@sotyfan16: I believe it. Last year, the extreme exposure of Angel Beats! (probably one of my favorite series ever,) Squid Girl, and High School of the Dead practically confirms that other stuff that was really good got pushed under the current.
I voted for The Count of Monte Cristo. It's the only series on the list that I have any fondness for that could do with some more exposure, especially considering Fate/zero is so popular and nearly requires familiarity with Fate/stay night. People voting for Eureka 7 or Yu Yu Hakusho must just be hoping for consumer validation, as they already know what they think of the series.
Man, School Days was a DARK anime. I loved it, though.
I don't have familiarity with the visual novels (or, really, any visual novels) but have you played the Key visual novels (AIR, Kanon, or Clannad?) All three have been made into fantastic anime, so you might pursue those instead (especially because the games are eroge while the anime are not), though. Specifically with Kanon, pursue the 2006 version of the series; the older one is much harder to watch for a number of reasons.
Actually a very nice list. Is this entirely limited to series? Also, have you tried Code Geass or Ghost in the Shell? Those seem RIGHT up your alley.
I don't think you could do better. I would recommend the Screened style if you feel like you can write that much about individual episodes, or you could go with the ComicVine style for quantity. Either would work effectively.
"Melodramatic that I have no taste for" is hard to gauge. Echoing the chorus recommending Angel Beats! He also might enjoy The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and I know you will.
Give us the goods on what he's been watching! :D
lol, I did totally just answer the repeat topic of this a few days later. It's a reasonably popular trope, but it's not THAT overused, is it?
There was a site I'd found, go hunting for "Attack of the Otaku" by chiikaboom and you might find it. It's not a battle AMV, which has done a lot for its longevity.
I don't honestly know if I've seen live-action based on anime other than The Last Airbender (questionably anime IMO) and parts of the first Death Note film (rather enjoyed that.) I'd imagine Dragonball: Evolution is worse than either of those, though.
Death the Kid is the only name so bad it actually repulsed me from watching a series. One day, Soul Eater, I'll get the hell over it, but FUCK THAT NAME.
You've definitely received a great list of recommendations so far. In terms of more traditionally "anime"-animes, I'd recommend Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, and maybe (and I definitely say MAYBE) Neon Genesis Evangelion. Personally, I can't stand Evangelion and actually couldn't finish it when I tried to watch it, but most people seem to loooooooove their Evangelion. The same goes for Escaflowne, though I don't know if it's just vanilla Escaflowne people like or The Vision of Escaflowne.
If you're looking for an exit from anime, though, Cowboy Bebop is the way to go out in style. It acts almost nothing like an anime, it's brilliant, and, in the same way as Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, it kind of ruins most anime for you.
I can vouch for Anime Central's quality as a convention, but not in comparison to other anime conventions.
