Mecha is one of the most beloved genres in anime. This category features robots, also known as mecha. They can feature super-sized, sci-fi robots or robots that are governed by physics and current technological advancements. Over the years, the concept of mecha anime has become explosively popular, leading to a surge of robot-themed series.

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Hundreds of mecha anime have been produced and released, and many have become household names, such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion There are several mecha animes that have helped the genre became mainstream, with some even defining the genre as a whole.

10 The Power Of Mecha Is Shown Through High Stakes Battles

Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion

Lelouchs looks at the horizon in Code Geass

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, often referred to as Code Geass, aired from 2006 to 2007. The series centers around exiled prince Lelouch vi Britannia, who obtains Geass, the "power of absolute obedience" from a woman named C.C. With this power, Lelouch leads a rebellion against the Holy Britannian Empire, leading a number of mecha battles.

Code Geass is a melodramatic mecha anime that is top-tier in both visuals and action. The series is characterized by its unique plot twists combined with mecha's unique robots. It raised the standard of mecha to not just have intense battles, but deep plots.

9 High-Class Mecha Is Used For The Fight To Freedom

Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V

Voltes V

Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V, also known as Voltes V or Voltes 5 aired from 1977 to 1978. The series was extremely popular with Filipino youth in the '70s, as the country was undergoing political strife. It is arguably one of the oldest popular mecha animes. Voltes V helped popularize the idea of war with machines as weapons.

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In Voltes V, an alien race known as the Boazan Forces invaded Earth. As war rages, a group of individuals trained for this purpose is unleashed. In the midst of the strife, three brothers learn the truth of their father's disappearance. With the help of their friends and the Voltes V, they aim to beat the tyrant Zu Zanbajil.

8 Mecha Fights Gained Fluid Motions

Guilty Crown

Guilty Crown

Guilty Crown aired in 2011. The anime is set in 2029 Japan. Following the outbreak of an unidentified virus dubbed "Last Christmas," Japan is put under martial law by an organization called GHQ. Ohma Shu, a 17-year-old student comes into possession of the ability "Power of King," which can extract weapons from others. He is flung into conflict between GHQ and the rebel organization Funeral Parlor, who fight against the government with mecha weapons.

What sets Guilty Crown apart is its eye-catching visuals for the mecha weapons. It contains the classic elements of mecha and captivates viewers with its slick action shots. Guilty Crown may not have introduced it, but the series definitely pioneered more fluid motions for mecha fights.

7 The Blueprint For Mecha Anime Began In 1995 And Became A Cultural Icon

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Shinji and his fellow pilots in Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Neon Genesis Evangelion aired from 1995 until 1996. The anime is set in the fortified city of Tokyo-3 fifteen years after a worldwide cataclysm. Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy, is recruited by his father Gendo to join the organization Nerv to pilot a giant bio-machine mecha called "Evangelion." The machine will be used in combat against beings known as "Angels."

Neon Genesis Evangelion is credited for reviving the anime industry and has become a cultural icon. It is well-loved for its complex narrative and fantastic action scenes. The show's vision of exploring depression and inner demons led to a deeper meaning in mecha. With its celebrated cast and complex plot, Neon Genesis Evangelion has become the blueprint for mecha.

6 Artistic Mecha Went On To Influence Works Inside And Outside The Anime Genre

Tengeng Toppa Gurren Lagann

Main cast of Gurren Lagann

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, also known as Gurren Lagann, aired from 2007 until 2013. The series is set in a fictional future Earth ruled by Lordgenome, the Spiral King, who forces humanity to live in isolated subterranean villages. Gurren Lagann focuses on two teenagers who wish to go to the surface.

They make use of the mecha Lagann to get to the surface and fight against Lordgenome's forces. Gurren Lagann is one of the most critically acclaimed mecha anime in history. It has become a benchmark for all mecha anime series; this is not limited to anime, as it also influenced the Transformers Animated franchise due to its expressive art style.

5 Mehca And Romance Blend Together To Create A Refreshing Take

Full Metal Panic!

Full Metal Panic Cropped

Full Metal Panic! is a three-season anime series that began airing in 2002. The anime centers on Sousuke Sagara, a member of the anti-terrorist private military organization Mithril. He is tasked with protecting a hot-tempered high school girl named Kaname Chidori. He does so despite not knowing why he is tasked to protect her.

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Full Metal Panic! is a classic "boy meets girl" mixed with mecha. The love story between Sousuke and Kaname is refreshing, as they both rely on each other equally. Full Metal Panic! showed that mecha goes beyond just machines; mecha animes can also include fear, love, and drama.

4 An Immersive Worldview Brings New Life To Mecha

Eureka Seven

Eureka Seven AO Cast (1)

Eureka Seven aired in 2005. The story follows on Renton Thurston, a 14-year-old teen who dreams of joining the renegade group Gekkostate. He is given the opportunity to do so when a large mechanical robot, the Nirvash Type ZERO, and its pilot (and Gekkostate member) Eureka, crash into his garage. He joins the organization, and it is there where he embarks on an adventure that will shape the world's future.

Eureka Seven is well-loved in the mecha community, though it is largely underrated as a whole. For mecha viewers, Eureka Seven brought a new air to the genre, with a deep worldview and immersive combat scenes. This series is one of the most fleshed-out series, inspiring mecha to be more than just fights.

3 A Well-Structured Conflict Gave Mecha More Depth

Aldnoah.Zero

Aldnoah.Zero

Aldnoah.Zero aired in 2014. Following the discovery of a hypergate on the Moon, humans were given the ability to teleport to Mars. Those who chose to live there discovered advanced technology, which they dubbed "Aldnoah." A war broke out between Earth and Mars, which ultimately led to an uneasy ceasefire.

Fifteen years later, the Vers' Empire's Princess was nearly assassinated, leading to a war, with the Vers' Empire determined to conquer Earth. The production for this anime is top-tier, and the visuals make use of CGI to attract the viewer. Aldnoah.Zero changed mecha from the typical gung-ho series to featuring stories with more depth and metaphors.

2 Mecha Transformations Sparked A New Genre

Super Dimension Fortress Macross

An image from Super Dimension Fortress Macross.

Super Dimension Fortess Macross aired in 1982. It focuses on a love triangle amidst the human-alien war. When an alien battleship crashes into Earth, people realize they aren't alone. Fearing threats from other lifeforms, Earth unifies under the United Nations. The spacecraft is remodeled to SDF1-Macross and on the day of its maiden voyage, the alien race Zentradi descends upon Earth. The SDF1-Macross shoots the incoming squadron, leading to an intergalactic war.

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Super Dimension Fortess Macross is one of the biggest mecha and sci-fi animes ever. The series popularized the concept of transforming mecha, becoming the main inspiration for Robotech and Transformers. The series sparked a new genre in entertainment (beyond just anime) and will remain a legacy.

1 Gundam Mobile Suits Introduced Robot Genre To Mecha

Mobile Suit Gundam

The original RX-78-2 Gundam stands tall in Mobile Suit Gundam.

Mobile Suit Gundam is the first in the Gundam franchise, and spurred several sequels and spin-offs. Originally airing from 1979 to 1980, Mobile Suit Gundam focuses on the war between the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Foundation, with the latter releasing a giant robot RX-78-2-Gundam, piloted by Amuro Ray.

Mobile Suit Gundam is credited for revolutionizing mecha anime as it introduced the Real Robot genre. The way the anime showed mobile suits as weapons of war and how they were piloted by ordinary soldiers become a turning point in mecha and is what led it to be a staple genre in anime. For many, mecha is synonymous with Mobile Suit Gundam.

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