As far as Samurai X goes, I thoroughly enjoyed this OVA collection. I didn't have any expectations when I picked it up, but I was surprised by how much I truly liked the episodes. Still to this day I couldn't tell you a Yu-gi-oh from a Dragonball, but that's only because I'm new and have a lot to learn. If you are looking for a great starting point, this is by far my best recommendation. Anime is certainly difficult to get into and even more difficult to appreciate, not because it's bad, but because there is so much to learn for someone new to this type of genre that the task can be overwhelming. If you want a story that will definitely move you in terms of lifting your spirits, this is a great series. The action scenes are beautifully choreographed and the soundtrack is outstanding.