- Moyashimon S1: It's just weird as hell, but also incredibly informative and eye-opening from a real life perspective. This series predated all the "Your own microbiome is a key part of your heath" discovery in mainstream medical science. It was an awaking for me. It's also pretty funny and you meet the crazy cast pretty quickly.

- ARIA: I've seen video essays on how supremely powerful the OP sequence and accompanying song "Undine" is to every episode, and the very first is no exception. There's just an overwhelming sense of peace, calm, and perspective radiating from this slice of life series. You know from the first few minutes if this will be something that doesn't interest you or one of your favorite series. The anime version improves the first episode event drastically over the manga version, setting up an arc that crosses the entire franchise as a whole.

- Cross Game: You know why.

- Mawaru Penguindrum: The first episode mixes the fantastical elements with the bittersweet that also really sets to tone. The flash and pizzazz contrasting sharply with the somewhat tragic but hopeful situation the protagonists find themselves in.

- NANA: It's actually the very opening line and backing track that kills it here as well, like ARIA. "Hey Nana? Do you remember the day we met?" and the shot of an empty and dark apartment lit only by the sun peeking through the curtains. A chance meeting on a train and the following manic momentum of Hachi that kicks off a mature interpersonal drama.

- Scrapped Princess: Raquel's magic. Enough said, you know what I mean.

- Symphogear S1: Say what you will about the franchise, there's plenty of good bad, but the first episode and the first concert is incredible.