Note: The following article has spoilers for My Hero Academia Season 6, Chainsaw Man, BLUELOCK, SPY x FAMILY, and Mob Psycho 100 Season 3.
 

This fall has brought about pumpkin spice lattes, sweater weather, and the launch of a stacked lineup of highly anticipated anime — both new and returning. Now that we’re in the last month of the season (and the year!), it’s time to relive some of the most hyped moments from the big players in 2022’s fall anime season. 
 

My Hero Academia — Shigaraki vs. Everyone

 

 

I love it when superheroes get the power-ups they need to become stronger, but when the villains are also OP? Chef’s kiss. It’s no fun when you know who’s going to win, and even then, I still want to see the heroes get knocked around a bit so that when they do win, it’s all the more satisfying (okay, maybe I’m a little sadistic…). 

 

Season six of My Hero Academia ramps up the tension and action with the heroes versus the Paranormal Liberation Front, the villain team comprised of the League of Villains and the Meta Liberation Army. This leads to the colossal match-up of Shigaraki vs. the World… of heroes, at least.

 

RELATED: Get To Know the Paranormal Liberation Front From My Hero Academia

 

Right off the bat it’s chaos as the very act of Shigaraki waking up causes pure mayhem. Endeavor, the number one hero, pulls out the big guns, but even that isn’t enough. Eraser Head struggles to keep his eyes glued to Shigaraki to prevent the latter from using his destructive powers, only to get his eyes viciously scratched — and this is after he cut off his own leg! Then there’s Deku using himself as bait to get Shigaraki to chase after him, leading to Bakugo’s body moving on its own…

 

This fight goes to show the power scaling between the heroes and Shigaraki. It’s only fair that the villains grow stronger alongside the heroes. All the previous seasons have led us here to this moment where, like Deku, Shigaraki shows that he’s just as ambitious and doesn’t give up. 

 

Chainsaw Man — Makima and Kobeni Reveal How Much They Kick Ass

 

I haven’t read the Chainsaw Man manga so I have no idea what the hell is going on in the show –— and I’m here for it. We went from a makeout session that ended with a mouthful of vomit to a bloody massacre with no context as to how or why it was happening. But the moment that got me thrilled is when Makima comes back to life after taking a bullet to the head and slowly reveals how scary she is with her cold smile, unblinking gaze and powerful Devils on her side. 

 

What makes the scene with Makima at the temple so ominous is how we can only watch what she’s doing with no way of knowing what comes next and no background information as to what or how she’s doing it. All we know is that she’s rounded up convicts, tied them up, blindfolded them, and is having them say different people’s names. One minute she’s simply pressing and turning her palms together and the next men are exploding to pieces with blood splattering everywhere while the convicts drop dead to the ground. It’s sinister and I love it. 

 

RELATED: Which Chainsaw Man Character Are You?

 

And how can I forget Kobeni? All I can think of is that internet meme: “‘Let me see what you have.’ ‘A knife.’ ‘No!’” Kobeni is a great example of a side character that fools everyone into thinking she’s weak because of her constant whining and crying (cough, Zenitsu, cough), but in reality, she’s deadly and has a knife. She’s not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with her.

 

I hope anyone who initially found her annoying has apologized by now.

 

BLUELOCK — Chigiri Breaks His Chains

 

 

A sports anime is bound to have some hype moments and BLUELOCK doesn’t disappoint. My favorite moment is when our resident pretty boy, Chigiri, breaks his chains and gets his head back in the game. In the beginning, Chigiri was reserved and purposely faded into the background, giving everyone else the spotlight because of his concerns about an old injury. But once Isagi pushed the right buttons, Chigiri snapped. 

 

RELATED: Create Your Ultimate Soccer Anime Dream Team

 

It’s so exhilarating to see a character who’s been having inner battles finally come to a decision that they need to go after that character development, especially when it involves getting the best of extremely negative adversaries. Considering all the unexpected hurdles the team had to face in that match (one of which is from a fellow teammate), Chigiri being the wild card and zooming past Team W who, up until that point, were so cocky in their victory that they could’ve never seen this coming, made everyone eat their own words. And it was glorious. 

 

SPY x FAMILY — The Forgers Stop a Terrorist Attack

 

 

There’s more to SPY x FAMILY than the wholesome bonding experiences with the Forgers. One of the most exciting moments from the show’s second half is when Anya, Yor and Loid all work “together” to stop a group of terrorists and save the city. It’s a reminder of the seriousness of the mission that Loid’s been tasked with while also maintaining the comedy and family vibes of the series.

 

RELATED: SPY x FAMILY’s Second Opening is Perfect

 

It’s the perfect example of how a family created from secrets can actually work really well with each other without knowing anyone’s real identity. Despite being separated at the time of the incident, somehow the Forgers saved the day. From Yor snarling like an attack dog and kicking that guy who kidnapped Anya so hard that he bounced around like a ping pong ball, to Loid coming across the ketchup-smeared door that had a bomb attached on the other side of it, the whole arc was entertaining and satisfying to watch all the way through. 

 

Besides saving the day, the Forgers also adopted Bond (best boy!) and you know that any anime with a dog is already a strong contender for Anime of the Year (for me, at least). 

 

Mob Psycho 100 — Mob vs. Dimple (God Mode)

 

 

Another anime that’s never short on hype is Mob Psycho 100. With the series’ return in season three, the show brought us into the Divine Tree (read: broccoli) religion and gave us a fight between two close friends, Mob and Dimple, with the latter revealing a new form that reminds me of an Oscar award.

 

Initially, Dimple shows off his godly powers to Mob but it’s clear that he’s holding back because he’s so worried about fatally injuring the kid. Mob does reach 100 percent but he never tries to kill Dimple either. It’s a fight that shows the two of them are still allies rather than enemies. 

 

RELATED: Mob Psycho 100 OPs and EDs Are Timeless Works of Art

 

While Bones’ animation skills are also godly, especially during this fight, I wasn’t prepared for the result. Maybe I was too caught up with their friendship and naively thought they would go home together. How dare they make me get all excited, only for me to tear up at the end. 

 

What have been some of your favorite moments from this season of anime? Let us know in the comments!