>>18052
>>18053
>>18094
>Also, just look up random series via applying tags and genres at whim
This is what I'd recommend for any first timer. You've found out something you like so you want more. Take the 5 minutes to create a anidb account, even if it's a throwaway. Then go to the anime you like and scroll down to the tags. One of the things I love about this and VNDB are the tags. They have martial arts, swordplay and samurai all separated for instance. One you have that you can search by rating, you don't have to watch all the popular stuff and indeed some of the more interesting stuff is down around 5 - 7 but it gives you a visual of the popular opinion of what people like. From that, just pick something that looks interesting.
Another thing is that the tags have "weight," which related to how prominent that tag appears in the show. Mononoke for instance has Samurai at a weight of 2/3, so it's a heavy theme of the movie.
As for specific recommendations to help you get off on the right foot. You seem to enjoy action Ghibli movies and Vampires.
From Ghibli:
Laputa: Castle in the Sky. About a girl and her connection to said castle.
Pocco Rosso, A pig guy who flies the Adriatic in the 1920s - 1930s.
Nausicaa, one of Miyozaki's early works. Girl tries to live with nature, even if it gets angry at humanity.
Others I'd recommend are Kiki and Totoro, good films for anyone. Arrietty I like, small girl discovered by a human. Cat returns has the baron in it and is another good one. There are a few others but you can pick them up yourself.
Vampires is a bit easier, got four here.
You've already seen Blood, that was continued in a series call Blood+. Not a bad series if you want a continuation. There's Shiki from a few years ago, basically what would happen if vampires moved into a small Japanese town. The results are… rather graphic. There's of course Hellsing from 2001 and the OVAs from 2006 - 2012. Both are good if you want to see an OP guy dressed like an Inquisitor. Seras is a pretty good second and she grows a bit, coming to terms with being a vamp. Last one I remember is Trinity Blood, from memory it's like Trigun but with vamps. Can't remember a whole lot more than that. But it's solid.
Last thing. Stay the fuck away from Vampire Knight. It's vampires set in school but it's basically Twilight: The Anime. I still get chills as to why I wasted my time on that.