Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuioku Hen (historical, romance, swordplay)
Monster (thriller)
Shigurui (swordplay, artsy)
Kaiba (space travel, dystopia, artsy)
Kaguya-hime no Monogatari (Ghibli movie)
Kenpuu Denki Berserk (90s series - dark fantasy, swordplay)
Koukaku Kidoutai/Ghost in the Shell (1995 movie - cyberpunk)
Akira (cyberpunk)
Neon Genesis Evangelion (mecha, angst)
.hack//Sign (virtual word (fantasy MMORPG))
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (mecha, best Gundam series in my opinion, as there are no annoying kids in it)
Hunter x Hunter (1999 series, as it's better than the newer one (although it doesn't cover as much) - shounen, adventure)
Initial D First Stage/Second Stage (mountain racing, eurobeat)
Gankutsuou/Count of Monte Cristo (thriller)
Hajime no Ippo (first series - boxing)
Versailles no Bara (historical, swordplay, shoujo)
Major (baseball series, pretty good overall, no idea about the new Major series)
Akagi (mahjong - though, the final arc is incomplete in the anime and it takes forever in general)
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu (space epic, military)
Touch (baseball, love polygon)
Bokura no (science fiction, angst, tragedy)
Baccano! (mafia, contemporary fantasy, historical)
Ashita no Joe (boxing, pretty different from Hajime no Ippo)
Soukou Kihei Votoms (mecha, genetic modification, space travel)
Detroit Metal City (comedy, parody of death metal)
Kemono no Souja Erin (coming of age, daily life, tragedy)
Kara no Kyoukai (all movies - contemporary fantasy, super power)
Ping Pong the Animation (table tennis, coming of age)

Those are some good anime.

Ishuzoku reviewers worth a try if you're into ecchi type of anime.

anything hentai in its description

This one is pretty serious.

Well, it would be weird for me not to say Akira. :)

But since you want series, here is list of some good ones for start (although it depends on your taste):

- Monster
- Ergo Proxy
- Texhnolyze
- Serial Experiments Lain
- Paranoia Agent
- Gilgamesh
- Mawaru Penguindrum
- Great Teacher Onizuka
- Wolf's Rain
- Haibane Renmei
- Mushishi

Most of these were already mentioned, I just join in recommending them.

I don't watch much anime, but from anime-ish stuff, I liked "Avatar: the Last Airbender" (which LootHunter mentioned) and I'm liking its sequel series, "Legend of Korra", as well so far (watched two seasons out of four created).

I kind of enjoyed Grand Blue, dumb but fun comedy if you can enjoy it for what it is. I might have to call it a guilty pleasure but hey, why feel guilty about something enjoyable? https://myanimelist.net/anime/37105/Grand_Blue

So insane.

Now that's one anime that wouldn't fly well today. All the jokes about rape were kind of insane.

This was completely normal though. Nothing strange about this at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeeBsvFFNVQ

Or Wizards. ;)

(Also the game based on the film is good as well)

(Also runner up in the also good film Witch's Ghost)

There is a lot
I have been into anime a very long time from the days when akira was only available in the west on crappy vhs with hard subs.

One anime beside all the crap in the media over it is goblin slayer. trust me goblin slayer is tame compared a few i can name. and i very much enjoyed it.

for gore and shock and cute in one anime and mystery (Groundhog day with blood :P), the higurashi no koro ni series especially the scene where Furude Rika rika stabbing herself in the head with a knife in one scene, and in other scenes being cute. (not spoilers the opening scene of this series is just as bad as the knife scene)

for graphic adult anime not just gore i suggest violence jack you will never look at a chainsaw in the same way a again(warning second story lol i wont go there)

i also suggest from my personal favs black lagoon, black rock shooter, death note and shakugan no shana which loved its emotional, as the flame goes out the person disappears from ppls lives forgotten like they never existed (not a spoiler) it is very sad moment when you see it.

If you like a graphic horror and gore violence in a compelling story, elfin lied which covers a young girl being mistreated by her step dad and being saved, it also tackles alienation revenge jealously and identity.

Gunslinger girls that cover very deep disturbing themes but in a stylish anime, it explains how these girls came to be and what how they are just being used by some as little more than throw away machines while at the same time being young all they craved was being loved, also handles the death of one who reaches the end, her adaptations can no longer sustain her, stylish sad moment.

Going back further older anime worth watching one of the best japan / west cross overs to date beebop cowboy, then there is also bleach, vandread,, hellsing, monster or if you like deep meaning serial experiment lain or haibane renmei.

I suggest you decide what you want from the anime,you probably notice I like actions and horror and deep meaning stuff, some like cute, romance or even hentai, anime like the west covers a lot of themes and there always be a weeb or two (otaku) willing to help you find the best anime's for you.

I hope that's enough for you i can name hundreds but decided to name a few of note and tried not to repeat suggestions others made like .hack and full metal alchemist ..

note do not get your suggestions from reddit or twitter as the ppl there in the main are not anime fans and the real fans get drowned out by the bad actors on those platforms, check out the anime channels on you tube you can get some good honest reviews there.

Violence jack, you actually made me remember Grappler Baki and The Bizarre Advendtures of JOJO

LootHunter While i agree with a lot of what you said in response, i do take a slight issue with this, yes they where entertaining, hear me out the planet namek freeza fight for example did go on too long imho and added little value to the to the end of that arc. they could have shortened it a still achieved its desired effect. and that goes for some other epic multi ep fights scenes.as well.

but all in all db, dbz good series in raw and subs, the dubs suck

lol i have been into anime for so long i forget many show,i forgot about jo jo bizzare adventure as well, but reading the replys in this thread reminds me of all the great shows i have forgotten, things like and the great teacher onizuka also alien 9, figure 8 and if he/she wants shocks narutaru (testtube revenge)


i am a bit jealous they are coming into the scene for the first time, he or she is going to see all the greats fresh, i hope he/she finds them as fun as we did. (but i suggest he passes on violence jack, you probably know what i ment by the chain saw remark)

i started in anime back in 98 approx. seen many things and still love it as much as i did back then. now i feel like a old weeb.