answer:Pokém… j.k. Anime has a lot of subgenres, so selecting one that represent all is quite unreasonable. But you might try Ghost in the Shell, Grave of the Fireflies (have not watched that one, but Roger Ebert was full of praise), Higashi no Eden, Serial Experiments Lain, NGE (obviously), Dennou Coil, Great Teacher Onizuka, Tora Dora, and one of my recent favourites, Angel Beats. If you like Horror/murder mysteries/thrillers, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni is great, too.