New Anime Guide — Fall 2022
Even though we are coming to the end of the year, that does not mean that this season is a boring one. Thankfully, there is a great lineup for Fall 2022 and as an anime watcher, I must say that my hopes have not been disappointed thus far.
In this article, I will go over some brand new anime that are currently airing. And boy, are there many. While some may have been highly anticipated, there seems to be no lack of sleeper hits too! There is a show for fans from every genre, be it isekai to saucy (?) romcoms.
This review will not include new seasons or cours and will be only focusing on completely new titles. Sorry Mob Psycho 100 Season III, My Hero Academia Season 6, and SpyXFamily Part 2 . I will perhaps cover these anime in an upcoming review.
Enough talk, let us jump right in!
Isekai (異世界)
Being one of the most popular genres now, the appetite for Isekai anime is reflected in the multiple new, highly anticipated releases.
The Eminence in Shadow (Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!, 陰の実力者になりたくて！)
First on the list is The Eminence in Shadow. If you imagined what it would be like to be transported to a magical new world, be granted the magical powers, and control the fate of the world from the dark, then this show ticks all your boxes.
This anime tells the story of Cid Kagenou, a former Japanese high-schooler who reincarnates into a world of fantasy and magic. Bestowed with intelligence and superpowers, he chooses to pulls the strings of the world using the organisation Shadow Garden, whose main aim is to put down the evil Diabolos Cult.
The Eminence in Shadow works well as a parody for the isekai genre. While the protagonist is living out his fantasy of being the ‘shadow king’, he is completely unaware that his fantasies, machinations, and plots are very much real. He saved genuine descendants of heroes and uncovered (?) the insidious plot of a demon-worshipping cult, but to him it’s all role-playing and bandit slaying.
As the season progresses, I look forward to Cid’s antics and his interactions with other members of Shadow Garden. Being able to see him mistaken frustrate the enemies plots as mere make-believe adventures are also a joy too. On the whole, this anime is action packed, well-animated, and absurdly funny. I highly recommend this
You can watch the trailer here.
Reincarnated as a Sword (Tensei shitara Ken Deshita, 転生したら剣でした)
What can one be reincarnated as? Slimes? Check. Game characters? Check. Super-powered assassins? Check. Spiders? Check. Is there any other reincarnations available. Well, Reincarnated as a Sword is the answer.
The title makes the plot fairly obvious, a Japanese man died and was mistakenly reincarnated in another world as a magical sword a.k.a intelligence weapon.
Halfway through his monster-slaying/levelling up activities, he ends up trapped until he was picked up by cat-girl Fran. The sword, now simply named as ‘Master’, promises to help Fran rise from slavery, surpass the limits of her race, and travel the world together.
The strongest point of this anime would be the quips between Master and Fran. While Master is undoubtedly stronger of the duo, he is funnily consoled by Fran whenever he compares his base stats with other weapons. Both are highly devoted to each other and Fran’s innocent interactions with her master and other side characters are also a joy to watch.
You can watch the trailer here.
Honourable mentions: I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss; Beast Tamer
Action, Sports, Adventure
Chainsaw Man (チェンソーマン)
Chainsaw Man is one of the most, if not, anticipated anime this fall. This anime is produced by MAPPA, the same powerhouses behind Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack of Titan, and the upcoming season of Vinland Saga. Therefore, there is no surprise that of the hype and expectations behind this show.
Chainsaw Man tells the tale of Denji, an unfortunate teenager who was forced by yakuza to be a devil hunter. Outliving his usefulness, Denji was murdered by a devil under the yakuza’s contract. Upon his death, Denji’s pet devil-dog Pochita merges with him, enabling him to transforms parts of his body into chainsaws.
Denji’s ability catches the eye of official devil hunters and he is invited to work at the Public Safety Bureau under the eye of Makima. Denji now chooses to embark on the life as an official devil hunter and combat other devils whilst discovering more of his powers.
I watched the first episode of Chainsaw Man and am thoroughly impressed with its visuals. The background, fight choreography, and overall aesthetics are gorgeous. This show does not shy from violence, instead diving right into it and all of the gory action. It shows the honest and brutal truth of devil hunting, alongside all the misery and fights involved.
Needless to say, I had high expectations for Chainsaw Man and so far they have been adequately met. As long as this anime remains on the right track, I am sure this can be a strong contender for anime of the season.
You can watch the trailer here.
Akiba Maid War (Akiba Meido Sensou, アキバ冥途戦争)
While Chainsaw Man aired with much fanfare, Akiba Maid War can be considered a sleeper hit. This anime tells the story of the aspiring new maid Nagomi Wahira who arrives at the ‘Ton Tokoton’ maid cafe in Tokyo, 1999.
However, she quickly realises that being a maid in Tokyo is not just fawning over customers, cute hand gestures, and glitzy dance-alongs. Gun fights and violent competition between maid cafes are also part of the job requirements. Cafes aside, there is a whole underworld supporting the maid business, including moneylenders and maid-only casinos.
While Akiba Maid War can often exude cute vibes, the tone changes just as quickly for over-the-top action. The best analogy for this show would be if John Wick took place in a maid cafe setting. Seeing the stark contrast between Nagomi’s shock and the others’ indifference towards violence is amusing too.
If you are in for some fun and unexpected action, then Akiba Maid War is the show for you. The pacing is good and never boring, the action is colourful, and the characters have their own charm. I found myself enjoying this more than I expected and I look forward to each new episode.
I previously wrote a more in-depth review of this anime here. You can also watch the trailer here.
Blue Lock (ブルーロック)
Blue Lock is a highly anticipated sports anime. This show tells the story of Yoichi Isagi, a striker who lost at the national high school tournament due to his hesiation.
In hopes of producing striker that can win the World Cup, the Japanese Football Association initiates the Blue Lock facility under the guidance of coach Jiinpachi Ego. However, only the sole survivor of the training can represent Japan as losers are forever banned from the national team.
Unlike the usual sports anime which emphasises the importance of friendship, teamwork, and camaraderie, Blue Lock takes a complete 180 instead. The show basically says ‘screw friendship, only the goal matters’. It takes a completely different approach to team sports where the focus is on individual abilities at the expense of others.
Plot aside, Blue Lock is an engaging show. The action and character designs are excellent, and the way it portrays Yoichi’s acceptance of the “survival of the fittest” mindset is fascinating. While the show occasionally gets unnerving, I look forward to Yoichi’s crawl to the top as the best striker of Japan.
You can watch the trailer here.
Shinobi no Ittoki (忍の一時)
Ittoki Sakuraba, a seemingly high-achieving teenager, is suddenly pulled into the world of ninja fights in the modern world. After surviving an attack from a rival clan, Ittoki chooses to accept his role as the 19th heir of the Iga ninja clan and attends a high school for ninjas.
Shinobi no Ittoki takes a modern twist on the ninja genre. When Ittoki naively asks if they can perform water or fire jutsu just like Naruto, his seniors amusedly comment that there is no special powers. Ninjas only rely on power suits and gadgets to wage battles, as well as corporate might and wealth. They also cannot endanger the lives of civilians and are monitored carefully by the authorities.
Shinobi no Ittoki is a good anime, and unfortunately that is all that is. The fights are fluid and the characters are somewhat interesting. However, the pacing alternates between slow and fast, the ninja suits are a bit boring (literally gray, black, and dark blue), and the dialogue can be clunky. The main character can also sometimes be a bit frustrating.
While this is not a show I strongly recommend, I have hopes that they can fix this issues in the upcoming episodes. In the meantime, I will just hang on and wish that the show will eventually improve.
You can watch the trailer here.
Honourable mentions: Legend of Mana — The Teardrop Crystal
Romance, Fantasy, and the Unexpected
More than a Married Couple, but not Lovers (Fuufu Ijou, Koibito Miman, 夫婦以上、恋人未満)
More than a Married Couple, but not Lovers might just be the rom-com of the season. In this show, third-year high school students are required to couple up in the mandatory “Couple Practical” course and stay together.
Unfortunately (or fortunately), Jirou Yakuin is paired with attractive gyaru Shiori Sakurazaka for the course. As Jirou prefers his childhood sweetheart Shiori Sakurazaka and Shiori prefers her crush Minami Tenjin, both strive to achieve the top 10 in the course to switch with their preferred partners.
As both are essentially polar opposites, it is unsurprising that misunderstandings frequently happen between the two. While Jirou thinks that Akari is an experienced (?) party girl, the truth is nothing further from the truth. A plus point is that while the main character can be sometimes clueless, he does develops feelings for Akari and slowly seems to accept them.
Given the slightly heavy anime that are featured this season, ‘More than a Married Couple, but not Lovers’ is a welcome breath of fresh air. It is lighthearted and comedic, and their interactions are fun to watch. It is the perfect anime to cool down after watching some fast-paced fights.
You can watch the trailer here.
Raven of the Inner Palace (Koukyuu no Karasu, 後宮の烏)
Raven of the Inner Palace is a new historical fantasy anime that is both enjoyable and attractive. Liu Shouxue is the mysterious Raven Consort that lives in the inner palace, rumoured to be undying and possess mysterious arts. However, the destinies of her, the current emperor Xia Gaojun, and the Xia Dynasty will forever change once they interact with one another.
This anime is enjoyable mainly due to the strength of its supporting characters. Each character contributes differently to the show, and their backstories can be quite emotional at times. As this show‘s backdrop is in Ancient China, it is nice that they use Chinese characters for their names.
Another aspect I appreciate about this anime is that the character designs and costumes are quite period-accurate. The clothings and setting are vibrant, and the pacing is more relaxed. The overall mythical sense blends well with the episodic crime plots.
Overall, I would say that while Raven of the Inner Palace might not be the most popular anime of the season, I am not surprised if it ends up gaining its own following over time.
You can watch the trailer here.
Honourable mentions: The Human Crazy University (dark comedy), My Master Has No Tail (historical, performing arts), Management of a Novice Alchemist (fantasy, slice-of-life), Love Flops (romance, comedy)
Fall 2022 is a blast so far and I am looking forward to be thoroughly entertained over the next 3 months. Feel free to share if you have any recommendations or feedback and I will be sure to reply.
Here’s to an enjoyable time!
Interested in more anime-related content? Click here.
