Top 10 Best Anime of 2022 According To Japan’s Largest Review Website

The year 2022 has seen a wide array of new anime releases, with many series capturing the hearts of fans around the world. In 2022, we’ve seen a number of anime that truly stand out from the rest – from heart-pumping action adventures to heart-wrenching dramas, hilarious comedies, and poignant slice-of-life stories.

As the birthplace of anime, Japan has a unique perspective on the medium and the stories that resonate with its viewers. To discover which series have made the biggest splash in Japan, we turned to the experts – the Japanese audience themselves. Using Japan’s largest anime and movie review website, Filmarks, a platform similar to Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb, we gathered the ratings and reviews of Japanese viewers to determine the top anime of the year. And so, without further ado, we present to you the top 10 best anime of the year, as rated by Japanese viewers.

Note: These anime rankings are based on the scores provided by Filmarks for anime that aired or were distributed in Japan during the 2022 calendar year (from December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022). As the final episodes of this season are being broadcast, the ratings for some series may change.

best anime of the year 2022

The voting for “2022 Anime Ranking” was conducted between the period from 1st December 2021 to 30th November 2022. Filmarks posted the final results today, and here are the results:

10. Spy x Family Part 1 |Rating: 4.209/5|

Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks
  • Animation Studio: Wit Studio + CloverWorks
  • Season: Spring 2022

Spy x Family was one of 2020’s most anticipated anime adaptations. Although The author of this manga was involved in a controversy regarding his characters, The manga of Spy x Family went pretty viral immediately after it started serialization. Thanks to an amazing anime adaptation from studio CloverWorks and Wit studio, the series had a successful run. This series is getting a new season with a movie adaptation announcement.

Spy x Family follows the story of a spy named “Twilight” who has a mission to infiltrate a school to gain information about its principal, a possible criminal. He is given the name Loid Forger and has to make a family in a few days. He adopts a little girl named “Anya” from an orphanage and agrees with a woman named “Yor” to be his wife. He does not know that his daughter is an Esper and his wife is an assassin named “Thorn Princess.” Will these three be able to live together and see the feeling of having a family?

9. Heike Monogatari |Rating: 4.212/5|

Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks
  • Animation Studio: Science SARU
  • Season: Winter 2022

Heike Monogatari was the underdog anime of the Winter season. Its animation was unique because it was done by Science SARU, a famous studio for its peculiar art style and character designs.

Heike Monogatari follows the story of “Biwa”, a little girl with an odd eye that can see the future. She is abandoned by her family, “The Tiara Family”, referred to as Heike, as her future foreseeing makes trouble for them. After this incident, Shigemori takes Biwa into his care as she tells Shigemori that Heike will suffer downfall, and he wants to avoid this. Will Shigemori be able to stop this outcome and help Biwa get her place back in the family?

8. Kingdom: Season 4 |Rating: 4.22/5|

Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks
  • Animation Studio: Studio Pierrot + Studio Signpost
  • Season: Spring 2022

Kingdom is the adaptation of the famous manga, which was awarded the Osamu Tezuka Award in 2013. The fanbase of Kingdom is very diverse, and particularly in Japan, the series has a huge following. The animation is pretty decent, as Studio Pierrot has also done some finishing touches on it alongside Studio Signpost, which is the main studio. Season 5 of Kingdom is currently under production.

Kingdom Season 4 carries on from Season 3 as China is recovering after a big war. The Qin state is also under recovery as they won the battle and are now exhausted, but internal conflict is still present between Zheng and Lu regarding who would rule the Qin state. Zheng is in favour as people believe in him, but he has to trust someone, as Lu is not an option. So, will he select Bi, a general who commands 30,000 soldiers or the protagonist Xin?

7. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean Part-1 |Rating: 4.24/5|

Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks
  • Animation Studio: David Production
  • Season: 1st December 2021

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean is the adaptation of Part 6 of this franchise, and it has been one of the most anticipated anime of the year. Despite the bizarre release schedule of Netflix (releasing episodes in batches), the series was well-received worldwide.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean Part-1 is the story of Jolyne, the daughter of Joutarou, who is trapped in jail for a reckless crime she committed. She learns how to use her stand and tries to escape the prison while making some allies- Ermes Costello and Foo Fighters. When she runs, she knows that a stand user is hiring dangerous criminals to kill her. Will Jolyne be able to find him, and she understands what reality holds?

6. Kaguya-sama: Love is War – Ultra Romantic |Rating: 4.29/5|

Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks
  • Animation Studio: A1-Pictures
  • Season: Spring 2022

Kaguya-same: Love is War has been a masterclass romance anime since Season 1. The manga of this series recently ended, and this season has been #1 on MAL for the longest time as Full-Metal Alchemist fans downrated it later. The animation has been fantastic since the start and has improved in later seasons. The sequel of this season, a movie, got released recently, and fans are waiting for its screening in their countries.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War – Ultra Romantic shows each cast member trying to pursue their love interest. Shirogane tries to confess to Kaguya before going to Oxford University, and Kaguya does the same. Yuu Ishigami tries confessing to the beautiful Tusbame while trying to get over his love-dispicing personality. Will any of them be able to confess their love, or will everyone be left hanging?

5. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean Part-2 |Rating: 4.31|

Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks
  • Animation Studio: David Productions
  • Season: 1st September 2022

It is extraordinary to see two parts of a single franchise nominated for best anime of the year. This is the continuation of Part 1 of Stone Ocean. The animation on this one was also pretty decent, just like Part 1, and Stone Ocean ended with its Part 3, which is the highest rated out of all of these parts on MAL.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean Part-2 carries the story of Part-1 as Jolyne now knows the identity of the Stand User who is manipulating the prisoners. His name is Enrico Pucci, and his Stand name is Whitesnake. To eradicate this evil villain, Jolyne embraces her family lineage and gives her all to defeat him. Will she be able to achieve such a feat?

4. Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun |Rating: 4.32/5|

Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks
  • Animation Studio: Kinema Citrus
  • Season: Summer 2022

The biggest contender of anime of the year, according to us. Made in Abyss has been a phenomenon since Season 1, and its story keeps improving. Made in Abyss: the Golden City of the Scorching Sun was a rollercoaster ride of emotions as it featured some very depressing and sad themes. The studio of this anime, Kinema Citrus, is not famous for its good animation. Still, they did a fantastic job on Made in Abyss in every aspect, especially the animation style and music.

Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun follows the story of the trio- Riko, Nanachi and Reg as they reach the sixth layer of the Abyss. They stumble upon strange creatures known as “hollows” in the Golden City, located in this layer. Soon, they learn that this city is under some curse and Reg is related to it somehow. Will they unravel what is going on here and save this city?

3. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners |Rating: 4.35/5|

Cyberpunk anime
  • Animation Studio: Trigger
  • Season: 13th September 2022

Probably the most famous anime of this year. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an original story adaptation which features the blockbuster “Cyberpunk 2077” game. This anime was an instant hit, with so much to show its fans. Breathtaking Animation, Perfect Music, and everything else about this anime hit differently. Although the ending was a bit too harsh, it was still an excellent adaptation. There will be no Season 2 of this anime, though.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells us the story of David suffering from bullying every day in his class because he is poor. One day, David’s mother dies because some gang members are fighting around her. In frustration, David installs the cyberwar his mother was hiding from him. After establishing the cyberware, he learns that this is the Sandevistan cyberwar which grants you fast speed. But some people are after this cyberware. Will David be able to protect this cyberware and adapt to it?

2. My Hero Academia Season 6 |Rating: 4.36/5|

Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks
  • Animation Studio: BONES
  • Season: Fall 2022

The best season of My Hero Academia by far! My Hero Academia Season 4 is still airing and is showcasing its greatness with one of its most excellent arcs airing. This season of My Hero Academia shows why the series is considered one of the best Shounen series of all time. The animation in this season might be lacking in some aspects, but it is still doing great in many factors. A live-action of My Hero Academia is currently under production.

In My Hero Academia Season 6, the heroes are finally taking the offensive approach on the villains as Shigaraki is in a dormant state of transformation. But The League of Villains is now the Paranormal Liberation Front, and they have acquired new allies. Will the heroes be able to stop the villains before Shigaraki wakes up with his full potential?

1. Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2 |Rating: 4.42/5|

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  • Animation Studio: MAPPA
  • Season: Winter 2022

There is no surprise as to why this anime is up here. Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 had everything fixed, which Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1 was criticized for. In addition, the anime finally animated the most awaited “The Rumbling”, which every fan was dying to see and was delivered perfectly, too. Part 3 of Attack on Titan Final Season is about to air in the upcoming month.

In Attack on Titan: Final Season Part 2, the fight continues between the Eldians and the Yeagerists. As Eren is still under the influence of his half-brother Zeke (Beast Titan), his friends Mikasa and Armin want to stop him from eradicating humanity. Will they be able to stop Eren, or is Eren planning something else behind everyone’s back that no one is thinking about?

What are your thoughts on the “Top 10 Best Anime of 2022, According to Filmarks”? Do you agree or disagree with this list? It should be remembered that a lot of popular anime including Chainsaw Man, Bleach, Bocchi the Rock and Spy x Family are still airing. The final episode will decide which series will end up at the top after the month of Dec 2022. Let us know in the comment section down below. We here at Anime Senpai would love to hear from you.

Source: Filmarks, PR Times


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