I have to agree about Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood being one of the best and Soul Eater as well. Pretty decent list you have here, dont listen to the criticism they wont understand how subjective each anime might be for someone. I for one hate Bleach but I can acknowledge that a lot of people enjoy it and thats ok too.
If someone loves great stories and character development that captivates along with humor and action, One Piece is the greatest story ever told:D imo
Fullmetal Alchemist anyone? Brotherhood in particular. Personally my favorite anime of all time. It has a pretty good balance of action with meaningful moments. Throw in the occasional jape and really I think it has the widest audience potential.
I will say that trying to start on Brotherhood can be a tad confusing because they do skip the character introductions in the first episode.
Just some suggestions for the new anime viewer.
Full Metal Alchemist is a good one for action and comedy.
Paranoia Agent to mess with your head. 
Samurai 7′s another one for good action and an excellent story.
Kemonozume is good for the adult friend/family you want to introduce to anime. Good action, quirky humor and a nice dose of japanese weirdness. I say adult cause there is occasional nudity and sex, but the show doesn’t rely on it.
I actually was first introduced to anime through the films not the movies, so i think it’s only fair to include some here as well.
Perfect Blue, another excellent psychological thriller.
Afro Samurai, great sword action.
Tokyo Godfathers, this one’s just a great story with humor some sadness.
Anything for Studio Gibli, old and new, good for the whole family.
I know you were doing newer anime series on your list and they’re all good and i kept mine some what to that theme, but i think most fans would already know the newer anime for suggestions. So i’m gonna add a small list of the older stuff here for people who stumbled here and are new to anime with no one they know to give suggestions.
Series:
Ronin Warriors
Samurai Pizza Cats
Vampire Princess Myu
Record of Lodoss War
Ranma 1/2
Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT
Neo Genesis Evangelion
Tenchi Muyo
Movies:
Vampire Hunter D and sequel
Eyes of Mars
Demon City
Demon City Shinjuku
Ninja Scroll
Angels Egg
Project A-Ko and sequels
Roujin Z
The Lensman
Akira
Devil Man and sequel(s). I’d say all of them but the last one i found dissapointing.
Well i hope this helps introduce people to the joys of anime.
Its easy to see the oposite scar But I loved the movie but i hated the end i’ve watched the movie 2 times but i just can’t stand the ending. I hope they make a movie or new series that continues brotherhood though 
There’s only one pickup line that works every time.
“Hey baby, does this rag smell like chloroform to you?”
(courtesy of a defunct WoW pickup line site by former FG editor Derek, under the category of “pickup lines for alchemists”)
Bakemonogatari is an OK anime. A bit strange, but cool.
I loved Toradora, the story is so full of emotion, and I actually felt like crying in a couple of scenes. I totally recommend this one.
I only watched the first chapter of Eden of the East and I kinda liked it. I’m think I’ll watch it.
I bought the following animes recently:
Rurounin Kenshin
Monster
Ergo Proxy
Cowboy Bebop
Death Note
Toradora ;P
And I’m intending to buy the following ones:
Darker than Black
Clannad
Clannad After Story (after reading people’s comments that they cried watching it)
Claymore
Evangelion
Serial Experiments Lain
Grave of the Fireflies
Fullmetal Alchemist Bortherhood
I just got done watching the entire series in about two days – absolutely mind blowing. I loved all of it, except for the entire Nazi parade costume. I thought something along the lines of a powerful cult that had gained some powerful alchemy powers out of those ”connections” between the two worlds would be more suitable in the movie. I mean, really, did anyone here expect the rise of Germany to get involved with this storyline when you saw the first 5 episodes?
Otherwise, great. I loved the last part ( and will probably be the last part forever) when they both decided to live their remaining lives in boring ol’ Earth. Much better then where ep. 51 left me at. Kinda depressing really. So for the most part. The reunion of the brothers I thought was a magnificent ending, though they didn’t really make it as of an emotional one as it probably should’ve been. Let’s just hope they leave the story be alone.
Personally, it was a let-down in my opinion. I didn’t really like ep. 51, either. It was a great movie, but I hated how they tied our world into things. One of my favorite things about fma was how much of an epic fantasy it was. I loved how it was pure make-believe. Tying our world into it kind of made it seem too realistic.
But it was great how realistic they made it, with the whole WW1 thing. But we at least still have the manga…
Personally, it was a let-down in my opinion. I didn’t really like ep. 51, either. It was a great movie, but I hated how they tied our world into things. One of my favorite things about fma was how much of an epic fantasy it was. I loved how it was pure make-believe. Tying our world into it kind of made it seem too realistic.
But it was great how realistic they made it, with the whole WW1 thing. But we at least still have the manga…
Conqueror of Shamballa is probably the best anime movie. Play Magazine even called it the most satisfying conclusion an anime has ever received.
