I just realized I hate giving recommendations to newbies. It's always just the same animes. The safe animes I liked before I got to know real animes. But you can't recommend the real animes to newbies because they might get scared and run away.

Since newbies always get recommended the same stuff they get the impression that there are only a few good animes out there instead of hundreds. And when these newbies grow up those will be the first animes they recommend to other newbies. It's kinda sad.

I agree (kinda)...when I was first getting into anime, I just dove in, and as a result, I watched a lot of shit. However, through doing so, I was able to figure out what I liked and what I wanted to get out of anime. I took risks with the shows I watched and I learned how to find shows I liked myself.

I've been trying to get my sister into anime and I've recommended her some stuff, but I do so begrudgingly, because I want her to jump in and take risks like I did, but I know that without the push of me showing her what anime is capable of, I don't think she ever would take those first steps on her own.

However, I don't think that people new to anime will only think there are a few anime, or at least, anyone actually interested in the totality of anime. I do realize that there are plenty of "casual" fans, but its not hard for someone to find recommendations or a laundry list of great shows. The people who only watch a few shows are probably the ones who would never have even watched anime without recommendations, so I don't think that them staying "casual" anime fans is a detriment in any way.

I remember when I got into anime. I don't know anymore what actually sparked the interest. I always liked the animes that were shown on television but never actively pursued them.

When I had some time on my hand I gave it a shot. I didn't delve into it randomly and I didn't get any direct recommendations. I did some extensive research before I watched my first real anime, which was Ergo Proxy. I searched for what I wanted at that time and then went by ratings on ANN. It's actually funny that I started off like most people. Looking for "serious" anime preferably with Sci-Fi setting. To think that these are now at the very bottom of my hunting list.

You can't really recommend newbies the really good stuff because that's usally either hit or miss comedy, lots of fanservice or just too weird. If I'd someday recommend to a Newbie stuff like Bakemonogatari or Kaiba or Aria or P&SwG they'd probably turn away right away. That's why we recommend the safe stuff. Because we want people to watch more. But what we're ultimately doing is not broadening their horizon but putting them on a predetermined path with only a small chance to light a spark.

It's just sad that a lot of people will ever only get to see that stuff and not actually the mountain of possibilities that is animes. So casual anime fans will only ever be a small step above the people who don't watch it and as such are full of stereotypes. Though the problem with casuals is they feel above the non watchers not realizing that they only scratched the surface a bit.

Real animes?

So stuff like Death Note, Full Metal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebob and Code Geass anit real animes cause they're the usual recomemdations. It was easiler in the pass because so many newbies got into anime because of the old big three (Naruto, Bleach and One Piece) and part of the reason is cause they're old fanbase was so big that you cant go anyway in the internet when any of those fans get into a flamewar XD  

Random Picture of the day: Curse you cruel world!

Sorry shouldn't have called them real. Of course Death Note and co are real too but they just feel like the forefront that are all geared towards the same audience and they all use the same themes and tropes.

You have to dig past the first charge to get to the animes that will not appeal to newbies because they're a bit more creative and fall into niche categories. I mean try to sell a newcomer to Gurren Lagann. It's an absolutely awesome anime and all but a few anime fans love it. But it' still weird and full of uncomfortable fanservice. I tried to recommend it few times and it was always shot down for not being serious enough.

That's why newbies who maybe watched 20 animes are still full of misconceptions and stereotypes because the first wave on animes are pretty much all the same. Try to sell them Higurashi and they will say it's full of kids and moe with bad character design. Because they have yet to know what actually is possible with anime and that not all animes are what they look like.

I think for the next recommendations I will just choose the weirdest shit I know just for the lulz.

I was watching a video by IGN called something like "Eight Anime Worth Watching", and they recommended a few of the things you would expect (Death Note, Code Geass etc). Then they recommended Baccano! making me forgive any short comings of the video (although they called it "more slow paced" and light on action...I disagree with that assertion).

Then they recommended School Days.

Don't go too crazy with your recommendations or you may scar someone for life.

PS: You mentioned that your first anime was Ergo Proxy a few posts ago. Damn good show. I started off with Casshern Sins (which is still one of my favorites) because I wanted to get hyped for Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Its no coincedence that I main Casshern (and Roll).

I'm afraid to rewatch Ergo Proxy now because it falls into some of the traps I hate in new anime I watch. But I think it will still hold up for the most part because of its great atmosphere and imagery.
I'm actually a very big fan of School Days. Though I would never recommend someone who doesn't expect it that kind of brutal psychological horror.

 Speaking of being surprised by psychological horror. Grisaia no Kajitsu. While absolutely trope heavy and stereotypically harem, the very last arc of the series which spans about 3 episodes is extremely graphical and gruesome. Been a long time since I was that put off by an anime actively avoiding to watch the rest because I couldn't take it anymore. Barring the irrational characters and glaring plot holes this was pretty well made and very effective. And to put that kind of stuff in a cookie cutter harem was pretty bold.

Thing is alot of people are scare or very disinterested in trying new stuff even fans of they're favourate medium exsample fps gamers wont play any jrpg with the exception of very popular titles like final fantasy or pokemon same thing apply to anime. Lets face it anime often falls into the werid and bizzare, but thats why we love them so its hard for these newbies to "get it" (enjoy it). So we ease them to get into anime usual with a more mature and easy to understand(get into) animes like Death Note and co then if thery're interested they can find stuff own. I know the feeling of wanting everyone to enjoy the stuff we love. 

Random Picture of the day: Nendoroid playing with a Nendoroid!