If I was to recommend a single show to watch for someone who's never seen an anime before (aside from DBZ, One Piece, Naruto etc...), I would say Gurren Lagann.
Other I would recommend are:
- Hellsing (Action/Mystery/Vampire)
- Ghost in the Shell (Action/Sci-Fi)
- Claymore (Action/Adventure/Fantasy)
- Amagami SS (Romance/Drama/Comedy/Slice of Life)
- Clannad (Romance/Drama/Comedy/Slice of Life)
In the OP I think it's also worth mentioning that Subs are better than Dubs.
Edit: Going to bed now, so don't expect a reply until tomorrow. Nitenite
Last edited by dekay'd; Fri, 20th-Apr-2012 at 12:37 AM.
Durarara
Clannad with Afterstory
Steins;Gate (VN and Anime both)
Ano hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai
Bakemonogatari
Nodame Cantabile
I think FMA is the ultimate introduction to anime. It really has everything. Cool story/settings, fantastic characters, relatively straightforward (as in not a mindfuck), heartwarming at times, downright depressing at others.
"Mama...why are they burying Papa? Papa won't be able to go to work if they do that. Papa said he had a lot of work to do! Stop! Don't bury him! Papa!!"
Hmmm I don't know about recommending Bakemonogatari (or any Shaft anime) to newcomers. They mostly are pretty abstract-ish and weird so everyone I showed it to as a first anime were pretty put off.
Some I would recommend,
Gundam 00
Mushishi
Samurai Champloo
Full Metal Panic! (especially Fumoffu!)
Itazura na Kiss 3
You having manga recommendations in OP?
Yeah I guess, though I'm pretty sure there are newcomers who would watch that. Bakemonogatari was my first abstract-ish kind of show, and some of the first few series I watched.
EDIT
And I'm starting to wonder how do your download folder looks like, if you do store your anime on your com here's mine
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