Trying to think of more objective ones rather than “Gamers! is really underrated” or “you should watch Galaxy Angel”…

• the first 5 stages of Initial D were done by a different studio every time
• Hideaki Anno, director of Evangelion, voices the main character in The Wind Rises
• Hideaki Anno also animated the god warrior scene from Nausicaa
• the story and characters of Hibike! Euphonium closely mirror Ace wo Nerae!
• Azumanga Daioh was the first in the “cute girls doing cute things” genre and is super influential
• Likewise, Urusei Yatsura was one of the most influential anime of all time