Cross Game. Went in expecting another dumb sports shonen with even dumber characters. Instead I got a story and some light tension during baseball games of all things.
Ninja Scroll. All I'd ever seen before were Pokemon, Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball (Z). Suffice to say that it caught my attention.
Detroit Metal City. I wasn't expecting it to actually be funny. Certainly wasn't expecting to laugh so fucking hard that I'd end up in tears.
Amagami SS. It's a harem. The protagonist isn't a spineless beta. The girls are more than just cliches. It doesn't take 12½ episodes for a confession or a kiss. It doesn't make any god damn sense!
And of course, Hinamatsuri. Funny and heartwarming