Top 10 Upcoming Anime We Cant Wait To Watch
#10: “Akira” (TBA)
Top 10 Akira Toriyama Creations
That’s right. It’s happening. Not a live-action adaptation by Taika Watiti, but a new incarnation of this legendary property by the creator himself, Katsuhiro Otomo. We’re not sure if it's going to be another feature or a long-ass series that attempts to adapt the entirety of the source material, all we do know is that Otomo is going to be teaming up with the Gundam creators over at Sunrise, and that this version will be far closer to the original manga. The hype train is real and we can’t wait!
#9: “Burn the Witch” (2020)
Tite Kubo has been pretty laxed since Bleach ended, at least when it comes to his properties getting the small screen treatment. That is until not one but two of his properties are due to dominate the medium in the next couple of years. Included in that bundle is this animated flick that looks to take on a more traditional fantasy setting, all with the snark we’ve come to expect from his writing. Set in a parallel version of London where the likes of dragons are commonplace, it falls to two witches to protect and manage the firebreathers before any-more innocents end up roasted.
#8: “Yuri!!! on Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence” (TBA)
We don’t know what’s happening, but chances are nobody cares. The fact that Yuuri and Victor are returning to cut apart the ice with their elegant moves and internet-breaking romance is going to be enough to have fans foaming at the mouth. While things ended up on a somewhat triumphant note last time, we can expect this film to delve deeper into the complexities that stem from having a professional ice skater deal with falling for their trainer. At least with a superior budget we can expect to see some stellar routines in the rink!
#7: “Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash” (TBA)
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We’re not going to say no to another trilogy of Gundam films, especially if they’re based on a book by Tomino! It’s just this one is going to have to try really, really, really hard if it wants to make us care about it’s lead character. You remember Hathway Noa right? Son of Bright Noa, was easily the worst part of Char’s Counterattack, who killed Amuro’s love interest during a tantrum. Yeah, the dude pulled a lot of shit, and now that’s over, he’s the apparent leader of a new terrorist group trying to stick it to the Earth Federation. We’re certainly intrigued, let’s just hope they can make him likeable this time around.
#6: “Megalo Box” Season 2 (TBA)
This is one that caught us off our guard. While it had its flaws, Megalo Box was a fantastic call-back to the days of classic anime like Tomorrow’s Joe, with its cell-shaded style and underdog story hitting all the right notes. Despite Joe defeating Yuri and being crowned champion of Megalonia, it seems the studio has more to tell. All we know is that it’s set seven years later, meaning we’re either going to see an older Junk Dog gear up for another bout, or a new protagonist take up the gloves. Honestly, we’ll watch this purely for the soundtrack!
#5: “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” (2022)
Top 10 Cyberpunk Anime
It’s no secret that Cyberpunk 2077 is the most anticipated video game of the last few years, with each new reveal adding a new layer of hype. Not content with just giving us one Night City experience, it seems that the guys at CD Projekt Red have teamed up with Studio Trigger to create a standalone story that will further explore the lore. While we won’t get to watch V in action, we can least expect to see Trigger’s signature animation injected into a sci-fi backdrop that’s already packed to the brim with sex, cyborgs and absolutely zero filter. Looks, all we want is a Keanu cameo, nothing else. Make it happen Trigger.
#4: “The Rising of the Shield Hero” Season 2 (TBA)
Top 10 Anticipated Anime of 2022
It goes without saying that unless they kill off Naofumi in the opening episode, this sequel is going to be fire. Now free of his inner demons and the accusations lauded against him by Princess Bitch and King Trash, Shield Bro and his ever-expanding party of deadly damsels can finally get on track to stopping the Waves once and for all, though now they’ve got to deal with the knowledge that their enemies are actually heroes from another world just trying to save their people. Expectations are high, but we’re sure it's nothing Noafumi can’t rise up to. Side note – stop stalling and marry your racoon girl!
#3: “Tiger & Bunny” Season 2 (2022)
Remember this hidden gem? One that balanced awesome action with superhero satire? Yeah, it’s getting a second season, which we’re all too excited for. The way it balanced the budding friendship between Kotetsu and Barnaby while also utilising the 3DCGI super-suits was strikingly successful, making for a fun little series that set up its world of corporate caped crusaders in such a way that it could easily spawn a sequel or two, especially with the amount of angles it could take given the modern day obsession with masked vigilantes.
#2: “Shaman King” (2021)
Yoh is back baby! After decades of waiting, one of the unsung heroes of shounen is getting the revitalisation he deserves. Not only will this second adaptation follow the source material far closer, but we can also expect to see new life breathed into some of our favourite action scenes. For those of you who didn’t have a childhood, let’s just say you’re in for a treat, especially seeing Yoh and his posse cut their way through the Shaman Tournament. Now if only the dub could bring back that amazing opening song!
#1: “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc” (TBA)
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No story should be left unfinished, and while Ichigo’s last outing had more than a few things wrong with it, we’ll be the first to admit we’re excited to see how an adaptation of the Thousand Year Blood War will look! The battles against the Quincy are already pretty explosive on paper, so seeing them lovingly recreated might just be the thing this property needs to get back on top. There’s also the case of the manga’s canonical ending; while many agreed it was underwhelming, this sequel has the chance to expand on what Tite Kubo was denied, hopefully wrapping everything together in a satisfying manner!
