Convince me to watch anime...

[ZERO]

If you wanted something action based then see:
Ga-Rei Zero

Here is what I would recommend in general to someone new. Any of these you should be able to watch however you should look up some info and see if that is the type of series you would enjoy.

Afro Samurai -Action
Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu -Comedy
Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion -Action (fan serv may drag it out in parts)
Cowboy Bebop -Action
Death Note -Drama, this is a slow series watch if you just enjoy suspense and intellectual conflict.
Eden of the East -Action, Drama, some romance this is highly recommended.
Ghost in the Shell -Action
Initial D -Drifting
K-on! -School Band Comedy
Last Exile -If you like fantastic and action this has a good story and is very enjoyable.
Maburaho -Magic and boobs? Romantic Comedy
Samurai 7 -Anime version of the famous movie 7 Samurai

[I LIKE TURTLES]

spasm just start with something simple. go to www.hentai.com

just kidding.

message me on steam and i'll give you some suggestions.

[RamenPoodle]

For a generally good mystery/WTF series, I will always recommend Higurashi no Naku Koro ni to anyone. If you don't have a problem with cute girls dismembering each other, alleged demonic activity, mind-bending time loops, and overall creepy style and direction, you will most likely enjoy it. It's known as When They Cry here in the states.

Otherwise, if you're looking for a story that is just fun to watch, why not give some anime movies a try? Akira has been mentioned, but I'm thinking more along the lines of pleasant and non-apocalyptic. If you would like an innocent but fun and artsy romantic tale, try Toki wa Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time), Summer Wars, 5 centimeters per second, and The Place Promised In Our Early Days.

If you're looking for mainstream anime movies that you can guarantee most anime fans have seen, try a Hayao Miyazaki movie. Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away will do nicely.

I've turned a lot of my friends into fans of anime over the years, and I usually start them off with Shakugan no Shana. It goes well at least 70% of the time. XD

[AnHero]

along with Shakugan no Shana

Zero no Tsukaima, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Kanon are pretty godo starter series

ZnT = pretty good Harem series to start
Haruhi = ....ummm Haruhi is in its own category
Kanon = Really Kanon, Clannad, Sola, Air, Munto, etc anything done by Kyoto animation is a good thing to impress people and get them on anime

Personally i got hooked on anime through Kanon, i thought it was absolutely amazing

[ZERO]

along with Shakugan no Shana

Zero no Tsukaima, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Kanon are pretty godo starter series

ZnT = pretty good Harem series to start
Haruhi = ....ummm Haruhi is in its own category
Kanon = Really Kanon, Clannad, Sola, Air, Munto, etc anything done by Kyoto animation is a good thing to impress people and get them on anime

These could be good for him if he duck-taped his head in advance becuase it will explode if he was to watch any of these coming from DBZ. As for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya he might be better off with neon genesis at least then he would be able to understand the general idea of what is going on with out blowing his head off. Just think could you imagine if the first story someone ever red was The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, yea they would not be able to read anything again except for the sequel books. Someone that has not been exposed to thinking of that magnitude needs to watch something else first.

[acolyte_to_jippity]

...do i detect an insult towards evangelion in there?

[ZERO]

No I was stating that a regular person could watch that and think that it is just about robots. So in a way they would be able to go though it without having their mind blow out.