OK, I'm now into the second season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and just can't stop laughing. It has got to be one of the most bizarre anime I've seen. Kumeta Koji is a gag comedy genius and the art is all over the board, but all very good. This one just might drive me to study more, I know I'm missing so many hidden cultural references because I can't read kanji and don't know that much about Japanese culture. The story of a pessimistic, suicidal high school teacher and his class of very weird misfits.
I've also been watching The Vision of Escaflowne via DVDs from Netflix. Must say I am impressed enough that I've added it to my "too buy" list at Right Stuf ($24 for the Complete Collection!) The art is very dated (the 80s is a fashion era that NEVER needs to be revived,) but the story is highly compelling. I'm through 14 episodes of 26 so far and aside from a couple of annoying characters, am enjoying it immensely. But it does make me wonder if Merle is the original "cat girl" or were there others before her...