Year after year, I’m highly disappointed by other publications’ “Best Animated Series” lists. It’s a problem that is permeated through the various awards shows, the treatment of animation has a genre and not a format. We recognized years ago that this was a problem, so even after splicing adult animation, we opted to split between comedy vs drama and even foreign vs domestic. Below are the 10 best adult animated series of 2022 in our dramatic category. The category spans action, drama, and even hybrid series, so enjoy!
10) Young Justice: Phantoms
Young Justice: Phantoms sees the show continuing to reward its fans with another slew of exciting adventures woven into a thought-provoking and action-packed seasonal plot. It showcases that shows and movies centering on superheroes can be more than just kid-friendly fantasies regarding their thematic depth and violence. However, Brion’s arc introduced in “Ego and Superego” felt inconclusive unless they’re saving it for a potential fifth season. Regardless, all of the episodes in “Phantoms” serve as both a series of thrilling solo adventures and a compelling seasonal narrative representing grief. Revisiting this show after so long has really opened my eyes to the show’s potential in terms of quality storytelling and character development. Even though I missed out on a few details from the previous seasons, “Phantoms” did a suitable job referencing them without forcing me to watch those episodes in their entirety. This latest season signifies that the superhero series might have a brighter future on HBO Max later on if its viewership is good enough for a possible fifth season.
9) Shenmue the Animation
Never have I imagined for years that they’d make a Shenmue adaptation that manages to capture the key moments of the games in the series, both big and small while carefully taking out the negative and boring aspects of the game and streamlining the storylines of the first two games in such a way that everyone can understand. I’m sure it also feels very cathartic for long-time fans to have waited 20-plus years for the story of Shenmue to finally receive the care and attention it deserves.
8) The Interrogator
Ultimately, do I think that Interrogator is worth the watch? Yes. 100% yes. If you have the ability to digest every episode in as close to one sitting as possible, go for it. It’s probably the best show on WarhammerTV. Rewatching Interrogator at my leisure was more enjoyable than dealing with the crap that was this release schedule. Getting more at once is definitely the right way to go, because you get to ingest more. You can’t fix basic flaws in the production, but it’s a well put together show, and definitely worth the dive into the Necromunda setting. Go check it out. It’s fucking worth it.
7) The Legend of Vox Machina
Two different schools watched The Legend of Vox Machina. There is the Critical Role fandom who helped build this series with dedication and, in many cases, financial investment. Then there was a collection of viewers who had no idea what they were in for. Somehow the series managed the impossible and pleased both parties, for the most part. Honestly, it was doubtful that the popular franchise could land this balancing act. But we should have known better, as this is the legendary party of Critical Role we are talking about.
6) Lost Ollie
The plot does feature some incredulous plot points that make you wonder,”there’s no way in a thousand years”, but I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t experience a true range of emotions while embarking on Tindle’s tale. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I gasped, and then I cried some more. In an unfortunate time of streaming uncertainty, Lost Ollie reminds us why it’s important to have networks that allow you to breathe and tell stories and I can’t imagine this being a better fit than with Netflix. Lost Ollie does a truly remarkable feat in keeping the spirit of its original incarnation, laden with Tindle’s essence, that allows the story to truly grow and stick what could have been a shaky landing, but ultimately, bows.
5) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is another exceptional original anime series to come out of Netflix that’s one of the most gorgeous animated series of 2022. It’s kind of bewildering how Netflix seems to routinely botch the distribution and release schedules for outside anime that they acquire, yet their own productions have included some of the most exciting anime series from the past few years. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is easily among Studio TRIGGER’s best and most beautiful pieces of work. It confidently stands on its own and doesn’t feel like some act of licensed synergy that requires a video game’s worth of backstory to fully appreciate. While never coming across as derivative or repetitive, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners often feels like Ghost in the Shell or Patlabor meets Supercrooks or The Great Pretender–and with a touch of Akira and The Matrix thrown in for good measure. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a triumph for video game-to-anime adaptations, Studio TRIGGER productions, and 2022 anime in general. It’s the cyberpunk sci-fi series that animation fans deserve.
4) Primal
There’s a lot to appreciate in a series like Primal, but it’s hard to not get caught up in the inventive action sequences that punctuate each episode. This season engages in newfound levels of brutality that always include creative surroundings and choreography. Moments like the War Queen’s death or the limbs lost by Spear’s father are incredibly blunt. Everything gets cranked up this season. This applies to Primal’s battles, but it’s also true for the series’ softer side. These ten episodes effortlessly balance action, emotion, and patient introspective sequences of awe and reflection. At this point it’s impossible to just write Primal off as an aggressive action series. This season even dips its toe in Norse mythology when it comes to its themes and structure. There are times when the series functions as a scintillating history or anthropology lesson that really feel special. This season strives to bring forward the humanity behind war and greed just as much as it relishes in those displays.
3) Meta Runner
Meta Runners impressed me a lot. The universe jumping that the characters are afforded via warping is awesome. The writing had me invested from the start, and the characters were intriguing. Watching Sheridan degrade mentally even more than he was really fun to watch, and it kept the duality of silly and seriousness well balanced. The pacing was great, and the story was easy to follow. If you’re looking for a fun, easy watch, go watch Meta Runners. You will not be disappointed.
2) Pantheon
Pantheon, from episode one, has been a hook, and constantly building on itself. There hasn’t been an instance where I was sitting there going “man, this is dragging hard.” From the Mean Girls bait and switch, to the introduction of David’s UI and the entire UI world, all the way through the slightly disappointing final showdown between David and Chanda, everything that was presented to the viewer during Pantheon‘s eight episodes was splendid.
1) DOTA
There are a couple of things I want to get off of my chest when it comes to this show. 1) I love it, it just kept building and building and did nothing but get better. Which is more than I can ask for a show based on a video game. Video game adaptions don’t have a very good history of being good. While this won’t go down as the best by any means, it was better than many have done. Also, 2) For a lot of it I have no idea what is going on. There is a lot of timey wimey stuff that happens while also including other dimensions so it isn’t hard to get lost. But I think that just lends itself to rewatches which I definitely won’t mind doing.