anime recommendations wanted

[Hil Hughes]

Perhaps this is a good chance to introduce myself to this list.  My name is
Hil Hughes, and I am currently researching anime in Kyoto, and I am
particularly interested in the idea of how anime, in its current state,
developed from other domestic and foreign art forms/influences.  To this
point in my studies, kabuki especially seems to play a strong role in the
plot and visual elements, and I am beginning to look into bunraku and
foreign films of the 1950.  Any suggestions as to material (reading or film)
for this would be greatly appreciated.  At the same time, I am strongly
interested in the religious symbology that appears in an amazing amount of
anime, particularly post-industrial science-fiction anime.  Any book
suggestions on Buddhist, Shinto, or Japanese-Christian "apocalyptic" imagery
would be fantastic- in English or Japanese.

Now to answer your question about recent sci-fi anime that I would consider
worth viewing:

Evangelion (definately a must)
Battle Angel
Lain (only in Japanese so far, I believe)
Key the Metal Idol (a little 'cutsy,' but interesting)
AD Police Files (these are actually 3 seperate pieces, but can be found
together on 1 laserdisc)
Appleseed (not the best, but might be worth seeing)
Bubblegum Crisis (not very new, but is the basis for a great deal that came
afterwards.  Sort of like the William Gibson of anime)
City Hunter
Nadesico
Iria - Zeiram the Animation (this has a certain following, but not the best
in my opinion)
Megazone 23 (may be difficult to find)

My apologies if this is a little long, but I have tried to restrict this to
things I have personally seen and can vouch for as worthy of watching.

> Could someone post a shortlist of recent sci-fi anime worthy of serious
> consideration. I've enjoyed Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor II, and the
> issues they raise about the concept of a city, possible futures, etc., and
> hear good things about Evangelion, but have no idea past that. Titles
> already available in the U.S. would obviously be easier to track down.