Best Drama Anime of 2006

In the year 2010, the Holy Empire of Britannia continues its expansion as a dominant military power, beginning with the conquest of Japan. After its swift defeat, Japan is renamed Area 11, and its people mount significant resistance against the oppressors in a bid for independence. Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian student, is caught in a crossfire between Britannian forces and Area 11's rebel fighters. He escapes thanks to the timely intervention of a mysterious girl named C.C., who grants him Geass, the "Power of Kings." Realizing the immense potential of this "power of absolute obedience," Lelouch sets out on a dangerous path as the masked vigilante Zero, leading a merciless campaign against Britannia to achieve final revenge.

Twenty-two-year-old Tatsuhiro Satou dropped out of college and has lived as a hikikomori for nearly four years. During his seclusion, he has developed a host of bizarre conspiracy theories, none stronger than his conviction that a secretive, malevolent organization called the Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai (NHK) is responsible for his NEK (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) condition and works to spread hikikomori culture. NHK ni Youkoso! is a psychological dramedy following Tatsuhiro's attempts to break free from the NHK's wicked schemes and the self-inflicted disease of isolation, all while struggling simply to leave his apartment and secure a job. His unexpected meeting with the enigmatic Misaki Nakahara may signal a turning point, but it comes at the price of confronting his greatest fear—society itself.

Two young women who share the same name leave their separate hometowns, driven by hopes for fresh starts. Both set their sights on Tokyo: Nana Komatsu dreams of a happy romance, while Nana Osaki chases a successful music career. The first Nana is bright and friendly, but her innocence has led her love life astray—until she finds a dependable boyfriend, Shouji Endo. Undeterred by his decision to move to Tokyo for school, she works hard to save money and follow him there. Her counterpart, meanwhile, is a solitary punk vocalist whose intense relationship with her band’s bassist, Ren Honjou, ends abruptly. Heartbroken but resolute, Nana Osaki looks ahead and journeys to the capital, determined to become a recognized artist. Soon after arriving in Tokyo, the two girls cross paths again through an unexpected twist of fate, ultimately ending up as roommates. As they grow closer, they strive to support each other through the challenges of forging their own futures.

Kimihiro Watanuki possesses the ability to see spirits and various supernatural beings, a troublesome gift he thoroughly despises. While walking home one day, harassed by spirits, he feels an inexplicable pull to enter a peculiar house. Inside, he meets Yuuko, a enigmatic woman who offers to free him from his ability to see and attract these bothersome creatures—but at a cost. She insists he work at her "shop," which fulfills people's wishes, and so Watanuki's journey through strange and wondrous occurrences begins.

Aizawa Yuuichi used to visit his cousin in the city frequently as a child, but a sudden event drove him away for seven years. When he finally returns, he has no recollection of that time. Settling into the snowy town, Yuuichi encounters a group of young women who are all linked to his forgotten past. As he builds friendships with them, the memories of his childhood start to gradually come back to him.

As Nanami Takahashi begins her first year of high school, she is optimistic about making plenty of new friends. She meets the timid Yuri Yamamoto and hears about a well-liked boy in their class, Yano Motoharu. Yuri holds a grudge against Yano because he once dated her older sister Nana, and Nanami initially finds his behavior unappealing as well. However, Nanami gradually develops feelings for Yano, and the two start spending more time together, eventually deciding to date. Their relationship faces obstacles, though: Yano has difficulty opening up to Nanami because his first girlfriend, Nana, passed away in a car accident the previous year, and she was with one of her ex-boyfriends at the time. Caught in the lingering influence of Yano's past with Nana, Nanami and Yano struggle to sustain their relationship through misunderstandings and heartache, all while holding onto their certainty of loving each other.

In the woods, a girl named Eruruu discovers an injured man whose origins are entirely unknown. He has no recollection of his past or even his own name, and she brings him to her home. There, Eruruu's grandmother and younger sister Aruruu give him the name Hakuoro. While the villagers possess large ears and tails, Hakuoro lacks both—his only defining trait is a mask he cannot remove. Soon after he becomes part of the community, a rebellion against the land's tyrannical emperor begins, and the conflict reaches his new home. Hakuoro must do everything he can to protect the people and village he has grown to love, all while uncovering the mysteries that shroud his past.

Nagisa Aoi transfers into St. Miator’s Girls Academy, one of three elite all-girls schools located on Astraea Hill. On her first day, she gets lost and crosses paths with a mysterious student whose captivating elegance and charm are so overwhelming that Nagisa ends up in the school infirmary. When she wakes up, her roommate Tamao Suzumi greets her and enthusiastically explains the campus's daily life and social hierarchy. Tamao tells Nagisa about a special student representative chosen from all three schools—the Etoile, meaning "star." Eager to meet this person, Nagisa discovers that the ethereal beauty she encountered earlier, Shizuma Hanazono, is the Etoile herself. Moreover, Shizuma shows an open interest in Nagisa! Their interactions quickly make Nagisa a hot topic around campus; yet despite being so drawn to Shizuma, Nagisa cannot shake the feeling that something is not quite right. Strawberry Panic! follows the everyday lives of Nagisa, Shizuma, and their friends at St. Miator’s, St. Spica, and St. Lulim as they face the challenges of relationships while confronting hidden feelings, lingering regrets, and new possibilities.

Masane Amaha and her daughter Rihoko are fleeing from a government child welfare agency determined to separate Rihoko from her mother. They are apprehended, and Rihoko is taken away. At the same time, Masane is attacked by an advanced weapon capable of disguising itself as a human. Confronted with the threat, a mysterious light emanates from her wrist, transforming her into a formidable entity. She destroys the weapon and, as a result, gets drawn into a power struggle among powerful organizations, all of which have their sights set on her. This is because she wields the ultimate power: the legendary Witchblade.

After traveling across Japan, Yuuta Takemoto looks back on his college experiences. He has grown a lot since his second year and feels ready to move ahead. With newfound confidence, he finally confesses to Hagumi Hanamoto, the girl he has loved since they first met. But Hagumi is still confused by her efforts to understand the enigmatic Shinobu Morita, who hides his own heavy burdens behind a playful facade. Meanwhile, Takumi Mayama has become a working adult and, as a friendly gesture, secures several pottery orders for Ayumi Yamada through his company. These five young people continue to struggle with their own challenges in school, work, love, and friendship, pushing each other toward the futures they are meant to find.

Syaoran, Sakura, Kurogane, Fai, and Mokona keep traveling across various worlds in their quest to recover Sakura's feathers. As they venture further, their destined journey gradually grows more complex, drawing them into increasingly perilous realms.

Tucked away in the back alleys of Ginza lies Eden Hall, a solitary bar run by Ryuu Sasakura—a legendary bartender renowned for crafting cocktails of unmatched quality. Yet Eden Hall is not a place one simply stumbles upon; instead, it is the bar that seeks out those in need. A diverse array of patrons, each burdened by their own personal struggles, find their way through its doors. Without fail, Ryuu knows exactly which cocktail will soothe their hearts and set them on the right path.

Ezaki Yuuichi is stuck in the hospital after catching hepatitis A, forced to stay away from his friends and family, which frustrates him. To fight his boredom, he often sneaks out of the facility, only to end up getting scolded or hit by his nurse. One day, he meets a girl his age who is also a patient there, and he is immediately drawn to her looks. However, Akiba Rika's personality is less appealing—she is selfish, moody, and bossy. Still, as they spend more time together, they grow closer, sharing the simple joys and challenges of a teenage romance, even as a dark cloud looms over them: Rika's illness means she doesn't have much time left.

Upon their first encounter, undefeated street brawler Masaru Daimon and rogue Digimon Agumon form an unlikely bond in the most straightforward manner for the two hotheaded individuals—by pummeling each other senseless. This self-proclaimed "ultimate team" gets enlisted by a covert government unit known as the Digital Accident Tactics Squad, or DATS, after officials witness the incredible sight of a human trading blows toe-to-toe with a Digimon. The squad's main mission is to look into strange incidents stemming from Digimon crossing over into the human world, and with Digimon popping up at an alarming frequency, a global emergency is underway. Carrying out various assignments for DATS, Masaru and Agumon partner up with young genius Touma Norstein and his Digimon partner Gaomon, as well as the gentle-hearted Yoshino "Yoshi" Fujieda and her Digimon partner Lalamon. As the team digs deeper into the rising number of Digimon appearing in their reality, a more sinister truth begins to emerge.

After their parents are killed, 11-year-old twin brothers Thor and Rai Klein are exiled from their home planet. They wake up on the terraformed world of Chimaera, where carnivorous plants thrive and the few human inhabitants are split into four factions called "Rings." They soon encounter a young man named Zagi, who explains that only the "Jyu Oh Sei"—the one who defeats all four Rings—can leave the planet. Determined to return home and uncover the truth behind his parents' murder, Thor resolves to endure Chimaera's brutal, unforgiving environment. But he quickly discovers that this strange ecosystem holds many hidden dangers. As Thor gets drawn into the political struggles between the Rings, he unravels more about his parents' deaths and, ultimately, the fate of all humanity.

Following the shutdown of the massively popular virtual reality MMORPG The World, its sequel, The World R:2, launches online. During his debut, the rookie player Haseo believes he has found companions for his adventures, only to have his avatar slain by them for amusement. He is rescued by Ovan, a enigmatic one-armed user who agrees to guide him through the game. Haseo spends a happy first year alongside Ovan and Shino, a cleric friend. However, tranquility is broken when Shino’s character is defeated by Tri-Edge, a notorious figure whose attacks leave victims in comas in the real world. Enraged, Haseo swears to hunt down and destroy Tri-Edge. Set during Haseo’s initial year in The World, .hack//Roots delves into the bonds he formed before Tri-Edge destroyed them.

Itou Keita, an ordinary guy, is startled when he receives an invitation to attend the elite Bell Liberty Academy. Troubled by the mystery behind it, he also finds himself distracted by the school's social dynamics. Surrounded by a sea of remarkable young men, Keita struggles to discover what makes him special and how he could possibly deserve to be treated as an equal by the boys of BL. Lacking any particular talent, why exactly has Itou been welcomed into this privileged world of the gifted and the beautiful? Along the way, he forms intense relationships with nearly everyone at the school, but he is especially drawn to the friendly, overly caring yet deeply mysterious classmate, Kazuki Endou.

Mizuho is shocked to learn from his grandfather’s will that he must enroll in the very same academy attended by his mother. The problem is that the institution is exclusively for girls. Fortunately, with assistance from his friend Mariya, Mizuho undergoes a transformation so convincing that he can successfully deceive everyone at the school.

Hazumu was a timid boy who found joy in tending to gardens, gathering herbs, and taking lengthy hikes through the mountains. He finally gathered the courage to confess his feelings to Yasuna, only to be rejected. Heartbroken, he wandered up Mt. Kashimayama, the site of their first meeting, to reflect on his emotions. After losing his way, he made a wish upon a shooting star and experienced a strange turn of events. Now a girl, she plunges back into social interactions and romance, only to discover that everything around her has shifted dramatically.

A girl dressed in white, Momo, holds a blunt but gleaming scythe. By her side is a winged black cat named Daniel. She carries the souls of humans, making her existence comparable to a "Death God" or "Shinigami." The moment this pale Death God touches the hearts of people, the world overflows with both kindness and sorrow.

A series of mysterious suicides has been occurring in New York. One morning, four high school girls wake up feeling dizzy and exhausted, unable to recall anything from the night before. At school, they discover that a classmate has committed suicide. Classes are canceled for the rest of the day, but instead of going home, the girls are drawn to a park by butterflies that only they can see. Suddenly, a man and a woman approach them, revealing that all four girls died the previous night.

The prolonged conflict between the Royal Empire and the Republic of Frost concluded three years prior. In the aftermath, with both countries struggling to rebuild, Alice L. Malvin commands the Pumpkin Scissors, an imperial army unit dedicated to humanitarian relief efforts. While aiding a village overrun by rogue troops, Alice encounters Randal Oland, a former soldier marked by scars and a troubled history, yet possessing a compassionate soul. Inspired by the Pumpkin Scissors' work, Randal accompanies them. During the ensuing battle, a strange blue lantern triggers a trance in Randal, granting him immense physical power that allows him to annihilate the opposition. Although Alice is unsettled by his terrifying transformation, she recruits him into her squad, believing his inherent gentleness will ensure he fits well within the team.

The peaceful, lush nation of Simulacrum is located on the planet Daikuuriku. Its survival depends on flying vessels known as Simoun and the sacred Sibylla pilots who operate them. These ships, fueled by ancient relics, are capable of performing Ri Maajon—devastatingly powerful abilities that can rip apart the sky itself. Aaeru, a strong-willed girl, enlists with the Sibylla priestesses at Chor Tempest, hoping to one day fly a Simoun. However, not long after she joins, Simulacrum is thrust into conflict as rival nations desperately seek to seize the technology for themselves. Believing the Simoun are essential to averting catastrophe, these endangered countries view them as the only way to save their homelands from ruin. Now forced to battle their enemies and cope with personal tragedies, the young women of Chor Tempest must adapt to their circumstances if they wish to uncover the secrets at the core of their country: the Simoun and the Ri Maajon.

Living in poverty, detective Kurou Daijuuji is approached by Ruri Hado of the Hado Financial Group to find a specific magical tome. Although he initially declines, the promise of a substantial financial reward convinces him to take the job. During his search, Kurou encounters Al, a beautiful young woman who is secretly a potent grimoire. The two form a pact, granting Kurou access to formidable magical abilities. Shortly after, Al awakens Demonbane, a massive deus ex machina belonging to the Hado Financial Group, to fight against the mechanical forces of the Black Lodge. This confrontation marks the beginning of the conflict between the Hado Financial Group and the Black Lodge.

Kirari Tsukishima is a 14-year-old beauty with an enormous appetite, whose thoughts are always consumed by food rather than idols or the entertainment world. Her obsession with eating makes her completely oblivious to romance. One day, after rescuing a turtle stuck in a tree, Kirari meets a kind and handsome boy named Seiji, who gives her a ticket to a concert by SHIPS, a popular idol group, as thanks for saving his pet. Kirari rushes off to the concert, but on the way she runs into another boy who tears up her ticket and warns her to stay away from Seiji, claiming she and Seiji belong to different worlds. Furious, Kirari sneaks into the concert anyway, only to discover that Seiji and the boy who tore her ticket—named Hiroto—are both members of SHIPS. Finally grasping what "different worlds" means—Seiji is a famous idol while she is just an ordinary middle school student—Kirari refuses to back down. Determined to be with Seiji, she declares that she will become an idol herself.

After spending 15 years confined in a research facility, brothers Naoto and Naoya Kirihara finally break free when the psychic barrier isolating them from the outside world dissolves. Their parents abandoned them out of fear over their supernatural abilities, and now the siblings hope to live ordinary lives. Yet they soon find themselves compelled to use their powers to protect others as "minus energy" spreads across the globe and psychic-related crimes become more common. Mastering their abilities and employing them for good will be difficult: Naoya is haunted by his mind-reading power, while Naoto has caused harm to those close to him due to his unstable psychokinesis. With assistance from the enigmatic Shouko Futami, who can foresee the future, the Kirihara brothers must thwart a mysterious organization apparently connected to the dangerous incidents involving gifted individuals.

Amaumi Haruhiko is a high school student attending Shimano Academy in the town of Narasakicho, which is perpetually watched over by a mysterious rainbow. This rainbow is tied to a magical wish known as "Gift," a one-time present that can be exchanged between two people. Haruhiko grew up close with his childhood friend Kirino, but his life changed when he gained a new stepsister named Riko. He formed a strong bond with her, but they were sadly separated when Haruhiko's father could no longer afford to care for both children. After some time passes, Riko returns to Narasakicho, and along with Kirino, she begins attending Shimano Academy alongside Haruhiko. The story follows the relationships between these main characters, gradually uncovering the truth behind both the Gift and the rainbow.

In 2010 AD, simultaneous Hyper Hurricanes across the globe caused catastrophic destruction. Five billion people perished, reducing the world population to three billion. Existing economies and military forces were annihilated. Nations were buried under ice, plains submerged beneath oceans, and the world was transformed beyond recognition. Human civilization descends into an era of chaos. Poverty thrives outside designated economic zones, with slums spreading widely. The ruling class, calling themselves Logos, maintain their power through military force. They label the poor as Revenus, exiling them to live outside the special economic areas. Time moves forward. Katsuragi Jo and Tsurasawa Jin escape from Phantom—an organization established to monitor the Revenus and suppress rebellious elements among the Logos—taking with them a mysterious girl, Nobuto Sana. Many individuals pursue her, each driven by their own motives.

Hiroko Matsukata is employed at a magazine publisher and pours everything into her job. Known as a tough, no-nonsense career woman, she can switch into what she calls "Hataraki man" (working man) mode at will. But for all her professional success, Hiroko's romantic life is a mess. She's a hard worker, but she'd cut out early at a moment's notice to go on a date. Unfortunately, her boyfriend is an even bigger workaholic than she is.

Karada Iokawa, about to start junior high school, is a cheerful and reliable girl who absolutely hates being treated like a child. After her parents die, her older brother Hiro returns from studying abroad to take care of her. His ex-girlfriend Shouko Nogami, a composed but occasionally childish and stubborn young woman, follows him to Japan to find out why he left her. The atmosphere between the two girls is strained, culminating in Shouko calling Karada childish. Later, Karada prays at a shrine to grow up, unaware that the shrine’s wishing stone will grant her wish. As Karada ages, Shouko, who happens to be nearby, becomes a child again. With their ages now swapped, Shouko and Karada must learn to get along with each other and ultimately with themselves.

Eleven-year-old Sara Werec's older brother, Ralph, was deployed to the front lines of an interstellar conflict 130 light-years away, and she promised herself that one day she would stand beside him as a fellow soldier. Five years later, Sara is enrolled at the Grapera Space Armed Soldier Academy, training to become a Reasoner—the pilot of an advanced weapons platform known as a "Strain." When enemy forces launch a sudden assault on the academy, Sara engages in combat against another Strain that swiftly overwhelms her. After disabling her craft, the pilot reveals himself to be her brother Ralph. He slaughters all the other students and destroys the school before disappearing, leaving Sara to doubt everything she once believed. Soukou no Strain follows Sara as she resumes her training under a different identity, now resolved to confront her brother and understand the reasons behind his actions.

Haruma Kawagoe grew up as an only child. Many years ago, around Christmastime, his mother suffered a miscarriage of the baby who would have been his little sister. That night, a young Haruma knelt and sincerely prayed: "Please make my mother healthy again, and please give me a little sister." As time passed, Haruma all but forgot that prayer. But Santa did not forget... one Christmas, when Haruma least expects it, he receives an unusual gift—his sister.

Filiel's fifteenth birthday brought her mother's necklace as a keepsake from her stubborn astronomer father. Her ordinary, monotonous existence shifted into a world of intrigue and schemes. This new life sets the stage for countless adventures.

Kazuhiro Uchida is reassigned to a rescue base in a small town while undergoing training to become a fighter pilot. At first, he has a negative view of his new role, frustrated by the tough missions and strict guidance from his superiors. Yet as his training progresses, he gradually comes to embrace the job and becomes a genuine member of the rescue team.

With enough money, anything can be bought, so there's no need to wait for a needed organ to become available. Ray was raised to be a donor and had already lost her eyes before being saved by the rogue surgeon Black Jack. A decade later, she has become a surgeon herself. Thanks to the unique artificial eyes she received as replacements, she is renowned for performing incredible medical operations that no one else would dare attempt. However, only a select few know that her surgical work is only part of a larger mission: to uncover the fate of the other children she grew up with, and to track down the men who took the eyes she was born with, bringing them to justice.

This is not a direct sequel to the original Black Jack. Black Jack investigates the conspiracy behind the bomb-field accident that killed his mother, while uncovering secrets of the Organization and Project "Noir" — a project in which his father and other renowned doctors were involved.

This synopsis presents an alternate Tokyo, one painted in a different shade. Within this version of the city, multiple tribes exist: the SARU from Musashino, the WU-RONZE of Bukuro, and the HANDS of Shindyuku. These are young men inhabiting the urban landscape, where modern society constructs a dwelling out of corruption. The narrative portrays these youths living on the grim fringes of life, a sphere labeled "reality."

A young girl named Ange is called to a Sacred Land, where she is selected as the Legendary Etoile—a role meant to rescue the newly formed Cosmos of the Holy Beast, which has recently plunged into peril. Supported by nine Guardians, each wielding the power of one of nine elements, she sets out on a quest to restore the dying land of the Holy Beast and find her own true self.

In dreams, people reveal their deepest wishes and emotions within the mind, but when those intense feelings spill into reality, a dream can become an uncontrollable nightmare. Sisters Touko and Rinko are "yume tsukai"—dream users—whose duty is to handle such nightmares. Armed with toys as weapons, they must destroy the nightmare and return the dream to its original owner before any serious harm is done. Fear not, for Touko and Rinko are here!

Lemon Angel was once Japan's most famous female band, but after their breakup, most members disappeared. When a music producer plans to revive Lemon Angel, ordinary high school student Tomo Minaguchi is asked to audition. She is unaware of the secrets surrounding the original band.

In the year AD 3567, humankind has lost its once-thriving civilization, now surviving amid the wreckage of the past. Though their lives are constantly endangered by the Gardeners—mysterious unmanned mobile weapons of various ranks sent from the Moon—brave teenagers must become Gardener hunters to make a living. And while the broader human civilization has collapsed due to high-tech maintenance-free technology, some portions of the remaining cities still operate in limited ways, providing support to the people living there. One fateful day, Tokito Aizawa meets a girl named Tea, awakening a power far older and more formidable than the Gardeners, and inadvertently opening the door to a potentially much brighter future for the remainder of humanity.

Following a short vacation spent at their respective homes, the Strahl candidates return to Rosenstolz Academy, their prestigious boarding school. Upon their arrival, they encounter a number of surprises, including a new headmaster whose policies are not necessarily favorable to the main characters.

Second season.

The enduring connection between political and corporate spheres remains strong, as politicians and government officials exploit their authority for personal financial gain. Zaizen Jotaro is an investigator authorized to apply unconventional, extralegal tactics to pursue those who abuse their power.

The biggest worry of ordinary high school girl Li Mengling is that she has always been just that: an ordinary girl. Until one day, an unusual magical fairy Anne appeared in front of her and allowed her to realize her dream of being a super-powered beauty queen after she falls asleep every day. <br><br>

Step into the Arari Show and get acquainted with its host, Mr. Arari, a highly energetic entertainer skilled at energizing any crowd. Have you ever wished to discover more about Korean culture, language, and daily life? Pick up useful words and expressions while being delighted and amused? Then join the three foreign guests—Michael, Jenny, and Lala—as they navigate their experiences in a culture vastly different from their own.