I am trying anime/manga, any ideas where to start?

[Phreaker]

I recommend the more futuristic titles.Most of the fantasy/medieval seem very-general.
I highly recommend starting with Ergo Proxy and Ghost in the shell

[Sinkingships7]

I second Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm pretty positive you'll love that.

[Chilli Bob]

Absolutely must watch Neon Genesis Evangelion. The most amazing TV series ever. As already mentioned, it WILL mess with your head. It starts like a regular mecha but goes somewhere else. A word of warning though, you must watch them in order, you can't just catch individual episodes. I've watched the series right through seven or eight times and still don't understand some of it. Then when you have watched the series there are two movies that give alternate endings to the series for those that didn't like the TV ending.

@pp. There was an anime made called "Metropolis" a few years back. It's pretty good. It doesn't follow the (awesome) Fritz Lang movie exactly, but uses enough of the concepts to be able to use the name without insulting the original.

The traditional route to getting into Anime are these key movies...
Akira
Ghost in the Shell
Ninja Scroll.

Also +1 for anything by Studio Ghibli is cool. My favorites are Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.

I havn't seen a lot of the TV series, but Bubblegum Crisis and Full Metal Panic were cool. Also Ghost in the shell: Stand alone complex.

[NintendoTogepi]

I'm not a big Anime fan, but I loved the movie "Akira".

[spupy]

Full Metal Alchemist, Full Metal Panic

I can vouch for only what I've watched.
Full Metal Alchemist was a little long for me. Still I liked it, it had very nice ideas. The characters are lovable. Very interesting story. Must watch classic.
Full Metal Panic is more light-hearted. Don't miss the Fumoffu season. Also lovable characters, somehow interesing stories.
Elfen Lied - maybe too gory. But also the saddest anime I've seen. If you don't mind the blood you can find it is quite good.
Evangelion - another must watch. You can only hate it or love it (I love it). Starts pretty normal and generic, later goes all out crazy. A movie remake hit the theatres in Japan last year, we are waiting the second remake movie (they might not be remakes, but retakes, because the story is deviating from the original.)
Cowboy Bebop. Classic. Cool characters. I didn't like it that much because of the per-episode story arcs.

Sorry for the long post, I need to kill some time

[blakjesus]

I would suggest Full Metal Alchemist. Its a good action series with a very good storyline. The main protagonist is faced with many psychological and moral issues.

Also i would definitely recommend Outlaw star if you like good sci-fi series.

[Frak]

Ghost in the shell, SAC

Loved that show. You could also try Evangelion Genesis, but that will mess with your mind... which is why I loved it.

[tigrezno]

buy Blame! (10 books)

just ART and incredible story.

also Akira, buy the 6 books.

[solitaire]

ones that should be on your "To watch List"
Ghost in the shell: both movies and all the Series (called: Stand Alone Complex)
Evangelion series
Paltabor 1 & 2
Akira
BattleAngel Alita
Macross Series
Cowboy BeBop
Vexille (Not the best but good story)
*edit*
Opps forgot "Appleseed"

[Trail]

+1 Ergo Proxy
+1 Serial Experiments Lain
+1 Cowboy Bebop
+1 Samurai Champloo (but watch it after bebop imo)
+1 All Ghost in the shells

I got plenty more to recommend, but these should suffice