Best and Worst of Anime 2022: At the Half

Anime in 2022 is halfway over, and it has been a decent year so far. Nothing amazingly special, but still solid. Now that we’ve reached the halfway point, it’s time to give out my thoughts on what I think is the best, and the worst, of the year so far. This list will no doubt change by the time the end of 2022 rolls around, but here is where I stand! Let’s get into it after the cut.

Best of the Year

Anime of Year: SpyxFamily

Why: Believe the hype, listen to the buzz. SpyxFamily is everything it needed to be and more. Wonderful humor, a great premise and some of the best reaction faces of all time. A show that keeps things simple, but with a frightening amount of depth. I knew this show was going to be a hit when it came out, and boy have we been right. There is still a bit of it left this year, but I have no doubt that it will earn the top prize easily.

Runner Up: Kaguya-Sama Love is War: Ultra Romantic

Why: If it hadn’t been for our winner, Kaguya’s third season would have easily, easily slipped into the top spot. It is almost a crime how good this show is, and how frighteningly effective it has been in its story telling. With the courage to step outside it’s status-quo, I can assure you that those good times aren’t stopping, but for now we have another nigh-perfect entry into this shockingly good series.

Ecchi Anime of the Year: My Dress-Up Darling

Why: It’s not raunchy, but Dress-Up Darling is damn sexy and helped greatly by its wonderful female lead and honest to goodness respect shown to its subject matter and characters. Great animation is a welcome bonus as well and helps catapult the series to a true ecchi classic.

Runner Up: World’s End Harem

Most Disappointing Anime: The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2

Why: Blame Jobless Reincarnation for wholly supplanting this show. What is on tap is not horrible, but it is a show that is incapable of getting back what made it so great the first time around. Partly bad pacing, and partly other better shows. Shield Hero was a shame this time around, but who knows what happens next.

Honorable Mentions/You Should be Watching

Date A Live IV

The Case Study of Vanitas

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Entertainment District Arc

Ya Boy Kongming

Birdie Wing: Golf Girls Story

Love After World Domination

Best Openings and Endings

Best Opening Theme

San San Days (My Dress Up Darling)

Runner Up

Mixed Nuts (SpyxFamily)

Honorable Mention

We Are – Episode 1000 (One Piece)

Best Ending Theme

S.O.S (Date A Live IV)

Runner Up

Comedy (SpyxFamily)

Best and Worst Characters

The Raphtalia Award for Best Girl

Marin Kitagawa (My Dress-Up Darling)

Runners Up

Anya Forger (SpyxFamily)

Yor Forger (SpyxFamily)

Kaguya Shinomiya (Kaguya-Sama: Love is War: Ultra Romantic)

Desumi Magahara (Love After World Domination)

The Issei Hyoudou Award for Best Boy

Lloyd Forger: (SpyxFamily)

Runners Up

Fudo Aikawa (Love After World Domination)

Zhuge Kongming (Ya Boy Kongming!)

The Rachel Award for Worst Girl

Ost Horai (The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2)

The Eren Yeager Award for Worst Boy

Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2)

The Takuya Arima Award for Boy with the Most Game

Shota Doi (World’s End Harem)

Best Couple

Fudo and Desumi (Love after World Domination)

Best Body

Marin Kitagawa (My Dress-Up Darling)

The Ilulu Award for Best Boobs

All the Girls from World’s End Harem (World’s End Harem)

The Mash Kyrelight Award for Best Booty

Desumi Magahara (Love After World Domination)

The Rikka Takarada Award for Best Thighs

Yor Forger (SpyxFamily)

Anime Moments of 2020

Most WTF moment of 2022

Eren begins the Rumbling (Attack on Titan)

Best Moments of 2022

The Battle Against Upper Moon 6 (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Entertainment District Arc)

Worst Moment of 2022

Everything with Ost (The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2)

Gojo measuring Kitagawa (My Dress-Up Darling)

Ecchiest Moments of 2022

All of World’s End Harem (World’s End Harem)

Most Bad-Ass Moment in Anime 2021

Uzui goes 1 on 1 with Upper Moon 6 (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Entertainment District Arc)