Anime Spotlight : Top Anime from Yesteryear : 2006

It's time to take a trip down memory lane and take a look at the Anime of 2006. 2006 for me had a lot of memorable anime like Pumpkin Scissors, and some might even mention Death Note as their anime of the year. But here are my Top 5 anime from 2006!

NHK ni Youkoso!

Synopsis : Satou Tatsuhiro, a 22-year-old socially withdrawn loner, barricades himself in his apartment, subsiding on a meagre allowance sent by his parents, only venturing to the outside world to buy food under cover of darkness. One day, afraid he might miss the utility person, he opens the door to find a cute, mysterious girl, accompanying an elderly religious solicitor. Through what seems to be a chain of coincidences, the girl, Nakahara Misaki, enters Tatsuhiro's life, and promises him that she will cure him of his anti-social condition, provided that he follows the rules that she sets out for him. This takes Tatsuhiro from a desperate attempt at creating a galge computer game, to unwittingly joining a suicide cult, to participating in a pyramid scheme, to immersing himself in a MMORPG, along the way touching upon everything between hikikomori and otaku culture, existentialism, solipsism, theology, suicide, sacrifice and love.
Tags :  comedy, angst, novel, conspiracy, coming of age, daily life, tragedy
PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYLsjJ8RThQ
Thoughts : Welcome to the NHK! was a brilliant comedy by Gonzo that hit a bit close to home with it's main theme. It's a must watch for any anime fan. 

Ergo Proxy

Synopsis : Sometime in the distant future, humanity has managed to survive, but only in isolated cities and through the use of cloning and robotic servants called Autoraves. Life in the cities is strictly controlled by management dedicated to preserving their 'utopian' way of life. But something is causing the Autoraves to become independent and is driving them to seek to escape the city. Re-l Mayer, a female inspector from the Citizen Information Board, learns that the awakening of the Autoraves is caused by an encounter with something called a Proxy. In seeking to learn more, Re-l stumbles into a secret that management is desperately trying to hide and will go to any length to keep suppressed.

Tags : violence, sci-fi, gunfights, action, contemporary fantasy, mecha, angst, android, seinen, conspiracy, post-apocalypse, dystopia

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb3_pt4woi8

Thoughts : I loved the dark dystopian setting in Ergo Proxy, and Real Mayer is probably one of the most recognizable anime characters out there. though I wonder if the then popularity of women like Amy Lee might have been an influence. Manglobe did a great job with Ergo Proxy visually and auditory. If you haven't seen it yet, slim chance, give it a shot.

Ouran Koukou Host Club

Synopsis : Ouran High School is a school for the extremely wealthy or talented. Haruhi just happens to be more talented than wealthy. Since she had a hair mishap the week before school started and could not afford the school uniform, she was mistaken for a boy.

Wandering into the Third Music Room looking for a quiet place to study, she encounters the school's Host Club — a group of attractive young men who give their time and affections to females, for a fee. After she breaks an ¥8,000,000 vase belonging to the host club, the leader demands that she work off the money by becoming a host. And when they find out Haruhi is not actually a boy, humour ensues.

Tags : comedy, romance, super deformed, slapstick, reverse trap, bishounen, manga, shoujo, school life, high school, clubs

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1szKUUnUSts

Thoughts : Ouran High school Host Club was one of my favorite shoujo comedies for a very long time. And the better role that Miyano Mamoru played in 2006, yes Suou Tamaki and Yagami Light has the same voice actor. Even though this show had a reverse harem, the humor is aimed at everyone not just a certain demographic. If you need a laugh watch Ouran high school Host Club.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Synopsis : Maebara Keiichi, a young teenager, has recently moved from the city to the rural village of Hinamizawa with his family. He is adjusting quite well to his new life, making friends at the small school, playing games, passing time in relative happiness, when suddenly a gruesome murder occurs...

A mystery begins to unravel — tracing back to events five years ago. As Keiichi learns more about these strange events, he wonders if he will be able to face the truth behind all of this.

Tags : violence, detective, angst, horror, visual novel, seinen, tragedy

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5-UAggAqRM

Thoughts : Higurashi no Naku Koro ni really took by surprise, it's mix of cute lovable characters with a ton of comedy, and it's harsh darker side. Which did a great job in making those cute characters quite terrifying to say the least. Higurashi featured some really awesome music by Shimamiya Eiko and was filled with mystery. If you are in the mood for a good horror anime. Higurashi is not a bad choice at all.

Black Lagoon

Synopsis : When Okajima Rokuro (aka Rock) visits Southeast Asia carrying a top secret disk, he is kidnapped by pirates riding in the torpedo boat, Black Lagoon. Although he thought he would be rescued soon, the company actually abandons him, and sends mercenaries to retrieve the secret disk. He narrowly escapes with his life, but has nowhere to go. He gives up his name and past, and resolves to live as a member of the Black Lagoon.

Tags : violence, gunfights, action, manga, seinen, mafia, crime, daily life

PV : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyw9767xzO0

Thoughts : Ahh Black Lagoon how I wish there was more of this show. Black Lagoon offered a good look into the lives of the gangs and inhabitants of the fictional city Roanapur. If you are looking for gunfights, great characters both male and female, and stunning visuals Black Lagoon won't disappoint you.

Thanks again for joining me on this trip down memory lane, what Anime from 2006 was your favorite? If you need a bit of a refresher this chart might help.