First as a kid in Liberia West Africa in 1966 I was exposed to Marine Boy, Astro Boy, Tobor The Eighth Man, Speed Racer and Kimba The White Lion. Imprinted forever. Life intervened and I was separated from anime for decades.
In the 1990's our paths again crossed. Cyber City Oedo 808 and the other Korean drawn classics made up group one...Ninja Scroll, Cobra, Goku Midnite Eye, Wicked City and Demon City Shinjuku.
Group two was the awesome anime created by Rumiko Takahashi including Laughing Target, The Mermaid Saga and the infamous Ranma 1/2.
Group three were the girl groups Silent Moebius, Sol Bianca and probably my fav superhero group pf all time Bubblegum Crisis. The spinoffs Bubblegum Crash and AD Police are just head shakingly good storytelling.
Group four are the movies that just knocked me on my ass. Akira, Vampire Hunter D, Ghost in the Shell, Neo Tokyo, Metropolis by Madhouse and Memories by Studio 4C and the incomparable Dagger of Kamui.
Group four is Studio Ghibli. Laputa, Grave of the Fireflies (yes I wept) Nausicaä and My Neighbor Totoro. Forgive me but This is the smallest list I could provide. The stories in these clusters are what is responsible for my love of anime today. Hope my disobedience of the rules will not be held too much against me. Arigato gozaimasu.