> BTW I thought I'd just delurk and say Hi! -I'm entirely new to anime/manga
> but just recently come across AMS! and am really getting into it now - I've
> just watched Akira and Metropolis (and the AMS! OAV and movie of course!)
> anyone have any other must-see suggestions for an anime newbie?!

Hiya Jacob, welcome to the land of the conversant. :)

Once you've seen AMS in its OVA and movie incarnations, I'd recommend you take 
in 'My Neighbour Totoro'/'Tonari no Totoro' by Hayao Miyazaki. I guess you 
could describe it as what A. A. Milne would have done made if he'd grown up 
in Japan, but it's really its own thing. Totoro is wonderful, breaks all 
cultural and generational gaps.

Plenty of other Miyazaki movies are also worth taking in, particularly 
'Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind'/'Kaze no Tane no Nausicaa', which also 
has an excellent (though reasonably different) manga.

As far as long series go I'd push you in the direction of 'Maison Ikkoku'. It 
starts out pretty silly, but in the course of its story, either as a manga or 
as its tv series, turns out to be remarkably touching and well done. It also 
has great music. :)

Sam the man