The Fall 2022 anime season is chock-full of amazing, headline-grabbing shows, from returning favorites like Spy x Family to highly-anticipated newcomers like Chainsaw Man. However, this overload of hype means some great shows can get lost in the shuffle despite being hugely enjoyable in their own right. One such title is The Little Lies We All Tell, and it’s shaping up to be the season’s cutest comedy anime.
The Little Lies We All Tell started life as a manga written by Madoka Kashihara and was serialized in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine. Its on-screen adaptation is animated by Studio Flad, which previously worked on the popular Banished from the Hero’s Party anime. Here’s what the series is all about — and why it’s a standout even in the packed Fall 2022 lineup.
The Plot of Fall 2022’s The Little Lies We All Tell
The Little Lies We All Tell is set at your average all-girls school, though some of these eighth-grade students are unusual. This is because the class features a space-fairing alien, a ninja without a clan, a girl who can read minds, and a boy trying to blend in as a girl.
However, most of these students don’t know the others are hiding something, presuming they are the only unusual person. The only one who does know — the psychic — can’t reveal that she knows without giving away her own secret, leading to comedic chaos as this unlikely group tries to get through school life and complete their goals.
While this sounds like the setup for a calm slice-of-life comedy anime, The Little Lies We All Tell takes the idea in a surprising direction. It is closer to a rapid-fire sketch show than a sitcom, with jokes flying thick and fast during every moment of its run time. While the episodes do have a story, they act as more of a framing device to set up various sketch-like scenarios — many of which go off on surreal or unexpected tangents. While it doesn’t reach the surreal levels of Pop Team Epic or similar shows, it’s clear that The Little Lies We All Tell will continually take jokes in directions the audience doesn’t see coming.
How The Little Lies We All Tell Stands Out as a Comedy
Along with its surreal nature, The Little Lies We All Tell often changes its visual style, which helps the jokes feel even more surreal and gives the show another way to subvert audience expectations, leading to big laughs. Also, unlike similar series, The Little Lies We All Tell isn’t afraid to go a little cruder with the jokes. Viewers are treated to gags about farting and periods during the first two episodes, which perfectly contrasts with the generally cute atmosphere the show initially projects with its art style.
The main cast is also fun, bouncing off each other in silly and fascinating ways. The anime’s core setup features loads of fun opportunities for comedy, with characters trying to hide their secret in strange or unique ways — only to work themselves into a corner when they misunderstand something about schoolgirl life. The others often can’t correct them as they misinterpret the issue due to their own personal secret, leading to some fun and escalating comedy setups.
The Little Lies We All Tell is an enjoyable story with loads of potential going forward. If the show can find its groove, the setup presents a myriad of fun scenarios for comedy. This series could effortlessly become one of the Fall 2022 season’s sleeper hits, especially with anime fans who prefer their comedy to have a surreal edge.
The Little Lies We All Tell is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
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