It's so hard to just narrow it down to just 3! For the most part I've always been more along the lines of old school anime like Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion or Berserk.
If I had to pick a number 1 it'd have to be FLCL! I have and always will love that series even if it's only 6 episodes long. It has so much meaning to me and the animations were beautifully done back when I first watched it! And don't even get me started on when the song Little Busters starts playing whenever the fight scenes start! Such an epic song of choice! (and I'm not really a fan of that kinda music, but the Pillows are an exception!)
Cowboy Bebop is probably in my top 3 as well! The story isn't the most original, but man once it picks up it has an epic story that will leave you wanting more. Besides a few, most of the characters are so well written! I don't wanna spoil anything for anyone who hasn't watched it but the ending is probably #1 for me! I mean it kinda ends on a cliff hanger depending on how you view it, but I like to think it was set up for the viewer to decide how they wanted it to end.
Great Teacher Onizuka! In my top 3-5 maybe? Not much to say about his one besides it being hilariously awesome! I wouldn't say this is what made me wanna teach (I've already known for a long time) but it definitely helped define me as a teacher...I just wish I could do some of the ship he does XD
Initial D! It took me a pretty big push to actually start watching this! For the longest time I couldn't stand to look at the animation and graphics used for the cars and such. But, I am very happy for the push, because it turned out to be an amazing anime and made me love cars even more. I'd probably rank it in my top 5!
I have a ton more, but one that I can think of that's more recent would have to be Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann! Truth be told I wasn't expecting much besides your typical giant robots (which to an extent it was and awesome at that) but man was I blown away by the story! It had me wanting to start he next episode right after the other until I was done. I don't wanna spoil it for any who haven't watched it, but I was never expecting episode 8 to happen! That twist almost killed it for me for a second, but I pushed through and enjoyed it even more so! So, it deserves a spot in the top 3-5
Honorarble Mentions that could totally be in my top 5 XD- Dragon Ball Z: I mean this has to be somewhere on everyone's top ten at least! It basically gave birth to the shonen era that we know now. It influenced all the big hitters of this era!
- Samurai Champloo: Basically Cowboy Bebop, but with Rap and Samurais set in Feudal Japan! It's awesome and even a few of the episodes gives Cowboy Bebop a run for it's money
- Yu Yu Hakusho: A classic anime now a days and still awesome, but sadly it's lost a lot of it's hype now that I'm older. I've come to view it as "Hey let's settle this a Tournament" for almost every arc and it doesn't help that the ending felt a little rushed and weak!
- Trigun: I wish the anime would of follow more or so along with the Manga so we could of gotten and even more epic story, but it was still pretty bad ass! My only problem is how slow the story is for the first few episodes ( I never noticed it until watching it somewhat recently)
- Gundam Wing/Mobile Suit Gundam: 8th MS Team/Gundam Series in general: What else is there to say besides giant awesome ass robot Gundam fighting...and in outer space! The two series mentioned G.W and MSG 8th MS Team hold a special place in my heart! And I mean who didn't own/play with the awesome Gundam actions figures they used to make?
- Ninja Scroll: I had to put this on the list considering it was technically my first anime ever! I can't be positive, but I wanna say it was '94 or '95 when my uncle got his hands on it and showed me it! I still remember him having me close my eyes during the rape scene XD. But holy damn did Jubei kick some major ass! If it wasn't for my uncle and Jubei kicking so much ass and being awesome I might of never gotten into this like I am now!
- Akira: Along with Ninja Scroll this was another one of my first animes! My uncle had it recorded on a VHS with bright red letters written on it "AKIRA" and I be damned it was an awesome anime...even if I didn't understand most of it as a kid! I don't really care for the new redubbed version (even if it's more accurate) the voices are just so of to me!
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: I didn't really come to appreciate this one until just the past 5 or 6 years. I was so confused by it as a younger kid and had no idea what the hell I was watching, but now that I'm older I can really appreciate the epic drama/story that unfolds...and it has giant robot battles!! I'm stoked for the Evangelion: 3.0 to come out in America (not that I haven't already watched the subbed, but I really like the dubbed of it!)
- Berserk: Giant Bad Ass Sword mixed with demon mythology...what else is there to say? XD
I had to stop myself!! XD If I didn't I'd of just kept going on haha, so I'm sorry for the long paragraph of random animes! You'd think I'm some crazy anime freak with a my room decked out and such, but I'm actually very to myself about it! Most of the people around me would have no idea I am into this kind of stuff XD