Top 10 Psychological Anime of 2022
1. Kaguya-sama: Love is War -Ultra Romantic-
The elite members of Shuchiin Academy's student council continue their competitive day-to-day antics. Council president Miyuki Shirogane clashes daily against vice-president Kaguya Shinomiya, each fighting tooth and nail to trick the other into confessing their romantic love. Kaguya struggles within the strict confines of her wealthy, uptight family, rebelling against her cold default demeanor as she warms to Shirogane and the rest of her friends.
Meanwhile, council treasurer Yuu Ishigami suffers under the weight of his hopeless crush on Tsubame Koyasu, a popular upperclassman who helps to instill a new confidence in him. Miko Iino, the newest student council member, grows closer to the rule-breaking Ishigami while striving to overcome her own authoritarian moral code.
As love further blooms at Shuchiin Academy, the student council officers drag their outsider friends into increasingly comedic conflicts.
(Source: MAL Rewrite)
Note: The first episode had an advanced screening on April 2, in both New York & Los Angeles.
2. Mob Psycho 100 III
The third season of Mob Psycho 100.
The appearance of a divine tree and new religion turns Mob and Reigen's city upside down!
(Source: Crunchyroll)
3. Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2
The war for Paradis zeroes in on Shiganshina just as Jaegerists have seized control. After taking a huge blow from a surprise attack led by Eren, Marley swiftly acts to return the favor. With Zeke’s true plan revealed and a military forced under new rule, this battle might be fought on two fronts. Does Eren intend on fulfilling his half-brother’s wishes or does he have a plan of his own?
(Source: Funimation)
4. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
An original anime series set in in the universe of Cyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells a standalone, 10-episode story about a street kid trying to survive in a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future. Having everything to lose, he chooses to stay alive by becoming an edgerunner—a mercenary outlaw also known as a cyberpunk.
(Source: CD PROJEKT RED)
Note: The first episode received a pre-screening at Anime Expo on July 2, 2022. The first 3 dubbed episodes were streamed on Twitch as part of a co-stream promotion on September 12, a day before the show’s premiere.
5. IDOLiSH7 Third BEAT! Part 2
The second cour of the third season of IDOLiSH7.
6. The Tatami Time Machine Blues
Spin-off of Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei.
It is August 12th. After the remote control to his boarding house's only air conditioning unit is inadvertently destroyed by spilled cola, "I" devises a plan to return to yesterday in a time machine to recover the remote before it breaks. However, his friend Ozu cannot resist playing with past events, even when it means bringing the universe to the brink of destruction. Now "I" finds himself racing through time to avoid disaster.
(Source: Disney+)
Note: Released in Japan as a standalone film on September 30, 2022 with the same content as episodes 1-5. The anime has an earlier episodic release on Disney+ starting September 14, 2022 and with an exclusive episode 6.
7. Tot Musica
Music video directed by WOOMA for the song Tot Musica by Uta (Ado).
8. MILGRAM The Second Trial
Second season of the interactive collaborative multimedia music project between DECO*27 and Takuya Yamanaka.
The list of released videos included in this entry are as follows:
1) Haruka - All-Knowing and All-Agony (ハルカ - 全知全悩), Aug 24, 2022.
2) Yuno - Tear Drop (ユノ - Tear Drop), Sept 21, 2022.
3) Fuuta - Backdraft (フータ - バックドラフト), Nov 23, 2022.
4) Muu - It's Not My Fault (ムウ - 悪くないもん), Jan 25, 2023.
5) Shidou - Triage (シドウ - トリアージ), Mar 22, 2023.
6) Mahiru - I Love You (マヒル - だいすき), May 31, 2023.
7) Kazui - Cat (カズイ - Cat), July 26, 2023.
8) Amane - The Purge March (アマネ - 粛清マーチ), Aug 30, 2023.
9) Mikoto - Double (ミコト - ダブル), Oct 25, 2023.
10) Kotoko - Deep Cover (コトコ - ディープカバー), Jan 17, 2024.
9. Classroom of the Elite Season 2
The second season of Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e.
Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School seems like a paradise, but in reality, it is an extreme meritocracy. In the class of underachievers, Kiyotaka has begun working with Suzune, who seeks to ascend higher. After a survival test on an uninhabited island, they get to enjoy a luxury liner, but a new class-scrambling test will begin.
(Source: Anime News Network)
10. To Your Eternity Season 2
After seeing enough death and tragedy, the immortal Fushi secludes himself on an island, defending himself from enemy Nokkers. However, instead of attacking Fushi in isolation, Nokkers begin targeting the settlements outside of his reach in hopes of luring him out. Soon, a group known as the Guardians—led by Hisame, the descendant of the deceased warrior Hayase—finds Fushi.
Inspired by how Fushi protected Janada Island from the Nokkers years ago, the Guardians have grown a considerable following and are recognized throughout the world. Initially reluctant, Fushi allows the Guardians to accompany him to the site of the Nokkers' recent attack. In their village, Fushi meets a few valuable allies, both new and old. But as the conflict with the Nokkers only leads to more loss, Fushi must find the inner strength to face his inevitable sorrow.
(Source: MAL Rewrite)