REWRITTEN/EDITED for earlier obliqueness.

With my entire experience in the realm of anime being limited to Studio Ghibli and Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z as a kid (and the odd Pokemon episode), I've decided to satisify a long-ignored, latent urge to get into anime. However, as I have basically no knowledge of what's good and what isn't, rec's would be much appreciated.

If it has any of these, I'll probably like it:

>Emotional storyline

>Deep/layered characters

>Intricate plots

>Sci-fi/fantasy settings

>Very "human" central protaganists, no superpowered world-saving heroes.

>"OH SHIT!" plot twist moments.

>Some humor is great but PLEASE not incessant punning and corny one-liners.

I'm usually less interested in these, but a great show is a great show, so don't let that stop you from recommending:

-Mechs/Robots

-War/world destruction plots

-"I'll be the best fighter ever" plots (or at least linear, uninteresting ones).

-Supercontrived "Cool" or "Badass" main characters with awesome fighting skills or cursed ultimate weapons, etc.

-Superpowered/overpowered characters that feature in endless fight scenes to the point where everything else takes a backseat (though I enjoyed DBZ, so maybe my tolerance for this is higher than I think).

You may begin to see why I've avoided Anime for so long. But for whatever reason, I AM getting this inexplicable urge to give one or two a try. Recommend well, as my entire potential future of watching Anime depends upon my impressions of whatever I end up watching. Thanks in advance.

just look around for some cheap things. my blockbuster occasionally gets some used ones shipped in and they are like $3-5. you'll probably be able to find a good variety and they arent expensive, should you not like them.

Blaydcor.

Listen to me.

Don't listen to a LOT of people.

Just watch Cowboy Bebop. From what you've described? It's perfect for you. Watch Cowboy Bebop. It's a good show. You'll like it. The soundtrack alone makes it worth watching.

Oh wait you don't like fighting

Shit

That's a problem

I know some anime I can recommend that fits in your description EXCEPT having repetitive puns/ one-liners(EDIT:Most of them have)...but Cowboy Bebop is good!

Hmmm, it's difficult. You want a complex plot, but you don't like much wars.

Well, Code Geass is the best anime I've seen, and it's got all your wants, but it has mecha (though I don't like mecha and still love it), and lots of wars. The hero gets through because he's amazingly clever, not because he's badass (though, he has a certain superpower), so if you love strategy and intrincate plans you definitely have to give it a try

Death Note is similar, it has a lot of what you asked, and the hero again gets through with brains. And this one's not mecha, and it's much more mystery and not a lot of fighting.

Both have a lot of "oh, shit" moments, and very complex plots, so I can't recommend them enough. By your description, Death Note suits you more than Code Geass, though I liked more Code Geass

The only anime that I watched that kinda fits your description is "School Days" but it has a lot of sexual acts (but not shown)...but the last episode is a WOW factor >.>

Actually, Cowboy Bebop is good enough that I'm going to recommend it anyway.

Cowboy Bebop is the story of Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, a pair of bounty hunters in the late 21st century after humanity has begun to colonize the rest of the solar system. It's still, without question, the best anime I've wa-

I take it back.

Watch Cowboy Bebop and Fooly Cooly, otherwise known as FLCL. Cowboy Bebop and FLCL are in my experience the best that the medium has to offer. One is twenty-six episodes long, the other is only six. FLCL might have more humor than you like but it's thick and thoughtful and wonderful. Like poetry.

I mean it. If you can stomach the bounty hunter thing, Cowboy Bebop is wonderful. If you can sit through its weirdness, FLCL is divine.

Hehe, once you take off war, heavy focus on action, and mechs your really taking off a lot of anime lol. Though if you're not afraid of overlooking a few of your dislikes I suggest you should just casually check around to see if there is an anime you might be interested in completeing, there is going to be a few decent animes for you to try. I also agree that you should totally watch Cowboy Bebop, very good anime. And defintely stay away from Code Geass ;)

I also suggest Higurashi no Naku Koro ni to anyone who wants another anime to watch. Though it may or may not be probably isn't your thing :p ^_^

edit: That's the word I was looking for.

Death Note is garbage do not listen to anyone who says its smart and dark because its bullshit. Majority of weeabos who spooge over that yaoi moments and first anime they ever saw with death in it is the reason they like it.

Code Geass obviously is not for you.

"Phantom - Requiem for the Phantom" "Black Lagoon'