Whats a Good Starter Anime?

[jGLZa]

So I've been thinking. It's always fun to share your interests with somebody else and it's even better when they find it interesting too.

So what would you guys consider a good starter anime?

Now I know there will be arguments that it depends on what said person enjoys, but lets take a plain-jane/joe who hasnt watched anime before nor do they know what it is and you do not know their preferences. What anime would you recommend to them with the intention that they will get a good impression of what anime is about and will want to watch other anime titles?

Do you go for something light-hearted or funny. Do you recommend a movie or a series? Basically I want to know if Bleach or Naruto are really a good starting place for newcomers as some people suggest.

[NeoN]

^ haha... Was gonna suggest Naruto as it's one of my fav's. >_<

This is a tough one, esp if you're suggesting to someone who you don't exactly know their preferences.

Bleach is where I started in terms of subs (DragonBall Z was my 1st ever anime (but was dub'd, as shown on SABC 2). Anyway, Bleach has the classic anime comedic-factor, so that's a good one to start with.

Personally I'd also highly recommend VanDread, my all time fav. Has a bit of everything... epic out-of-this-world setting/story, memorable characters, playful comedy, fantastic artwork mixed with CG and solid score if I recall correctly. Plus each season (2 in total) is like 12 epi's, so it wraps itself up nicely in a short amount of time.

[Alucard]

Bleach/Naruto is a bad place to start...

Basically, you would have some idea of what said Jane/Joe likes... I usually rec something shourt in the direction of their interests...

Elfen Lied
Death Note
Claymore
Fullmetal Alchemist
All Fullmetal Panic
Various comedy shows

Once they in I would rec the big 4, One Piece, Naruto, Bleach and DBZ...

Side note: Just finished One Piece up to 452... Still loving it!

[Cybernet]

This be a tough love one.

i would go with the classics.

Trigun
tenji muyo
Hellsing
Ghost in a shell / Ninja scroll (Movie)

and if they hate subtitles well then i hate them  (all above should have eng dub aswell)

OMW almost forgot Full Metal Panic, who doesn't love that comon 
 

[jGLZa]

Im starting to think that High School of the Dead could be an excellent starter anime. It incorporates most common anime genre's - Romance, Comedy, Brutal Violence, pantsu and a vague yet intriguing story. Also, its nice and short at 12 episodes.

Only thing its missing is some Mecha

[DarkPrince]

Ninja Scroll Movie
Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust
Sword of the Stranger
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Gunbuster
Cowboy Bebop

[GrahamZA]

Personally I'd say the following:
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Blood: The Last Vampire
Cowboy Bebop
Trigun
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08TH MS Team
Ninja Scroll
Ghost in the Shell
Hellsing