Yeah that's a rough one to get into, it's good don't get me wrong but fuck. But you are kinda on the right track, just approach anime like you would different art mediums with similar properties, anime is to western animation what bronze working is to stone working. Best suggestions I can give is like I said Hellsing and Black Lagoon but I'd also add Ghost in the Shell (1990s version), Netflix Castlevania, and fuck it I'll toss in Star Wars Visions since it is anime. Really stay away from Shonen unless it's basically Jojo or Attack on Titan since they are just kinda doing their own things and don't follow the tropes all that much.

Edit: Also Fullmetal Alchemist brotherhood worth a watch by itself.