Anime Writer's Choice: 5 Noteworthy Winter 2022 Anime Films! Anime Column

According to Akiba Research Institute, there are 50 anime starting in winter 2022. Among them, we introduce 5 notable works: "Heike Monogatari", all episodes of which are available for advance distribution on FOD (Fuji TV On Demand); "Gaijo Shonen Shoujo", an original anime set in space; "Hakozume - Koban Joshi no Gyakushuu", which has also been made into a TV drama; and "Asa-chan no Sailor Fuku", based on a coming-of-age comic set in a girls' junior high school, The lineup includes "Atasha Kawajiri Kodama de - Dangerous Life Hacker no Jadareta Seikatsu" (It's Kawajiri Kodama - Dangerous Life Hacker's Jadareta Life), which is popular on Twitter.

⇒Click here for the list of winter 2022 anime.

Heike Monogatari

Based on "The Tale of the Heike" translated into modern Japanese by novelist Hideo Furukawa, this historical drama features the original character Biwa, the daughter of a biwa master. The interesting setting is that Biwa can see the future of her opponent when she closes one eye and foresees the downfall of the Heike clan, and through the act of seeing, the viewer naturally connects with Biwa. The second PV begins with a close-up of the characteristic shape of the biwa's eyes, and the series of eyes of the people who lived through the turbulent times is vividly rendered.
Directed by Naoko Yamada and written by Reiko Yoshida. K-ON!" and "Liz and the Blue Bird" at Kyo-ani. and "Liz and the Blue Bird" at KyoAni. In early summer of 2022, director Masaaki Yuasa's animated adaptation of Hideo Furukawa's novel "The Tale of the Heike: Inuoh no Maki" will be released.

Extraterrestrial Boys and Girls

Set in 2045, a time when anyone can go to space, this is an original animation about a junior high school student who is stranded on the Japanese-made commercial space station Anshin and tries to escape on his own. This is the first new work by director Mitsuo Iso in 15 years. The previous work "Dennou Coil" attracted attention for its depiction of AR in everyday life, but this time the theme is AI and space. The official website introduces the drones used by the characters and the worldview, raising expectations for what kind of future will be depicted.
All six episodes will be distributed on Netflix, and shown separately in movie theaters. The admission bonus is unusually extravagant: miniature color paper and original reproductions by director Mitsuo Iso, character designer Kenichi Yoshida, and main animator Toshiyuki Inoue will be distributed at random, so there is no choice but to watch the distribution and head to the movie theaters as well.

Hakozume: Police Box Girls Strike Back

Based on a police manga serialized in "Morning. It is a work comedy that begins when Seiko Fuji, a former ace of the detective division, is transferred as an instructor to Mai Kawai, a rookie who took all the civil service examinations but was only accepted as a police officer. Although it is a police story, the key point is that it portrays the characters as human beings struggling with their jobs, rather than action or suspense. Since the author is a former police officer, the viewer can enjoy the real life of a police box girl.
Directed by Yuzo Sato and produced by Madhouse. The film is directed by Yuzo Sato and produced by Madhouse, the creator and studio that has skillfully adapted popular original works such as "The Legend of Akagi: The Genius Who Fell into Darkness" and "One Outs" for the screen. The film's surprising casting, including comedian Kendo Kobayashi as the deputy police chief, is also not to be missed.

Asa-chan's Sailor Suit

Akebi Komichi enrolls in a prestigious girls' private school, Lohmei Gakuen, because she wants to wear a sailor uniform. However, the school uniform has already been changed to a blazer. ...... Based on a coming-of-age story serialized in "My Neighbor Young Jump". In the second PV, the story is told about how it feels to be the only one in a sailor suit going to school and the reason why she longs to wear a sailor suit.
The sailor uniform of the title is also described in such detail that one is surprised to see it move. The scenery surrounded by lush nature is beautiful, and the close-ups of eyes, mouths, and feet are lickety-split, both making an unforgettable impression. Directed by Miyuki Kuroki of "THE iDOLM@STER SideM" and animated by CloverWorks.

I'm Kawajiri Kodama - Dangerous Life Hacker's Dangerous Life

A short anime adaptation of a comic essay about the self-indulgent life of manga artist Kawajiri Kodama. The author, who loves alcohol, oil, salt, and sweets, has gained support for his aggressive attitude of eating whatever he wants as he desires. There have been many food-themed anime made so far, but this is sure to be one of the most indefatigable titles of them all.
The cast is led by Yuuki Aoi, who will play the roles of Kawajiri Kodama and Dada. The cast is roughly cast as "Kodama Kawajiri and almost all of them," and it will be interesting to see what other characters she will play in addition to the main character. A total of 24 episodes are scheduled to air on Fuji Television's late-night variety show "EXITV (イグジッティービー). Although the in-program broadcasts are difficult to watch for those who are lazy, the distribution site FOD plans to exclusively distribute up to 12 episodes in advance, allowing viewers to watch the first cool episode in one go.

(Text by Katsunori Takahashi)

(C) "Tale of the Heike" Production Committee
(C) MITSUO ISO / avex pictures, Extraterrestrial Boy and Girl Production Committee
(c) Taisako, Kodansha/Hakozume Production Committee
(c) Hiroshi/Shueisha, "Asa-chan no Sailor Suit" Production Committee
(c) Kodama Kawajiri/KADOKAWA, Tadareta Seikatsu Committee