I am curious to see what trends pop out of this year of the Secret Santa Project. There is a diverse pool of people recommending show for each other so theoretically each of the three selections is both a reflection of the person who is picking the shows and who they are being picked for. That said there are a few trends that usually pop up. There is usually one, maybe two, shows that end up being recommended by lost of people. I remember the years that Dennou Coil was all over the list. To a lesser degree Kaiba was also in the same position. Last year had a lot of Satoshi Kon. You then notice those works tend to get regifted quite a bit. A show that was popular one year won’t have the same prevalence but you will notice several people passing along the show they got the last year to whoever they get the next year. That is probably the best case scenario as someone enjoyed a show they reviewed enough that they become an advocate of that show the next year. I always get a warm feeling whenever that happens. It makes it feel like all the work that goes into the project is justified. The more overlooked the gem the greater that warm feeling is.
I am curious to see which underdog gets its time in the spotlight this year.
- Appropriant reviewed Serial Experiments Lain, Kino’s Journey, and Haibane Renmei as recommended by Gendomike
- Steven reviewed Shin Sekai Yori as recommended by Appropriant
- Saber fan #1 reviewed New Getter Robo plus a Barakamon, New Getter Robo, Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea, and Touch podcast as recommended by Steven
- Mr. Flawfinder reviewed Hataraki Man as recommended by Saber fan #1
- Foxy Lady Ayame reviewed Infinite Ryvius as recommended by Mr. Flawfinder
- Chii reviewed Romeo x Juliet, Kazemakase Tsukikage Ran, Overman King Gainer as recommended by Foxy Lady Ayame
- Steelbound reviewed Ef – A Tale of Memories as recommended by Chii
- Vincenzo reviewed Haibane Renmei as recommended by Steelbound
- SuperNeku reviewed Space Adventure Cobra as recommended by Vincenzo
- Diego reviewed FLCL, Summer War, Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine as recommended by SuperNeku
- Ink reviewed They Were Eleven as recommended by Diego
- Emperor J reviewed Akuma no Riddle as recommended by Ink
- Donald reviewed White Album 2 as recommended by Emperor J
- Gedata reviewed Another as recommended by Donald
- Draggle reviewed Ergo Proxy as recommended by Gedata
- Charles reviewed Mouryou no Hako as recommended by Draggle
- Japes reviewed Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom as recommended by Charles
- Serdar reviewed Redline as recommended by Japes
- Wendeego reviewed TBA as recommended by Serdar
- Jack reviewed Koi Kaze as recommended by Wendeego
- George reviewed The Legend of Black Heaven as recommended by Jack
- Vintagecoats reviewed Rainbow-Colored Fireflies: The Eternal Summer Vacation, Ring ni Kakero 1, Asura as recommended by George
- Frank reviewed Aoi Hana as recommended by Vintagecoats
- Andy reviewed Barakamon & Log Horizon as recommended by Frank
- Digibro reviewed Hyouka, Jin-Roh, and Nagi no Asukara as recommended by Andy
- SDShamshel reviewed Plastic Nee-San as recommended by Digibro
- Caraniel reviewed Panzer World Galient as recommended by SDShamshel
- Jenni reviewed TBA as recommended by Caraniel
- Adamwednesdays reviewed Xam’d: Lost Memories as recommended by Jenni
- Stig reviewed Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions as recommended by Adamwednesdays
- Nick reviewed Say, “I Love You” as recommended by Stig
- Foshizzel reviewed TBA as recommended by Nick
- Highway reviewed The iDOLM@STER as recommended by Foshizzel
- Kory reviewed Hyouka as recommended by Highway
- Jeckyllgeek reviewed Jellyfish Princess as recommended by Kory
- Vestenet reviewed Simoun as recommended by Jeckyllgeek
- Justin reviewed Millennium Actress as recommended by Vestenet
- Annalyn reviewed Ikoku Meiro no Croisée as recommended by Justin
- Numbers and space reviewed One Week Friends as recommended by Annalyn
- Overcooled reviewed House of Five Leaves as recommended by Numbers and space
- Thedigitalbug reviewed Time of Eve as recommended by Overcooled
- Bradley reviewed TBA as recommended by Thedigitalbug
- Tom reviewed Irresponsible Captain Tylor as recommended by Bradley
- Scamp reviewed Mind Game as recommended by Tom
- Swabl reviewed Roujin Z, Crest of the Stars, and Gankutsuou as recommended by Scamp
- Tony reviewed Gatchaman Crowds as recommended by Swabl
- Aiden reviewed TBA as recommended by Tony
- Jesse reviewed The Tatami Galaxy as recommended by Aiden
- Joe Animated reviewed Kaiba as recommended by Jesse
- Illegenes reviewed TBA as recommended by Joe Animated
- Intermediate Otaku reviewed Mawaru Penguindrum as recommended by Illegenes
- Foomafoo reviewed Fooly Cooly (FLCL) as recommended by Intermediate Otaku
- Gendomike reviewed Wolf Children as recommended by Foomafoo
Reverse Thieves 
Wait a minute, wait a minute. So I recommended SDS Log Horizon, Barakamon, and Plastic Nee-chan, of which he reviewed the latter, while the guy who recommended me stuff, Hanners, ended up reviewing Barakamon and Log Horizon?! Holy coincidences!
My section seems to be linked to Steelbound’s review instead of my own.
This was my second year doing secret santa and im glad i did it again, so thank you so much for keeping on with the project all these years! It also kind of helped that all of the anime i was given this time around were actually good, though.
Wow, Haibane Renmei is going around this year. I wondered what sparked that one?
FLCL too to a fair extent, but really I think everyone would recommend that series after watching at least once anyway!
Interesting to see Another there, too.
Mine will come not this week, I’m sorry. Life suddenly busied in December and culminated with family visiting over Christmas and I won’t be watching basically anything until family leaves. But I’m planning on finishing up on Monday/Tuesday right after family leaves.
I don’t know if it’s really common, but the fact that I got to choose shows from another reviewer for the same site actually presented some problems, mostly because we often talk and recommend stuff to each other throughout the year in the first place, so I had a really hard time picking something for Nick, since he had already seen most of the stuff I like, if not all of it, anyway. Out of the three selections I made, I ended up doing two blind picks — shows I hadn’t even watched myself.
It also made it impossible for me to even discuss Secret Santa outside of the shows chosen for me. And I had to worry about Nick asking which shows I had chosen for someone as well.
I’m just saying it would have been nice to not have to do that. ^^;;
Chii didn’t review el Cajador in the end. She reviewed Ran.
Sorry for the delay in getting my review up…. it’s been a hellish month. Anyway my review of White Album 2 is now up at:
http://otakunopodcast.com/2014/12/31/anime-secret-santa-review-white-album-2/
I’ve got to apologise for not completing my obligation this year. I was hoping that despite the fact that I am studying and working full-time now that I would be able to find both the time and the energy to review the show I was given but it simply did not happen. I’m sorry and I grateful for all your hardwork.
Two things
1. If you ever find the energy you can always submit a review and I could add it later. I have gotten reviews a full year after they were due.
2. In the end it is all good. This is supposed to be a fun project to broaden your horizons. No one is getting paid (or if they are someone should tell me) and nothing is won or lost outside of personal enjoyment. If life got in the way (which it often can) it always is best to focus on what is important. Work, school, and family are what are what are going to effect you the most in the end.
All that said if your schedule even lightens up I hope you can participate some time in the future.
– Alain