Can't we all include a short motivation
why we like these shows? Otherwise it'll just be pointless name dropping, no different from the threads in
The "What" Board. Who knows, maybe your motivation will help to get someone interested in your favourite anime?
In order:
1. Kino's Journey - because it's such a laid-back, deep series that deals with philosophical and moral issues without trying to rubb a message in your face. It lets you decide for yourself what to think.
2. Revolutionary Girl Utena - because it's weeeeird. No seriously, because it's such a dark, mature show disguised as a cutesy magical girl anime. Every character, every scene is so full of (Freudian!
) symbols, and it twists and turns and practically breaks down fairy tale archetypes and stereotypical gender roles.
3. Ouran High School Host Club - because I haven't laughed so much while watching a movie or a TV series
ever. XD It pokes so much fun at the shoujo genre and its fans, plus it has one of the coolest female main characters in anime history.
4. Cardcaptor Sakura - while the manga is better, as the case tends to be, the CCS anime actually
does something with its filler episodes, which is more than you can say about most anime *cough*TsubasaChronicle*cough*. Moreover, it was my first introduction to CLAMP, and will always have a special place in my heart.
5. .hack//SIGN - although it's slow-paced, it's a deep, thoughtful show, and I love all the little literature and pop culture references.
Honourable mentions are
Wolf's Rain and
Serial Experiments Lain.