For me it all started with Transformers season 1 when it was showing in my neck of woods (original was 2 years before I was even born) in '89. I couldn't get enough of it and that was the reason I learned German to watch it on their channels.
But what hooked me for the rest of my life was Ghost in the shell (my all time favorite without question) and later on Shaman King which was also my first manga collection in all its forms until present day (2010 re-edit).
Nowadays I watch a lot of animes but I also became very picky with years so not everything works for me

Non the less some made it into my DVD collection, like Amagami SS ...