2022 has been a solid year foranimefans as it has not only seen the return of many beloved anime series but has also introduced many new genre-defining anime. The future ofanimeis thus once again looking bright after experiencing many delays and drops in animation quality due to the COVID-19 Pandemic back in 2020. From action-packed thrillers to hilariously comedic shows, many anime genres have seen a resurgence in not only quantity but also quality.
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Spring of 2022 was jam-packed with heavy hitters likeSpyxFamily, Kaguya-Sama: Love is War-Ultra RomanticandSummertime Render, etc. Then came the Summer 2022 lineup, which brought back fan favorites like the second seasons ofClassroom of The EliteandMade in Abyss. But by and large, Fall 2022 will be regarded as the best season of year with the release and return of many highly anticipated shows likeChainsaw Man,My Hero Academia,andMob Psycho 100. Safe to say, with the release of so many interesting series this year, many genres are making an epic comeback.
5Psychological
The psychological genre is one of the most intriguing onesout there, but rarely does it receive any remarkable entries. When done right, however, psychological anime have a knack for becoming cult classics, as evident by the popularity of shows likeDeath Note, Steins;Gate, Monster, Parasyte:The Maxim,etc. Fortunately, this genre has made a slow but steady comeback over the past few years. With shows likeClassroom of the Elitemaking a return after almost 5 years, andMoriarty the Patriotcontinuing to dish out solid seasons, this genre is finally picking up the slack.
2022 has been a great year for the psychological genre, introducing shows likeSummertime RenderandTomodachi Game.Kaguya-sama: Love is War-Ultra Romanticwas also released in Spring of 2022, receiving an off-the-charts rating, and is currently ranked as the 3rd top anime on myanimelist.
4Supernatural
Although the era of vampires and werewolves may seem to be over, they are not the only supernaturalelements that define the supernatural genre. With themes involving time travel, transformations, and ghosts, there is a lot to unpack and go over. This season has seen the return of one of the most beloved supernatural anime,Mob Psycho 100. This show takes on themes from a lot of genres and truly does justice to all of them. The widely anticipatedChainsaw Manhas also started airing and is already gaining mainstream popularity.
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Vampire lovers will also be glad to see the addition ofCall of the Nightto the mix, while werewolf fans can also look forward to the release of the fourth season ofBungao Stray Dogs. Other notable new entries in the genre includeShadow HouseandSummertime Render, both of which have received solid receptions.
3Sports
The fame andhype surroundingHaikyu!!has done wonders for the sports genre, but can it survive in the absence ofHaikyu!!from the air? The answer is yes. This year fans have been treated to not one but two new quality sports anime namely,Blue LockandAo Ashi, both of which have sustained an average rating of over 8 on myanimelist. These animes center around the sport of soccer which is a very uncommon sight in the anime industry but have so far delivered highly engaging content.
Moreover, Yowamushi Pedalhas also made a return with its fifth season after almost 4 years, titledLimit Break. If this was not enough, the second season of the highly underrated archery anime,Tsurune, is also set to air in January 2023. Though no concrete announcements have been made on the release ofHaikyu!!‘shighly anticipated next season, fans of the genre are sure to have a wonderful time with the rest of theshows that this genre currently has to offer.
2Comedy
Comedy anime are often hit or missand often end up creating a divide between the fan base. The reason being that comedy is quite subjective. However, this year the genre has seen a significant gain in popularity. With hard hitters likeSpyxFamilyandKomi Can’t Communicate,fans of the genre are having a blast.Isekai Ojisanhas also entered the mix, changing the traditional isekai trope while simultaneously nailing humor.
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The return of fan favorites likeKaguya-sama: Love is War-Ultra Romanticand the third season ofMob Psycho 100have also revitalized the genre. Fans can also expect the release of even more exciting comedic shows likeRomantic Killer, slated to air in October 2022. Though the comedy genre has always been saturated, this year has truly brought forth some remarkable comedy anime.
1Mystery
Who doesn’t enjoy a good mystery? Sadly, half the shows in the genre end up disappointing fans near the final stretch of their stories. It is very hard to nail a plot involving a deep mystery and this is why this genre hasnever been able to keep up with the rest. Luckily, fans will be delighted to see the recentofferings that the mystery genre has to make. One recent surprise hitter isBeastars, released back in 2019. This anime has continued to provide an engaging plot and an entertaining dynamic between the characters. 2021 also saw the rise of the mystery genre with highly acclaimed additions likeOdd TaxiandSonny Boy.
2022 has also proven to be quite influential for this genre seeing the return ofMade in AbyssandShadow House. There have been many new solid entries as well, includingThe Tunnel of Summer, The Exit of Goodbyes, Summertime Render, andTomodachi Game. Suzume’s Door-Lockingis another highly anticipated mystery anime film slated to release in Nov 2022. Seeing the current state of the mystery genre and what it has in store, it can easily be claimed that this genre has made one of the biggest comebacks in recent years.
