Oh ea and GTO so freaking awesome.

Although there are many flaws with the story and the anime itself was too lengthy, I think DBZ should be included in every list because it is one of the main reasons anime became relevant in the western nations (Pokemon too, but people don't think "anime" when they think Pokemon). DBZ opened the door to most animes we see today so I think it is one of the most influential IMO (and one of the most successful too).

See, this is where I have to agree with Dodece. Most shounen anime and popular shows are indeed terrible. I may somewhat enjoy some of the shows (Gintama and DBZ way back in the day), but I think it's ridiculous to consider them for these sorts of lists. It's the same with people that haven't been exposed to a lot of movies or games. Their top 'list' will show that they haven't seen very much. That doesn't mean that their opinion doesn't matter, its just that their lists may not be as refined like blacksaber or myself (who both watch far too much anime)

1. Planetes
2. Ghost in the Shell SAC, and 2nd Gig
.
.
.
3. Haibane Renmei
4. Eden of the East
5. Macross

what if you don't watch that much anime, and don't watch shounen ones. or shoujo.. Then what! ha

Well, I have watched very few animes, but here's my list.

1. Full Metal Alchemist

2. Neon Genesis Evangelion

3.Gantz

4.Hellsing

5.Crayon Shin-Chan

You answered your own question.

None of the shows you listed are shounen or shoujo.

(Planetes, GitS, Eden of the East, Haibane Renmei, Macross) [I add that only Renmei and Planetes are relatively not huge]

While I may not agree with all your choices, it shows that you have a bit of breadth in what you decide to watch.

I am very surprised that very little people mentioned Cowboy Bebop. :(

It is such a great anime, Yall really should check it out.

I put Cowboy Bebop in my Top 5. I loved how Cowboy Bebop meshed Jazz with a Futuristic setting, and how Samurai Champloo did the opposite, by mixing contemporary Hip Hop with a Historical setting. I wanted to include both Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo in my top 5 (I loved the beats in Samurai Champloo, RIP Nujabes), but I couldn't fit both, so I decided to at least put one of Watanabe's works in my list.

So few people? Without actually counting, I think it's one of the top 5 most listed anime on this thread, along side DragonBall Z, Full Metal ALchemist brotherhood, Death Note, Naruto and Code Geass. REPEAT: I didn't actually count how many times any anime was mentioned on this thread.