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Here, feel free to give anime recommedations to people with anime experience. Please provide why you believe the anime is exeptional and a short review.

Kino's Journey (Kino no Tabi)

A truly remarkable anime, Kino's Journey is a seinen show that dips deeply into philosophy and human nature. Kino, our protagonist, travels to various lands, each land is focused on a certain philosophical principle or human flaw. A perfect show for anyone who likes to ponder about our nature or just wants a different and original show.

Hellsing Ultimate (OVA)

This is a well done anime. Very graphic at times. It is mostly a shoujo, but it is at time seinen. It is much different from the TV version. almost uncompilable between the two. There is much fighting and much blood and gore. Weapons range from guns, fists, swords, and bombs. It also has a lot of religous base in it, ie Vatican and catholic bases.

Aria series (Aria the Animation, Aria the Natural, and Aria the Origination in that order)

This is mainly a series that should only be watch with experienced viewers since it does require a certain taste. The Aria series is mainly slow pace for viewers that want to enjoy the soothing music and beautiful animation in it. I certainly recommend this pure slice of life series to anyone that wants to relieve their real-life stress. ^^

Mononoke

I picked Mononoke because it is an anime that's purely Japanese. There's little to no references to cultures outside of Japan, and first time anime viewers might not be able to appreciate it. Furthermore, it is not your typical anime. The animation is certainly unique, and the story is very serious.

Legend of the Galactic Heroes

Very heavy on dialogue and a chore to remember names. In the end though it is totally worth investing the time to watch the most epic anime of our time. 110 episodes is by no means a short watch either. Time needs to be invested and should be watched in relatively short order to keep up with the ever evolving plot and the names of all the characters.

I will second jet2r0cks' plug of Mononoke as well.

Samurai Champloo
An amazing watch which has well calculated and intelligent humour, extremely good action scenes, brilliant thought-provoking storylines and beautiful animation which overall is directed in a quirky modern fashion which will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through the 26 episodes. Has elements of: action, adventure, drama and comedy. Watch it even if you're not into these genres - defineately worthwhile.

Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei

It's not like it's deep or anything, but the jokes and lulz simply cannot be understood by new watchers. Filled with mockery on modern (mostly Japanese) culture and social behaviors, hit you with a few anime jokes at times (most noticable aganist Kyonai in the OVA) and obvious cliche anime techniques are bound to at least humor you a bit.

Spice and Wolf

This is a series which contains a lot of dialogue, and a plot and setting which may not seems so attractive to the new anime-watcher.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Because of it mind-fuckedness, it can't really be watched by anyone new to anime. It's easy to not like it, and if you've not watched a lot, that might hurt your overall feeling for anime. Anyway, past the mind-fuck it's a pretty cool series, with cool characters and nice action. The end is for the individual to judge, however =P

Elfen Lied

Same as above, I reckon. Too much mind-fuck for the newbie. It features pretty cool characters, a pretty good plot, and a focus on all that's wrong with humans. Its animation is brilliant, aside the incredibly bland character designs.

BTW, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Lucky Star. Isn't that like, the number one parody show out there?

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

An anime that will take you some experience to appreciate because it incorporates so many different kinds of genres. It is good to have something to have a few anime to compare this anime with to fully appreciate how good this show is. Also, there is some degree of parody, and a lot of smart humor. Highly entertaining.(98/100)

Monster

It's highly intellectual and gripping, also, it takes a real anime lover to get through all those episodes. Though I think that if they had taken even one episode out, the anime would not be as good. They need all those episodes to explain everything. =)

Also, Good Witch of the West.

A much shorter anime, however it's VERY fascinating! The concept is very different; personally I find it refreshing. I love it. <3

Hayate no Gotoku!

A hilarious anime that's full of parodies... Every scene will make you laugh... (97/100)

@Llama_Guy

It's cause people think it's cute. I know a few people who aren't really anime fans, but they've watched Lucky Star and liked it without even recognizing most of the references.

Bartender

It's not your typical anime. No fight scenes, no giant robots, no school girls - none of the stuff you usually see in anime. It's not anime that a first time anime viewer would expect, so this kind of anime is more suited for those who have seen a lot of anime. 90/100

Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade

Probably the darkest anime movie out there, Jin Roh is completely devoid of humour and bright colours. It throws the viewer into a solemn and depressing atmosphere in which they really need to pay close attention to the complicated and tragic story. Definitely one for the more seasoned watcher.

Kekkaishi

A weekly shounen jump manga adapted into an anime. And I must say, one of the best WSJ manga-adapted anime I've seen so far. The animation is really the top of the top, while the drawings differ from AMAZING to just great, the storyline has a good level of speed too, someway or another, some fights look really short, but that's just a feeling, the voice-actors did a great job, and there some CGI which looks like drawings.. so they did a good job on blending that in.

Like I said, it's a series which came from Weekly Shounen Jump, the magazine which brought us Naruto, Bleach, One Piece and several other known shounens. But this sticks out, in a good way. Not for beginners, thanks to the theme. It's a theme which is a little bit complicater then other themes (Like Naruto/Bleach), nothing for starters, unless you like a bit of harsh thinking sometimes.

But one does lose out on a bit of the enjoyment of you don't get them =P Which is why I would recommend it more to someone experienced with anime than a newcomer.

I don't know about that - How would they know they're losing out if they didn't know what they're losing out on? XD I'm sure if I told my classmates (who are familiar with the series) "hey, you just saw a reference to Initial D and you didn't notice it" they would either not care, or they'll think I'm trying to ruin their enjoyment of the show. In the end everyone will have their own unique experience in watching it. It's possible that a person who recognized all of the references might not enjoy it as much as someone who only recognized one or two references from the show. To each his own, I guess :P

Baccano and Wolf's Rain

Baccano is a different kinda anime. If you're bored watching the same old cliche crap. then Baccano is one of those anime people should go to when looking for uniquness. I dont know how I overlooked this since last winter but I'm glad i watched it.

Wolf's Rain has a nice overall feel to it, and is also a little off from the ordinary. It makes you think and it's just really good and full of hope.

Excel Saga

Without a good understanding of the Japanese culture its satirising, and in particular the huge number of (mostly old school) anime it spoofs about 80% of this show will go over your head.

Ironically its one of the first anime I watched, and I *really* didnt get it first time round.

Haibane Renmei

In my opinion its very much 'an anime for animation fans' every aspect of this anime is great, beautiful art and animation, great characters and a suprisingly spiritual storyline, its never going to be a good choice for those who want their anime fast and loud and full of action, which seems to compromise the majoriity of newcomers to anime

I definitely agree with you.