Spring is here, and that means it’s time to say goodbye to the past anime season and hello to a new crop of shows. And the Spring 2022 cour is going to be a huge one, with 45+ new series or fresh seasons of past shows starting. Of course, some of these new offerings will enthrall the hearts of fans, while others put us to sleep. Here are the 14 shows J-List will be focusing on in the upcoming monster anime season!
A Monster Anime Season is About to Start! Here’s the J-List Anime Guide!
Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Ultra Romantic
One of my top five anime series of the 21st century, the likability of the characters in Kaguya-sama: Love is War is surpassed only by the quality of the execution of every episode. I’m sure the story will surely get resolved this time around…right?
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2
The 6th best isekai anime according to MAL — yes I know, using MAL rankings isn’t perfect, but with ~800,000 users ranking a variety of series, it’s the closest thing to a Rotten Tomatoes for anime we have — Shield Hero was one of the most pleasant shows to discover when season 1 dropped in 2019. And now we can more of the same delightful characters, especially Racoon Girl!
Spy x Family
The long-awaited anime based on the manga by Tatsuya Endo. There’s a lot of buzz for this show.
Komi Can’t Comunicate 2nd Season
The adorable adventures of Komi-san, who is slowly learning to overcome her extreme social anxiety, who has won the hearts of fans for years. Where will her relationship with Tadano progress?
Machikado Mazoku: 2-choume
Why are we drawn to slice-of-life stories? My Dress-Up Darling defines them as, “Nothing actually happens, but that’s what’s so great about them. They’re nice and peaceful. The point is to enjoy the characters’ tranquil, everyday lives.” And that’s what you get in Machikado Mazoku, the cute story of a girl who discovers she’s actually a demon who must defeat a magical girl who lives in the same neighborhood. The yuri subtext between Momo’s top and Shamiko’s bottom is an added bonus.
Black★★Rock Shooter: Dawn Fall
I am totally down with revisiting the good times that were Black Rock Shooter. I wonder of genius anime writer/producer Mari Okada will be involved?
Shin Ikkitousen
I’m excited for the return of Ikki Tousen for several reasons in the new monster anime season. First, posting sexy anime gifs to Twitter is literally my job, and this series has contributed many of those. The series is quite popular for figure makers, and I’m pretty sure we’ve sold more Ikki Tousen figures over the years than from any other series. Finally, I’m deathly fearful of the future of the “extremely ecchi” genre of anime in a world where streaming is the dominant way anime is distributed. The sad bankruptcy of ecchi animation studio Arms highlighted the weak position studios like this are in during times of economic stress.
Date A Live IV
The series that keeps on giving… anime figures, that is. I gather the funding for the endless series this show receives are coming from figure makers, who know that if they build it, fans will come. And we’re totally okay with this!
Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san
As we all look for a new romance anime to fill the holes in our hearts left by Marin Kitagawa, maybe this show will serve?
Aharen-san wa Hakarenai
We all need cute smol anime girls to make our lives complete, and this pleasant series might be what we’re looking for. Time will tell!
Tomodachi Game
A new series based on a popular manga, this could either be that freaky horror-esque show that everyone forgets about when the season is over, or it might be more. I’ll check it out, and let you know if it’s worth your time!
Summertime Render
In a way, I’m glad I have no time for reading manga and light novels, because it allows me to approach every new anime season with a fresh pair of eyes and no pre-judgments. This series, based on a manga from Shonen Jump+, is a murder mystery with supernatural elements, and great character design.
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story
I’m fascinated at how the genre of sports anime (including any related kind of game or competition) can be leveraged to tell compelling stories And when they’re done well, the results can be glorious, even for stories that might seem inaccessible for Westerners, like Chihayafuru. I wonder if this new show will ignite an interest in golf?
Kono Healer, Mendokusai
“A fantasy and adventure comedy starring Karla, a dark elf cleric who…” Stop right there, you had me at “dark elf.”
What Shows Might I Skip in the Monster Anime Season?
While it’s great having “too much” anime to watch, there are a few series I might not have time to get to. These include
- Science Fell in Love and I Tried to Prove it 2. As I explored in a recent post, is getting a new season of every show really a good thing? How much mileage can the creators get out of a single joke?
- Tiger and Bunny 2. Really? After 11 years, do they think they can get fans who have moved on years ago to pick up where they left off? Like bringing back Code Geass a decade later, this feels like a mistake to me.
- Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2 Season 2. Although I admit I failed to hate the all-CGI follow up to the best cyberpunk anime ever (the original Stand Alone Complex), I don’t know much buzz this series can hope to generate.
- Magia Record. As I’ve written before, if I wanted to watch an animated series destined to go on forever, I’d watch The Simpsons. The original Madoka Magica was one of the most magical (pun intended) series in modern fandom, but the only ones who want it to continue forever are Aniplex and Sony…companies who are defined by the desire to run any profitable IP into the ground.
Thanks for reading this post about the series J-List will be following in the new monster anime season. Did we miss an important show? Post it below, or tell us on Twitter!
Great news for everyone! J-List now has lower shipping prices on all packages shipping from Japan! And in addition to the lower shipping, we’re keeping our $25 J-List Shipping Support automatic coupon for all orders of $150 or more, to help us all get through these trying times. Start browsing now!
