The last days of winter have melted away, and that means it's time to get ready for the new wave of spring anime is coming to the 2022 anime lineup! 2021 was one of the strongest anime years in recent memory, and that unfortunately put a lot of pressure on 2022 to somehow maintain that momentum.
However, the Winter 2021 anime lineup not only had big blockbusters showing off some very impressive episodes, but it also had some big premieres that really caught fans' attention. It's a tough act to follow, but Spring looks up to the task. It's just going to happen in a different way.
Content Index
Check out this list of spring 2022 anime
Looking at the Spring 2022 anime list as a whole, it outlines some key patterns. It's a season dominated mostly by returning shows, but in a very different way than you'd expect. There are fewer big action franchises, and instead, many of the most anticipated debuts or returns are comedies, romantic or otherwise. Even with that being said, there's a wide variety of comedies types, action shows, and even some eerie trailers this time around.
Tomodachi Game
The first on the spring anime list, it is based on the original manga series by Mikoto Yamaguchi and Yuki Sato. Tomodachi Game pulls a close group of five friends into a mysterious game. It is revealed that one of them is secretly millions of dollars in debt, and so hired them for the chance to pay off that debt with a series of mysterious games. Each game challenges your friendship and soon secrets are revealed, drama sparks and more. It could scratch that much-needed suspense itch.
crunchyroll describes Tomodachi Game as such, “High school student Katagiri Yuichi, who values friendship above all else, enjoys a fulfilling life with his close friends Sawaragi Shiho, Mikasa Tenji, Shibe Makoto, and Kokorogi Yutori. However, after a specific incident, they are drawn into a debt-paying game.”
The Rising of the Shield Hero – Season Two
Serving as the season's action franchise, The Rising of the Shield Hero has finally returned with season two. particularly difficult. Originally slated to release in Fall 2021 before finally releasing in the Spring 2022 anime schedule, Naofumi is gearing up for the biggest mission yet. After discovering the true secret of the Waves at the end of the first season, Aneko Yusagi's original light novel series opened.
Naofumi's party is getting bigger, there's a new quest involving a giant sacred turtle, and if season one was anything to go by, there's likely to be some impressive sequels if all goes well. It's definitely going to occupy most of the conversation this season.
Tiger & Bunny 2
Another big action franchise that's making a comeback this spring anime season, and that's Tiger & Bunny. It was an even more painful wait for more of this franchise as it has been ten long years since the release of the Tiger & Bunny movie.
Finally returning for a proper second season of the anime, Tiger & Bunny 2 takes place years after the events of that first season and follows Wild Tiger and Barnaby as they try to adjust to the changes that have been made to the world of professional heroes over the years. More and more new heroes, more challenges and lots of cool hero action are coming to Netflix!
Netflix describes Tiger & Bunny 2 as such: “Fighting for peace – and their sponsors – the odd couple of Wild Tiger and Barnaby continue to work as superheroes. But with the number of superheroes rising across the world, how will these two veterans fare!?”
Date A Live – Fourth season
It's a pretty big season for returns in general, as another big franchise is also returning for a new season. Date A Live had one of the most interesting animes of the past, as all three seasons were handled by three different production studios.
This trend continues with the return of the series' fourth season which introduces Shido to new Spirits that he will need to enchant before they pose even greater danger. Basically, it will be more of what fans loved about the first three seasons... but more than that! Thus, it will be worth waiting for this spring anime season.
Crunchyroll describes Date A Live IV as such, “With various spirits now living with him, Shido's juggling act of giving attention to women is never-ending. Also, more spirits arrive for him to place the spell. As he seals more and more, with his intentions unknown to them, will he be able to keep this up or will it lead to a big giant space earthquake?”
Love After World Domination
There are some unique looking romantic comedies making their debut this spring anime season. Fans may have noticed how the romantic comedy genre in general is evolving in some pretty fun ways. It's been a shift from the main premises, and a unique version comes from Hiroshi Noda and Takahiro Wakamatsu's original manga Love After World Domination.
This story sees the leader of a team like the Power Rangers falling in love with one of the main villains they fight each week. The two need to hide their love from their respective sides so they don't have to part ways.
The secret to a great romantic comedy is getting a couple early on and then watching their relationship develop, and mixing that with lots of potential for Power Rangers-type fun antics could make for an interesting watch this season.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War – Season Three
In this new spring anime season, we have the return of one of the main ones. For fans of romantic comedy it's certainly Kaguya-sama: Love is War -Ultra Romantic-. The show's second season came to an end with a mysterious tease for a third, but it wasn't until last year that a third season was actually confirmed.
Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane grew closer than ever in the first two seasons, but at the same time they became more stubborn about sharing their feelings too! If you were a fan of the crazy romantic antics from those early seasons, this will be your alley.
Crunchyroll describes Kaguya-sama: Love is War – Ultra romantic – as such, “Shuchiin Academy – an elite school where the most talented students flock. It is also where its Student Council met Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya and President Miyuki Shirogane. While everyone expected a speedy courtship and agreed that the two geniuses would make the perfect couple, the pair, it turns out, have too much pride to confess their true feelings for each other! The two remain fully committed to crafting a highly cerebral strategy in this cunning war of love… Will they take their relationship to the next level on the final day of Shuchiin Academy's cultural festival!?”
Spy x Family
Big franchises returning in the new spring anime season. The spring season may be mostly dominated by some big franchise returns, but there are some debuts that are just as big. Tatsuya Endo's original manga series has built a cult following since debuting on Shueisha's Jump+ app a few years ago, and it's been such a remarkable run that many felt an anime adaptation was inevitable. What was a surprise, however, is to see how much has been put into bringing it to life. A joint production between WIT Studio (the studio behind Ranking of Kings, Vinland Saga, and more) and CloverWorks (which produced My Dress-Up Darling, Horimiya, and more), Spy x Family is off to a good start.
Starting with an international spy who needs to quickly gather a family to somehow get close to an elusive political target, Spy x Family has you covered. With his core trio of a super spy, deadly assassin, and telepathic child navigating their new family life while trying to keep their individual secrets, it all quickly results in action, hilarious misunderstandings and even some romance! This is going to be the big one, folks.
Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie
A different one on this spring anime list, before each new seasonal schedule starts there are usually one or two new anime series that really please fans. Whether it's revealed that a cult following has been waiting a long time for an adaptation, or something about its premise and promotional materials catches fans' attention right away.
This time around, that seems to be happening a bit with Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie. Based on the original manga series by Keigo Maki, the titular Shikimori is the main character's girlfriend, Izumi, who is revealed to be more than her cute appearance would imply.
It's the kind of romantic comedy dynamic that has become especially popular in recent seasons with shows like Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro, Teasing Master Takagi-san, and Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! (to a lesser extent), and clearly audiences are ready for a tougher take on this kind of main love interest, so they'll probably love it when all spring anime arrives.
Now it's just a matter of seeing how far this premise really takes the series. There's a lot of romantic comedy competition, but this might have just the right angle to stand out.
Komi Can't Communicate – Season Two
Perhaps one of the most anticipated on the spring anime list, the final of the top romantic comedies returning this spring is also one of the more recent hits. Tomohito Oda's Komi Can't Communicate has had a huge cult following in its manga, but its anime debut last year catapulted it into whole new territory.
It's one of the rare Netflix licenses that the streaming service releases weekly episodes a few weeks after the initial premiere. It was a must-watch for that reason alone, but then you're introduced to the titular Shoko Komi and her wacky counterparts and even wackier world.
Looking to make 100 friends, the comedy of life will bring even wackier characters, introduce Komi to fun new activities, and see her getting closer to fulfilling her dream while having fun along the way. It's going to be the ultimate relaxation anime fans will need every week.
Summer Time Rendering
Finishing the list of 10 spring animes, this choice is kind of a cheat unfortunately, but we have to talk about it. is being broadcast on Disney + in Japan alongside its initial TV debut, but unfortunately international territories will have to wait a little longer. This release is certainly one to watch just for this Disney+ novelty, but Summer Time Rendering doesn't really need that to provide a great hook. Based on the original manga series by Yasuki Tanaka, this series follows Shinpei, a boy who ended up growing up along with a pair of sisters, Ushio and Mio, after the death of his parents.
Years later, Ushio drowns in a mysterious accident and Shinpei returns to his small island home. But he soon discovers that Ushio's death wasn't exactly an accident, and so he sets out on a chase to find out what's going on in his town. The series will be adapting the entire manga when it ends, so this is definitely one that fans might want to watch when it releases outside of Japan. Until then, we'll have to keep an eye on him from afar.
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