A few reviews

[addiesin]

Mamoru Hosoda is a wonderful director who's works have a strong similarity to the Ghibli films in tone but are distinctly his own. I would start with either his first film, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time or his second Summer Wars

That's a lot of people giving feedback about this director! I guess I have to give him a chance sooner than later.

I might check out some of these others you listed too, thanks Malthus. Got some research to do.

Kinda long explanation of what I have seen out of your suggestions and just in general:

I have watched Mary and the Witches Flower, I thought of it as a spiritual sequel to Kiki's Delivery Service, cool to know I'm not that far off.

As for tv, I had a teenage familiarity with DBZ, Sailor Moon, Speed Racer, and Robotech but am not really a fan of them. In adulthood I also have watched Cowboy Bebop and both Fullmetal Alchemist shows and did enjoy those a lot at the time (haven't rewatched any), but didn't like Attack on Titan season one, Eden of the East, Last Exile, FLCL. I'm aware of Death Note, Bleach, One Piece, Naruto, and the card/video game shows like Pokemon, but these never interested me.

There are a handful of others I'm sure. Most of the ones I've seen have aired on US tv or were on Netflix at some point.

What I've been trying to wrap my head around is what do the ones I like have in common that the ones I dislike don't? I feel like mnkykngfu touched on something there, maybe the ones I like are better localised so the cultural disconnect is thinner? Still working on an answer there.

Sorry jrWHAG42 I will probably never watch the Pancreas one. But you also like Mamoru Hosoda it seems.