” (2022)
Top 10 Mobile Suits From The Gundam Franchise
It’s been a hot minute since the folks over at Sunrise dropped an original Gundam series untethered to the Universal Century, and, so far, it’s proved to be rather exceptional. Balancing all manners of genre, from slice of life in space, LGBT romance, prejudice between space-fairers and earth citizens, all the way to a thriller involving the dangers of corporate supremacy becoming culture itself, there’s a lot going on here. And all of it is helmed around an adorkable lead and some truly slick mecha fights. Needless to say, Suletta and her Gundam have already bewitched us.
#8: “My Hero Academia” Season Six (2022)
Top 10 Things to Remember Before Hero Academia Season 6
Finally, a return to form for the heroes of tomorrow. After a couple of seasons of build-up, the spark has finally been lit on the war between Izuku, Shigaraki, and every other super-powered individual seeking to swing the pendulum on hero society as a whole. The battles against the Paranormal Liberation Front have been one of colossal stakes and Quirk-filled fight-fests, one that looks to forever change the direction of the series going forward. Plus, we got to see Mirko prove herself as definitive best girl! Can’t go wrong with a bunny girl who refuses to skip leg day.
#7: “Spy x Family” (2022)
Top 10 Anime of 2022 (So Far)
You’d be hard-pressed to find a series that has captured the hearts of anime fans quite like this one. Thanks to fluid action mingled with splendid comedy chops, this unlikely family dynamic of a spy, telepath and assassin has proven to be so charming that it’s fair to say that there’s no otaku worth their salt who doesn’t adore Anya by this point. Seriously, she might as well be the face of the medium at the moment. Even with all the espionage, elitism and murder surrounding the Forger’s daily life, it doesn’t take away that this family is as precious as it is hilarious.
#6: “Chainsaw Man” (2022)
Top 10 Chainsaw Man Moments
For the longest time, fans of this acclaimed manga had been begging for an adaptation. Then along came MAPPA, and as per usual, they went at it hard! Focusing on the down and out Denji, who’s wholly unpleasant life is suddenly uprooted when he becomes a demon hybrid, and as a result becomes shackled into the service of the elusive, beguiling and ominous Makima. The violence is here is as brutal as it is creative, all the while it takes every convention you might expect from a story about an underdog turned unintentional hero…and flips it on its head several times over. Enjoy the ride folks!
#5: “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Entertainment District Arc” (2022)
Top 20 Demon Slayer Fights
After the likes of Mugen Train, we were convinced that Tanjiro and his fellow Demon Slayers would sheath their swords and take a slower route for their next adventure. Nope. Instead, we got a follow up that more than matched the hype, delivering a concise and insanely epic set of brawls throughout that only UFOtable could deliver. From Tengen flexing on literally everyone, Nezuko flipping her alpha switch, all the way to the staggering showdown with the Upper Demon Moons, everything in this season was fire. Unlimited budget works at its best!
#4: “Kaguya-sama: Love is War - Ultra Romantic” (2022)
As arguably this generation’s definitive anime rom-com; all hearts were aflutter to see where this latest entry would take its cast. Short answer, it slapped, hard. There’s plenty of its signature slapstick, miscommunication, and witty banter to be found, but where this third season excels is in how it depicts its lovable dorks finally taking those all-important steps to locking in those all-important confessions. Even our boy Ishigami revealed himself to be unknowingly smooth with the ladies. All we can say is that next season, someone had better propose!
#3: “Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Part 2” (2022)
Top 20 Attack on Titan Moments
Nobody was ready for the rumbling. Following in the footsteps of what proved to be an exquisite example of world-building, misdirection and character study in Part 1, Part 2 was where shit really hit the fan – in the best way possible. There was so much terrific action, character defining moment’s and expansion to the lore that it’s still hard to process! Eren’s intentions were laid bare, Gabi sought redemption, both sides of the war effort were forced to confront some brutal truths about their worldly perceptions, and of course, we were served one of the craziest cliff-hanger endings in recent memory. Part 3 cannot get here soon enough!
#2: “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” (2022)
Top 10 Cyberpunk Anime
Who would have guessed that a Netflix anime-original wouldn’t only surpass the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 in terms of narrative, but would go on to establish itself as one of the best self-contained series we’ve seen in a long time! Studio Trigger’s latest effort might just be their magnum opus, with the grunge, politics and barbarity of Night City polished to a gorgeous sheen, making for a perfect setting for wounded Edgerunner David to try his hand at making a name for himself in a society that would rather he just lay down and die. The only thing that hits harder than the feels in this show is the soundtrack, talk about nova. Before we reveal our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions that you have to check out! “My Dress Up Darling” (2022) A sweet yet sensual romance that demonstrates how there’s no shame in pursuing your passions! “Ya Boy Kongming” (2022) Historical military strategy + catchy JPop = match made in heaven “Call of the Night” (2022) A neon-drenched tale of adolescence, identity, and vampire girls “Mob Psycho 100” Season Three (2022) A fitting send off for our favorite cinnamon bun of a psychic
#1: “Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War” (2022)
Top 10 Bleach Resurreccions
This Shonen juggernaut’s grand return was always going to be special for long-term fans, we just didn’t expect the revival to be this flashy and this frantic. It completely breathes new life into the series whilst still respecting its legacy. There’s no time wasted getting into the heart of the action, with the war between the Shinigami and the Quincies visually articulated with superb detail. If it keeps up this pace and makes the necessary alterations to the source material, this new iteration could easily surpass the sum of its parts. Either way, it’s proven that Ichigo’s staying power is undeniable!
