As far as the best animation in films (anime wise) in my opinion would be:
Akira
Knocking on Heavens Door
The Wings of Honneamise
Laputa
Metropolis
Macross Plus
Now as far as series or OAV
Cowboy Bebop
Samuari Shamplou
Hellsing
Last Exile
Heatguy J
Gungrave
That's Samurai CHAMPLOO, and I didn't find it too impressive at all, graphically. It's something you expect from all decently budgeted series today. I find Gonzo's tasteful use of CG in Samurai 7 more worthy of praise. It's a better series, in general.
Gungrave also had pretty crappy animation, as I recall.
Sorry but that's how the dipshit who made the bootleg I got spelled it
Anyway I was quite impressed with the fluidness of the action and the overall look of it. To each thier own.
And as far as Gungrave is conscerned I thought it was awsome. But again there is no accounting for taste.
These are in my idea great animation.
cowboy bebop
Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien
Spirited Away
Last Exile
Princess Mononoke
Kaleiodo star
Scrapped Princess
lain/haibane/neia
escaflowne
Read or Die
12 Kingdoms
Earth Girl Arjuna
Banner of the Stars
Maria-sama ga Miteru/spring
Stellvia of the Universe
Chrno Crusade
Ai Yori Aoshi
Angel?s Tail
Chobits
Full Moon wo
Gate Keepers
Galaxy Angel
Ghost in the Shell
Legend of Basara
Ultra Maniac
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu
candy candy
she,the ultimate weapon
Ah. My Goddess
Abenobashi
Figure 17 Tsubasa & Hikaru
Inuyasha
Jubei-chan
Kino's Journey
Love Hina
Millenium Actress
RahXephon
Read or Dream tv
samurai x ovas
Witch Hunter Robin
Well, I think that is enough right..^_^
IMO The best animated show ever is Gatekeepers +21. It is so crisp and vibrant that I can never take my eyes off of it. But also I think the cheapest animation ever is Ceres. I apologize first to those who disagree, but i expected the animation to be crisp and vibrant just like Fushigi yugi Eikoden, if you know what I mean. the animation of ceres is old, not sharp, and just horrible looking. Fushigi Yugi came before it and it looks way better than ceres.