It's hard to believe that 2006 was two decades ago. The anime landscape has changed a lot over the years, with different series, genres, and trends all reaching different levels of popularity. What's popular now doesn't reflect what anime fans were enjoying at the start of the century.
One look at some of the most notable anime from 2006 will show you just how much things have changed in the years since. With so many new anime coming out every season and every year, it's natural that people will forget or overlook most of what is released. These great series from 2006 just don't get as much buzz as they used to, and it's a shame.
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Welcome to the N.H.K.
Welcome to the N.H.K. Was never the biggest anime out there, but it seems like it's become one of those series that the general anime fandom has completely forgotten about. The series follows a college dropout and recluse who blames his lifestyle on some sort of conspiracy spearheaded by Japan's largest public broadcaster, the NHK.
Though it seems like it could be a humorous premise, Welcome to the N.H.K. Actually does a great job of tackling themes of isolation, anxiety, and their effect on people. It's a great series that deserves way more recognition than it has, and something every anime fan should watch at least once.
The Familiar of Zero
The Isekai genre has dominated the anime, manga, and light novel landscape over the years. Some fans like these series, others are fatigued by the overwhelming number of them, and some just hate it altogether. If you fall into that last category, then you might not be a fan of The Familiar of Zero.
The series pretty much pioneered the Isekai genre, with it serving as an early template for the formula that we've come to know all too well, with fan fiction playing a big role in it as well. It's a classic 2000s series with all the tropes and elements you'd expect of an anime of that era. Maybe it's because there are just so many new Isekai coming out every year, but fans seem to have left the series in the past.
Higurashi: When They Cry
There was a time when Higurashi seemed like the biggest thing out there. Based on the sound novels by Ryukishi07 and 07th Expansion, Higurashi: When They Cry drew people in thanks to its incredible mystery, psychological horror elements, and incredible cast of characters. But the series is often remembered as a forgotten classic among modern anime fans.
With Ryukishi07 back in the spotlight for his work on Silent Hill f, fans might want to turn to the author's previous works to revisit or see more of what he has to offer. It looks like the polarizing Gou and Sotsu didn't do much to renew interest in the series, and while the anime isn't a perfect adaptation of the sound novels, it's still a fun series with some iconic moments that'll have fans feeling nostalgic.
Hell Girl: Two Mirrors
Horror and mystery anime just seem to be less popular today than they were years ago. While there seems to be a horror renaissance for movies, games, and even live-action TV, the same can't be said for anime. It might not have been the most popular series in the world when it came out, but Hell Girl was a recognizable and well-liked anime.
Looking back on it now, it's easy to see why the series was popular with fans of the genre. It had great atmosphere, and while it wasn't the scariest thing out there, Hell Girl had interesting stories presented in a mostly episodic format reminiscent of classic horror anthologies that came before it.
Fate/stay night
The Fate franchise is still going strong. When you consider the various anime adaptations, the games, manga, light novels, and remastered releases of Réalta Nua and hollow ataraxia, you can see just how much of a pop culture juggernaut it is. But while anime and manga fans haven't forgotten about the Fate series itself, there's a certain adaptation that everyone seems to overlook.
Ufotable's work adapting the Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven's Feel routes was nothing short of exceptional. The studio set a high bar, giving fans visually stunning adaptations that still hold up years later. But the success of those adaptations has caused many to overlook Deen's original adaptation of the visual novel. Like many VN adaptations, it's not perfect, and fans definitely have their issues with it, but it's still a fairly solid series that, sadly, has become overshadowed by the overwhelming success of what followed it.
Bartender
You'd think that the 2024 reboot would've given the series a bigger boost in popularity, but Bartender remains one of the more obscure anime gems out there. One of the few adaptations by the now-defunct Palm Studio, Bartender follows Ryuu Sasakura, a prodigy mixologist who knows exactly which cocktails to serve depending on the customer and their situation.
This one's a slow burn, with a cozy atmosphere and some great dialogue and character interactions. It might not be the most exciting series, but at 11 episodes, Bartender is a quick and enjoyable watch.
School Rumble: 2nd Semester
School Rumble was one of the funniest anime of its time, so it's sad to see that it's been relegated to the dustbin of anime history. A romantic comedy that relies heavily on old-school gag humor and a ton of misunderstandings, School Rumble might not have broken any ground, but it's a fun series with a lovable cast of characters.
There are tons of amazing comedy anime out there, from Nichijou to Gintama, Grand Blue Dreaming, and many more. With such stiff competition, it's easy to see how an older series like School Rumble would get left behind. Still, if you're looking for a comedy anime to binge, you won't want to skip this one.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
At one point in time, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was the biggest thing around. This is right in the era of ' Big 3' dominance as well. Even with One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach doing their thing, Haruhi still managed to make a massive cultural impact in both Japan and around the world. Clips of the anime were all over YouTube back in the day, and netizens even managed to solve an open math problem by trying to solve a watch order question relating to the anime.
Though the series and its legacy live on, modern fans just aren't all that familiar with Haruhi or the series' impact. The good news is that an entire generation of anime fans can discover the series and see what all the fuss was about way back when.
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