8daze's Anime
take a look at 8daze's Manga| Overlooked Anime▲▼ | Rating▲▼ |
| Best Student Council (TV) Practically unheard of when it got licensed (which has raised its name recognition only very slightly) this little series deserves so much more popularity than what it currently has. This is a good-spirited comedy series that's a bit off the wall, but never takes itself either too seriously or too lightly. While low-budget, it's well-handled and full of heart. Check it out when it gets to the States. | Very good |
| Dear Brother (TV) Not only an older series, it was never licensed and mostly distributed via VHS. And though it was aired in other countries, it was banned in France and Italy just over halfway through due to shocking content (which wouldn't be nearly as shocking to today's viewers). Taking all this into account, it's not surprising that the name Brother, Dear Brother is practically unknown to many people. But it deserves to be better known, if only for how it's influenced the shoujo drama shows of today. | Very good |
| Hataraki Man (TV) There was a lot of buzz for a lot of shows in the Fall 2006 season. Not this one. And that's truly a pity, because character-, animation-, and story-wise, this show is one of the better choices in the Fall line-up. It would be on the top half of my list were I to rank all the shows of 2006. | Very good |
| Lemon Angel Project (TV) Barely anyone has ever heard of this show, and its popularity isn't helped by the fact that the subbers have stalled out at episode 7 (though it seems a new group has agreed to finish it). It also has an already limited appeal being a show about idols, but something about LAP stands out to me, even though I can't put my finger on what exactly. Maybe it's the backstory or the character designs or something else altogether, but this is a show I can't help but like. It may not be the best anime ever, but it deserves more viewers than it's gotten. | Very good |
| Patapata Hikōsen no Bōken (TV) "Secret of Cerulean Sand" | |
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Red Garden (TV) Talk about shows overlooked in 2006! This could very well be my favorite show out of the entire (rather large) Fall line-up. And yes, I have seen Death Note. I still like Red Garden better. The animation may, admittedly, drive some people nuts, as it holds a distinctly Gonzo-ish style (and a lot of interesting noses). Personally, I like it. What helps Red Garden the most though is its plot and the way that plot is handled. It's somewhat of a mix of the mystery and psychological genres, not revealed to the viewer immediately, but also not held back to the point that we get frustrated with not knowing what's going on. Even if it doesn't end up as good as it started, Red Garden still deserves a whole lot more buzz than it's received. In a season jam-packed with shounen shows, this one stands out as something different and refreshing. Worth at least a look. |
Excellent |
| Tona-Gura! (TV) It's fairly standard slightly-ecchi comedy fare, but it hasn't gotten the same amount of notice that similar shows have. Why? Perhaps because it's unlikely to ever be licensed and the fansubs are moving quite slowly. Even so, it does provide some laughs, and it's good light humor. Worth a watch if you have free time. | Good |