When I look back at the decade that was, every now and then I make an intention look at the whole thing from an anime enthusiast's perspective. In spite of conflicts in the Middle East, natural disasters, twin towers falling down in another part of the free world, the election of a leader of a minority race, and a recession that has done a job on the livelihood of many just getting to get by...2000-2009 was a pretty solid year for anime and manga.
Already having entered the North American mainstream by way of pioneer shows Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Naruto and Pokemon, Japan was ready to go in for the kill.
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue takes a look at the shows that made a huge impact.
2000
Boogiepop Phantom was one of the first major breakthrough shows of this decade in that it followed the late-night anime trend set by Serial Experiments Lain in the decade before. Takashi Murakami was credited for developing the Superflat postmodern art movement. The objective, according to Murakami, was to analyze post-war Japan through the eyes of the otaku, the enthusiasts that the West have confused with nerds.
In fact, the Otaku subculture would form a key compenent of the direction of anime and manga for this decade.
FLCL was a knockout in 2000, with the midadventures of Naota Nandaba and the freespirited recklessness of Haruko Haruhara. The haren genre made its point known as Keitaro Urashina and Naru Narusegawa's clashes went full throttle in Love Hina. For the magical girl fan in all of us, Sakura Kinomoto wrapped up her Card Captor legacy with the final moviee featuring her and Li Syaoran: The Sealed Card.
2001
The year 2001 heralded feature-length anime films such as Millenium Actress and Appleseed. Sister Princess and Happy Lesson flew the harem banner once again. And the Moon Angel Squad led by Milfeulle Sakuraba reported for duty (or lack thereof) in Galaxy Angel. The voice of Ranpha Franboise, Yukari Tamura, would go on to make her own legacy this decade.
It was Game, Set and Match with The Prince of Tennis. And if you wanted a maid living on a prayer, look no further than Mahoromatic.
This was a year for the greats of a decade ago. Lina Inverse thrilled the old schoolers with Slayers Premium, and those retro fanatics itching for sleaze, tits and glitz got their money's worth in La Blue Girl Returns. Kenshin Himura also made a cameo appearance in Samurai X: Reflections.
Fruits Basket was the story of Tohru Honda and her escapages with Kyo, Yuki and the rest of the Sohma clan. We digged the Judge Dredd bling in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and sighed at Saga Bergmann's little fairy named Sugar.
We got our more of our slasher fix with Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School and S-Cry-ed. And if we fancied a little bit of strategy, we got it with Angelic Layer and Hikaru no Go.
Not to be outdone, we fell over countless times with the trap factor in I Me My Strawberry Eggs. And we got our middle-fingered saluter to the 90's in Puni Puni Poemy.
2002
Shibuya, a ward of Tokyo that is known for the gal subculture, was brought to the forefront with Mihona Fujii's Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran, which told the story of Ran Kotobuki, a gal who comes from a family of law enforcement officials. It was one of the launching pads for Rie Kugimiya, who would go on to voice a number of recognized faces over the course of the decade.
Azumanga Daioh was a critical success during this year. It sparked a string of successful shows within the Slice-Of-Life genre.
Spirited Away, a product of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, was the first Japanese full-length anime to win an Academy Award. It also earned honors at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival.
The Mobile Suit Gundam Franchise, which already had success with the original series and Wing, continued with Gundam SEED.
We got the shock of lives with Rizelmine's teams and entered The World in .hack//SIGN. Who can forget the legacy of Kyoshiro Mibu and his rivalry with Demon Eyes Kyo in Samurai Deeper Kyo? Or the high school escapades in Please Teacher? Or the romantic comedy between Aoi Sakuraba and Kaoru Hanabishi that was Ai Yori Aoshi?
Chobits was the story of Chii, and became another of CLAMP's greatest contributions. Tokyo Mew Mew, Pita-Ten, Panyo Panyo, and Di Gi Charat brought the sugar back. The monkey dance was en vogue in Overman King Gainer. And we followed Kaname Chidori, Teletha Testarossa, Sousuke Sougara and the like in Full Metal Panic!.
The adaptation of Circus's visual novel Da Capo hit the ground flying. Its sequel, Da Capo II, also went on to be successful in 2008.
Finally, Kiddy Grade featured a then-known voice actress named Aya Hirano, who would go on to be the lead for on of the most recognized characters in history to date.
2003
Chrono Crusade was the story of Rosette Christopher and her demon friend Chrono, set in the Roaring Twenties.
Another experimental anime that was successful as a late-nighter was Texhnolyze.
Green Green was an anime based on a visual novel of the same name, riding on the coattails of Sentimental Journey and the TO Heart franchise.
One of the video game's greatest heroes, Sonic the Hedgehog, made his mark in Sonic X.
The boys from Cromartie High School made us pee our pants with laughter. Gungrave missed the mark, whilke Peacemake Kurogane hit the nail right on the head, along with Wolf's Rain. Finally, our heart-strings were tugged in Someday's Dreamers, Kaleido Star and D.N. Angel.
But this year was when the Elric brothers of Edward and Alphonse shined. Full Metal Alchemist was one of 2003's greatest shows.
2004
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad showed how a garage rock band can grace the anime silver screen with ease. We watched Sena Kobayakawa lead the Deimon Devil Bats to victory on the dusty gridiron in Eyeshield 21. And the magical girl sorority gained new members in Futari wa Pretty Cure.
Girls Bravo and Negima! Magister Negi Magi kept the harems rolling. Negima! was a noteworthy show of 2004 because of the impact of students from Mahora Girls J. High like Asuna Kagurazaka, Nodoka Miyazaki, Evangeline McDowell and Konoka Konoe.
Steamboy, produced by the same creators of Akira, will go down as the most expensive anime film to produce. Another major feature-length classic, Ghost In The Shell, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
Kannazuki no Miko got the yuri juices flowing and Aya Toujou of Ichigo 100% made things quite refreshing. And fans can correlate 2004 with Sergeant Frog. The sister combo of Tenma and Yakumo Tsukamoto, Kenji Harima and Eri Sawachika spiced it up in School Rumble.
Other notable shows include Paranoia Agent, Gantz and Major.
The major smash hit of 2004 on the tube was Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha, a spin off of Triangle Hearts, that went on to become a major franchise in its own right.
2005
2005 may go down as one of the turning points in anime, with a number of classic shows making their mark. Who can forget the Alice Dolls of Rozen Maiden, particularly Shinku and Suigintou and Suiseiseki; the latter winning both 2006 Saimoe Tournaments in Japan and Korea? Aside from Shana's melon bread addiction, Yakitate!! Japan was a salute to the dough behind the staff of life.
And nobody could fail to remember Rebecca Miyamoto and the denizens of the Peach Moon Academy in Pani Poni Dash!.
Paradise Kiss will be known for their OP and ED (Tommy february6 and Franz Ferdinand...a nice combination), as well as the storyline. And we love twins, so Futakoi Alternative was a nice change-up from last year's Teacher sequel Onegai Twins.
Barasui's Strawberry Marshmallow gave us all a reason to go "Awwww, adorable" all over again.
Elfen Lied mixed moe with gore and the nature-versus-nurture element to create something disturbing but beautiful. xxxHolic told the legend of Kimihiro Watanuki and his wheeling and dealings with Yuuko Ichihara. And the Gag Manga Theater never failed to make us laugh...even if we didn't know Japanese.
The undines of Neo-Venezia awaited viewers in ARIA. Hana Yori Dango was not only a smash hit as an anime, but also as a live-action drama.Eureka Seven continued the success of the Real Robot genre. And the world welcomed into the limelight Shana, a fiery-eyed Flame Haze whose charms won legions of fans from all corners of the world.
2006
The banner years continued into 2006. Death Note's staying power translated into huge dividends, with Light Yagami's ability to write down the names of those who should be punished for their misdeeds. Mushishi was another show that flexed its will. Many characters were deemed to be moe in the eyes of those who declared it, from Fate/Stay Night's Saber, Rin Tosaka and Illyasviel von Einzbern; to Kanon's Mai Kawasumi and Ayu Tsukimiya; to Eruruu and Aruruu of Utawarerumono; to Rika Furude, Rena Ryuuguu and Mion Sonozaki from Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni; to Ai Enma from Jigoku Shoujo.
This year even examined the pitfalls of the fuel that burned the fires. Welcome to the N.H.K.! gave viewers a taste of the effects and consequences of obsessions, desperation, and despondency in an unforgiving world...through the eyes of a hikkikomori (shut-in).
The Powerpuff Girls, already a shining star in America, got their own adaptation in Japan in Powerpuff Girls Z. Emiri Kato, the voice of Momoko Akatsutsumi, would earn her stripes in 2007 as Kagami Hiiragi of Lucky Star.
Fans welcomed into their list of favorite faces a certain Louise Francoise Le Blance de La Valliere in Zero no Tsukaima. And while it was off the radar, Okama's classic Himawari! was a nice set-up for the successful Getsumento Heiki Mina made famous in the live-action drama Densha Otoko.
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion was the story of Lelouch Lamperouge, but since the show was sponsored by Pizza Hut, C.C. garnered the lion's share of the spotlight. If you were familiar with Code Geass, then you had to be familiar with C.C.
But the biggest show of this year was The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. This was the first big series by Kyoto Animation, and KyoAni would become a major player in the anime industry because of the franchise that surrounded Haruhi. The Hare Hare Yukai dance spread virally like wildfire and everyone was wearing a danchou armband. Well, at least those who could buy it at a cosplay store.
Every member of the SOS Brigade-Kyon, Itsuki Koizumi, Yuki Nagato, Mikuru Asahina and the ringleader, Haruhi Suzumiya-was a household name, and their staying power is eminent in the phenomenon/religion known as "Haruhiism".
But while Haruhi Suzumiya was fast becoming a household name across the Pacific, another Haruhi arrived on the scene: Haruhi Fujioka and the Ouran High Host Club welcomed visitors to their casual, yet high-class abode.
Other notable shows from this year include My-Otome, Mahoraba, Inukami!, I's, D.Gray-man and Blood+.
2007
KyoAni continued their run with Lucky Star, and Kagami Yoshimizu's classic spawned another brand of household names: Konata Izumi, Kagami Hiiragi, Tsukasa Hiiragi and Miyuki Takara. The other minor characters also came into the fray, but fans went wild over the main four.
For those yuri fanboys and fangirls, Maria Is Watching Over Us was the answer. Roses, vows and purity...what a blend. The Hidamari Sketch team drew up a slice-of-life comedy worth enjoying.
Hayate the Combat Butler was another smash hit, with a new slew of favorite faces like Hayate Ayasaki, Maria, Hinagiku Katsura and Nagi Sanzen'in.
Afro Samurai was a blockbuster, and Bamboo Blade heralded Tamaki Kawazoe's arrival. We saw another TV series become live-action success in Nodome Cantabile. And El Cazador de la Bruja made us shout "Ole!"
The most recent incarnation of the Gundam franchise, Gundam 00, was regarded as the #1 top anime in a 2008 poll by Newtype Magazine.
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei got us in a state of despair from not having enough of Nozomu Itoshiki's angst, Kafuka Fuura's charm and Chiri Kitsu's perfectionism.
A couple beachside shows of note. Seto no Hanayome will be remembered for the power combo of Sun Seto and Lunar Edomae, while Nagasarete Airanto has visions of Ikuto Tohoin and Suzu dancing in their fans' heads.
GAINAX's Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann was the show that may have rivaled Gundam 00 and Lucky Star as the show that defined 2007. It earned the "best television production" and "best character design" awards from the Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2008.
The likes of yanderekko sensation Kaede Fuyou, the youthfulness of Primula, Asa Shigure's tomboy tendencies and the unforgettable Lisianthus kept us up all night in Shuffle!. Along with the latter, EF: A Tale of Memories and its sequel Ef: A Tale of Melodies continued the success of the visual novel adaptations.
The Minami Family was worth a watch: with the stone-faced Chiaki, the playful but overzealous Kana and the interest of tall tales, Haruka.
Shugo Chara! was the biggest magical girl show of 2007, with Amu Hinamori taking the spotlight. Neon Genesis Evangelion returned with a vengeance in the first of three Rebuild of Evangelion movies: Evangelion 1.0 You Are Not Alone.
Other notable shows include Sola, Idolmaster: Xenoglossia, Mushi-Uta and Venus Versus Virus.
But the decade wasn't done bringing out the best in Japan just yet.
2008
Business and finance was weaved into an anime adaptation of Spice and Wolf. Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka and Chaos;HEAd were notable visual novel adaptations, but it wasn't the best that '08 brought out.
Leave it to Kyoto Animation to do the honors.
KyoAni continued to roll on with the adaptation of Key's CLANNAD and CLANNAD After Story. The visual novel, with its healthy mix of drama and comedy, made this anime one of the top shows in 2008.
Chi's Sweet Hom was a series of shorts on a little kitty named Chi, and her coming and goings around the house. Hei and Yin were the stars of Darker than Black, another show that was successful in 2008.
For those about to rock, Detroit Metal City was the answer. For those who wanted more harms, To-Love-Ru was the answer. And the most popular girl from that show wasn't Lala Satalin Deviluke, but the would-be assassin turned pin-up mainstay, Golden Darkness. And just mention the phrase Mikan Yuuki and a number of fans will have their fingers wiggling out in the open.
Need someone to overdo things with authority? Call on Kogarashi of Kamen no Maid Guy to do it fo you.
The concept of espers was pursued with JC Staff's adaptation of Kazuma Kamachi's TO Aru Majutsu No Index and its side story, To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (which aired in 2009).
Other notable shows include Allison & Lillia, Rosari+Vampire, Linebarrels of Iron, Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens, Zettai Karen Children and Wagaya no Oinari-sama.
2009
This brings us to 2009, and what a year it has been. Kyoto Animation hit another high note with K-ON!, an adaptation of kakifly's 4-panel comic, in which four high school girls with no talent whatsoever form a band and make a success of it.
Strike Witches introduced the concept of moe anthromorphism to a wide audience. The concept of girls turning into planes in a completely different interpretation of World War II was an interesting genre waiting to be broken into. Toradora! was another successful show, with its lead character Taiga Aisaka earning Saimoe honors in Japan and Korea, reprising Suiseiseki's double.
Son Goku and the Z-Fighters returned for a curtain call in Dragon Ball Kai. Nisio Isin's Bakemonogatari was produced by Shaft, the same team behind Zetsubou. Fans were treated to a slam dunk in Basquash!, while seeing the stars in Sora no Manimani. CLAMP continued churning out classics with Kobato while Aoi Hana and Sasameki Koto flew the yuri flag once again for Japan.
Mahjong entered the mainstream with the highly-popular Saki. Haruka Nogizaka treated us to a secret: she is one of us. The fans, that is. The Rebuild of Evangelion series continued with Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance, and Edward Elric made his glorious return in Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood. And Arsene Lupin and Conan Edogawa teamed up for the very first time, to the praise of the faithful waiting for it to be realized.
You heard the song from The Aristocats called "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat?" Well, Nyan Koi! gave the phrase a new meaning. We got our fantasy fighting fix with Tears to Tiara and Queen's Blade and called shotgun in Rideback. We saw Oz Vessalius uncover the mystery behind Alice and Pandora, turning Wonderland on its head in Pandora Hearts.
We were there to roll out with Renton Thurston in Eureka Seven and stop by the Geijutsuka Art Design Class. We asked for a little shock treat from Plug Cryostat in Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan!! and we got it. We wanted more action, and Asura Cryin and the Gurren Lagann knockoff that was NEEDLESS delivered (albeit the latter could have done a bit better). Our faces contorted with disbelief in traptastic Kampfer and the critically-acclaimed Kimi ni Todoke got us in a sentimental state.
We wanted our countries to be personified, and we got it in Hetalia: Axis Powers. We wanted more Haruhi, and we got it in the second season. Riding on the restaurant theme, Ristorante Paradiso and Antique Bakery did the trick, and when we wanted more Darker Than Black, the anime gods listened and gave us Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor. We got a damsel in distressed turned heroine in Fairy Tail.
As if that wasn't enough, the seagulls were crying over the chess board that was Rokkenjima and the battle between Battler Ushiromiya and Beatrice the Golden Witch in Umineko no Naku Koro Ni.
Other solid shows to remember from 2009 include Valkyria Chronocles, Chrome Shelled Regios, Koihime Musou, Eden of the East, Akikan!, Tayutama, Sora Kaki Girl, White Album and Sora no Otoshimono.
So as the Bedlam looks back on a successful decade of great anime, what will the next decade bring? Guess we'll have to find out in two weeks' time...
Already having entered the North American mainstream by way of pioneer shows Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Naruto and Pokemon, Japan was ready to go in for the kill.
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue takes a look at the shows that made a huge impact.
2000
Boogiepop Phantom was one of the first major breakthrough shows of this decade in that it followed the late-night anime trend set by Serial Experiments Lain in the decade before. Takashi Murakami was credited for developing the Superflat postmodern art movement. The objective, according to Murakami, was to analyze post-war Japan through the eyes of the otaku, the enthusiasts that the West have confused with nerds.
In fact, the Otaku subculture would form a key compenent of the direction of anime and manga for this decade.
FLCL was a knockout in 2000, with the midadventures of Naota Nandaba and the freespirited recklessness of Haruko Haruhara. The haren genre made its point known as Keitaro Urashina and Naru Narusegawa's clashes went full throttle in Love Hina. For the magical girl fan in all of us, Sakura Kinomoto wrapped up her Card Captor legacy with the final moviee featuring her and Li Syaoran: The Sealed Card.
2001
The year 2001 heralded feature-length anime films such as Millenium Actress and Appleseed. Sister Princess and Happy Lesson flew the harem banner once again. And the Moon Angel Squad led by Milfeulle Sakuraba reported for duty (or lack thereof) in Galaxy Angel. The voice of Ranpha Franboise, Yukari Tamura, would go on to make her own legacy this decade.
It was Game, Set and Match with The Prince of Tennis. And if you wanted a maid living on a prayer, look no further than Mahoromatic.
This was a year for the greats of a decade ago. Lina Inverse thrilled the old schoolers with Slayers Premium, and those retro fanatics itching for sleaze, tits and glitz got their money's worth in La Blue Girl Returns. Kenshin Himura also made a cameo appearance in Samurai X: Reflections.
Fruits Basket was the story of Tohru Honda and her escapages with Kyo, Yuki and the rest of the Sohma clan. We digged the Judge Dredd bling in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and sighed at Saga Bergmann's little fairy named Sugar.
We got our more of our slasher fix with Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School and S-Cry-ed. And if we fancied a little bit of strategy, we got it with Angelic Layer and Hikaru no Go.
Not to be outdone, we fell over countless times with the trap factor in I Me My Strawberry Eggs. And we got our middle-fingered saluter to the 90's in Puni Puni Poemy.
2002
Shibuya, a ward of Tokyo that is known for the gal subculture, was brought to the forefront with Mihona Fujii's Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran, which told the story of Ran Kotobuki, a gal who comes from a family of law enforcement officials. It was one of the launching pads for Rie Kugimiya, who would go on to voice a number of recognized faces over the course of the decade.
Azumanga Daioh was a critical success during this year. It sparked a string of successful shows within the Slice-Of-Life genre.
Spirited Away, a product of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, was the first Japanese full-length anime to win an Academy Award. It also earned honors at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival.
The Mobile Suit Gundam Franchise, which already had success with the original series and Wing, continued with Gundam SEED.
We got the shock of lives with Rizelmine's teams and entered The World in .hack//SIGN. Who can forget the legacy of Kyoshiro Mibu and his rivalry with Demon Eyes Kyo in Samurai Deeper Kyo? Or the high school escapades in Please Teacher? Or the romantic comedy between Aoi Sakuraba and Kaoru Hanabishi that was Ai Yori Aoshi?
Chobits was the story of Chii, and became another of CLAMP's greatest contributions. Tokyo Mew Mew, Pita-Ten, Panyo Panyo, and Di Gi Charat brought the sugar back. The monkey dance was en vogue in Overman King Gainer. And we followed Kaname Chidori, Teletha Testarossa, Sousuke Sougara and the like in Full Metal Panic!.
The adaptation of Circus's visual novel Da Capo hit the ground flying. Its sequel, Da Capo II, also went on to be successful in 2008.
Finally, Kiddy Grade featured a then-known voice actress named Aya Hirano, who would go on to be the lead for on of the most recognized characters in history to date.
2003
Chrono Crusade was the story of Rosette Christopher and her demon friend Chrono, set in the Roaring Twenties.
Another experimental anime that was successful as a late-nighter was Texhnolyze.
Green Green was an anime based on a visual novel of the same name, riding on the coattails of Sentimental Journey and the TO Heart franchise.
One of the video game's greatest heroes, Sonic the Hedgehog, made his mark in Sonic X.
The boys from Cromartie High School made us pee our pants with laughter. Gungrave missed the mark, whilke Peacemake Kurogane hit the nail right on the head, along with Wolf's Rain. Finally, our heart-strings were tugged in Someday's Dreamers, Kaleido Star and D.N. Angel.
But this year was when the Elric brothers of Edward and Alphonse shined. Full Metal Alchemist was one of 2003's greatest shows.
2004
BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad showed how a garage rock band can grace the anime silver screen with ease. We watched Sena Kobayakawa lead the Deimon Devil Bats to victory on the dusty gridiron in Eyeshield 21. And the magical girl sorority gained new members in Futari wa Pretty Cure.
Girls Bravo and Negima! Magister Negi Magi kept the harems rolling. Negima! was a noteworthy show of 2004 because of the impact of students from Mahora Girls J. High like Asuna Kagurazaka, Nodoka Miyazaki, Evangeline McDowell and Konoka Konoe.
Steamboy, produced by the same creators of Akira, will go down as the most expensive anime film to produce. Another major feature-length classic, Ghost In The Shell, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
Kannazuki no Miko got the yuri juices flowing and Aya Toujou of Ichigo 100% made things quite refreshing. And fans can correlate 2004 with Sergeant Frog. The sister combo of Tenma and Yakumo Tsukamoto, Kenji Harima and Eri Sawachika spiced it up in School Rumble.
Other notable shows include Paranoia Agent, Gantz and Major.
The major smash hit of 2004 on the tube was Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha, a spin off of Triangle Hearts, that went on to become a major franchise in its own right.
2005
2005 may go down as one of the turning points in anime, with a number of classic shows making their mark. Who can forget the Alice Dolls of Rozen Maiden, particularly Shinku and Suigintou and Suiseiseki; the latter winning both 2006 Saimoe Tournaments in Japan and Korea? Aside from Shana's melon bread addiction, Yakitate!! Japan was a salute to the dough behind the staff of life.
And nobody could fail to remember Rebecca Miyamoto and the denizens of the Peach Moon Academy in Pani Poni Dash!.
Paradise Kiss will be known for their OP and ED (Tommy february6 and Franz Ferdinand...a nice combination), as well as the storyline. And we love twins, so Futakoi Alternative was a nice change-up from last year's Teacher sequel Onegai Twins.
Barasui's Strawberry Marshmallow gave us all a reason to go "Awwww, adorable" all over again.
Elfen Lied mixed moe with gore and the nature-versus-nurture element to create something disturbing but beautiful. xxxHolic told the legend of Kimihiro Watanuki and his wheeling and dealings with Yuuko Ichihara. And the Gag Manga Theater never failed to make us laugh...even if we didn't know Japanese.
The undines of Neo-Venezia awaited viewers in ARIA. Hana Yori Dango was not only a smash hit as an anime, but also as a live-action drama.Eureka Seven continued the success of the Real Robot genre. And the world welcomed into the limelight Shana, a fiery-eyed Flame Haze whose charms won legions of fans from all corners of the world.
2006
The banner years continued into 2006. Death Note's staying power translated into huge dividends, with Light Yagami's ability to write down the names of those who should be punished for their misdeeds. Mushishi was another show that flexed its will. Many characters were deemed to be moe in the eyes of those who declared it, from Fate/Stay Night's Saber, Rin Tosaka and Illyasviel von Einzbern; to Kanon's Mai Kawasumi and Ayu Tsukimiya; to Eruruu and Aruruu of Utawarerumono; to Rika Furude, Rena Ryuuguu and Mion Sonozaki from Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni; to Ai Enma from Jigoku Shoujo.
This year even examined the pitfalls of the fuel that burned the fires. Welcome to the N.H.K.! gave viewers a taste of the effects and consequences of obsessions, desperation, and despondency in an unforgiving world...through the eyes of a hikkikomori (shut-in).
The Powerpuff Girls, already a shining star in America, got their own adaptation in Japan in Powerpuff Girls Z. Emiri Kato, the voice of Momoko Akatsutsumi, would earn her stripes in 2007 as Kagami Hiiragi of Lucky Star.
Fans welcomed into their list of favorite faces a certain Louise Francoise Le Blance de La Valliere in Zero no Tsukaima. And while it was off the radar, Okama's classic Himawari! was a nice set-up for the successful Getsumento Heiki Mina made famous in the live-action drama Densha Otoko.
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion was the story of Lelouch Lamperouge, but since the show was sponsored by Pizza Hut, C.C. garnered the lion's share of the spotlight. If you were familiar with Code Geass, then you had to be familiar with C.C.
But the biggest show of this year was The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. This was the first big series by Kyoto Animation, and KyoAni would become a major player in the anime industry because of the franchise that surrounded Haruhi. The Hare Hare Yukai dance spread virally like wildfire and everyone was wearing a danchou armband. Well, at least those who could buy it at a cosplay store.
Every member of the SOS Brigade-Kyon, Itsuki Koizumi, Yuki Nagato, Mikuru Asahina and the ringleader, Haruhi Suzumiya-was a household name, and their staying power is eminent in the phenomenon/religion known as "Haruhiism".
But while Haruhi Suzumiya was fast becoming a household name across the Pacific, another Haruhi arrived on the scene: Haruhi Fujioka and the Ouran High Host Club welcomed visitors to their casual, yet high-class abode.
Other notable shows from this year include My-Otome, Mahoraba, Inukami!, I's, D.Gray-man and Blood+.
2007
KyoAni continued their run with Lucky Star, and Kagami Yoshimizu's classic spawned another brand of household names: Konata Izumi, Kagami Hiiragi, Tsukasa Hiiragi and Miyuki Takara. The other minor characters also came into the fray, but fans went wild over the main four.
For those yuri fanboys and fangirls, Maria Is Watching Over Us was the answer. Roses, vows and purity...what a blend. The Hidamari Sketch team drew up a slice-of-life comedy worth enjoying.
Hayate the Combat Butler was another smash hit, with a new slew of favorite faces like Hayate Ayasaki, Maria, Hinagiku Katsura and Nagi Sanzen'in.
Afro Samurai was a blockbuster, and Bamboo Blade heralded Tamaki Kawazoe's arrival. We saw another TV series become live-action success in Nodome Cantabile. And El Cazador de la Bruja made us shout "Ole!"
The most recent incarnation of the Gundam franchise, Gundam 00, was regarded as the #1 top anime in a 2008 poll by Newtype Magazine.
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei got us in a state of despair from not having enough of Nozomu Itoshiki's angst, Kafuka Fuura's charm and Chiri Kitsu's perfectionism.
A couple beachside shows of note. Seto no Hanayome will be remembered for the power combo of Sun Seto and Lunar Edomae, while Nagasarete Airanto has visions of Ikuto Tohoin and Suzu dancing in their fans' heads.
GAINAX's Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann was the show that may have rivaled Gundam 00 and Lucky Star as the show that defined 2007. It earned the "best television production" and "best character design" awards from the Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2008.
The likes of yanderekko sensation Kaede Fuyou, the youthfulness of Primula, Asa Shigure's tomboy tendencies and the unforgettable Lisianthus kept us up all night in Shuffle!. Along with the latter, EF: A Tale of Memories and its sequel Ef: A Tale of Melodies continued the success of the visual novel adaptations.
The Minami Family was worth a watch: with the stone-faced Chiaki, the playful but overzealous Kana and the interest of tall tales, Haruka.
Shugo Chara! was the biggest magical girl show of 2007, with Amu Hinamori taking the spotlight. Neon Genesis Evangelion returned with a vengeance in the first of three Rebuild of Evangelion movies: Evangelion 1.0 You Are Not Alone.
Other notable shows include Sola, Idolmaster: Xenoglossia, Mushi-Uta and Venus Versus Virus.
But the decade wasn't done bringing out the best in Japan just yet.
2008
Business and finance was weaved into an anime adaptation of Spice and Wolf. Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka and Chaos;HEAd were notable visual novel adaptations, but it wasn't the best that '08 brought out.
Leave it to Kyoto Animation to do the honors.
KyoAni continued to roll on with the adaptation of Key's CLANNAD and CLANNAD After Story. The visual novel, with its healthy mix of drama and comedy, made this anime one of the top shows in 2008.
Chi's Sweet Hom was a series of shorts on a little kitty named Chi, and her coming and goings around the house. Hei and Yin were the stars of Darker than Black, another show that was successful in 2008.
For those about to rock, Detroit Metal City was the answer. For those who wanted more harms, To-Love-Ru was the answer. And the most popular girl from that show wasn't Lala Satalin Deviluke, but the would-be assassin turned pin-up mainstay, Golden Darkness. And just mention the phrase Mikan Yuuki and a number of fans will have their fingers wiggling out in the open.
Need someone to overdo things with authority? Call on Kogarashi of Kamen no Maid Guy to do it fo you.
The concept of espers was pursued with JC Staff's adaptation of Kazuma Kamachi's TO Aru Majutsu No Index and its side story, To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (which aired in 2009).
Other notable shows include Allison & Lillia, Rosari+Vampire, Linebarrels of Iron, Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens, Zettai Karen Children and Wagaya no Oinari-sama.
2009
This brings us to 2009, and what a year it has been. Kyoto Animation hit another high note with K-ON!, an adaptation of kakifly's 4-panel comic, in which four high school girls with no talent whatsoever form a band and make a success of it.
Strike Witches introduced the concept of moe anthromorphism to a wide audience. The concept of girls turning into planes in a completely different interpretation of World War II was an interesting genre waiting to be broken into. Toradora! was another successful show, with its lead character Taiga Aisaka earning Saimoe honors in Japan and Korea, reprising Suiseiseki's double.
Son Goku and the Z-Fighters returned for a curtain call in Dragon Ball Kai. Nisio Isin's Bakemonogatari was produced by Shaft, the same team behind Zetsubou. Fans were treated to a slam dunk in Basquash!, while seeing the stars in Sora no Manimani. CLAMP continued churning out classics with Kobato while Aoi Hana and Sasameki Koto flew the yuri flag once again for Japan.
Mahjong entered the mainstream with the highly-popular Saki. Haruka Nogizaka treated us to a secret: she is one of us. The fans, that is. The Rebuild of Evangelion series continued with Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance, and Edward Elric made his glorious return in Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood. And Arsene Lupin and Conan Edogawa teamed up for the very first time, to the praise of the faithful waiting for it to be realized.
You heard the song from The Aristocats called "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat?" Well, Nyan Koi! gave the phrase a new meaning. We got our fantasy fighting fix with Tears to Tiara and Queen's Blade and called shotgun in Rideback. We saw Oz Vessalius uncover the mystery behind Alice and Pandora, turning Wonderland on its head in Pandora Hearts.
We were there to roll out with Renton Thurston in Eureka Seven and stop by the Geijutsuka Art Design Class. We asked for a little shock treat from Plug Cryostat in Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan!! and we got it. We wanted more action, and Asura Cryin and the Gurren Lagann knockoff that was NEEDLESS delivered (albeit the latter could have done a bit better). Our faces contorted with disbelief in traptastic Kampfer and the critically-acclaimed Kimi ni Todoke got us in a sentimental state.
We wanted our countries to be personified, and we got it in Hetalia: Axis Powers. We wanted more Haruhi, and we got it in the second season. Riding on the restaurant theme, Ristorante Paradiso and Antique Bakery did the trick, and when we wanted more Darker Than Black, the anime gods listened and gave us Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor. We got a damsel in distressed turned heroine in Fairy Tail.
As if that wasn't enough, the seagulls were crying over the chess board that was Rokkenjima and the battle between Battler Ushiromiya and Beatrice the Golden Witch in Umineko no Naku Koro Ni.
Other solid shows to remember from 2009 include Valkyria Chronocles, Chrome Shelled Regios, Koihime Musou, Eden of the East, Akikan!, Tayutama, Sora Kaki Girl, White Album and Sora no Otoshimono.
So as the Bedlam looks back on a successful decade of great anime, what will the next decade bring? Guess we'll have to find out in two weeks' time...