The mecha genre has been at the forefront of anime storytelling for a long time now. The concept of giant robots doing battle may seem juvenile on some level, but the mecha genre has historically used this construct to explore unique and challenging ideas.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a prime example of how philosophical and contemplative a mecha anime can be. Neon Genesis Evangelion has a reputation as a notably depressing anime, but there are actually a number of mecha series that wallow in comparable levels of nihilism & sadness.
10 Blue Gender Pits Mechas Against A Deadly Alien Invasion
Blue Gender tells a dark story that blends together staples of the mecha genre with ideas that are common to alien narratives. A futuristic version of the Earth is basically left as a wasteland to a rampant and deadly alien threat. Most of humanity has fled to a Second Earth to start over, but Blue Gender focuses on two unlikely individuals who are stuck back on the alien-infested planet. Utilitarian-like mecha are used for survival in the anime, but they’re hardly the series’ focal point. It’s much more concerned with a bleak outlook on humanity’s future.
9 Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Doesn’t Hide The Atrocities Of War
There are many contrasting series set within the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise that attempt to deconstruct mechas in different ways. Iron-Blooded Orphans is one of the more popular recent Gundam series and benefits from its affable & innocent group of characters who get in over their heads with a dangerous war. Iron-Blooded Orphans doesn’t hide harsh subject matter, featuring child soldiers who execute lives without a second thought. There are very few survivors when the dust settles at the end of the series, and Iron-Blooded Orphans becomes a very sad meditation on the realities of war.
8 Darling In The FranXX’s Flawed Mecha Pilots Can’t Pull Themselves Out Of Dark Holes
Darling in the FranXX begins in a depressing post-apocalyptic world and immediately pushes a dour atmosphere that hangs over everything. The characters may be able to rise above this sadness, but they're artificially created and meant to solely serve the purpose of piloting the mecha Franxx.
This structure has the potential for a happy ending, but Darling in the FranXX makes some controversial choices where its flawed characters make major mistakes that hinder the rest of the cast. It's frustrating to see plans get easily destroyed, but it speaks to Darling in the FranXX's larger message about control.
7 The Soldiers In Gunbuster Are Disconnected From The Rest Of Life
Gunbuster is an OVA from the production studio Gainax, Hideaki Anno, and a lot of the people that would go on to work on Neon Genesis Evangelion. Gunbuster echoes a lot of the same isolating themes that are present in Evangelion. Gunbuster focuses on the training process for the select few who are worthy to pilot these mechas and take on an alien menace. Gunbuster depicts these friendly characters turning into cold warriors who need to cut out the distractions in their lives. The Gunbuster team are winners, but they're utterly alienated from their friends and family.
6 Shu And Inori Don’t Get Their Happy Ending In Guilty Crown
Guilty Crown centers around Shu, a hapless high school student who learns that he’s a major player in a resistance against an oppressive tyrant. Shu develops a powerful ability where he can draw weapons and tools out of other individuals, and his slow acceptance of his important role is where Guilty Crown works best. Guilty Crown’s tone takes a serious turn once Shu and Inori’s relationship gets teased. Guilty Crown becomes manipulative on this front as Shu and Inori don’t find happiness together and this drama feels manufactured and unearned, especially for a cathartic ending.
5 RahXephon Features A Lost Mecha Pilot Without Purpose
In a lot of ways the mecha series RahXephon feels like a tamer version of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The two series tackle comparable territory and RahXephon's depressed and aimless Ayato Kamina isn't that far off from Evangelion's disaffected protagonist, Shinji Ikari.
RahXephon follows Ayato's commitment to piloting the RahXephon mecha and how doing so will hopefully help give him a larger sense of purpose and fulfillment. Dark ideas follow Ayato everywhere and contemplates how some people may never be able to outrun sadness. RahXephon isn't afraid to be psychologically draining, much like Evangelion.
4 Code Geass Entertains How Even The Strongest Wills Become Corrupted
Code Geass is a very acclaimed anime and part of the reason it connects with audiences is because of protagonist Lelouch Lamperouge's surprising descent into darkness. Lelouch begins with honorable intentions to avenge the death of his family and help Japan survive the oppressive rule of Britannia through the help of Geass mecha technology. However, Lelouch slowly becomes an even bigger threat and becomes obsessed with power. Lelouch’s dark turn and the consequences that result from it are all very depressing.
3 Valvrave The Liberator’s Dark Vision Of The Future Doesn’t Get Any Brighter
Valvrave the Liberator is a mecha series that's set in a world governed by war, where the population is divided into three feuding factions. Haruto Tokishima is a high school student who represents the JIOR faction and pilots the Valvrave mecha with the objective to take out other factions.
Valvrave begins with a fairly pedestrian storyline, but it doesn't try to sugarcoat anything for its characters and concludes on a sad note. Many of the characters in Valvrave the Liberator have only known pain their entire lives and the anime’s ending isn’t an optimistic salve.
2 Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt Explores The Toll War Takes On The Human Body
Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt is an atmospheric anime that’s one of the most depressing entries in the series. Thunderbolt looks at those who commit themselves to a cause until it completely uses them up. Many Gundam series feature committed pilots who are willing to make sacrifices, but Thunderbolt has paraplegic pilots who literally lose more of themselves in each battle, only to remain resolute in their mission. It’s absolutely gutting to watch these characters throw their lives away, and it makes a victory even feel like a loss.
1 Gurren Lagann Is An Exciting Adventure That Descents Into Sadness
Gurren Lagann is an assault to the senses and highlights the stunning level of quality that Studio TRIGGER consistently brings to their projects. In that sense, Gurren Lagann is full of bright colors and energetic characters, which doesn't necessarily make it seem like a depressing anime series.
However, Kamina and Simon's mission to find independence and freedom ends on a surprisingly bleak note. There are lighthearted moments and definite victories that reward these characters, but the anime's ending seems needlessly morose and it's a real downer that reframes Gurren Lagann in a major way.