Anime season first impressions - Spring 2022

I think the last time I started watching this many seasonal series was in 2016, since then I've rarely touched more than 5 series per season and I'll say only one thing...
Damn, you live like this?

Have to watch:

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Ultra Romantic - 2/? ep. | 7-8/10 | Manga | Comedy, romance, school

Anime that had me smiling all the time, even laughing for the first time in a long time while watching anime. Kaguya is very good comedy and after three seasons the show is still getting better. If anyone has watched the previous seasons, they will undoubtedly watch this one as well.

Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road - 3/? ep. | 5-7/10 | Light novel | Fantasy, action

I thought it would be a typical isekai, but halfway through the first episode I was surprised - we are presented with world where people summoned from Japan have special abilities, but often cannot control them. In order to prevent a disaster, there is a group that eliminates such people before a tragedy occurs. We see the whole story from the perspective of the assassins, who kill the individuals brought from "our" world in order to protect their own world from destruction.

Summertime Render - 1/25 ep. | 4-8/10 | Manga | Mystery, thriller, supernatural 

Anime starts with death shrouded in mystery on a small island. We can see supernatural phenomena and going back in time. This could be a recipe for a very interesting thriller and compelling mystery, but it could just as well quickly fall off and become a trainwreck. We'll see how it goes, it's hard to judge after one episode, personally I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Maybe it'll not be a second 'Shinsekai Yori' in terms of suspense, but it could be good.

SPY×FAMILY - 2/? ep. | 6-7/10 | Manga | Action, comedy

I've enjoyed watching the first two episodes. Series looks really promising. MyAnimeList as usual, started with a lot of nines and tens, but looking at the manga sells and ratings and that it has won the 2019 Next Manga Awards, I think I can safely assume that it will be interesting anime.

Might be interesting (if you have time):

Aharen-san wa Hakarenai - 3/? ep. | 5-7/10 | Manga | Comedy, school

At first glance, I expected it to be a typical yonkoma with episodic jokes that will become boring, predictable and tiresome very quickly. But the first episode surprised me in a positive way. I'm not sure if I'll continue watching this anime. Considering that there's a Kaguya coming out in the season that has me physically smiling and even laughing, Aharen kinda has no right to compete. Good seasonal comedy but I think that it'll be quickly forgotten.

Dance Dance Danseur - 2/11 ep. |  5-7/10 | Manga | Dance/sport

Anime of the "I hate a talent to do something but I'm pretending not to be interested, but ultimately I'm going to fall into that hobby" genre of which "Blue Period" is probably the most recent representative. This time we can see it in ballet form. The MC is typical, the girl is ok, the rival is typical. The animation is ok. But for some reason I liked the first episode, the second episode was also pretty good. Somehow I got interested in protagonist who gradually becomes convinced to pursue a career in ballet. It's quite possible that I'll watch to the end.

Heroine Tarumono!: Kiraware Heroine to Naisho no Oshigoto - 2/? ep. | 5-7/10 | Original/Honeyworks universum | Music, idols, school

I have to admit that I got quite positively surprised. I'm not really interested in idols or idol-related themes, but this anime focuses more on the role of a manager. This role is played by a female student who starts attending class with a duo of idols popular among teenage girls. As a manager in training, she is responsible for helping them organize events and plan their calendar, but as a classmate and manager, she is also forced to keep an eye on the idols at school and take care of them.
So far this series could end up being very average, but it also could turn out to be a pretty enjoyable series centered around idols, work, and school. We'll see.

Otomege Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai desu - 2/12 ep. | 5-7/10 | Light novel | Fantasy, romance, isekai, school

I missed the previous isekais with the transfer to the otome game world, so this is something fresh for me. At this point the anime could go either way, I am mainly interested by the mystery of this world and I'm curious how the main character will develop his relationships with other characters.

Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari Season 2 - 2/13 ep. | 6-7/10 | Light novel | Isekai, action, adventure, fantasy

The second season of the shield hero. It's the same as the first season, starting a little worse than what we ended up with last time. If it keeps even level for the whole season, I'll watch it till the end.

Yuusha, Yamemasu - 3/12 ep. | 5-6/10 | Light novel | Fantasy, comedy, action

The hero defeats the demon king, after which the whole world starts to fear him because he is too powerful. So he decides to join the army of evil and reform it, since it's in crisis after he completely destroyed it. Interesting theme for a comedy, no fireworks, nor do I expect to be surprised by anything positive or negative by the end

Not recommended:

Deaimon - 1/12 ep. | DROP | Manga | Slice of life

There have already been a few anime about candy production and related things. Series is based on showing everyday life in a store producing sweets. We have a little girl and a prodigal son. I liked Tamako Market, but here I was bored and uninterested during the first episode. It probably won't be a bad series, I just don't want to watch an average one that won't surprise me with anything.

Gaikotsu Kishi-sama, Tadaima Isekai e Odekakechuu - 2/12 ep. | DROP | Light novel | Isekai, fantasy, action

A cheaper version of Overlord. After the first two episodes of typical isekai, I don't want to watch this.

Healer Girl - 1/12 ep. | DROP | Original | Music

Anime about girls healing people with songs. The first episode wasn't very intersting, so I'm not planning to watch it. Basically it's slice of life, in which girls will learn how to heal people by singing and probably do cute things in the process. It is not unique or well-executed enough to sell me on this. If you want a good anime about singing, go watch Symphogear.

Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san - 2/12 ep. | DROP | Manga | School, romance, comedy???

I was promised super-mega-cool romance but what I got was just typical school romcom. Main girl is not super sweet and she is sometimes grimacing or getting jealous, but if you're going to call that a game changer, I just wish you best and just enjoying watching show if you like it. But in my case, I can only see unlucky MC who relies on his girlfriend even though she has no real reasons to date him because male protagonist doesn't really have any positive qualities. There are typical school events and supporting characters that I don't care about.

Kunoichi Tsubaki no Mune no Uchi - 2/12 ep. | DROP | Manga | Comedy???

Girl ninjas who learn to be stealth killers in the future. This is neither a comedy, an action anime, nor a romance. After two episodes it's mush with no plot and no idea how to carry itself. The concept of girls who never grew up with boys is interesting. But because it wasn't developed for two episodes, and nothing else about the anime impresses me, it's a waste of my time.

Koi wa Sekai Seifuku no Ato de - 1/12 ep. | DROP | Manga | Romance, comedy

A parody of a genre that is itself a parody. Plus, someone gave middle schoolers to draw faces in some scenes.

Mahoutsukai Reimeiki - 2/12 ep. | DROP | Light novel | Fantasy, action, adventure

Typical fantasy anime with magic. Nothing interesting.

Shachiku-san wa Youjo Yuurei ni Iyasaretai. - 1/12 ep. | DROP | Manga | Comedy

A light comedy telling the story of a cute ghost who lives in an office building. It is dragging on, boring, and doesn't seem to have any idea how to carry itself.

Shijou Saikyou no Daimaou, Murabito A ni Tensei suru - 2/12 ep. | DROP | Light novel | Fantasy, action, school

The demon lord is reborn in the same world several hundred years later as an ordinary boy. But he quickly stops being ordinary by manifesting his powers and they turn out to be even more powerful in the present day because some of the magic has been lost over time.
For no real reasons, he decides to attend school where he begins to build his harem. On top of that, he is basically grooming her childhood friend.

It takes quite a talent to cram so many tropes into one anime.

Tomodachi Game - 3/12 ep. | 3-6/10, guilty pleasure | Manga | Death game, psychological

"Friends Game" doesn't stand out from other death games in any way. A group of friends get caught up in a game to erase a debt that one of them has incurred, while completing tasks that gradually sink their friendship.
There's already a flaw in the first two games - rules are changing over the course of the game, there's not much strategy to them and character archetypes are clearly outlined right away. If you're looking for something on the level of "Liar Game" you won't find it. I'll probably watch a few more episodes because I like the genre itself.