Truth be told, learning japanese by watching anime is an oxymoron. You're only fooling yourself into thinking that you're getting better, when you're really not...

I think this works best if you already know some basics, otherwise I think it would be too fast and too much, trying to comprehend what is being said AND reading the subtitles in English.

I have not tried it but looking interesting.

Hi,I'm Japanese woman.
Better to watch to learn the language is "Tonari no TOTORO_My Neighbor Totoro" I suppose.
Dialogue the characters of Totoro are talking about based on simple words how a child remember it easily and secure."Slum Dunk" is also good if you are be intermediate,there are many good speech in this work.

I don't recommend of that for beginner is "Rurouni Kenshin" which is something used very very traditional and difficult Japanese words as Samurai speaks,and also "EVANGELION" I don't because of it what characters are talking about is something complex to understand the meaning though the word which is used mainly is easy.

Like other posters have pointed out, some of the Ghibli stuff is easier (especially Totoro and Ponyo ... I understand a lot of Ponyo).

Also, if you are going to watch stuff, it might be better to first go with things that will have more formal language. Maybe period pieces (although when extremely formal language is used, I find that the hardest to understand) or better yet things that are based around office life.

Listening practice is listening practice in any language. whenever you listen to a foreign language you are training your ears which in turn helps you to learn a language. In that regard, japanese can be learned through anime.