Giant robots have captured the admiration of fans through a variety of media – from Hollywood movies to video games – but especially in the world of anime. From the nostalgic early days of anime to present-day anime, mechas have shown up consistently time and again.
While some of these anime may have not achieved high acclaim like the Gundam series or the infamous Gurren Lagann, there are still anime that every so often show up like a diamond in the rough. However, there are also anime where the story or characters are beyond horrible with the mecha being the only saving grace of the whole series.
10 The Mecha Saves The Anime
The mechas of the anime Vandread make up for what the story lacks. The yellow Vanguard Bangaata mecha that comes into Hibiki's possession ends up changing after touching a strange crystal. His Vanguard gains the ability to combine with any Dread to become a Vandread. Its abilities change depending on whose Dread he combines with.
The Dita combo has long-range cannons that can be turned into cutting weapons or a spear. The Meia combo can use a superfast ram attack to pierce enemies and has laser beams. The Jura combo has a massive defensive shield and laser discs that can fire in multiple directions. The final overpowered form with all three dreads can use a combination of all the dreads' powers.
9 Mechas Shouldn't Look That Scary
The purple demonic-looking mecha from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion is Evangelion Unit-01. It was the first non-prototype Evangelion unit made and serves as the main model face for the series. The most distinctive feature of this mecha is that it houses the soul of Yui Ikari, the mother of Shinji Ikari.
This is the main reason that Shinji can operate it. But it is also why this mecha goes berserk at times and often has moments where it can run without any energy. Additionally, it becomes extremely brutal in fighting during the berserk mode. Unit-01 often reveals its impressive strength and solid defense in the form of its A.T. field.
8 A Mecha Of High Caliber
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Even though Chamber K6821 also known as just Chamber from Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet is the Pilot Support Enlightenment Interface system for Ledo's Machine Caliber, it is also much more. Chamber can act as a life support system with the ability to put its user into cryogenic stasis while protecting the user with its impenetrable defensive armor.
Chamber was able to do this for a whole six months before having to make Ledo wake up due to an unforeseen circumstance. Chamber also acts as a translator and battle advisor. It also possess laser beam weapons that aren't always useful in certain fights, which is why over time a variety of weapon swaps are configured.
7 Girls Dig Giant Robots
Noriko shows that boys aren't the only ones who like to play with giant mechas in the nostalgic anime Gunbuster. The titular black and orange-colored mecha Gunbuster is a combination of both Noriko and Kazumi's respective Buster Machines.
Some of Gunbuster's main abilities are: a Buster Beam that fires from its head crest to slice through space monsters like pie, Homing Laser beams that shoot from its palms to deal immense targeted damage, and the Inazuma Kick which lets it launch quickly into the air before bringing down an electrically charged dropkick.
6 Mecha Look Like A Lady
The custom mecha known as Strelizia from Darling in the Franxx is a rarity in the world of mechs. Its body is designed to look like a female without the normal clunkiness seen on most mechas. Strelizia requires two pilots: a pistil and a stamen.
Zero Two is normally always the pistil while the position of stamen has shifted through several people until its final stamen, Hiro, who was able to survive the longest in it. Strelizia wields a huge lance known as the Queen's Pike, which doubles as the tail of the mecha when it's in "stampede" mode.
5 Age Means Nothing To Mechas
A relic from the past of Paradigm City, Big O – which lends its name to the series – is slow and clunky, but believed to be unstoppable. The best negotiator around, Roger Smith is the main pilot of this black mecha giant. He can call upon Big O whenever he needs to by speaking its name into his watch.
Big O possesses a variety of weapons that consist of multiple laser beams including a single concentrated one, a set of six machine guns, and a set of 18 missiles. It also can transform most of its body into a huge cannon that can blow up massive structures.
4 Mecha With A God Complex
The name of the anime along with one of the main songs and accompanying lyrics are a big clue who this anime's' true star is. The Guymelef mecha Escaflowne from The Vision of Escaflowne is also known as the patron God of Fanelia. It can only be operated by Van Fanel, who had to complete a rite of succession trial that involved him retrieving the Energist from a dragon's heart. Van then must make a blood pact with Escaflowne to awaken it.
Escaflowne's weapons include a long sword and shoulder laser beams. It can also transform into a dragon. The downside is that whatever damage Escaflowne takes, so does Van and he can only be healed if Escaflowne is healed.
3 A Mecha Otaku's Dream Come True
Many mecha otakus dream of building their dream mecha and for many, it is just a dream. Ernesti from Knights & Magic use to be one of those mecha otakus until truck-kun came for him like many isekai individuals. After much studying, training, and chance events, Ernesti gets to build the mecha of his dreams.
His mecha Ikaruga is a beauty of blue and gold color has six arms in all with four being sub arms. It is equipped with two ether reactors, one behemoth heart, and a Queen's coronet. It becomes one of the first Silhouette Knight mechas to use flight.
2 A Mecha Symbol Of Brothers
This mecha of awesomeness has a body of red, black, and gold color with a front piece that resembles the sunglasses worn by Kamina, then later worn by Simon. The mecha – sharing its name with the series – Gurren Lagann, was formed when in a humourous moment of feeling inferior during a fight, Kamina shouted to Simon to combine their gunmen into one, and surprisingly it worked.
Its fighting capabilities consist of making drills of varying sizes and shapes from multiple parts of its body. Additionally, many fans see this mecha as a symbol of the close brother-like relationship that Kamina and Simon shared.
1 A Legend Of Mecha Anime
A legend among mecha anime the RX-78-2 Gundam from the original Mobile Suit Gundam is often credited for starting the love of mecha anime. This mecha was built in secret by Side 7 to fend off the Principality of Zeon and in hopes of changing the tide of battle in the One Year War.
Its main pilot was Amuro Rei. Its weapons were a 60mm Vulcan Gun for mid-range as well as close battle defense, a Hyper Bazooka that has a mini rocket launcher, a Beam Saber for melee fighting, and a Beam Saber for long-range fighting, and a Beam Rifle. RX-78-2 also had a shield that could be brought out for extra defense.