Trying to decide best anime to introduce someone to the genre?

[Pompal 09.]

So my guy has never really watched anime, and his opinion of it is completely wrong. I am trying my hardest to get him to watch some with me, but I want to make sure it is something that will change his opinion!

I was thinking:
Bleach (long though so most likely no)
Death Note
Vampire Knight
Fullmetal Alchemist

...or something along those lines. English dubbed would be the only requirement and obviously something a guy with no anime experience before would like! I have mainly watched shoujo anime so I'm really open to other opinions. Something with a bit of everything (humor, action, romance, etc.) would be best.

Opinions? Suggestions?

*Oh and PLEASE no LIST answers, just the one or two best recommendations according to you!*
Death Note it is.

I won't be "making" him watch anything- only if he decides he wants to. Vampire knight is definitely out though, it is really girly now that I think about it. I just haven't watched very much action-ish anime so that was one of the few I could remember seeing that had some action.

Thanks for all the opinions!

 

[unari111]

Death Note. That's what got me into it.

 

[OrchidMan]

Depends what he's into, if he likes drama and romance, find an Anime with that stuff. If he likes action then get hyper action animes. If he's into humor then find out what kind of humor he's into, in my opinion comedies are what Anime is weak in I just don't find their humor that funny so I wouldn't use those. Nothing that drags on and nothing with too much talking as that can be boring.

 

[Yellow]

Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Black Lagoon.

 

[I Will LOL You :D]

If he's into comedy:
Great teacher onizuka...

Otherwise, Death note is probably the best choice, it's like an instant fave for basically everyone.

 

[bubble's POP]

well im not sure if a boy would like this anime but it sure kept me watching !
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (or the spoof called haruhi chan suzumiya)
it has both humor action and romance, it is english dubbed at http://www.watchcartoonsonline.com/
it is about a girl named haruhi who gets what ever it is she desires, but she doesn't know it, that is why 4 high school students allow her to drag them into the silliest of situations because if they don't it might mean the end of the world.