New anime to melt your heart
It’s winter in Japan but we also have had cold rainy days here recently but this new anime season might just melt our hearts. We have anime with superhumans, anime with people that have time-bending abilities, isekai that is more unusual than the usual isekai, slice of life anime starring a cat, and much more such as the return of Attack on Titan. 2022 starts with a bang, are you ready?
Recommendations
Eien no 831
Genre: Sci-fi
Release Date: Jan 30, 2022
Anime House: CRAFTAR
Based on: Original
Here is a synopsis according to the anime’s official website:
Today, the world is in turmoil due to an “unprecedented catastrophe.”
Suzushirou, a young man who lives as a newspaper scholarship student in Tokyo, had a secret that no one could tell. An incident that happened in the summer of my third year of high school
made it possible for me to stop the time around me regardless of my will.
One day, Suzushiro meets a person who can share the secret for the first time.
Like myself, Nazuna is a girl who has been hurt in her heart and has been able to stop her time.
Suzushiro finds out that she is being used for crimes by her brother Seri, and reaches out impulsively.
“… You, let’s run away from here together!”
Can they move the time they have stopped again?
Kanashiki Debu Neko-chan
Genre: Slice of Life
Release Date: Dec 6, 2021
Anime House: Cyclone Graphics
Based on: Other
The protagonist is a cat named Maru, adopted by a girl named Anna from a shelter in Matsutama City. Maru is loved and well-fed by the family, getting fatter by the day spending most of his time sitting by the window and enjoying the view of the garden outside. Then the family gets a new cat named Cerisier and dotes on the new cat, which causes Maru to get jealous. He gets into a fight with Cerisier and as result, the family has word with him. He gets advice from another cat to leave and see the world, and Maru decides to do just that!
Kaijin Kaihatsu-bu no Kuroitsu-san
Release Date: Jan 9, 2022
Anime House: Quad
Based on: Manga
Research assistant Kuroitsu Tohka works at the Monster Development Department of the evil organization, Agastia, an organization set on battling heroes trying to save the world. Kuroitsu is super busy at Agastia, caught between bizarre requests from her bosses, making presentations, implementing new tweaks and features into superhumans, and meeting her deadlines. This story is beyond good and evil. Sometimes in the shadows, there are people fighting an unseen battle, and this story is about one of them.
Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja
Release Date: Jan 12, 2022
Anime House: studio A-CAT
Based on: Light Novel
VRMMORPG player Sakimori Kagami has been playing Arch Earth Online for ages as the character Dunbalf. In the game, Dunbalf is an old male sorcerer who is one of the nine sages. One day Kagami purchases an appearance change item and gets the idea to change Dunbalf into a female character. He fell asleep and when he wakes up he finds that he now has the body of the female Dunbalf, he’s been sucked into the game world and now has to convince the people in the game world that he is Dunbalf’s pupil!
Koroshi Ai
Genre: Action Romance
Release Date: Jan 22, 2022
Anime House: platinumvision
Based on: Manga
The official website of the anime offered up the following synopsis:
Two assassins face off at a certain “workplace.” The cool bounty hunter Chateau and the mysterious and powerful Ryang-Ha. Chateau and Ryang-Ha become enemies after this fight—at least, they should have, but for some reason Ryang-Ha takes a liking to Chateau and begins following her around.
Little by little, Chateau develops a cooperative partnership with Ryang-Ha, which gets her caught up in the struggle against the organizations hunting him down. Furthermore, that battle is related to her past as well.
Why did Ryang-Ha approach Chateau? What is Chateau’s secret past? Two mismatched assassins weave together a twisted “Assassin X Assassin” thriller.
The strange gears of fate begin to move.
Leadale no Daichi nite
Release Date: Jan 5, 2022
Anime House: MAHO FILM
Based on: Light Novel
Keina Kagami was put on life support after a tragic accident, and her only source of freedom came from the VRMMO RPG, Leadale. Then, one day her life support system shuts off and Keina dies. But then she wakes up, finding herself in Leadale, but 200 years in the future. As now a high elf, Keina, with lost skills but amazing stats, she must forge bonds with the residents of this new world… Step with us into Keina’s adventures!
Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Tsuioku-hen
Genre: Sci-Fi Supernatural
Release Date: Dec 31, 2021
Anime House: eightbit
Based on: Light Novel
The official English website of the anime offered the following synopsis:
April 2095. A century has passed since magic was established as actual technology.
The two siblings enroll at a prestigious school for magicians called the National Magic University Affiliated First High School, better known as “Magic High School.”
Tatsuya, the older brother, is an “irregular” with a fatal flaw to his magic powers. The younger sister, Miyuki, is a star student with unmatched magical talent.
Though they are now close enough to be mistaken as a couple, just a few years ago, the two had a dysfunctional relationship, where they were nothing more than a master and servant.
One incident, however, alters their relationship forever. Three years ago in Okinawa, an unforgettable experience turns their souls and destinies on their heads.
SABIKUI BISCO
Release Date: Jan 11, 2022
Anime House: OZ
Based on: Light Novel
Future Japan. Everything has rusted away, and something called the ‘Rust Wind’ threatens to wipe what is left of humanity away. In this desert world, our future world, Bisco Akaboshi uses his bow and special mushrooms as a ‘mushroom protector. His master is dying so in order to save him Bisco goes on a quest to find a special mushroom, a healer mushroom. In Inihama he meets Milo Nekoyanagi, and they partner up on this crazy adventure. They face many dangers such as an abandoned subway where giant octopuses live and more!
Tokyo 24-ku
Genre: Sci-fi
Release Date: Jan 6, 2022
Anime House: CloverWorks
Based on: Original
On an artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Kyokutou Houreigai Tokubetsu Chiku (Far East Special District), three childhood friends Ran, Kouki and Shuuta, born and raised there always hung out together until a certain incident changes everything. At the first anniversary of the said incident, the three happen to meet again. Suddenly their phones ring simultaneously and the call is from a supposedly dead friend, telling them to ‘choose’ a future. It is up to them to protect their island and its future in their own way.
Tribe Nine
Release Date: Jan 10, 2022
Anime House: LIDENFILMS
Based on: Media Mix Project
Set in Neo Tokyo in 20XX, a city where 23 different tribes associated within the city’s districts duel using a method called ‘Xtream Baseball’. All conflict gets decided by this game for the winners and losers and these battles happen all over the city. Our story follows Haru Shirogane, a weak-minded person that is constantly bullied and Taiga, someone who has Taiga has travelled from across the sea in hopes of becoming the strongest man in the world and they are fated for the adventures of their lives.
Honourable mentions
Dolls' Frontline
Set in an alternate timeline in the 2060s. After a military accident that resulted in widespread disease, as well as the conclusion of careless nuclear war, the planet has massively depopulated, its surface uninhabitable, and once-great nations reduced to shadows of their former selves. Androids are now used for labour and combat have become an important facet of life, and easily replicable and disposable androids known as Tactical Dolls (T-Dolls) are used by private military companies in the frontlines. This is the world where our adventures start.
Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season Part 2
The long-awaited conclusion of one of the most epic anime that spawned a cult following. Will Eren, Mikasa and allies stop the conflicts and will their choices lead
to freedom for humanity.
SLOW LOOP
Hiyori, taught by her late father to enjoy fishing heads out to the sea for alone time meets Koharu and they end up fishing and cooking together. They have a lot in common, like Hiyori meeting her new stepfamily the very same night Koharu is meeting her new family and it is no coincidence…
Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru
Wakana Gojou, socially traumatized in the past because of his love for traditional dolls, became a social recluse. Until one day he had an encounter with Kitagawa who is a sociable gyaru, who is the complete opposite of him. They soon share their passions with one another which leads to their odd relationship.
What anime did the AF staff watch Fall Season?
2021 Fall Roundup Ookami
1 Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu 2nd Season (This series is amazing, beautiful world-building and well-written character building, enjoyable action scenes, no wonder it is many anime fanatiks’ anime of the year)
2 Sekai Saikou no Ansatsusha, Isekai Kizoku ni Tensei suru (Well written story and lovely animation. I like the world-building and the character growth too.)
3 Digimon Ghost Game (Not the usual Digimon anime, strong elements of Supernatural and Horror anime with a sci-fi feel. A must see to someone looking for something different)
4 Mieruko-chan (Chilling, creepy, super awesome anime)
5 Isekai Shokudou 2 (Just can’t get enough of this anime. Each episode has a different story where the characters discover this magic door that leads to an amazing restaurant. Can’t this happen in real life too… sigh)
6 Shin no Nakama ja Nai to Yuusha no Party wo Oidasareta node, Henkyou de Slow Life suru Koto ni Shimashita (funniest fantasy anime of the year)
Baka-list
BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS (Deeply disappointed as I expected much from this anime, while the story is solid, the CGI animation is cringy and I stopped watching this after the first episode)
Top 5 Fall 2021 Roundup Takeshi
Mieruko-Chan (Do you like to be creeped out… then this anime is for you. It is a bit ecchi but the story is pretty intense with interesting twists and turns)
Gundam Breaker: Battlogue (If you enjoy Gunplan and wish you could battle your model robots, like I do then watch this anime. Very similiar to Gundam build fighters)
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation 2nd Season. (Really enjoying this anime and the second season goes more into trying to find the survivors from Rudeus’s village and in this season he is not as pervy as the first season)
Restaurant to Another World 2: (Just can’t get enough of this anime, light hearted and full of good food and the back story of the characters who are at the Isekai is always entertaining)
Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu, The Vampire Dies in No Time: (Extremely funny, if you need a good laugh then settle down with this anime about Draluc, a vampire that literally dies if you blow to hard in his direction)
Honourable mentions
Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Dochu (Very funny Isekai when this new Hero is rejected by the Goddess of the world for being “UGLY”)
Kyoukai Senki (Japan has lost its sovereignty and a lone warrior pilots his AMAIM Kenbu Mecha unit to take Japan back)
Baka list for the Fall season
Blade Runner: Black Lotus (There is bad 3D anime and then there is Blade Runner: Black Lotus. I could still watch Berserk with it’s bad 3D but at least the storyline was excellemt… this is not the case)