Mecha is known for two things: sci-fi action and giant robots. Having said that, fans know that this beloved subgenre has a lot more to offer than just mechanical fisticuffs. Part of mecha's perennial appeal is its ability to reinvent itself without losing its core identity. While there will always be giant fighting robots and intergalactic shenanigans, beyond that, the universe is the limit.
When a love story is told well, the genre framework doesn't really matter. More than a few mecha series have delved into romance, with arguably mixed results. Even so, those who like their mecha stories spiced with a dash of romance will find no shortage of option
Updated on February 15th, 2023 by Chelsea Steele: Mecha anime is no stranger to romance, and many series are even home to some of anime's most iconic love stories. Beyond the intergalactic battles and giant robots, the genre isn't afraid to touch on the emotional side of a story with compelling relationships between the characters. With so many amazing mecha romances out there, this list barely scratches the surface, so it's been updated with even more great series that are perfect for anyone who loves a good love story.
20 The Big O Touches On The Concept Of An Android's Ability To Love
Romance isn't a huge part of the series throughout most of The Big O. However, as the story progresses, the concept of love and romance comes up often, especially in regard to the series' main protagonist, Roger Smith, and his android assistant, Dorothy.
Though the two start out as mere acquaintances, their relationship starts to shift over time and become more romantic in nature. But since Dorothy is an AI, it's hard to tell if she can truly feel love or not. Nevertheless, the series heavily implies Dorothy's feelings for Roger, bringing into question the nature of AI and how it compares to real human emotions.
19 Guilty Crown's Romance Is The Best Part Of The Series
It's no secret that Guilty Crown isn't exactly popular among mecha fans. Most found it to be a big disappointment, seeing it as nothing more than a generic mecha series with nothing truly unique or inspiring to make it stand out. However, it does have one thing going for it, and that's its romance.
The series follows the budding relationship between protagonist Shuu Ouma and Inori Yuzuriha. From the start, the two are a lovable pair, and as their love story unfolds, fans can't help but feel invested. Their compelling relationship is one of the best parts of the series, and though Guilty Crown has developed a bad reputation over the years, it's worth watching for their romance alone.
18 Full Metal Panic! Is Famous For Its Romance
Full Metal Panic! is an iconic mecha series, combining sci-fi, action, and comedy in a way few other series in the genre have done before. Though this 2000s classic is well-known for its comedic approach to mecha tropes, it's also very famous for its romance.
For years, fans have been enamored by the budding relationship between Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori, and though the two aren't an official couple yet, it's clear they have strong feelings for each other. Their relationship is one of the strongest parts of the series, and many tune in just to see their iconic love story unfold.
17 Promare Isn't Inherently A Romance But Has Queer Romantic Undertones
When Promare was released in 2019, it quickly became a worldwide success and gained fans from all over. While the film isn't necessarily a romance story and appears to have no romantic subplot, some fans say otherwise. That's all thanks to the fiery relationship between the film's protagonist, Galo Thymos, and fan-favorite Lio Fotia.
Many have picked up on queer romantic undertones between these two, so much so that most fans even consider them canon. Considering the nature of their scenes together, especially at the end of the movie, there may actually be something more between them than pure friendship. Either way, over the years, Promare has become well-known for this subtext, and it's seen as a champion of representation within anime films.
16 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury Features A Potential Romance Between Two Female Leads
The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has always been rich with romantic storylines, and from the looks of it, that's no different for the latest series, The Witch From Mercury. The series joins together Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran, who suddenly become engaged after Suletta wins a duel at their school. Now forced together as a duo, the girls must learn to work together and become a true team while facing off against any opponent who comes their way.
While Suletta and Miorine's relationship isn't inherently romantic, there's no denying that the two share a special bond. With a second season on its way soon, there's still a chance that the two might become an official couple, so viewers will just have to tune in and find out.
15 Date A Live Combines Mecha With Harem Romance
Date A Live is one of those series fans either love or hate. Many see it as just another tasteless harem anime, but plenty of others can appreciate what it brings to the mecha genre. The story centers around Shido Itsuka, an average high school boy who finds himself forcibly recruited to reform dangerous spirits by making them fall in love with him.
With a premise like that, it's no shock that the series is full of romance, with various cute spirit girls finding themselves paired up with the Shido throughout. Though it's not for everyone, Date A Live's romance adds a unique and fun twist to the genre that keeps it fresh.
14 The Vision Of Escaflowne's Story Revolves Around The Main Couple
The Vision of Escaflowne is an often overlooked '90s classic that combines mecha and shojo, with just a dash of isekai for good measure. The series follows the epic journey of Hitomi Kanzaki, who finds herself suddenly transported to a magical new world after a run-in with a dragon and a mysterious boy named Van.
Though Escaflowne's story mostly focuses on the heroes' adventure, there's also a big emphasis on the relationship between Hitomi and Van. Throughout their quest, the two grow closer, building a strong bond of trust and understanding. Their love for each other gives them the strength they need to carry on and save Gaea from evil.
13 Magic Knight Rayearth's Romance Plays A Big Role In The Story
Magic Knight Rayearth is yet another old-school series that blends together elements of mecha, shojo, and isekai to make a unique story that appeals to many demographics. The series centers around three young girls who have been transported to the world of Cephiro in order to become the Legendary Magic Knights and save everyone.
In this magical world, the strength of one's heart is what keeps the land flourishing, so love and romance play a vital role in the story. From romantic subplots to the main couples, each half of Magic Knight Rayearth centers heavily around the relationships between the characters and how they affect the world around them.
12 Code Geass Has A Lot Of Romance, Even If It's Not The Main Focus
Unlike many other mecha series out there, Code Geass is hardly a love story in any way. The series mainly focuses on Lelouch and his ongoing fight against the Holy Empire of Britannia and their tyranny. Nevertheless, there's still plenty of romance to go around, from romantic subplots between side characters to the strong bonds Lelouch forms with those closest to him.
Though they aren't the main focus, many of these relationships play a key part in the story's progression, especially when it comes to the diabolical series' protagonist. Each of Lelouch's relationships shapes who he is as a person and acts as a driving force that keeps him going.
11 Gurren Lagann Is One Of Mecha's Greatest Love Stories
Without a doubt, Gurren Lagann is one of the most well-known and beloved mecha anime of all time. Much of what makes this series so incredible is the iconic love story between protagonist Simon and Nia Teppelin. From the tail end of the first half of the series onward, their relationship is one of the most important in the story.
Simon's love and adoration for Nia is one of his biggest motivators, and it's the main reason for much of what he does, especially during the Anti-Spiral Wars. Throughout the story, the pair fight against all odds just to be together, and though their love is tragic, it's one of the most compelling romances in the genre.
10 Mars Daybreak Features A Romantic Subplot Between Childhood Friends
Mars Daybreak is partly about the perils of terraforming. Set on a Mars accidentally covered in an enormous ocean, upon which most citizens live on floating city-ships, the series follows Gram River, a young man whose ship is beset by submarine pirates before he's rescued by a giant mech.
He begins working with the pirates as a mech pilot. However, his childhood friend Vess works for the government and isn't pleased with his choices. While the romance between these two is never central to the story, it is a constant thread that motivates the characters.
9 Gundam Seed Has Some Of The Franchise's Most Iconic Couples
The Gundam franchise has certainly had countless romantic pairings over the years, and there are definitely fan-favorite ships featured in series like Z: Gundam. Even so, Gundam Seed arrived in 2002, just in time for the internet era of shipping wars.
The first Gundam series set during the cosmic era, Gundam Seed focuses on the budding conflicts between humans on Earth and genetically enhanced "coordinators" who've fled to live among the stars. Gundam fans are renowned for their loyalty to the franchise, and this seems to have applied to their loyalty to various ships, too.
8 Macross Frontier Sparked Many Ship Wars Among Fans
Macross is a landmark franchise that fans either adore or intensely dislike. Oddly, one element that divides fans most is the infamous love triangles that proliferate the various storylines.
Frontier's legacy as a series seems at least partially ingrained due to the Sheryl/Ranka "waifu wars" that sparked within the fandom. Take it or leave it, Macross's impact on mecha is hard to deny, and it was among the first to blend such a wide variety of themes.
7 Darling In The Franxx Features One Of Mecha's Most Famous Romances
It's hard to think of any series in recent years that disappointed fans like Darling in the Franxx. Even as hype around the series grew, a sense of foreboding pervaded the fandom as the storyline began to regress.
Set in yet another post-apocalyptic future in which humanity is divided into real and artificially-created beings, the story's main pairing consists of Hiro and Zero Two, who partner-pilot a Franxx mecha. A deeply disappointing final arc makes the series as a whole hard to recommend, but the romance in the first half drew a lot of viewers to the show.
6 Valvrave The Liberator Contains A Surprising Amount Of Romance
Despite boasting a rather depressing outlook on the future, Valvrave The Liberator garnered significant attention from romance fans. Set in the distant future, the series follows Haruto Tokushima and a group of students who become Valvrave pilots at the cost of losing their humanity.
Piloting a Valvrave means losing one's memories and empathy, and so Haruto decides to embark on a possibly doomed quest to become purely human once again. While all of this already seems incredibly dark, the show provides fertile ground for all kinds of romance, with fans happily shipping Haruto with cast members of both genders.
5 RahXephon Puts A Deep, Philosophical Twist On The Main Romance
RahXephon is often compared to Evangelion, and for good reason. Both series boast a bleaker color palette and worldview than many mecha series, and they were produced within a decade of each other. In the post-Evangelion era, a lot of shows were trying to borrow thematic elements from the breakout series.
Like Evangelion, RahXephon attempted to raise the bar for mecha, boasting nostalgic artwork, references to ancient civilizations, a universe shaped by the power of music, and elevated, somewhat cryptic, storytelling. But while these elements were not always successful, other elements helped it forge its own identity. For instance, a curious romantic connection exists between two leads, Ayato and Haruka, who may have known each other in another life.
4 Genesis Of Aquarion Tells A Story Of Forbidden Love
Sousei no Aquarion and its sequel, Aquarion Evol, are slightly more optimistic series than many modern mecha titles. Inspired by the giant robot shows popularized in '70s and '80s Japan, the series attempted to blend nostalgic themes with modern animation and storytelling. In Genesis, mankind is beset by a race of beings called Shadow Angels until one falls in love with a human and uses a mecha to save mankind.
On the other hand, Aquarion Evol focuses more on characterization. Two teams of mecha pilots are separated by gender, and romance has been forbidden among them. Of course, banning love is one surefire way to guarantee characters will most definitely fall in love.
3 Gargantia On The Verdurous Planet Has A Well-Written & Enjoyable Romantic Subplot
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet is grounded in the real lives and consequences of those living in a human-made dystopian future. When mecha pilot Ledo falls through a wormhole while battling aliens and crash-lands on an ocean-covered planet, he has no choice but to live among the people of Gargantia, a cityscape formed from a fleet of ships.
Ledo's development as a character is gratifying, and the surrounding cast of characters is refreshing. While there are endless reasons to watch a show this good, the budding romance between Ledo and Amy, a messenger living aboard the Gargantia, is well-earned.
2 Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo Builds On The Relationship Between Shinji & Kaworu
For years, fans have bickered about the dynamic between Shinji Ikari and the angel known as Kaworu Nagisa, and debates about the true nature of their relationship within the series once divided a rather close-minded fandom. Likely realizing this, Hideaki Anno leaned in hard on the romance between the pair while making the third Rebuild film.
The piano scene is iconic, and while there will always be those who dismiss the romance between these characters, the film serves as a classic example of queer coding. While series like Given are helping to move things forward, dismissing Shinji's infatuation with Kaworu is like arguing that dogs can't look up.
1 Eureka Seven's Main Romance Is Built On Compassion & Trust
Even today, there are few series that are easily comparable to Eureka Seven. Produced in 2005 by the ever-reliable Studio Bones, the story is a unique blend of surf/skate culture and mecha elements. Set thousands of years after humanity has departed for space, the series documents the conflict between humanity and an alien race called the "Scub corals," sentient lifeforms who may seek coexistence but have often been vilified.
When Renton Thurston, following in his father's footsteps, joins a group of well-meaning outlaws known as the Gekkostate, he's accompanied by Eureka, a mysterious mecha pilot. As the two gradually come to understand each other, their love feels as organic as is justified, as it is based on mutual respect and compassion.