The 8 best anime from 2006 that no one will remember in 2026

It's hard to believe that 2006 was two decades ago. The landscape of anime has changed a lot over the years, with different series, genres and trends reaching different levels of popularity. What's popular now doesn't reflect what anime fans enjoyed at the turn of the century.

One look at some of the most notable anime from 2006 will show you just how much things have changed over the years. With so many new anime coming out every season and every year, it's only natural that people forget or overlook most of what has come out. Those great series from 2006 just don't have the buzz they used to and that's a shame.

Welcome to NHK

Welcome to the NHK was never the greatest anime, but it seems to have become one of those series that the general anime fandom completely forgot about. The series follows a college dropout and recluse who blames his lifestyle on some kind of conspiracy run by Japan's largest public broadcaster, NHK.

While it seems like it could be a funny premise, Welcome to NHK. it actually does a great job of dealing with the themes of isolation, anxiety and how it affects people. It's a great series that deserves a lot more credit than it gets and something that every anime fan should watch at least once.

Familiar of Zero

The Isekai genre has dominated the landscape of anime, manga, and light novels over the years. Some fans love these series, others are tired of the sheer number of them, and some just hate it. If you fall into the latter category, then you might not be a fan of The Familiar of Zero.

The series pretty much pioneered the Isekai genre and served as an early template for a formula we've come to know all too well, with fanfiction playing a big role as well. It's a classic series from the 2000s with all the tropes and elements you'd expect from an anime from that era. Maybe it's because there are so many new Isekai released every year, but fans seem to have abandoned the series in the past.

Higurashi: When They Cry

There was a time when Higurashi it seemed like the biggest thing. Based on the audio novels by Ryukishi07 and 07th Expansion, Higurashi: When They Cry has drawn people in with its incredible mystery, psychological horror elements, and incredible cast of characters. But the series is often remembered among fans of modern anime as a forgotten classic.

With Ryukishi07 back in the spotlight for his work Silent Hill ffans may want to turn to the author's previous works to revisit or see more of what he has to offer. It looks polarizing Go and Sotsu didn't do much to rekindle interest in the series, and while the anime isn't a perfect adaptation of the audio novels, it's still a fun series with some iconic moments that will leave fans feeling nostalgic.

Hell Girl: Two Mirrors

Horror and mystery anime seem to be less popular today than they were years ago. While there seems to be a horror renaissance for movies, games, and even live television, the same cannot be said for anime. It may not have been the most popular series in the world when it came out, but Hell Girl was a recognizable and popular anime.

Looking back now, it's easy to see why the series was popular with fans of the genre. It had a great atmosphere, even though it wasn't the scariest, Hell girl had interesting stories presented in a mostly episodic format reminiscent of the classic horror anthologies that preceded it.

Fate/night stay

The Fate the franchise is still going strong. When you consider the various anime adaptations, games, manga, light novels, and remastered releases Réalta Nua and hollow ataraxiayou can see how much of a pop culture juggernaut it is. But while anime and manga fans have not forgotten about Fate There is a certain adaptation within the series itself that everyone seems to overlook.

Ufotable's work adapting the Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven's Feel routes was nothing short of exceptional. The studio set the bar high and gave fans visually stunning edits that still hold up years later. But the success of these adaptations caused many to overlook Deen's original visual novel adaptation. Like many VN adaptations, it's not perfect, and fans definitely have their issues with it, but it's still a fairly solid series that has unfortunately been overshadowed by the overwhelming success of what came after it.

Bartender

You'd think a reboot in 2024 would give the series more popularity, but Bartender remains one of the most obscure anime gems. One of the few adaptations of the now defunct Palm Studio, Bartender follows Ryuu Sasakura, a prodigy mixologist who knows exactly what cocktails to serve depending on the customer and their situation.

This is a slow burn, with a cozy atmosphere and great dialogue and character interactions. Maybe not the most exciting series, but in 11 episodes Bartender it is a fast and pleasant watch.

School Rumble: 2nd Semester

School rumble was one of the funniest anime of its time, so it's sad to see it relegated to the dustbin of anime history. A romantic comedy that relies heavily on old-school gag humor and lots of misunderstandings, School rumble it may not have broken anything, but it's a fun series with a likable cast of characters.

There are tons of amazing comedy anime out there, from Nichijou on Gintama, Big Blue Dreamingand many others. With such strong competition, it's easy to see the older series being liked School rumble he would be left behind. Still, if you're looking for a comedy anime to enjoy, you won't want to skip this one.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

At one point The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was the biggest thing around. That's right in the era 'Great 3' dominance too. Even One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach do your thing Haruhi still managed to make a massive cultural impact both in Japan and around the world. Anime clips were all over YouTube at the time, and netizens even managed to solve an open-ended math problem by trying to solve the anime's viewing order question.

Although the series and its legacy live on, modern fans are not as familiar Haruhi or the influence of the series. The good news is that a whole generation of anime fans can discover the series and find out what was going on back in the day.