Best Drama Anime of 2022

In Attack on Titan: Final Season Part 2, Eren Yeager pivots against both former allies and foes, unleashing a devastating plan. With Zeke serving as the Beast Titan, Eren executes extreme measures to conclude the enduring conflict between Marley and Eldia, although his true intentions remain obscure. Delving into his family's past, Eren battles to command his own destiny. Simultaneously, Marley and Eldia engage in a savage confrontation, deploying their forces and Titans to annihilate one another. Reiner Braun utilizes his powers to counter Eren's military might, while his fellow Eldian youths, Falco Grice and Gabi Braun, fight to endure the ensuing turmoil. Elsewhere, Eren's childhood friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, alongside his ex-Survey Corps comrades, fall into captivity. Despite witnessing Eren's terrifying metamorphosis, they cling to the hope that some goodness remains within him and join the struggle to rescue him.

As the next Wave approaches, Naofumi Iwatani and his party are gripped by growing unease. Tensions spike when bat-like monsters attack Lurolona Village, halting the Wave countdown. To address this crisis, the Four Cardinal Heroes meet with Queen Mirelia Q Melromarc. She suspects these strange events are tied to the reawakening of the Spirit Tortoise, a dangerous beast that has begun its destructive rampage once more. While strategies to combat the Spirit Tortoise are drawn up, Naofumi volunteers to help, despite his damaged reputation.

After returning to the cruise ship following the Island Special Examination, the first-year students of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School find their routine once again disrupted. They face another grueling special exam that threatens to alter both class standings and individual rankings. Amidst the intricate rules of this new challenge, fresh tensions arise involving Kakeru Ryuuen and Kei Karuizawa. Unhappy with the results of the previous test, Ryuuen is resolved to outmaneuver every other class by any means necessary. Meanwhile, Karuizawa, a pivotal member of Class D, battles internal turmoil stemming from her past. As dangers close in, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji must once again depend on his strategic planning, keen foresight, and relentless manipulation to guide Class D toward victory.

Having survived the perilous trials of Idofront, Riko obtains a White Whistle, which grants her passage to the Abyss's sixth layer, the Capital of the Unreturned. Accompanied by Reg and Nanachi, she ventures into this unexplored region where the legendary Golden City is said to be concealed. As they traverse the brutal environment, the group faces lethal creatures and treacherous terrain. Their path leads them to a village home to enigmatic entities known as "hollows." Despite the eerie surroundings, the trio continues forward to reveal the settlement's mysteries and the forgotten tales of adventurers who plunged into the Abyss's deepest unknown.

After witnessing countless deaths and tragedies, the immortal Fushi retreats to an isolated island to evade the Nokkers who pursue him. Instead of attacking Fushi directly, the Nokkers begin assaulting settlements far from his hiding place, drawing him out. A group called the Guardians, led by Hisame—the descendant of the late warrior Hayase—eventually locates Fushi. Moved by Fushi's past defense of Janada Island against the Nokkers, the Guardians have gained significant recognition worldwide. Despite initial reluctance, Fushi allows the Guardians to accompany him to the site of the Nokkers' most recent attack. There, Fushi encounters both new and old allies. Yet, as battles with the Nokkers continue to bring sorrow, Fushi must summon the strength to confront his enduring grief.

In "The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes," Kaoru Touno struggles with a broken home after losing a sibling and his parents separating. Fleeing an angry argument with his father, Kaoru wanders into a strange tunnel that pulls him inside. Disoriented, he quickly exits, bringing with him a bird that looks exactly like his deceased pet. Leaving the tunnel, Kaoru discovers that although only a few minutes passed inside, an entire week has gone by outside. This strange phenomenon reminds him of stories about the "Urashima Tunnel," which can grant wishes but costs the wisher their lifespan. With his pet bird seemingly brought back to life, Kaoru wonders if the tunnel could fix his shattered family. When he returns to the tunnel, Kaoru meets Anzu Hanashiro, a new classmate who followed him there. Knowing the tunnel's legends, Anzu asks for his help with an experiment, revealing that she also has a wish only the tunnel can fulfill.

In her youth, Uta—a former member of the Red Hair Pirates and childhood friend of Monkey D. Luffy—dreamed of bringing a new era of freedom by sharing her music and joy throughout the world. When Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates arrive at Uta's highly anticipated live performance, they join many fans eager to witness the diva's exceptional talent. However, due to a painful incident in her past, Uta holds deep animosity towards pirates. Her reunion with Luffy becomes tense once she learns of his choice to embrace a life of piracy. Upon Luffy's refusal to give up his pirate ways, Uta uses her powers against the Straw Hats, trapping their minds in a dream realm from the concert's start, leaving their physical forms sleeping in reality. The Straw Hats now race against time to escape Uta's nightmare world before they are lost in it permanently.

In the capital city of Milishion, the Dead End party decides to take a day off to take care of personal tasks. While Rudeus Greyrat faces interruptions due to unexpected disruptions, the party's swordswoman, Eris Boreas Greyrat, finds herself without any plans. She decides to go on a goblin-hunting mission, and runs into Cliff Grimoire, a confident yet skilled mage who insists on joining her despite her attempts to refuse. Unfazed, Cliff challenges Eris to explore the dangerous forest near the city. Accepting the challenge, Eris and the mage venture into the woods, where they soon encounter threats far more dangerous than ordinary goblins.

Even after Kyouko Honda's tragic death, her memory continues to offer comfort and guidance to those who miss her during difficult times. Yet Kyouko was not always the wise figure she is now remembered as. Feeling abandoned by her family and rejected by society, a young Kyouko leaves behind her stable life and becomes involved in delinquent behavior, putting her education and future at risk. Fortunately, her path toward ruin changes course when she unexpectedly meets her future husband, Katsuya, who has just begun his teaching internship at her school. Despite Kyouko's volatile behavior, Katsuya wins her over with his calm nature and genuine kindness—a warmth she had never known before. As their relationship deepens, Kyouko begins to share her troubled past and discovers new possibilities for her future.

Mary Saotome is bold, brash, and rebellious, yet exceptionally clever. Upon transferring to Hyakkaou Private Academy, where a student’s status is based on their gambling skills, she impresses everyone with a remarkable win over a classmate, quickly catching the eye of the crafty student council. In this hierarchical environment, those with the least gambling earnings occupy the lowest rungs. Tsuzura Hanatemari faces a grim future at the bottom, but as Tsuzura's childhood friend, Mary is determined to climb the ranks and amass enough funds to liberate her from this oppressive system. Mary's persistence and unwillingness to concede propel her to outperform and embarrass even the most formidable adversaries. However, some members of the student council seem to harbor more ambitious plans for her.

In "Dance Dance Danseur," Junpei Murao's love for ballet started in childhood after he saw a male dancer's impressive performance at his sister's recital. To conceal his interest in what many consider an unmanly activity, Junpei immerses himself in soccer, Jeet Kune Do training, and aims to follow his father's career as a stunt coordinator. His life changes unexpectedly when classmate Miyako Godai witnesses him executing a striking kick that blends ballet and Jeet Kune Do. She then persuades him to join her mother's ballet studio. Although Junpei had previously decided against formal ballet training, the happiness it brings him is unmatched. Overcoming his hesitation and breaking free from societal expectations of masculinity is difficult. Junpei must be ready to make substantial sacrifices and fully commit to ballet, even if it risks losing certain friendships.

The Bernstein family has long been renowned within the Sauslind Kingdom for their profound love of literature. Elianna Bernstein, the daughter of a baron, upholds this tradition and is widely known as the Bibliophile Princess. Four years ago, Crown Prince Christopher Selkirk Asherald proposed to Elianna under unusual terms: if she agreed to become his betrothed, he would grant her unrestricted access to the royal archives, a vast collection of books. Although marrying into royalty came with heavy responsibilities, Elianna accepted the arrangement, driven by her passion for reading. Elianna remains convinced that her engagement to Christopher lacks any romantic feelings. This belief is strengthened when she notices him spending time with another girl, leading her to expect their relationship will eventually end. However, as uncertainties arise, Elianna and Christopher begin a journey toward mutual understanding, slowly discovering genuine emotions for one another.

In "Requiem of the Rose King," Richard Plantagenet devotes his life to acquiring the power needed to support his father, the Duke of York, in their struggle against King Henry VI and the House of Lancaster for control of the English throne. However, Richard conceals a hidden secret that his mother despises and which tormenting voices in his mind endlessly highlight. Despite these struggles, he draws strength from his father's affection. As the War of the Roses intensifies, Richard's ambitions strengthen, threatening to disrupt the family's path to power and glory.

After World War III rendered vast areas of the planet uninhabitable and drastically shrank the human population, private military companies turned to combat androids known as "T-Dolls" to stabilize conflict zones. Though these androids possess superior physical abilities, they rely on human commanders to guide their actions because they cannot develop complex strategies on their own. Sangvis Ferri, once a leading manufacturer of T-Dolls, faced catastrophe when it attempted to install a specialized android as its sole leader, leading to the immediate deaths of all personnel at its facility. The rogue AI that then seized control of Sangvis Ferri's factories launched a war against the remaining human forces. As the only paramilitary organization capable of countering this robotic threat, Griffin & Kryuger stands as humanity's last line of defense. During an investigation into Sangvis Ferri's operations, the elite unit "Team Anti-Rain" discovers sensitive data in an abandoned warehouse but is caught off guard by an ambush. To protect their findings, the team goes into hiding. Meanwhile, Gentiane, a laid-back yet talented new recruit, is enlisted by Griffin to locate Team Anti-Rain and retrieve the confidential information before Sangvis Ferri can capture it.

After surviving a harsh childhood, the lone swordsman Guts moves from one battle to the next, cutting down powerful foes with his massive blade. He eventually crosses paths with the mysterious Griffith and his mercenary company, the Band of the Hawk. When Griffith defeats Guts in combat, he takes the swordsman into his group, giving Guts a new experience of belonging alongside others. Alongside the skilled warrior Casca, Guts helps Griffith expand the band's fame and string of victories. As Griffith's military successes grow, he must contend with assassination plots and political schemes. He uses Guts to advance his own ambitions for power, exploiting the fact that the swordsman has no personal goals of his own. Even as Guts and Casca grow closer, his lack of purpose leaves him without a true sense of belonging. Torn by their conflicting desires, both Guts and Casca follow Griffith's dream, but the rising tensions among the three threaten to destroy everything around them.

On October 4, a high school girl disappears, setting off a chain of unexpected occurrences. To solve the mystery of her vanishing, every key witness connected to the case recounts their experiences from before and after the event. As these fragments are assembled, they all lead back to one person—taxi driver Hiroshi Odokawa.

In the year 2062, Earth is locked in a desperate struggle against Artemis, an artificial intelligence that turned against its creators following the failure of a large-scale automation project years ago. To counter this conflict, an elite squad of warriors known as the Human Guardians was formed. As the sole survivor of this unit, Empress awakens in an abandoned research center, completely isolated. Her only remaining memory is of a place called Lighthouse No. 8. Setting out to uncover the truth of her past, she soon discovers the immense threat posed by Artemis and realizes she is the only hope to prevent worldwide destruction.

Following the events of Mask of Deception, the Yamato Empire is now ruled by a ruthless usurper determined to crush all opposition. A group of loyal allies must unite to confront the powerful Imperial army as the world edges toward catastrophe in a brutal civil war that forces nations and military leaders to choose sides. As hidden secrets come to light, loyalties are challenged, and fierce battles break out. The story questions whether peace and stability can be reclaimed or if the drive for victory at any cost marks the start of the end.

Seven students in Tokyo, each cut off from their loved ones and confined to their dim rooms, notice their mirrors beginning to glow. Reaching out to these reflective surfaces, they are transported to a castle inspired by the tales of Grimm, which serves as a sanctuary during school hours. Though the castle has electricity, it lacks basic necessities like food and water, and is ruled by a masked girl known as the Wolf Queen. The students learn of a key hidden within the castle walls that can grant wishes, along with clues pointing to its location. They must find this key before the school year ends and return to the real world by five PM each day, or risk losing their lives. As the deadline approaches, it becomes clear that to survive, they must share their deepest struggles. Among them is a boy haunted by his obsession with technology, another grappling with inexplicable rejection, and a girl living in fear of her abusive stepfather. Through revealing their innermost sorrows, the seven adolescents trapped in solitude and mutual misunderstanding discover freedom, resilience, and the power of their unity.

In Kamihama City, the escalating battle reaches its peak. As Walpurgis Night redirects its attention toward Mitakihara City, the focus shifts to Embryo Eve—an artificial being, still inactive, rumored to possess the ability to free magical girls from their fates. As the Wings of Magius nears the completion of its scheme, Iroha Tamaki is presented with her ultimate opportunity to halt the group. Even as hope fades, her persistent faith in a brighter future fuels her final effort, during which she uncovers recollections of a story altered by the strands of destiny.

Three teenage misfits—Roma, Toto, and Drop—go by the name "Don Glees," a casual label for their neighborhood adventures. After the trio is accused of starting a nearby forest fire, they venture into the woods to clear their names. When their journey takes a disastrous turn, old tensions surface among the friends, forcing them to confront how growing up has pulled them in entirely different directions.

In "Shine Post," Haru Nabatame, Rio Seibu, and Kyouka Tamaki make up the struggling idol unit TiNgS, which is close to dissolving. Their only chance to remain active is to sell out a two-thousand-seat venue for their upcoming anniversary concert. Considering their previous best attendance was only thirty-seven people, this target seems impossible. Yet, their luck improves when they are assigned a new and capable manager, Naoki Hinase. Despite having doubts due to past experiences, Naoki decides to manage TiNgS after seeing Haru's genuine devotion to idols, enabled by his special ability to detect truth via a visible radiance. Facing enormous challenges, Haru aspires to make people around the world love idols and is ready to serve as the guiding light—referred to as the "shine post"—that clears the way toward achieving that dream.

Yang is called to the Free Planet Alliance, where he sees deeply troubling corruption. At the same time, Marshal Reinhardt discovers disloyalty within his own ranks as an ambitious admiral starts a savage attack to recapture the Iserlohn Fortress. While both sides fight to hold their ground in this unyielding and bloody conflict, they start to realize that their true struggle comes not from external foes, but from enemies within.

Takeru Shirogane manages to return to his home dimension via the tech created by Professor Yuuko Kouzuki and the psychic abilities of Kasumi Yashiro. In desperate need of Yuuko's help, he teams up with her on the Alternative IV initiative, humanity's last hope against the BETA—an alien race invading Earth. As the project nears completion, Takeru and his fellow students graduate from the Yokohama pilot training academy. During a test run of the new Tactical Surface Fighter OS, which is humanity's primary weapon against the BETA, Takeru and his unit are caught in a surprise attack. He survives, but the brutal death of a close friend leaves him deeply traumatized. Struggling to maintain his will to keep fighting, Takeru flees to a parallel universe only to encounter a similar catastrophe there. According to Yuuko's theory, individuals across different worlds share identical destinies. Thus, Takeru must confront his trauma to protect those he cares about.

Following Yang Wen-li's seizure of Iserlohn Fortress, the Free Planets Alliance gains substantial military momentum, launching repeated raids into Galactic Empire territory and utilizing the fortress as a strategic hub, enabling the Alliance to inflict heavy losses on the Empire. Yet Reinhard von Lohengramm remains determined to repel the Alliance's advances and achieve the late Siegfried Kircheis' aspiration of bringing the entire universe under a single rule. As these escalating conflicts unfold, Adrian Rubinsky, the cunning leader of Fezzan, seeks to exploit the war to advance his own objectives.

In "IDOLiSH7 Third BEAT! Part 2," the popular idol group IDOLiSH7 has reached the peak of success, but the atmosphere remains tense due to the emergence of a new threat: the idol group ŹOOĻ. Controlled by the ruthless entertainment magnate Ryou Tsukumo, ŹOOĻ stops at nothing to undermine their rivals, using underhanded tactics to tarnish their reputations. With TRIGGER already reeling from a recent scandal, IDOLiSH7 and Re:vale face the risk of suffering a similar fate, if not worse. Meanwhile, the enigmatic idol Zero, who disappeared 15 years ago, still looms large over the industry through his former connections. His manager seems to be working with Tsukumo for his own reasons, and Zero's long-silent songwriter makes contact once more through a letter. As IDOLiSH7 partners with Re:vale to combat ŹOOĻ's schemes, they also seek to unravel the intentions of Zero's past allies, knowing that the path ahead may lead to unforeseen consequences for all involved.

Tamaki Tsuru enrolls at Aonagi University hoping to make friends, find a boyfriend, and enjoy a typical college life. To socialize without putting too much pressure on herself, she decides to try out for the tennis club. During the tryouts, a model glider catches her attention, causing her to accidentally hit a tennis ball into it and destroy the aircraft. Daisuke Sorachi from the Aviation Club then insists on compensation for the damages. After this, Aviation Club captain Jun Kuramochi tries to persuade Tamaki to join the club, but she refuses. Not eager to lose a potential new member, Jun comes up with a plan for Tamaki to pay off the debt while also helping her find a boyfriend. Reluctantly, Tamaki agrees to join the club, though Jun seems to have other plans in store as well.

The initial installment of a two-part film series that re-edits the Mawaru Penguindrum anime while incorporating fresh content. How far would you go to rescue someone dear to you? All Shoma and Kanba know is that their little sister Himari, who was terminally ill, collapsed at an aquarium and appeared to die—only to be mysteriously revived by a Penguin hat she had wished for. Now the brothers face an impossible task: the cost of keeping Himari alive is locating a strange artifact called the Penguindrum, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to save her. Whatever it takes. As they each follow separate routes in their quest, they must decipher intricate puzzles, forge alliances with untrustworthy strangers, and challenge the very nature of time and fate.

While traveling, the Sanzou group encounters a typical ambush by rogue demons, but they soon realize their attackers are actually human. Puzzled by this unusual turn of events, they meet a wandering priest named Hazel Grouse and his formidable protector, Gaty Nene Hawk. Hailing from the distant West, Hazel uses his power to resurrect the dead, offering comfort to grieving communities. Though the villagers appreciate his abilities, the reality behind them is far more sinister than it appears. Furthermore, those he brings back develop golden eyes—a feature also shared by the recent human assailants. It becomes evident that this seemingly benevolent priest has hidden agendas, and the Sanzou team edges closer to uncovering his true motives.

Within the isolated walls of an expansive castle, Deemo, a mysterious being, lives alone. One day, a little girl descends from the sky, her past and identity completely forgotten. When Deemo tries to help her find her way back, he discovers that every time the piano is played, a tree above grows higher. How will Deemo adjust to this new company, and what will occur if the girl faces the truth of her restored memories?

In "Proof of Two," the narrative centers on three friends as they balance school life, studies, and their bonds. Kouki Uchiyama voices Takuya Amano, a boy who relocates to Hokkaido after completing middle school. Haruka Kishi, voiced by Yui Ishikawa, is Takuya's childhood friend. Completing the group is Tsubasa Miyake, portrayed by Daisuke Fujita, who attends Eikoh Seminar school and is a close friend to both Takuya and Haruka.

The year is 2049, and elementary school student Sawatari Yuuma has a deep passion for space and astronomy. When his parents bring home a robot named Nanako, he is thrilled at first, only to be let down upon discovering that she is merely a mundane housekeeping unit. But when he eventually attempts to discuss space with her, an unusual event occurs. Nanako's system malfunctions and is hijacked by an entity claiming to be a stranded alien spacecraft! That alien vessel seeks Yuuma's assistance in returning to outer space.

This special edition compresses the fifty-episode original series into nine episodes, incorporating newly animated footage. The narrative focuses on the mercenary organization Tekkadan and its personnel.

Directed by Takuya Inaba, the Ishinomori Manga Museum produced an animated short inspired by Shotaro Ishinomori's semi-autobiographical, wordless manga "Jun: Shotaro no Fantasy World." This project honors Ishinomori's hometown of Ishinomaki and its importance to his work, while also acknowledging the city's ongoing rebuilding and recovery following the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

Embarking on a new chapter is rarely simple. Ohran Lim, a former boxer who didn't achieve professional success, now works at a neighborhood convenience store, still haunted by memories of her unrealized dreams. Her perspective starts to change when she encounters the young couple, Woon and Baram. Motivated by them, Ohran decides to set out on a quest to discover genuine happiness.

Etopirika: Omoi wo Tsumugu Tori is an animated work built from the accounts of those who once lived on the Northern Territories islands. The goal is to help many people—especially the younger generation—understand the events that took place in the Northern Territories at the close of the war, as well as the painful ordeal former island residents endured when they were compelled to abandon their homeland. The production aims to generate support for the return of the Northern Territories.