Never fear, I happen to be an expert on this topic! But in terms of newer stuff (which is still a few years old mind) I feel Code Geass deserves a mention.
Ha, like anybody stands a chance against... The Black Swordsman! I've heard rumours of a Berserk movie this year... http://berserk2010.blogspot.com/
I like animation, but never pay enough attention keeping up with all of the titles to know what I would think was any good. I have seen all the well known ones like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Cowboy Bebop. Stuff like Death Note, Gungrave, lain, ergo proxy are some series I have enjoyed. Renaissance, though it's a French one, was quite good and one of my all time favorite animated films. I've also seen quite a few tentacle porns... I'd love some recommendations based on that, no more tentacle porns though.
As there is sadly no opportunity for the writer/director to make one better... That said, I'm still looking forward to his final work even if he's not here to oversee it.
I know I'm not allowed to say it because this series is mainstream and therefore not "hip" enough for the internets but I'm a big Naruto fan. I discovered it 3 years ago and watched the whole damn anime in like two weeks (minus the fillers) and I have been keeping up to date with the manga ever since. there, unleash the hate, internets
One of my roommates watches Naruto from time to time, not my cup of tea but it doesn't seem any different than any other show in the same genre. If anything the biggest flaw is the overzealous fans, I still have bad memories of the Naruto crowd in high school...
Legend / Return of the Overfiend!!!!!11!!1one! Lulz nah Just finished watching Macross, not a bad show but not overwhelmingly great either. Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2 both pissed me off... They ran for so many seaons then just died... with the main character never having their problem sorted or getting the girl. No one has Mentioned Full Metal Panic? I've also got the light novels of the 1st season, already well worn out.
I spent most of my summer after GCSEs watching Naruto from episode one to episode 200. I kicked myself when I realised that the last few hundred I watched were fillers and there was a whole new (even more awesome) series. I've been meaning to catch up with the manga, I'm only on chapter 400 and something. Needs moar Azunyan!
Got the dvd's up to season 8 (only season 9 left to get) and then on to Shipuuden (or however you spell it )
screw the fillers Ohh you should catch up ! It got freaking awesome ! The last two pages of chapter 439...... I still have goosebumps when I see them. I remember the first time I read this chapter. I had got to work early morning and read the weekly chapter and it was so incredibly awesome that it got stuck in my head the whole day and I couldn't wait to get home to talk about it with a friend hahaha