Anime's Best of 2006

I'm oddly nervous about this post, so I hope it's acceptable. *awkward bow to admins*

After losing the Suncoast in my city, it became obscenely difficult to find one of my favorite anime magazines, Anime Insider. Luckily, it appeared on the shelves in my local FYE recently, just in time for their annual 'Best of the year' issue. Here are the results for some of the categories and a few reasons as to why they were chosen (which were put under spoiler cuts to save room). I'm sorry its so long, I tried to be picky with the categories.

I want to know everyone else's opinions on these results. Do you agree, or think that there's another character or anime that came out this year that deserves this title? Be forewarned: I'm not looking for ' Inuyasha should have gotten best because he's so cute and stuff!!11!!1'. Think about it: who deserves these titles? And if the ones below do deserve them, why do you think so? (Also, there are links in the names of the character/series if anyone needs reminders about who/what it is.)

The Best of 2006

Best Hero
Kikychiyo- Samurai 7

Spoiler:

Although he begins as a brash, foolish fighter, in the show's climactic battle, Kikuchiyo is the one to take a stand. He no longer fights for the payment of rice. He fights for those who cannot fight on their own. He fights when he doesnt have to, for no other reason than because its the right thing to do. In the end,

Spoiler:

he doesn't hesitate to give up his very life: a hero to his last breath,

and our number one guy for 2006.

Best Heroine
Rukia Kuchiki- Bleach

Spoiler:

Bleach's Rukia is only following orders the night she meets Ichigo Kurosaki- until she throws herself between him and a rampaging Hollow. When viewers watched Rukia give up her powers to a human she didnt even know, it wasnt just a strategic move to save lives. Losing her sword meant losing a fundamental part of who she is, but she didnt complain. Whether its getting hurled into the air to face a Hollow, teaching a clumsy human boy her job or simply fighting back with her powerless temporary body, Rukia shows each viewer what it means to stand strong and protect others, no matter the consequences.

Best Villian
The Count- Gankutsuou

Spoiler:

Some villians want to take over the world. Some villians want to up their body count to ridiculous levels. The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes, just wants to break up your family, ruin your business, and make your life a living hell- and he does it with style. He's not pure evil- who wouldnt sympathize with a guy who was betrayed by his friends, torn away from his fiancee, and locked up in space? Revenge is understandable, and The Count takes it- slowly, painstakingly, and absolutely devastatingly. The way he gradually dismantles every part of his enemies' lives is executed so well that he deserves this award just for his intricate planning. He doesnt just do what was done to him, he does worse. What better way to repay sins of the fathers then to go after their sons and daughters? It's not just that he's evil- its that he's so good at it.

Best Manga
Monster

Spoiler:

Up-and-coming doctor Kenzo Tenma has it made: he's dating the hospital director's daughter and possesses incredible surgical abilities. But his life spirals downward after he ignores the director's orders and operates on a young boy named Johan, who promptly disappears. Never short on unexpected twists and engrossing subplots, Monster is a political thriller and murder mystery all in one. The story hovers between very real characters and moral dilemmas, and surreal psychological horror, taking readers along for a viciously compelling ride.

Best Dub
Ghost Stories

Spoiler:

Character changes, plot-distorting dialogue, references to American Pop Culture- all things you'd expect from a bad dub. But for Ghost Stories, they're what make it an excellent one. ADV dub director Steven Foster took a mediocre horror anime and transformed it into a side-splitting comedy. Scenes of pretty senior student Monoko invoking the name of Jesus against ghosts and main-character Satsuki's little brother babbling incoherently when frightened help make this dub the funniest since Goku went to 'HFIL'. Sure, otaku purists can still turn to the subtitled track for the original, but who would want to?

Best Series on TV
Naruto

Spoiler:

No one with a pulse can deny that Naruto has made huge waves in America, but the award for Best TV Series doesnt just go to a great anime series that happens to be airing on television. To even qualify for a nomination, a show must not just be a stellar series, but be intrinsically suited for broadcast by being episodic enough that a casual viewer can drop in and still get the most out of each episode while simultaneously having a solid, developing storyline that keeps fans coming back for more. Naruto does all that and more. Now that VIZ has given them what they want, fans have been keen to follow Naruto and his teammates to the point that the Cartoon Network series is available for streaming viewing online.

Best DVD Series
Eureka Seven

Spoiler:

The layered story of normal kid Renton, otherworldly pilot Eureka, the band of mercenaries they live with and a plethora of air-surfing mechas came in a fittingly loaded package. Bandai included a t-shirt, a soundtrack CD and the complete first volume of the Eureka Seven manga. And instead of simple language options and previews, DVD extras include cast interviews and commentary on the process of creating the show. But what's truly important is the show itself. Unlike many shows ostensibly made for the sake of young viewers and toy lines, Eureka Seven has an endearing cast and excellent scripting. It's got everything a great anime should: top-notch animation, awesome music, and a story that makes you crack up before making you cry, thus ensuring a permanent space on your DVD rack.

Series of the Year
Gankutsuou

Spoiler:

It all sounds ambitious: take the most cherished revenge story in classic literature, throw it a millennia into the future, and then, for a final touch, animate it using an experimental new style. In spite of the many ways that Gankutsuou could have gone wrong, director Mahiro Maeda and Gonzo (Samurai 7, Basilisk) made it so very right. Perhaps the most daring adaption yet of Alexandre Dumas' 'The County of Monte Cristo, Gankutsuou sets its tale of overdue payback against a richly imagined sci-fi backdrop that, for all its spaceships and intergalactic excursions, perfectly evokes the elegance of 19th century France. Bolder still is the anime's switch of perspective; instead of following the Count through his transformation from innocent youth to vindictive nobleman as the novel did, Gankutsuou tells his story through the eyes of Albert, the teenage son of the Count's former fiancee and his greatest betrayer. While most version's sympathize with the Count, , Gankutsuou makes things less black and white as Albert's happy, rich-boy life disintegrates. Dumas' Count was a noble antihero, meting out justice to those who deserved it, but Gankutsuou shows him corrupted by his own thirst for revenge, opening the door to much more troubling questions. Using photoshop textures in ways never seen in anime before, the character's clothing patterns move independently, creating a bizarre yet undeniably eye-catching look. Combined with Gonzo's usual 3-D background flourish, amazing character designs, and a soundtrack that mixes rock and roll with selections from classical composers, its a remarkable feast for the senses.

There were a bunch of other categories I could have listed, but I felt that the ones listed above were the most important. If you're interested, the titles of the categories are here, just ask about it:

Spoiler:

Best Giant Robot; Best J-Pop Album; Best Video Game; Best Theatrical Release; Best DVD Feature; Best by Genre: Comedy, Mecha, Shojo, Sports, Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Best Fight; Fan Service Award; Best Moment; Best Action Figure; Best Death; Best TCG; Best Weapon; Best Reloading Method; Biggest Wuss; Best Long-Term Commitment; Best Headgear; Biggest Jerk; Most Depressing; and Best Kiss.

So what does everyone think? Did the winner that the Anime Insider crew chose truly deserve the award, or is there some other anime that was released (in America) this year that should take the cake?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

really.. for the U.S releases of anime of 2006 they are spot on
best manga/Series of the Year/Best Heroine are the ones i agree full heartedly

good that Gankutsuou won i thought it would be overlooked for sure

eh im interested in whats best Jpop album and best comedy plz

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Best J-Pop Album
FAITH- by HYDE

Spoiler:

The first album to hit the states by L'Arc-en-ciel's singer. Aside from the quality of the music, what really sets FAITH apart from other contenders is the extensive planning that went into it. The album, which HYDE carefully crafted with the support of veteren musicians from U.S. bands like Nine Inch Nails, The Cult, and A Perfect Circle, was even recorded in Enlish, not only making it more accessible for anime fans who dont speak Japanese, but increasing HYDE's potential for crossing over into the mainstream U.S. market.

Best Comedy
Hare+Guu

Spoiler:

This oddball story of a jungle boy and his adopted sister-a girl with an appetite so broad it literally created a dimensional portal in her stomach- is full of enough weirdness to delight anyone.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Props to Hare+Guu. I've been following it a while and getting the DVDs as they become available.

I do feel you when you mentioned Suncoast. We lost ours here, and Sam Goody, etc. Now some content is impossible to find without having to go online.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

So this is what, Best of 2005, 2004 in Japan, right.

How ya doing, buddy?

Correct. Suzumiya Haruhi would just sweep all the awards this year. Why lie.

Actually, I do feel the need to keep things up to date so I'll give it a shot. Since unbiased and fair awards lead to boring and predictable results, mine will be completely biased and completely unfair, which will be more controversial, and as such, more fun. Without further ado:

Best Show: Ouran High School Host Club

Spoiler:

Sorry to all of those who wanted Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu as #1, but this show managed to one-up it. TheFrenchLlama managed to sum it up well in his opening post, describing the series as a show "full of pretty boys looking gay, and often times acting gay too." Or as I prefer it, the premise of a bunch of bishies getting together to make a Bishie club so that they can act like bishies. I never thought such an idea could work so well but it has. In addition to all the bishie-ISM comedy, there are plenty of angsty moments for those of you who prefer DORAMA (mostly in dealing with each Host's past) which works really well combined with the comedy. The classical soundtrack also doesn't hurt it in nudging it over the the SOS-DAN either.

Best Show I haven't seen: Aria the Natural

Spoiler:

I've been watching Aria the Animation and so far, it's been a really awesome treat for something so laid back and well-done. All of the characters are brought out to life, each with their own personality quirks and the plot takes a leisurely pace with spectacular results. I'm expecting more of the same from the sequel since there's just no need to tamper with Aria's formula

Best Show that no one else has talked about: Le Chevalier D'Eon

Spoiler:

You'd think a series that revolves around a guy who's searching for his sister's killer in a history-laden time period (France under Louis XV) would get more attention. Especially if they threw in mystical alchemists. Especially if they threw in zombies. Especially if they threw in well-animated swordfights. Add to that an awesome plotline and an interesting cast of characters and you're pretty much guaranteed a top-notch show. Unfortunately, none of that was enough to generate much discussion on anime forums and catch the attention of most anime viewers. There is a topic on this show somewhere in GFF, but where its fans have run off to, no one knows.

Most overrated: Ergo Proxy

Spoiler:

So the series is dark, both in the setting and in the visuals. You can't see a damn thing about what's going on. It's also really confusing and mind boggling in some parts and insulting to my intelligence in others. The character designs look really cool and the premise showed a lot of promise in the beginning, but the crappy execution really took a lot from it and made a show that could have been awesome in the vein of the first Matrix movie into something so incomprehensible that a whole bunch of monkeys sitting at a typewriter banging away could come up with a better script.

Best ED: Suzumiya Haruhi no Yutsu

Spoiler:

Is Hare Hare Yukai have any serious competition for this award? You're talking a well-animated dance scene that grabs your attention after you see it and hooks you to the point of wanting to watch it over and over again. The fact that it spawned a Gundam stop-motion (I think that's what they're called) video and a load of live amateurs trying to recreate it's awesomeness is a testament to the sheer power of this show's ED.

Best Anime meme:UnderwaterRayRomano

Spoiler:

A picture is worth a thousand words:
Second place probably goes to Aruru saying "WRONG!" but since it's from the same EPIC series anyway, we can only say that UnderwaterRayRomano's ascent into meme-ism faces no challenges.

Worst Anime Season: Fall 2006

Spoiler:

When the best show of the season is just a remake, you know you're in for a load of trouble. That's not to say that Kanon (2006) isn't good; it totally is. However, that's the only show I can honestly look forwards to getting every week. Maybe it's the subbers for other shows like Le Chevalier D'Eon and Asatte no Houkou that are slow in getting stuff out as opposed to the actual quality of the series that are out right now. Either way, this has been a good time for me to watch older series that are awesome but that I haven't gotten around to yet.

Good Premise, Poor Execution: Fate/Stay Night

Spoiler:

So the idea revolves around a War of the Magi where mages duke it out with their summoned servants to obtain the Holy Grail that can grant anyone whatever he/she/it wishes. Add to that plenty of episodes to tell the story and you've got the groundwork for a series that can stand the test of time. Unfortunately, Tsukihime was able to do more with 12 episodes than F/SN was able to do with its 24. The storytelling could have been better and the mage vs. mage / servant vs. servant battles left a lot to be desired. The story's problem fell apart in that characters lacked the sort of motivation that someone partaking in a Royal Rumble should possess. I'm under the impression that these may be game-related impediments, but still, it could have been a lot better.

Best Unfinished Series: Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni

Spoiler:

We are still not privy to who is the killer and why the events happened the way it did. Who is this Oyashiro-sama and what does he/she want with Rika? Why does the asphyxiation incident happen in some arcs and not others? Aside from the yet-to-be-broadcasted answer arcs, this series has been nothing short of awesome with its creepy intro and leads the viewer to try to figure who or what is behind the incident. Oh yeah. Play the game. Everyone says it's better than the anime.

Before people start converging in with their tl;drs, I'll end it now. Congratulations to my list of winners and losers.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Everything the magazine voted for had to be anime that was released in American in 2006 in some form... for instance, we all know that Voltron was released in the 80s, but because a set of remastered DVDs were released this year, Voltron was voted the winner for Best Giant Robot. The magazine itself is a part of Wizard, so they had to stick to the anime on this side of the Pacific (they can't encourage kids to pirate anime, can they? After all, NO ONE does that already. )

Because of the lack of Suncoast this time around, I've fallen way behind on anime and only recently bought all of Samurai 7 (hooray for Christmas bonus splurges! ), so I can barely throw many of my own opinions in there. I have to question their choice for 'Best Sports' though:

Best Sports
IGPX

Spoiler:

Putting an end to the debate over whether racing's a real sport, IGPX perfectly captured the competitive air among the diverse teams gunning for first place in its futuristic, fast-track robot battles.

I have to wonder how biased they were about this one, an anime basically written over here in America, then sent to Japan to be animated. Sure, its awesome that Bandai and Cartoon Network worked together on it, but where the honorable mention for all those sport anime/manga that had the fangirls giggling, like Prince of Tennis, Whistle!, or Eyeshield 21? I'm not a big fan of any of them, but Prince of Tennis at least made some sort of visible impact. I haven't noticed any huge fans of IGPX. But that could just be me.

FELIPE NO

I was thinking of creating a thread with the same name but with a different purpose. I hope there isn't a problem if I try to make it work here, because it is quite similar ...

Now that the year of 2006 has ended it would be a good time to remember those good animes we saw during the whole year.

What I propose is for us to share the favorite shows we've seen this past year.
It could be a Top 5 or 10, or just a single name, as long as you've seen the anime or at least part of it.
We could also mention the ones we didn't like, maybe even caring to explain why (but nothing too complex).

Just as same mentioned above, my favorite of this year was Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu. I'll mention my other favorites but in no order

. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
. School Rumble Ni Gakki
. Ergo Proxy
. Fate/Stay Night
. Black Lagoon

For me one little disapointment was Tsubasa Chronicle Season 1 (haven't watched the second yet). It wasn't bad but I think I was expecting so much of it and it ended up not being that good.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Considering the fact I've only watched a measly 2 series in 2006, my choices are very very slim, haha.

--

THE EXTRA SHORT LIST

Digimon Savers
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni

--

Luckily, both series are good. It's rare that I find a show and stick with it 'cause most don't seem to interest me at all, but KrazyTaco told me that the show had kawaii anime girls getting bashed in with bats and other implements(sp?), so I just had to watch it. Then I got hooked.

Savers is still running, but it's one of the better seasons in Digimon. It doesn't match up to Tamers, my personal favourite, but compared to the likes of Frontier and Zero two, it's a big step above them. It's funny but also a tad dark and gritty, which is cool.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Hrm... I’ve been loathe to check out Gankutsuou, partially a time related thing and also because I really liked the original story (I read it as a graphic novel, but still…), and didn’t want to spoil one of the great revenge stories. Oh well… have more time now!

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Pez

Hrm... I’ve been loathe to check out Gankutsuou, partially a time related thing and also because I really liked the original story (I read it as a graphic novel, but still…), and didn’t want to spoil one of the great revenge stories. Oh well… have more time now!

Because it was voted Best Series by Anime Insider this year, I'd say go for it. I know that its the next series I'm going to pick up. Their choice for Best Series last year was Samurai 7, which I'm currently watching, and its AMAZING. Samurai 7 was also a 'remake' of an older masterpiece... the Japanese movie The Seven Samurai. I'm loving it.

As for my tops, like my last post said, I haven't been able to see much this year (money going to college and eating and all that as opposed to anime), so I'll list what I can:

-Samurai 7 (Sure it was released last year, but it has to say something when my whole Christmas bonus went into buying the last 5 DVDs of the series.
-Chrono Crusade
-Bleach (I'm more familiar with the manga, but what I have seen of the anime has been pretty faithful.)

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Ah..This is the US anime best of 06'..Thought it was going to be international as well. Though I'm not too sure about Naruto being the best series of 06'. But hey, Rabid fans said so, so be it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I don't know about specific U.S releases and categories, but the best of 2006 to me are...

1. NHK ni Youkoso!
2. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
3. Blood+
4. Utawarerumono
5. Noein
6. Ergo Proxy
7. Black Lagoon

I'm counting for the ones that completed in 2006 too.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by CLOudkiller

Ah..This is the US anime best of 06'..Thought it was going to be international as well. Though I'm not too sure about Naruto being the best series of 06'. But hey, Rabid fans said so, so be it.

Technically, it wasnt best series of the year... Gankutsuou was. Naruto was best series fitted for TV... something about being a good series that would keep people watching, but also wouldnt be too confusing for the casual viewer. (And yes, the rabid fans scare me... seeing little kids walking around with headbands on, I can't help but think "Aw, and he probably thinks that the dub is GOOD!')

What I listed above was the best for the US, but we have also been talking international, so feel free to let us know what you think... I'm going to have alot of anime to look into after this thread.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Just a quick list in no particular order, I'll come back and work on it later.

The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi
Ouran High School Host Club
Honey & Clover 2
Zero's Familiar
Fate/Stay Night
Air Gear

Theres a few other series, but they still are not complete, so I'll wait till they finish and save them for next year.

FELIPE NO

DISCLAIMER: Please forgive me if I nominate something that's from a couple years ago or If I don't mention a really cool one. YouTube is my guide, and I haven't really watched much of the new stuff this year.


Best Anime Ever in the History of Mankind (ESPECIALLY in 2006): Ergo Proxy

Spoiler:

I mean, how often is it that you run into a show that has INTELLECT?? Something that is "on a higher level"? not just mindless violence, and not jumping into the story right away, Ergo Proxy has raised the bar for plot lines.

Spoiler:

who knew that vincent was a proxy from the beginning? I didn't! And who knew him and Proxy 1 were each other??? They covered everythng up so well!

Not only that, but it had freak out potential, too.

Least Talked About that Deserves something Really Big: Noein

Spoiler:

Yeah, so it's a good bit of science fiction, and a good bit "OMG wtf is happening???" but overall, it's a pretty good series

Quickest Wrap-up Ending: Noein

Spoiler:

It ended in, what?, 2 episodes? It's insane! It didn't even answer all the questions!

Most Awesome-est That Isn't on YouTube (so I haven't seen it yet...): Gankutsuou

Spoiler:

Like I said, i haven't seen it, but from what I've heard, I already like it.

Anime that steals the most characters: Noein

Spoiler:

Don't you think that it's strange that most everyone in this show reminds you of someone? Like Future Fujiwara reminds me of Iruka (right char. name??? haven't seen naruto in a while. DONT KILL ME!!), Yukie-Chan reminds me ALOT of Yukari in Azumanga Daioh, and Atori reminds me WAY TOO MUCH of Kim Possible! Perhaps because the whole theme was parallel universes so they're supposed to look like someone?

Anime that gives you the biggest headache: Ergo Proxy

Spoiler:

Do I have to explain??

Anime that makes you suffocate from laughing (I don't even think it's from this year, but I WATCHED it this year, so whatever): Azumanga Daioh

Spoiler:

"HAHAHAHA!" all the freakin way through. Why is it funny? I have no idea, but for some reason, it is...

Like I said, sorry.
Don't murder me in my sleep ok?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I'd like to know their pick for "best kiss". I'm kind of surprised that they had that.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Best Kiss? Oh, I remember this one... I have to agree with it!

Best Kiss
Naruto and Sasuke, from Naruto

Spoiler:

Naruto, jealous of Sasuke's top-of-the-class status, hops up onto his desk to stare down his rival. Losing his balance, he accidentally plants a kiss right on Sasuke. The resulting fangirl squeal was heard as far away as Antarctica.

I have to admit, this would get my vote simply because its not what one would expect for the category. And I'm not even a yaoi fan.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Most Crying in a Anime: Marmalade boy

Spoiler:

Miki cries all the time in this anime, when Yuu breaks up, when having a fight with Yuu, and even when there's a slight problem in her love life

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

BEST MORALE IN AN ANIME: ELFEN LIED

Spoiler:

Why did Lucy do all that stuff she did? It's because how she was treated by everyone around her when she was still a child. It's sad though, to know Lucy did all that because of her grudge.

BEST CRAZY STORY: SUZUMIYA HARUHI NO YUUTSU

Spoiler:

Do I have to explain? Watch it and experience the loony philosophy! Refreshing though...

How ya doing, buddy?