Summer 2022

It was a season where familiar names and cinematic releases dominated the conversation — it often felt like theaters and streaming dropped right into the middle of the cour. One Piece Film: Red stood out because it turned a franchise movie into a music-centered spectacle; Uta and the soundtrack made the film into a talking point beyond just another entry. The Devil is a Part-Timer! Season 2 returned to the show's screwball domestic humor and timing that landed its best moments.

Dr. STONE: Ryusui gave the franchise a flashier, seafaring detour, with Ryusui himself stealing several episodes through swagger and clever problem-solving. SPRIGGAN brought Netflix-sized action and polish to the ONA side, while Laid-Back Camp Movie expanded the show's scenic, low-key charm into full cinematic warmth. Studios like TMS, Kinema Citrus and J.C.Staff popped up across formats, and the season's big slice of movies and ONAs meant summer 2022 was remembered more for event pieces and memorable set pieces than breakout TV originals.