With so a good deal of incredible anime being released each season, it comes as no surprise that a few hidden gems may accidentally be left behind in the mines now and then. Winter seasons are traditionally a bit slower than most but 2022 was a bit of an exception hosting a massive amount of extremely popular shows.
With so many people focusing on the biggest names and shows, there were a few anime released that could have been extremely talked about had they come out any other time. People with a bit of extra time should consider checking out these shows they may have missed.
6 Requiem of the Rose King
Historical anime can be quite hit or miss but Requiem of the Rose King is most certainly in the hit category. The War of the Roses is a major event in European history and seeing it adapted is already exciting, adding supernatural elements to the story made it an even more thrilling retelling. J. C. Staff brought on some incredible animators to bring this to life as well with Kentarou Suzuki of Angels of Death fame directing.
5 Sasaki and Miyano
Queer audiences likely quickly picked up Sasaki and Miyano the moment they learned it not only was focused on a gay relationship but about the enjoyment of boys love manga as well. The love blossoming between upperclassman Miyano and Sasaki creates the kind of wholesome slice of life action that is sure to make people wiggle in excitement as they watch.
It's incredibly straightforward which is rare for a romance anime and the chemistry between characters is extremely palpable. Even for those who aren't gay, this may scratch an itch for a perfectly executed romantic anime story if they check it out.
4 Cue!
Voice actors are one of the most important parts of bringing anime to life, so an anime based on them should be interesting, right? Cue! is particularly unique as it does discuss quite a bit about what goes into voice work in the industry while also adapting the story of Liber Entertainment's mobile game of the same name. As Western audiences likely never played the Japan-exclusive game, it's a great way to experience its story while learning a bit about what goes into the anime they love.
3 Tribe Nine
Futuristic baseball played between various gangs that help determine the course of all of society? This is the wild premise behind Tribe Nine. It's incredibly over-the-top as a sports anime and a rather unusual shonen show that unsurprisingly was overlooked by many people due to its unusual premise.
Even more fascinating is how this anime is actually promotional in nature, meant to help bring on the hype for a video game in the same universe with the same name. Anyone who hasn't heard of the game before will at least become curious about it after watching this show.
2 Slow Loop
Iyashikei anime, otherwise known as soul healing anime, tend to get overlooked when they are released. This is sadly the case for Slow Loop which shows how a relationship between new step-sisters blossoms as they catch and cook fish together. A show focused on fly fishing might seem overly specific, but its wholesome vibes and happy smiles are the perfect things to watch to recharge when the world is currently in so much turmoil.
1 Salaryman's Club
Badminton might be an Olympic sport, but it's rarely been featured in anime. Salaryman's Club manages to up the stakes of these games even further by creating a world where corporate teams for the sports are regular and expected within society. Anyone with a soft spot for sports anime should make sure to give this one a shot.