If you could only pick one...

[EricTheFred]

I agree that it's hard to predict what someone's going to like, unless you already know them and what their tastes are in other kinds of stories. For example, I knew from the kinds of books my mom reads (Harry Potter, Wheel of Time, etc.) that she likes fantasy and can enjoy a story simply for what it's worth. So I knew that when I introduced her to FMA, she'd enjoy it.

Yes, a really good example of this is my wife. She doesn't like anime (she's the one non-otaku in the house, poor woman.) However, on a guess, because I knew she loves Filipino dramas, I got her to watch 'Please, Teacher'. Sure enough, she loved it. Of course, since that's not really the sort of thing the rest of us normally watch (okay, I liked it, but my boys didn't) she still stays away from most of our shows. We do all watch Miyazaki stuff together, though.

I still think she would love "Kamichu", though. Haven't gotten her to sit down and watch it, yet.

[ChristianKitsune]

O_O well.. Lets see... I guess it depends on the person.
For instance for some people I show them Fruits Basket (Mainly girls) and just about every one I have show this to have LOVED it. I can't tell you how many FB marathons I go through when I show them this show. Seriously, its like I can't even watch it by myself in anymore because I have seen the show so much lol.

Hmm but I also know that Rurouni Kenshin was my very frist "Anime" (besides Pokemon and Digimon) and I LOVED it. There's action, drama, romance, and comedy. Something for everyone. ^^; THat's why it will always be my favorite, and i really should make others watch it more. lol.

I have a friend is into sci-fi and stuff. I don't think i would show him Kenshin right off the bat, I instead am thinking of introducing Full Metal Panic! or something like to him first. As he likes action, and romance...and he isn't exactly offended by fanservice XD.

But yeah.. I mentioned all these, because of Sock's statement, you can't please everyone. ^^; And everyone has different tastes. There is just too much anime out there.

[Shadowalker]

Question: if "the person you're showing it to is sensitive to content and will judge it critically" why would you show them Miyazaki, who is pretty hard to follow story-wise even when you're a well-initiated anime fan, and its chock full of potentially offensive "pagan" stuff? Wouldn't that effectively turn them firmly off?

Good points.

That being said, I can't think of many animes that aren't potentially offensive, from the perspective of a Christian who's never seen anime before.

If this was the mid-90s, I'd probably recommend Ranma 1/2, actually, myself. At that time, it was the ultimate gateway anime, in my opinion - light-hearted, but generally action-packed and comedic, and featuring a lot of the typical characteristics of anime as a whole. There also wasn't a lot about it that was offensive, imo.

However, Ranma 1/2 is a really old anime series at this point, and you'd probably want to recommend something that's still at least somewhat contemporary.

Hhhmmmm... I'll see Full Metal Alchemist on tv from time to time, and I also see its DVDs in stores where there are few anime DVDs. It's also not too hard to get into, largely inoffensive with just the typical amount of weirdness for an anime series, and a great cast of characters. I'd have to echo the sentiments of those who went with FMA here, and go with it myself as well.

[Mist]

Full Metal Alchemist, no doubt about it. It has more plot and character development in 51 episodes than most long-running anime. There's humor, action, angst, romance, everything! It has an intricate plot, and everything falls together smoothly. It's historically accurate (towards the end and in the movie), and it uses real life philosophies.

I love FMA. My mom loves it, and watches it whenever it's on; and that's rare for her to do with anime.

-Mist

[Fish and Chips]

Standing ground with a classic here, Princess Mononoke.

An amendment.

After watching Princess Mononoke, I subject them to the Giant Robo OVA.

[Doubleshadow]

I would also highlight the importance of a persons tastes and tolerances. My mother actually settled into to watch FMA with me one sleepless night, and it happened to be the episode with Nina and her dog, and Scar. Not a good first impression. I know she would also dismiss some of those other titles, because she doesn't like things that are "depressing". Spirited Away didn't go over well, either, too juvenile with the vomiting sludge monster. I had them interested in Appleseed until it started with the actual plot.
For them, I'd say I need a respectable comedy.