Your top 10 anime of 2006

[LinkOcarinaMan]

The year is over and we have had some time to think about the year of anime we have just witnessed. So, what are your favorites for 2006.

Also, this if for series that aired in Japan in 2006. Not domestic DVDs that got released in 2006.

Here is my list!!

10.

Juuousei

This show could have easily been #1 based on the source material and what it had to offer, but it was rushed. However, it was still an extremly compelling show with some of the best animation and production values I have ever seen.

9.

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi

It is the most overrated show this year and in quite some time, however, overrated does not mean its bad. This show is still quite a joy to watch and it has one of the most memorable casts of the year.

8.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

I really enjoyed how this was broken up into different arcs and you got the story from different prespectives. Oh yeah, and the entire cast is totally batshit insane and the show is violent as hell and leaves no stone unturned when it comes to creeping you out. Great stuff indeed!!!

7.

Strawberry Panic

What a nice little show this was. It started off as a seemingly lighthearted comedy but it got pretty dramatic towards the end. Also, it was a lesbian romance that wasn't subtle at all with its relationships. It's no Maria-Sama ga Miteru, but it's a quality show in its own right.

6.

Utawarerumono

In a time when good fantasy anime seems to be all but forgotten about, this series was very welcome. The ending got a little wierd, but that doesn't change the fact that the rest of the show was just so damn good.

5.

The Third: Aoi Hitomi no Shoujo

One of the most overlooked series in quite some time. This series sort of came out of nowhere and gave us some of the most compelling stories and characters of the entire year. It's a shame that more people didn't watch it.

4.

Fate/Stay Night

One of the most hyped shows in quite some time, and I feel that for the most part it lived up to that hype.

3.

Bartender

There is always room for a nice and relaxing slice of life show and this show does it. Combine that with amazing atmosphere and one of the most killer soundtracks in the last couple years, and you have a winner. Also, going to the bar and getting the Bartender drink of the week is always fun.

2.

Rozen Maiden: Ouverture

Did you ever think you would see Suigintou smile like that? Hell no! That is how amazing this OVA is and it is easily one of the best OVA features ever created. It totally changes how you view the Rozen Maiden universe.

1.

Ouran High School Host Club

I knew this would be the anime of the year after only the first couple episodes. I really don't know what else to say except that this is destined to become a classic and I would certainly consider it an anime masterpiece.

[margot]

Rozen Maiden!

reason: tea, dolls

[TeleportSandwich]

Snakes on a Plane. Its so awesome that it transcends genra's and mediums of artistic expression.

[amy]

i vote for "Babe"

[Samurai Drifter]

I don't think I watched 10 new series last year.

Of the ones I did watch though, I really liked Death Note, Kanon '06 and the Meloncholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Of them, the only one I marathoned was Death Note, so it probably wins out (surprisingly over Kanon, though I haven't yet watched as much of that as I'd have liked to).

[Nega-Brent]

The only anime I've watched that probably came out this year is Gantz.

[J-Stop]

Only series I've seen this year was KIBA, .Hack//Roots, Disgaea, and a few episodes of Death Note.

I caught up on a ton of old tokusatsu and anime last year instead of seeing new stuff, like finally finishing off Fullmetal Alchemist last month. This year looks about the same, though, as I found a site that has a fucking ton of old HK-subbed Super Sentai and Kamen Rider shows (Ryuki is fucking amazing), so I'll be boggled down with them while ripping some Initial D or Gungave to watch.

So, out of those four,

1. .Hack//Roots - It started out pretty slow, but after the 'twist' in episode 16 things started to pick up.

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

With Shino PK'd right first few episodes it was nice to know the series wouldn't follow down the path of //SIGN.

Roots gets top honors in my list just for creating a character like Ovan (

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

Tri-Edge

) and the twist that will follow in the second volume of the video game.

Episode 25 is also worth a mention here, as it's probably the only single episode in an anime series in years that made me feel emotional towards a characters death.

2. KIBA: The Animation - Series had no direction whatsoever to start out, but got better after the Joker was revealed. The episode where Noa is transported to Neotopia (6?) is pretty fucking crazy.

3. Death Note - Not as good as the manga, but the first few episodes were decent enough.

4. Still Unknown Anime Series with Kabuto Reference - No idea what the series is, but a Kabuto reference always ='s WIN.

5. Disgaea - ...I'm really just putting this here for a filler. The series is pretty awful.

The only anime I've watched that probably came out this year is Gantz.

Gantz came out in 2004.

EDIT: Fixed a silly spelling mistake. I'm still half asleep.

[The Masterplan]

I just realized that I stopped watching fansubs.

[Gundampilotspaz]

Wow, I wish I had the time to watch that much... I'm downloading Fate/Stay Night and Strawberry Panic now.

From my Livejournal:

Best Anime of 2006 Finalists:

1. Bleach Seaon 4

2. Oh! My Goddess Season 2

3. Coyote Ragtime Show

4. Ouran High School Host Club

5. Ergo Proxy

And the Winner is.....

Last year I wasn't torrenting new series as they were coming out. This year, however, I'm able to give this catagory the attention it deserves. Ergo Proxy was an awesome show. A complete mind fuck. But the winner by a hair is Ouran High School Host Club because it was an all round entertaining show. It made me laugh, it made me care about the characters, and it just keep me entertained for every minute that I watched. Reccommeneded 100%.

[TeleportSandwich]

Here are some shows that came out this year that I liked the most, in no particular order:

Haruhi

Magi-pokan

Zegapain

Honey and Clover II

Kemonozumo

Noein (though it technically started airing in 05')