- Joined
- Feb 28, 2012
- Messages
- 7,295
- Reaction score
- 8,906
- First Language
- English
- Primarily Uses
- RMMZ
So today, between running around for the different things that Degica is doing for Tokyo Game Show, and the start of the RPG Maker Web Learning Together event and sale, I was scrolling down through my own Facebook feed, and I ran across this article.
Dailydot's top 8 Mecha Anime of all time.
Now, I read through the list, curious, because of course, I'm a great lover of all things Mecha, and have OPINIONS on such subjects. Two entries in and I'm thinking, Oh, this is one of those old fogees who just puts classic iconic stuff on there. Two more entrees in and I'm thinking... Wait, both Macross & Robotech? And Bubblegum Crisis? I mean it isn't bad but this is really old fogee talk here.
Next up, predictable, Of COURSE Eva has to be on here, the only reason the other most overrated anime of all time isn't on the list is it has no mecha. And then it takes a turn and all I can think Three new hotness series. Man... this is just a trash list.
Of course, intellectually. I know, my friend just posted this up to troll people. His own tastes couldn't possibly have matched that list.
I wasn't going to fall for such a trap. No way. I'm too good for that.
No. Of course I'm not.
Ok, fine I wrote about 4 paragraphs of why it is wrong. And now I'm going to expand on those 4 paragraphs at length.
First thing I'm going to do though, is break down what is wrong with the anime on the list:
Gundam: The original series isn't even the best GUNDAM series. It isn't even the best UC Gundam series.
Macross: Not terrible, and certainly had a huge impact it just... it is fine. It isn't great.
Robotech: Oh, come ON. I mean yes, it means a lot to me personally. But it was a semi-butchered version of 3 different series and while anime as a whole in the west owes quite a bit to the way Robotech brought anime to the US and then what followed, it isn't GREAT. I mean, this is a guilty pleasure thing for me.
Bubblegum Crisis: It's... It's fine. it is nothing spectacular, and nothing bad. Just, it exists.
Evangelion: What you get if you took a book on teen angst, a super robot manga, and the bible, ripped all the books up, threw the paper in the air and tried to reconnect them. There is some brilliance in the deconstruction of tropes, but the ending was horrible due to budget issues, and it isn't half as deep as it pretends. (Also the remake films are BETTER).
Code Geass: Good and promising first season. All downhill from there.
Gurren Lagann: Look, I just think this series is trash. If I wanted something goofy and over the top, I have another series that is better (that I'll mention later.
Knights of Sidonia: It is enjoyable. But the animation is... not great and it is honestly a bit forgettable.
So. What ARE the 8 best mecha anime of all time?
Well, according to me (and my taste is of course perfect) in no particular order:
Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (1989)
This is the best Gundam series. And the best Gundam UC series. And just really a phenomenal anime by any measure. It tells a small side story in the UC timeline. About a kid. A test pilot. And a commando sent on a mission. It is also unbelievably sad, and communicates without pulling any punches what the Gundam series has always been about: The horrors and senselessness of war. It is the perfect distillation of everything Gundam was meant to be in to 6 episodes.
Infinite Ryvius (1999-2000)
This story is basically what happens when you combine the Hunt for Red October with Lord of the Flies and set it IIIIIIIN SPAAAAAACE. Everything unfolds on a experimental spaceship with a giant robot (the Vital Guarder) that through a terrorist attack and a tragedy of errors ends up in the hands of a large group of astronaut students in their teens with the entire power of the world military chasing them. The story is really more about the interplay of social order on the ship than mecha, but it is one of the best anime SERIES I've ever seen, much less mecha.
Mazinkaiser SKL (2011)
This is the anime you really want for over the top and ridiculous mecha anime action. I was introduced to this series at an anime panel in which the person running it described it as "Mazinkaiser if it was piloted by two dudes who don't give a fuuuuuuuck." And that is straight up accurate. It is also the most metal anime ever made. Not only is it stupidly over the top, it does it in this way that is hard to tell if it is earnest or completely tongue in cheek, and somehow that just adds to the charm.
The Vision of Escaflowne (1996)
This series is interesting. I'm not even sure what genre to call it. It is a mecha action show, but the main characters are the high school Japanese girl transported to another land who has mysteeeerious powers~ who is fought over by two cute bishounen guys. I jokingly referred to it as a Shoujonen series to my wife, and honestly, its kind of accurate. It is set in a world parallel to Earth that is sort of medieval except it has awesome fantasy mechs and evil empire and some crazy twists at the end that make you rethink the series and just go: Huh.
Aldnoah Zero (2014-2015)
OK, so it is easy to dismiss this as a Gundam clone. And to be honest, I can't really argue against it. But there is one thing that was super different about this series compared to 99% of series out there. The main character and his mecha. In most series, the main character is a stupidly good pilot in a stupidly good mech. In this one, he is a good pilot. There is no doubt, and he gets REMARKABLY good as the series progresses. But his mech is actually not that great. He is fighting enemy supermechs in basically a training unit. And he wins because he is just insanely smart. He makes these plans that are clever, take advantage of science and logic and it is just super cool. The evolution of the end villain is also really well done.
Full Metal Panic! (2002)
Another unique series. This one is a high school comedy action mecha series. The main character is teenage mercenary mecha pilot who was raised as a child soldier put undercover to protect a seemingly normal high school teen girl who has some weird connection to the bizarre tech that allows the mecha of the world to work. The humor of the show comes mostly from his complete inability to act like a normal human being, and the fish out of water type scenarios. It alternates between serious and funny episodes, and honestly does both well enough.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans (2015-Present)
I will say that this is probably the weakest entry on my list, not because it isn't fantastic, but because honestly I have only watched about the first 7 episodes of it. I loved the setting though. The characters are interesting. It is Gundam, and it is about what Gundam is about, but it is so very DIFFERENT. Unless the quality took a freakish nosedive after I got busy and forgot to keep watching, this series is fantastic.
Martian Successor Nadesico (1996-1997)
Martian Successor Nadesico is a serious, interesting story about memory, historical dissonance, and the impact of our actions layered under a ludicrous number of coats of satire, parody, and slapstick. It is honestly one of the FUNNIEST shows I've ever seen, featuring a rag tag group of eccentrics hired to man the space battleship Nadesico, owned by a private company to help fight against the "Jovian Lizards". Alien invaders from Jupiter. And it just goes off the rails near the beginning and never makes it back. I think it even forgets rails exist. It is an amazing ride, and the story underneath is brilliant. Just straight up brilliant.
So what do you think? What are your favorite Mecha Anime? Am I wrong (of course I'm not)? Have you seen these series, have opinions on them? One of these sound interesting that you've never watched before?
Dailydot's top 8 Mecha Anime of all time.
Now, I read through the list, curious, because of course, I'm a great lover of all things Mecha, and have OPINIONS on such subjects. Two entries in and I'm thinking, Oh, this is one of those old fogees who just puts classic iconic stuff on there. Two more entrees in and I'm thinking... Wait, both Macross & Robotech? And Bubblegum Crisis? I mean it isn't bad but this is really old fogee talk here.
Next up, predictable, Of COURSE Eva has to be on here, the only reason the other most overrated anime of all time isn't on the list is it has no mecha. And then it takes a turn and all I can think Three new hotness series. Man... this is just a trash list.
Of course, intellectually. I know, my friend just posted this up to troll people. His own tastes couldn't possibly have matched that list.
I wasn't going to fall for such a trap. No way. I'm too good for that.
No. Of course I'm not.
Ok, fine I wrote about 4 paragraphs of why it is wrong. And now I'm going to expand on those 4 paragraphs at length.
First thing I'm going to do though, is break down what is wrong with the anime on the list:
Gundam: The original series isn't even the best GUNDAM series. It isn't even the best UC Gundam series.
Macross: Not terrible, and certainly had a huge impact it just... it is fine. It isn't great.
Robotech: Oh, come ON. I mean yes, it means a lot to me personally. But it was a semi-butchered version of 3 different series and while anime as a whole in the west owes quite a bit to the way Robotech brought anime to the US and then what followed, it isn't GREAT. I mean, this is a guilty pleasure thing for me.
Bubblegum Crisis: It's... It's fine. it is nothing spectacular, and nothing bad. Just, it exists.
Evangelion: What you get if you took a book on teen angst, a super robot manga, and the bible, ripped all the books up, threw the paper in the air and tried to reconnect them. There is some brilliance in the deconstruction of tropes, but the ending was horrible due to budget issues, and it isn't half as deep as it pretends. (Also the remake films are BETTER).
Code Geass: Good and promising first season. All downhill from there.
Gurren Lagann: Look, I just think this series is trash. If I wanted something goofy and over the top, I have another series that is better (that I'll mention later.
Knights of Sidonia: It is enjoyable. But the animation is... not great and it is honestly a bit forgettable.
So. What ARE the 8 best mecha anime of all time?
Well, according to me (and my taste is of course perfect) in no particular order:
Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (1989)
This is the best Gundam series. And the best Gundam UC series. And just really a phenomenal anime by any measure. It tells a small side story in the UC timeline. About a kid. A test pilot. And a commando sent on a mission. It is also unbelievably sad, and communicates without pulling any punches what the Gundam series has always been about: The horrors and senselessness of war. It is the perfect distillation of everything Gundam was meant to be in to 6 episodes.
Infinite Ryvius (1999-2000)
This story is basically what happens when you combine the Hunt for Red October with Lord of the Flies and set it IIIIIIIN SPAAAAAACE. Everything unfolds on a experimental spaceship with a giant robot (the Vital Guarder) that through a terrorist attack and a tragedy of errors ends up in the hands of a large group of astronaut students in their teens with the entire power of the world military chasing them. The story is really more about the interplay of social order on the ship than mecha, but it is one of the best anime SERIES I've ever seen, much less mecha.
Mazinkaiser SKL (2011)
This is the anime you really want for over the top and ridiculous mecha anime action. I was introduced to this series at an anime panel in which the person running it described it as "Mazinkaiser if it was piloted by two dudes who don't give a fuuuuuuuck." And that is straight up accurate. It is also the most metal anime ever made. Not only is it stupidly over the top, it does it in this way that is hard to tell if it is earnest or completely tongue in cheek, and somehow that just adds to the charm.
The Vision of Escaflowne (1996)
This series is interesting. I'm not even sure what genre to call it. It is a mecha action show, but the main characters are the high school Japanese girl transported to another land who has mysteeeerious powers~ who is fought over by two cute bishounen guys. I jokingly referred to it as a Shoujonen series to my wife, and honestly, its kind of accurate. It is set in a world parallel to Earth that is sort of medieval except it has awesome fantasy mechs and evil empire and some crazy twists at the end that make you rethink the series and just go: Huh.
Aldnoah Zero (2014-2015)
OK, so it is easy to dismiss this as a Gundam clone. And to be honest, I can't really argue against it. But there is one thing that was super different about this series compared to 99% of series out there. The main character and his mecha. In most series, the main character is a stupidly good pilot in a stupidly good mech. In this one, he is a good pilot. There is no doubt, and he gets REMARKABLY good as the series progresses. But his mech is actually not that great. He is fighting enemy supermechs in basically a training unit. And he wins because he is just insanely smart. He makes these plans that are clever, take advantage of science and logic and it is just super cool. The evolution of the end villain is also really well done.
Full Metal Panic! (2002)
Another unique series. This one is a high school comedy action mecha series. The main character is teenage mercenary mecha pilot who was raised as a child soldier put undercover to protect a seemingly normal high school teen girl who has some weird connection to the bizarre tech that allows the mecha of the world to work. The humor of the show comes mostly from his complete inability to act like a normal human being, and the fish out of water type scenarios. It alternates between serious and funny episodes, and honestly does both well enough.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans (2015-Present)
I will say that this is probably the weakest entry on my list, not because it isn't fantastic, but because honestly I have only watched about the first 7 episodes of it. I loved the setting though. The characters are interesting. It is Gundam, and it is about what Gundam is about, but it is so very DIFFERENT. Unless the quality took a freakish nosedive after I got busy and forgot to keep watching, this series is fantastic.
Martian Successor Nadesico (1996-1997)
Martian Successor Nadesico is a serious, interesting story about memory, historical dissonance, and the impact of our actions layered under a ludicrous number of coats of satire, parody, and slapstick. It is honestly one of the FUNNIEST shows I've ever seen, featuring a rag tag group of eccentrics hired to man the space battleship Nadesico, owned by a private company to help fight against the "Jovian Lizards". Alien invaders from Jupiter. And it just goes off the rails near the beginning and never makes it back. I think it even forgets rails exist. It is an amazing ride, and the story underneath is brilliant. Just straight up brilliant.
So what do you think? What are your favorite Mecha Anime? Am I wrong (of course I'm not)? Have you seen these series, have opinions on them? One of these sound interesting that you've never watched before?
Last edited by a moderator:
