Before I start, I'll admit that I have long held a rather biased opinion of anime, partly because I always thought the style made really odd looking people and partly because most of the people that watched any anime that I knew of were complete freaks about it.
So I've tried to give the medium a better chance to prove itself, because I know that there must be something deeper than the DBZ crap that I come into contact with on an irregular basis. I've checked out the most famous animes to mainstream audiences, namley Akira, Spirited Away, and Howe's Moving Castle. I really liked the whole neo-dystopian Tokyo and political vibe that Akira gave me, until it ruined it with the giant flesh monster wierdness. Spirited Away and Howe's Moving Castle were both quite entertaining, but I'm looking for something a little more grown up.
My question is, then, what would you anime devotees reccomend to someone like me, who knows nothing about anime and would like to learn a bit more. Keep in mind that I really cant stand the cliche wierd Japanese fighting sequences. Oh, and I'm absolutley in love with the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, if it's any help.
I've heard that Ghost in the Shell is a good series that is a lot like Blade Runner, which is one of my favorite movies ever. Can anyone confirm/deny?