aloe, dream

I really like seeing the takes of other bloggers running down their lists for 2006; really fun! I myself don’t feel competent enough to bring anything grand or new to the table, but I would like to remember my lust of the animation in 2006.

I’m going to lay it out honestly. I had very little clue about the anime blogging world until summertime [2006], and even then the only two blogs that I could surely identify were Memento and Random Curiosity. That’s probably why I didn’t “get” the enjoyment of following currently airing anime. There is always that wonderment of how the next episode will be, but its a different story when seeing the development bloggers perspect while experiencing a season. In short, I was never one to gobble the seasons’ greetings, yet inadvertantly I did begin this process in the spring, via two Haruhi (Fujioka and Suzumiya). Yet my tale of 2006 doesn’t start there, and so I’ll have to briefly recall my anime-lust between January and March.

The early part of the year I can say I didn’t take to much anime watching; I was probably reading manga more than watching anime. I did have some stuff to catch up on. So somewhere between January and April I watched and finished sCRYed, Champloo, School Rumble (read the manga before), FMP!TSR, Midori no Hibi, Chrno Crusade, and Tenkuu no Escaflowne. Yea, some elder material here, but I haven’t been a serious watcher the past year or two, and I only had one other previous strong spurt where I watched series after series (summer 2004, and the first of that line-up was Neon Genesis). So at the same time while watching the tail end of these the spring season was in full effect, and I was catching on. For some reason, I usually had the latest stuff if it looked good, but I was dammed for not watching it. So I made a pact with myself that I wanted to get more into the mix and gandered upon the Haruhi (plural?).

Springtime really had me with only two series (regretably so few), Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu and Ouran Koukou Host Club,but they’re fantastic. So I kept up with these and still took it upon myself to continue on my quest/pile of unwatched maddness. Sadly, I really didn’t feel the hype of a new season when summer came about. Strange? Not really, because the seasonal thing was truely unapparent to me, but I did happen to catch some exciting shows of the summer (Muteki Kanban Musume, Zero no Tsukaima). Summer was it! I think I was watching more shows at one period than ever before, and they were all seasonal, and after a few weeks I flocked to the anime blogging world, and yaay, I finally caught on [to the seasonal effect]. (Short story short) Though I was still watching elder stuff, ie Azumanga, which if I had an erasable marker I’d put a big HEART right on my LCD over it.

With that explained, I think its a no guess to my current position. I’m watching 11 fall shows, probably 2-3 summer shows, but still have a marvelous backlog. I will surely finish a couple other series before this year ends, but I’m really hoping to finish Shakugan no Shana, H+CII, and Mushishi, since they were from 2006. Though, I can’t ponder anything else I’m really excited to experience from 2006 [and that has been completely subbed]. I’ll just have to check my wishlist on anidb. Here’s my the “Completed in 2006″ list (in order of completion):

• sCRYed
• Samurai Champloo
• School Rumble
• FMP! The Second Raid
• Midori no Hibi
• Chrno Crusade
• Tenkuu no Escaflowne
• Shingetsutan Tsukihime
• Eureka seveN
• Noein
• Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
• Speed Grapher
• Azumanga Daioh
• Kino no Tabi
• Kidou Senshi Gundam: Dai 08 MS Shoutai
• Zero no Tsukaima
• Ouran Koukou Host Club
• Haibane Renmei
• Kamisama Kazoku
• Hachimitsu to Clover
• Muteki Kanban Musume
• Fate/Stay Night
• Black Lagoon
• Mai-HiME
• Rec
• Shinigami no Ballad
• Zegapain

Notables
Come Hercule: FMP!TSR

Favorite character: Sagara Sosuke
Backed with well defined story, technology, familiarity, lovable characters, ツンデレ Kana-chan, KyoAni animation, why not? And those twins! Very strong show, but it has its predicessors to build on. I’d say strongest without previous screentime would be Yuuutsu, with its brilliantly mixed order, visuals, and aliens, espers, and time-travellers. Though, I feel Ouran was more enjoyable to watch *shurggs* (for 2006).

The Ab-Ripper: Azumanga Daioh

Favorite character: Takino Tomo [or younger version Tanizaki Yukari]
Ok, I probably had 6+ miniature heart attacks with Azumanga Daioh! Sukuran very close second and Muteki Kanban is a good mention.

Almost Chocolate: Hachimitsu to Clover

Favorite character: Yamada Ayumi
Hey, it’s really honey! Friendship is displayed very sweetly in HtC, something that really made it enjoyable; quite refreshing.

Out for a stroll: Asatte no Houkou

Favorite character: Nogami Shouko
This one is definitely in the strolling club. Not finished, but I love the pace and feel. Why on Earth was it not aired over summer?! Haibane Renmei could have filled this spot, but it was a bit slow at times. The one that should be here I only read a few manga volumes… and that would be the Aria series.

That’s sad. Don’t you think that’s sad: Fate/stay Night

Favorite character: Tohsaka Rin
Tough one between F/sN, Shingetsutan, and Chrno. It really comes down to the loved pairings, or female leads.

Technicality Gazoo: Noein

Favorite character: Karasu
When the series is making up quantum physics as they go, but it sounds good, and even throws in a Schrodinger’s Cat example. Yeah.

RAWR!: Black Lagoon

Favorite character: Revy
I was totally suprised by the overall appeal. I didn’t really know what to expect, but its won me over very well. Great characters.

Lewis and Clark: Samurai Champloo

Favorite character: Mugen
It’s an adventure! There are quite a lot of good aspects to Champloo. The adventure strikes me mostly because of the setting in 16th or 17th century Japan.

So I guess those are my categories of 2006. I may have some issues grouping and choosing between 2006 anime and those from previous years (though I viewed them in 2006), but its ok, because the yearly thing only stands for a short time; comparing anime from 2004-2006 is valid, and I don’t think there is reason to differentiate.

*sighs* One large interest of 2006, imo, was ツンデレ, especially with the likes of Suzumiya Haruhi, Shana, and Louise with a long name (aka Shana II) and I think a couple others. Truthfully, Haruhi blows the other two away in terms of tsundere, but I feel that is it fantastic to be able to spot this characteristic, yet still make the flavor out. ツンデレ has flavour! Naturally it is easy to see the differences in characters, but when they have that tsundere thing going they compare quite well, and really it makes telling the differences more enjoyable. (The only use of this, I’ve found is to tell which flavour of ツンデレ I like best) 2006 ツンデレ yaay!

Damn, I think I’ll wrap this up. Oh btw, Merry Christmas! It’ll be Christmas tomorrow so that will be nice; holidays are great right? I don’t think I’d change any of my chosen experiences, as I’m quite content, but I’m extremely glad this year I’ve streamed into the seasonal anime niche (I quite enjoy it!). Whooo! 2007 I’m ready, 2006=Love. 2007 should be no different.

Happy Holidays!

Ryan A