The epic anime series Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer were the clear stars of the Winter 2022 anime season, drawing in anime fans with their amazing animation and flawless storytelling. But it was My Dress-Up Darling that overshadowed the two giants when it came down to weekly popularity rankings, led by its stellar protagonist and best girl of the season, Marin Kitagawa.

Heading into April, fans are in for a treat this Spring 2022 anime season.

The season includes plenty of sequels to popular series such as Kaguya-sama: Love Is War and The Rising of the Shield Hero. Of course, new titles will be making their debut this Spring 2022 as well, like the highly-anticipated Spy x Family. Overall, anime lovers should prepare their hearts for a feel-good, wholesome Spring 2022 season.

Can’t decide which ones to add to your watch list? Here are the five best upcoming Spring 2022 anime shows.


What Spring 2022 anime should I watch?

SPRING 2022 ANIME TITLERELEASE DATE
Tomodachi GameApril 5
Shikimori’s Not Just a CutieApril 10
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War season 3April 8
The Rising of the Shield Hero season 2April 6
Spy x FamilyApril 9

Tomodachi Game

The key visual for Tomodachi Game anime
Credit: Okuruto Noboru

Genres: Drama, mystery, psychological
Release date: April 2022
Animation studio: Okuruto Noboru

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers such as Netflix’s Squid Game and Alice in Borderland, then this Spring 2022 anime is for you.

The Tomodachi Game is about a debt repayment game where friendships are put to a test, with a huge sum of money at stake. The anime is centered on the stories of five high school students, gradually revealing their backstories as they are forced to participate in the mysterious game.

After its television and movie adaptations back in 2017, the franchise is ready to shake the Spring 2022 anime scene.


Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie

Wallpaper for Shikimori's Not Just A Cutie anime
Credit: Doga Kobo

Genres: Comedy, romance, slice of life
Release date: April 10
Animation studio: Doga Kobo

She’s sweet, she’s fun, but most importantly she’s not just a cutie—we’re talking about one of the best girls in the upcoming Spring 2022 anime lineup!

Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie follows the story of high school sweethearts Izumi and Shikimori. Shikimori, in particular, is not your typical, one-sided protagonist—she can be both cute AND cool at the same time. If you’re looking to fill that void in your heart, this anime will provide you with the warm and fuzzy feelings of falling in love.

Ready to meet your new, pink-haired waifu? Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie drops on April 10 later this year.


Kaguya-sama: Love Is War season 3

Kaguya-sama season 3
Credit: A-1 Pictures, ONE Esports

Genres: Comedy, romance, slice of life
Release date: April 2022
Animation studio: A-1 Pictures

“Yoi, yoi,
Don da yo!

When it comes to good romantic comedy shows, Kaguya-sama easily tops the charts.

The series focuses on high school students Kaguya Shimomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, a pair of geniuses who are too proud to confess their love for one another. Throughout the series, both constantly come up with schemes to make the other confess, treating their relationship like a tug of war.

Heading into its third season, manga readers know it will soon be one of the best Spring 2022 anime releases. The first two seasons have remained faithful to the manga, which is why fans can expect Kaguya-sama: Love Is War season 3 to pick up scenes featuring the midterm exams and Christmas party.

You can find out Kaguya-sama season 3’s Spring 2022 anime release date and more here.



The Rising of the Shield Hero season 2

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 key visual
Credit: Kinema Citrus, DR Movie

Genres: Action, adventure, isekai
Release date: April 2022
Animation studios: Kinema Citrus, DR Movie

Dubbed as one of the best isekai anime series by fans, The Rising of the Shield Hero is making a grand comeback this spring for its second season. Isekai, which means “different world” in English, is an anime genre where characters are transported into a new world or dimension.

The anime stars Naofumi Iwatani, a university student summoned to another world as the Shield Hero. After experiencing a rough start in the parallel world, Naofumi meets the first members of his party—a tanuki demi-human girl named Raphtalia and a shapeshifter named Filo. Together with his companions, Naofumi must save the world from hordes of monsters called Waves.

The Rising of the Shield Hero season 2 will pick up from the manga’s Spirit Tortoise arc. The Spirit Tortoise is a large tortoise monster and the first of the Guardian Beasts, as seen in season 2’s poster.

With a powerhouse cast of voice actors, we’re excited to once again hear the voices of Kaito Ishikawa, Asami Seto, and Rina Hidaka. Kaito and Asami voice some of the most popular anime characters in the scene such as Haikyuu’s Tobio Kageyama and Jujutsu Kaisen’s Nobara Kugisaki.

The Rising of the Shield Hero season 2 premieres later this April as part of the Spring 2022 anime lineup.


Spy x Family

Spring 2022 anime: Loid and Anya Forger in the Spy x Family anime
Credit: TOHO Animation

Genres: Action, comedy, supernatural
Release date: April 2022
Animation studios: Cloverworks, Wit Studio

Spy x Family follows the story of spy Loid Forger. In order to join a top secret mission, he builds a pretend family comprised of a professional assassin and a telepathic child.

This award-winning title will not only bust your guts, but it will warm your hearts as well with the Forger family’s antics.

The series will be animated by the two of the biggest studios in Japan, Cloverworks and Wit Studio. Cloverworks is the animation studio behind My Dress-Up Darling while Wit Studio animated Attack on Titan’s earlier seasons. Aside from its good animation, fans should also look forward to its magnificent cast of voice actors featuring Demon Slayer regulars Saori Hayami and Atsumi Tanezaki, and Haikyuu’s Takuya Eguchi.

You can find out about Spy x Family’s Spring 2022 anime release date and more here.

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READ MORE: 3 reasons why you should watch My Dress-Up Darling anime