Best Fantasy Anime of 2006

After a mysterious fire kills his family, Shirou is rescued and adopted by Kiritsugu Emiya, who trains him in magic and the path of justice. Years after Kiritsugu's death, Shirou is cleaning the school one night when he gets caught in the middle of a deadly clash between two superhuman beings known as Servants. While trying to flee, he is caught by one of the Servants and sustains a life-threatening wound. Miraculously, he survives, but the same Servant returns to finish him off. In desperation, Shirou summons his own Servant—a knight named Saber. Now the two must take part in the Fifth Holy Grail War, a battle royale among seven Servants and the mages who summoned them, with the supreme prize being the all-powerful Holy Grail itself. Fate/stay night follows Shirou as he struggles to find the thin line between hero and killer, his ideals clashing with the harsh reality around him. Will the boy become a hero like his adoptive father, or die trying?

Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière is a proud mage in a world defined by wands, cloaks, and nobility. She attends the esteemed Tristain Academy for mages but fails at casting spells correctly, earning her the mocking nickname "Louise the Zero" from her classmates. During the required first-year familiar summoning ritual, Louise's attempt produces a massive explosion. Everyone dismisses it as another failure, but when the smoke clears, Saito Hiraga appears. He is treated like a slave, forced to clean Louise's clothes and eat off the floor. However, a strange mark resembling the legendary familiar Gandalfr appears on his hand, hinting that he is no ordinary summon. In this wild, adventurous, and explosive tale, Saito must adapt to his new life while Louise discovers she is far more than her humiliating nickname suggests.

The pain of losing a loved one can be so overwhelming that some wish they could bring them back—a vulnerability the mysterious Millennium Earl exploits. He creates his mechanical weapons, called "Akuma," by summoning the souls of the dead. Once a soul is trapped inside an Akuma, it is imprisoned forever, and the only way to save it is to exorcise it from its vessel using the Anti-Akuma weapon known as "Innocence." After spending three years as General Cross's disciple, Allen Walker is sent to the Black Order—an organization made up of those who fight Akuma and the Millennium Earl—to become an official Exorcist. With an arm as his Innocence and a cursed eye that can see the suffering souls within an Akuma, it is up to Allen and his fellow Exorcists to stop the Millennium Earl's ultimate plan: one that could lead to the destruction of the world.

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.

After concluding his journey through the Hoenn region, Satoshi sets off for Sinnoh to continue his quest to become a Pokémon Master. No sooner does he arrive than Team Rocket makes another failed attempt to steal Pikachu, but this time Pikachu ends up lost deep in a forest, forcing Satoshi to search for him. Along the way, he reunites with Takeshi, a Pokémon breeder who has accompanied him through multiple regions, and meets his future rival, Shinji, a trainer obsessed with power who shows little regard for his Pokémon's emotions. While still looking for Pikachu, Satoshi spots a powerful electric attack in the distance and rushes over to find Pikachu alongside Team Rocket and Hikari, a novice trainer striving to become the top Pokémon coordinator. After thwarting Team Rocket's scheme, Satoshi is reunited with Pikachu, and Hikari decides to join their group. Thus, Satoshi and his companions embark on their adventure through the vibrant Sinnoh region.

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.

The world is home to two races: Black Bloods and Red Bloods—vampires and humans. Long ago, they stood side by side in a crusade against a common, powerful enemy. Now, a decade later, Jirou Mochizuki, a vampire war hero known as the "Silver Blade," journeys to the Special Zone alongside his younger brother Kotarou. This zone is a haven where vampires and humans coexist peacefully. But their arrival is soon threatened when violence breaks out between vampire migrants and human forces from the Special Zone. As an old enemy stirs a deepening conspiracy, Jirou must rely on his new ally, Mimiko "Compromiser" Katsuragi, and the strength of his ancient bloodline to defend what matters most to him.

Shuurei Kou is a bright young woman from a noble but impoverished family. She dreams of becoming a government official to serve her country, but this path is closed to her because women are not allowed to hold such positions. While her father works a low-paying job as a palace archivist, Shuurei takes on various odd jobs to support their household. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a surprising summons. Shuurei is called to assist Ryuuki Shi, the new emperor, who is notorious for neglecting his duties and preferring the company of men. Drawn by the generous payment offered, she agrees to serve as the young emperor's consort for six months. Fortunately, she has support from Seiran Shi, her loyal friend, who joins her as Ryuuki's bodyguard. As Shuurei works to turn the irresponsible emperor into a capable ruler, she must navigate the complexities of court life and politics, facing numerous challenges along the way. Set in a fictional kingdom, Saiunkoku Monogatari explores the concept of meaningful leadership, the difficulties it entails, and the rewards that come with a thriving nation.

A reimagining of the Negima anime featuring a completely original plot. Though wizard Negi Springfield is still a boy, he has a grown-up mission on his hands! Fresh out of the Academy of Magic, Negi continues his apprenticeship as a teacher at Mahora Academy in Japan. But before he can earn his master's degree in sorcery, the 31 schoolgirls of Class 3-A will keep him up all night studying for a final test of sheer willpower. Temptation aside, Negi's syllabus includes more than just flirtation and magic. Shadows are closing in, and Negi will need help from his lovely students to drive the ghouls away from their school. These girls want to prove they're the top of the class, and extra credit awaits those cuties who aren't afraid of after-hours phantom battles!

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.

In a grim future, two companions yearn for liberty—and end up with far more than expected! Impulsive Zed flees from the law, while his clever friend Noah contends with his own frail physique. Both stumble into a mystical realm that promises escape and unimaginable strength. Follow Zed and his fierce, defiant spirit Amir Gaul as they quest for the ultimate power. It's an energy capable of rescuing the world—or annihilating all existence. Welcome to the world of KIBA! Where you must channel your inner might and battle with everything you have!

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.

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.

A heavenly being descends into the underworld, and a tyrant rises from dormancy, all while penguins abound. What chaos is this? Flonne, an assassin angel in training, sets out to eliminate the demonic Overlord. However, her clumsy nature leads her to awaken Laharl, the rightful heir and demon lord, from a two-year slumber. Together with Etna, Laharl’s disloyal subordinate, and her legion of explosive souls disguised as penguins, they must bring stability to the fracturing Netherworld. Drawing from Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Makai Senki Disgaea chronicles Laharl’s quest to crush the rebellion, retake his throne, and eliminate any obstacles. Alternatively, he might simply allow them to accompany him if they choose. Despite his reputation as a demon lord, one might wonder if he is truly incapable of showing kindness, compassion, or love.

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.

Ayumi Mamiya, a witch, is under a curse that will cause her to lose her magical abilities, and only one particular boy can break this spell. Haruo Yoshikawa believes himself to be an ordinary boy, but he remains unaware that his three sisters possess magical powers, which they use to shield him and keep him oblivious to the existence of magic. Now Ayumi must awaken Haruo's dormant powers to save herself, but his sisters are determined to prevent that from happening.

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.

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!

The struggle for control over a unified Japan, the Sengoku Era, has ended with the Toyotomi army emerging victorious. Toyotomi allows his rival Tokugawa to live, but after that final battle, an evil ayakashi named Yasha reveals to Tokugawa that according to history, he should have won the war instead of Toyotomi. Tokugawa accepts the dark power that Yasha offers him. The only one who can stop Tokugawa from ruling Japan and killing Princess Kaguya—who holds the key to this alternate present—is Musashi Miyamoto, a young and headstrong man who follows the way of "Gun-do," a style that blends swordfighting with gunplay.

Ages ago, a realm existed where both magic and science flourished. Fearful of humanity's potential, God divided this world into two separate domains: the scientific world of Elde and the magical world of Fandavale. In Fandavale, a wicked witch named Cendrillon (Cinderella) awakens. She schemes to conquer both worlds and seeks the "key"—a source of immense power. In Elde, a young boy named Sōta encounters a mysterious girl from Fandavale, Akazukin, together with her talking wolf companion, Val. Sōta discovers that he himself is the key Cendrillon is after. Now Akazukin, Val, and the rest of the Fairy Musketeers must protect Sōta from Cendrillon and her Nightmarelians, who seek to claim the enigmatic power he holds.

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.

A continuation of Onegai My Melody.

After Yoshinaga Futaba claims first prize in a lottery, the reward is revealed to be a stone gargoyle. Even more unexpectedly, this gargoyle is actually alive.

Life on his small island home offers Sanshirou no hope of excitement until a stranger summons him to a bizarre realm to compete in BakéGyamon, a battle of monsters. He soon discovers that other participants are driven by the promise of a wish for the champion. However, Sanshirou faces a daunting challenge as his partners turn out to be nothing more than small clumps of mud.

A malicious monkey named Specter flees from a circus, wielding a mind-control device that boosts his intelligence and grants him power over other monkeys. A professor summons Kakeru to catch every monkey, especially the one in charge: Specter.

The Inuyama Family, accompanied by their pet dog Tetsunoshin, relocates from Kyushu to the prestigious Hoppongi Hills, which is modeled after Roppongi Hills. Rumi Inuyama’s father runs an IT company in Japan and is on the verge of achieving the top spot in his industry. However, Tetsunoshin discovers that his master’s family has taken on a massive loan to afford their new home in Hoppongi Hills, pushing the entire company to the brink of bankruptcy. The situation deteriorates further as the family’s extravagant spending habits exacerbate Tetsunoshin’s concerns. In an effort to resolve this financial crisis, Tetsunoshin allies with the Hills Dogs and vows to do whatever it takes to cover all of the Inuyama Family’s expenses.

With the aid of a forest fairy, Kitty and Mimmy discover the Apple Forest. The fairy kingdom greets them as the "Twin Heroines" and requests their help in rescuing the princess. The key to the rescue is a golden apple, and thus the sisters' adventure commences.

Akubi-chan is a cute magical girl. She is skilled at magic, able to transform into any shape by tapping a tambourine, and can make any dream or wish come true. Normally, Akubi-chan stays inside a vase, but when Ruru-chan—the vase's owner—yawns (akubi), Akubi-chan pops out. Ruru-chan is in first grade at elementary school, but she is a little precocious and secretly has a crush on her classmate Itoshi-kun, who lives next door. Akubi-chan uses various magic to help them become good friends, but she always fails. Yet for her best friend Ruru-chan, Akubi-chan comes out of the vase and taps the tambourine to play Cupid.

Competitions featuring KabutoBorgs have grown so popular that they now host global tournaments. Ryuusei, the protagonist, is a devoted fan of these contests. Together with his companions Katsuji and Ken, he keeps battling against fresh opponents on a daily basis.

The next chapter in the Bikkuriman series follows Genki Seihikari and his friends as they set out on an adventure to rescue the seven gods of the White Galaxy.

Saru Getchu: On Air sequel.

A boy named Yuto visits Qinghai in China and becomes caught up in a conflict among time travelers, resulting in him being sent back to the Silk Road of the past. These travelers are searching for a mysterious treasure called the statue of Yuki Daruma Taishi, rumored to grant miracles. As Yuto witnesses historical events and meets famous figures like Yang Guifei and Xuanzang, he gains many new insights. Will he ever find a way back to the present?

Kyungyas, beings from the vegetable kingdom, arrive at the Kyungya Restaurant. Their goal is to encourage children to eat more vegetables and shield them from greasy, instant meals. However, far from achieving their objective, the Kyungyas struggle to prevent the restaurant from going bankrupt. This difficulty stems from Onion Kyungya's experimental cooking. His curiosity creates conflicts with Celery Kyungya, who manages the Kyungya restaurant. How will they resolve the issues arising with their customers? Can the Kyungyas ever fulfill their mission?