The mecha anime genre has taken a dip in popularity since its peak in the late 90s. With each new anime that is introduced to the mecha anime genre, new mechs are added to the pantheon of giant mechanical robots. Luckily, series like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Mobile Suit Gundam launched the mecha genre into the mainstream.
Code Geass, Gurren Lagann, and Eighty-Six managed to carry the torch into a modern era of mecha anime. Each new mecha design adds depth to the genre and brings dedicated fans back for another debate to determine which anime mecha stands supreme. Of course, new mecha anime also bring new fans, making this debate more interesting today than ever before.
10 Team Avatar Must Face Mecha In Season 1 & 4 (The Legend Of Korra)
The Legend of Korra took the pastoral setting created in Avatar: The Last Airbender and added a 19th-century steampunk aesthetic. Along with this aesthetic came mecha robots created by Hiroshi Sato and later perfected by Kuvira.
Sato’s mecha were clunky and easily destroyed by Team Avatar, but Kuvira’s were something else. These mecha varied in size and strength, with each possessing incredible destructive potential and heightened mobility. Fans only wish that the animation team had taken the time to draw the mecha rather than rendering them with early 2010s CGI.
9 This Unnamed Mecha Has A Simple Yet Effective Design (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken)
With the combined brilliance of Asakusa and Mizusaki, Keep Your Hands off Eizouken debuted one of the most well-thought-out mecha shorts that has ever been put to screen. The unnamed mecha that stars in the Eizouken clubs' debut short film has a simple design, but every piece of it serves an important function.
Asakusa makes certain that her mechanical creation doesn't fall victim to the same stereotypical weakness found in the average mecha. With her practical mind and Mizusaki's fixation on realistic motion in anime, the mecha that made it onscreen at their school festival wowed everyone in attendance — fans included.
8 Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Earns Space On The Title Card (Gurren Lagann)
For a mecha to earn the designation as a titular character it has to be pretty cool. This is the case for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, the primary mecha utilized throughout Gurren Lagann.
In its base form, the Gurren Lagann mecha is no different from the typical shonen mecha. There is something to say about its chest plate matching Simon’s character design, but this is nothing compared to the design of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. In a form that translates to “heaven piercing” Gurren Lagann, this mecha is so tied in to the Gurren Lagann power system that some fans don’t even count it as mecha.
7 Eva Unit 3 Is A Reminder Of Dark Times (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most popular mecha franchises of all time. Each of its mecha’s is directly tied to a character, giving it the chance to win over fans with its humanity as much as its design.
Eva Unit 3 disregarded this idea entirely and earned the respect of the fans because of it. Unlike the other Eva units, Eva Unit 3 was never truly piloted by a human. After being activated by Toji, the purple monstrosity was immediately possessed by the 13th angel. The way the plot moved around Eva Unit 3 broke the hearts of dedicated fans, making it one of the most well-respected mecha in anime history.
6 The HG Juggernaut Ignores Genre Conventions With A Unique Mecha Design (Eighty-Six)
The mecha found in Eighty-Six are unlike the typical shonen mecha. Most mecha found in mainstream anime take on the general build and proportions of a human being. The HG Juggernaut from Eighty-Six ignores this trend and introduces a mecha that looks more like a spider than a human.
The four-legged mecha crawls along the ground to create a strong base for the giant canon strapped to its back. Eighty-Six and the Juggernaut are proof that there is still room for the mecha genre to grow despite its routes being firmly planted by genre staples like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Mobile Suit Gundam.
5 The VF-25F Messiah Transforms From Mecha To Fighter Jet (Macross Frontier)
Macross Frontier is a little-known anime that debuted in the late 2000s as a continuation of the Macross franchise. While many fans bemoan the series for its similarities to Transformers, there are those wizened mecha fans who recognize it for the hidden gem that it is.
Macross is much more than a Transformers clone. The series takes what makes mecha anime so great and combines it with the transformative mechanical animations made famous by the Transformers franchise. This combination brought the VF-25F Messiah to the attention of dedicated mecha anime fans, which is a genuine gift to the genre.
4 Gawain Won Over Fans With Its Design & Functionality (Code Geass)
In Code Geass, the Gawain was an experimental mecha created by the Zevon family. The mecha featured a double cockpit and physical attributes that bring it into comparison with the Egyptian god Anubis. After Lelouch stole the prototype, he began using it as his primary mecha until an upgraded version was created for him.
There are many reasons why this mecha managed to win over the hearts of anime fans. The dual-cockpit is unique to the world of Code Geass, but it doesn’t limit Gawain, as the mecha can be piloted by a single pilot all the same. Furthermore, the black and gold color scheme and Anubis-like helmet make for a regal design that suits Lelouch. The fact that it is a one-of-a-kind prototype is just icing on the cake.
3 Rayearth Masterfully Borders The Line Between Gorgeous & Gaudy (Magic Knight Rayearth)
In Magic Knight Rayearth, the Three Mashin serve as the guardian protectors of a planet hidden from the natural world. This planet, Cephiro, has maintained its peaceful existence thanks to the three mecha that fall under the designation Rune God, or Mashin.
The coolest of the Three Mashin is hotly debated, but most fans reach a consensus after taking a closer look at Rayearth. The flaming Rune God takes on the form of a red, armored mecha with a giant shield whenever it joins forces with Hikaru Shidou. The mecha’s glimmering armor, clawed gauntlets, and flaming headdress is as visually captivating as it gets without breaking into the realm of gaudy.
2 The RX-78-2 Gundam Is Iconic (Mobile Suit Gundam)
The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is one of the most popular fictional franchises in the entire world. The original anime series spawned countless sequels, film adaptations, and even video games.
Gundam is an ever-evolving franchise has introduced hundreds of different mecha its fanbase, but none match the simple design of the original RX-78-2 Gundam. The classic Gundam is an iconic mecha in the world of anime and despite its outdated design, it still brings out feelings of wonder to all who lay their eyes on it.
1 Shinji Ikari's Eva Unit 1 Is Incredible To Watch On Screen (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
In Neon Genesis Evangelion, the purple and green mecha piloted by Shinji Hikari is outclassed by no machine. As the primary mecha utilized by the protagonist of the biggest mecha anime series of all time, Eva Unit 1 checks all the boxes required to earn the designation of cool.
Eva Unit 1's thin design, monstrous combat ability, and eye-popping color scheme allow it to control the screen whenever N.E.R.V. sends it into battle. On top of this, the beast is humanized thanks to its connection to Shinji, making it as relatable in the eyes of fans as the human piloting it.