Spring 2022 offered many quality animes, especially for audiences who enjoy a wholesome slice-of-life show instead of blood-pumping shounen action mania.
Fans of the shounen genre need not fret, though. If your lust for blood and violence hasn’t been satiated as of late, our summer lineup will surely hit the spot with the return of legendary favourites Dr. STONE and Overlord.
Without further ado, let’s dive right into our top five anime series this season.
SPY x FAMILY
Released: Spring 2022
Episodes: 12
Platforms: Netflix, Hotstar, genflix, and Vidio
As we predicted in our previous article on SPY x Family, this series turned into the breakout must-watch anime of the season, and it did so with ease.
The series was a sensational hit among fans as soon as we were introduced to the loveable psychic child, Anya. WhatsApp stickers, memes, and GIFs of this adorable merchandising opportunity are still being sent across all platforms of social media and we love it.
Although Anya’s lovable antics are what makes the anime universally loved, the anime holds its own by skillfully juggling between being a spy-espionage action thriller and a wholesome comedic slice of life anime.
Summertime Render
Released: Spring 2022
Episodes: 25
Platform: Disney+
We won’t give away too much of the narrative of Summertime Render since it’s one of those programs that is best enjoyed without spoilers. Shinpei, the protagonist of this series, returns to his hometown after learning of the passing of his childhood buddy Ushio.
While there, Shinpei has a strange suspicion regarding the circumstances of Ushio’s death, which sends him on a perilous quest to solve the mysterious crimes happening on his home island. Every episode of this program ends on a painful cliffhanger and traps you into coming back for more, making it arguably the most binge-worthy anime of the season. We also promise that the first episode will be enough to hook you.
Ya Boy Kongming!
Released: Spring 2022
Episodes: 12
Platform: HIDIVE, bilibili TV, and Netflix
Unquestionably, the underdog of this anime season was Ya Boy Kongming! For starters, no one anticipated this and no one could have imagined that it would be as fantastic as it turned out to be.
The protagonist of this series, Eiko Tsukimi, is a young woman who dreams of becoming a well-known singer. The great strategist, Zhuge Kongming, from third-century China, who is reincarnated in contemporary Japan, is now utilising his legendary tactical abilities to assist Tsukimi to realise her aspirations.
Yes, the series is as outrageous as it sounds, yet beneath its absurd plot and brilliant comedic moments, there is a very touching narrative with likeable characters. Additionally, it boasts the finest opener this spring… For crying out loud, just check out this masterpiece.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War – Ultra Romantic
Released: Spring 2022
Episodes: 37 (3 seasons)
Platforms: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu and Viu
With yet another fantastic season, Kaguya-sama: Love is War maintains its position as one of the finest romantic comedies in recent memory.
Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya are the president and vice-president of the Shuchiin Academy student council and they are too proud to profess their love to each other. Instead, they concoct elaborate schemes to get the other party to break and show affection.
Alongside Kaguya and Miyuki, Chika Fujiwara, Yu Ishigami, and Miko Lino are all members of the Shuchiin Academy student council, and their camaraderie is as solid as ever. With their adorable attempts at matchmaking the president and vice president at every given opportunity, the cast of friends act as comedic relief and, at times, enhance the emotions of an important scene. Every episode, as always, features at least one or two hilarious moments that will make you laugh till you cry.
We’re confident that Kaguya-sama: Love is War will be remembered as one of the greatest comedy anime of all time by the time it concludes.
Komi Can’t Communicate
Released: Spring 2022
Episodes: 37 (3 seasons)
Platforms: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu and Viu
Last but not least, we have another excellent show featuring strong, yet relatable characters bundled in an interesting narrative.
The unique animation is simple yet stunning and incredibly polished. The movements are fluid and the colours are striking, and top-notch. The characters are easy to identify due to their unique designs making even their silhouette instantly recognisable.
Being hopelessly average, Tadano is considered extremely typical when compared to his classmates with their individual quirks and personas. This is good, though, as it allows audiences to project themselves onto Tadano, making him feel more approachable than other main characters.
By looking past Komi’s beauty and understanding her struggles with communication, he sincerely wanted to be her friend and volunteered to help her get 100 friends. The best comedic moments come from Komi’s classmates misunderstanding her simple and few words in ridiculous ways that would make even the most cynical crack a smile.
The quality of the voice acting and sound design is spectacular. In terms of themes, relatability, animation, etc., the programme gets a lot of things right. Definitely worth watching.
