Favorite Mecha/GIANT FIGHTING ROBOT Media and Why?

[PedroSteckecilo]

For me Summer is MECHA TIME! I usually feel the urge to mainline Mecha Anime, play Mecha Videogames and (this year) watch Mecha Movies. So everyone... what are your favorite pieces of Mecha Media... It can be ANYTHING... Anime, Videogames, Comics, Tabletop Roleplaying Games, Tabletop Wargames... whatever! I really want to know what Giant Robot stuff the good populace of The Escapist LOVES and why!

Also... No hatin (Eva/Gundam/Zoids Sucks etc), only discussion and recommendation!

To start off I've got to give a giant amount of love to Robotech/Macross...

While I often make "Anti-Robotech" statements, those are directed at Harmony Gold being shitty about Macross coming to the US not about the Media itself... other than the Southern Cross Chapter of Robotech it is a damn fantastic combination of three unrelated Mecha Series's into a vaguely coherent mythology... in fact tying MOSPEADA (Invid Invasion/New Generation) to the Robotech Mythos gives it a bit more depth... and the Score for Robotechs version of the Macross Saga is actually even a little more exciting than its Japanese counterpart. That said... I also really love Macross Plus, Macross 7 and Macross Frontier and I'd desperately like to support 7 and Frontier officially... if only I could...

Other than that I'll give a big hearty recommendation to The Gundam Movie Trilogy, which improves on the pacing of the original Gundam 0079 TV Series and gives it the fantastic ending it never got.

I'll probably toss in some more of my favorite things once some other people do some posting... so GET TO IT!

 

[Terminate421]

I have to keep coming back to Megas:

First off, a robot controlled by modded Video Game stuff? Sounds easy enough for ME to pilot. Then of course he's tough as shit, powerful and fully capable of coming out on top.

Then of course is the unlimited supplies of explosives it can use like this:

Spoiler

Further more, the design is pretty cool looking/retro and the car isn't bad either.

Plus, chicks dig giant robots.

 

[TehCookie]

I still love Evagelion for being one of my first anime and the only mecha I enjoyed at the time. Though the mech suits being alive was way more interesting than empty robots. The main reason would be Shinji, his mental problems made him an interesting character and was my first introduction to psychology in media. Though I have notice the only people who like Shinji are mentally ill...

Aquarion Evol would be my current favorite, for the romance shenanigans and awesome soundtrack. Also having a mech with asspulls is more entertaining than war drama which a lot of other mecha have.

 

[Gatx]

Gundam Unicorn is one of my favorites at the moment. Just look at this beautiful battle. Poetry, man, poetry.

 

[Dr. Cakey]

And with two votes for Eva, the whiny ***** takes the lead!

Seriously, though. NGE is a curious show, because it's a bit tricky for me to pin down why I like it. It's breadth and emotional range is quite impressive, and it's ability to leave characters stagnated or regressing and still make you think they're growing is intriguing. Also the Angel and Eva designs are excellent, Shiro Sagisu puts out a very nice score, and the visuals are quite good...about half the time.

Also I really liked End of Evangelion.

The most FABULOUS anime ever made (Well, tied for most fabulous, I suppose. Star Driver is pretty FABULOUS, too. Go watch Star Driver, by the way. It's the most cerebral anime you'll never know was smart.), Code Geass is just so...fucking...awesome. It's like somebody said, "Here Dr. Cakey, we took everything you ever wanted and put it in one thing, and then we set it at high school but made it not terrible". I am to this day convinced that Code Geass is actually the smartest anime ever made, by which I mean that it actually gained sentience and directed the writer as to how to finish the series.

One of the many great things about Gurren Lagann is how logical it is. What, did I stutter or something? Gurren Lagann clearly establishes the internal rules for its universe, and doesn't diverge from them at all.

Also it has a mech larger than the galaxy.

 

[ItouKaiji]

I'm definitely going with kaien from Gintama.


Watch him shoot his premature load right in the face of that giant ship. I know it's a parody of Gundam Seed but I hated Gundam Seed and Destiny so much that they put me off the genre for a long time.

 

[IllumInaTIma]

Well, my exposure to mechas is limited to Front Mission series, Pacific Rim and 4 episodes of Gurren Lagann. However, I'm more or less familiar with mechas from other anime, and I have to say, Front Mission and Pacific Rim have the best mechas in my opinion. The problem I have with most mechas is that that they are ridiculously overdesigned, I look at them and, however awesome they might seem, I just don't believe in them.
Wanzers and Jaegers on the other hand do look like something an engineer or soldier might come up with, they are badass, practical and believable at the same time.
<img src=http://images.wikia.com/frontmission/images/d/df/Zenith_wanzer_01.jpg>

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

I always come back to Eureka seveN.

There's a lot of action, drama, mystery, and overall crazy stuff that goes on in the show. Also, it has a lot of great characters that get adequate amounts of characterization throughout the show's 50 episode run.

I mean, look at this intro for the first season.


It is without a doubt my favorite anime of all time that also happens to be a decent mecha anime.

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

Muv Luv Alternative. It has good characters, setting and an engaging story. It's the best one I've read/played. I can't even name another which I think is good, or comes close to Alternative for me.

 

[roushutsu]

There are 3 mecha series that I absolutely adore.

Spoiler: Macross

First is Macross. I'd have to say Macross Plus and the original were my personal faves in the franchise, but they're all pretty good. The way they approach galactic warfare and culture is pretty unique, plus the focus on music. I love how each series seems to focus on a different genre. The stories are nice and varied from each other as well.

Spoiler: Gunbuster

Second is Aim for the Top Gunbuster. It's a 6 episode OVA series, but I absolutely adore it! It was Gainax's first mecha anime (the same guys that later did Gurren Lagann), and it's main lead is a young girl. Noriko is hands down the best female mecha pilot I've ever seen. She goes through the classic underdog hero story; she wants to be a pilot but initially sucks. But through training and her resolve, she not only gets to go into space, but she ends up piloting the strongest mech in the army and completely hauls all kinds of ass while doing it. Honestly, with how hotblooded and excited she can get while fighting, I wouldn't be surprised if Gainax turned to her character for a basis for Kamina. There is a sequel that's good in its own right, but I still love the original.

Spoiler: GaoGaiGar

And lastly, my personal favorite, is King of Braves GaoGaiGar. Before Gurren Lagann took the world by storm, GGG was pretty much the over-the-top super robot homage show. It had everything: a hot-blooded hero who's also a cyborg, the main mecha is lion-themed and has parts that come together to form it, the rest of the mechs are transformers that have AI and distinctive personalities and powers, including a ninja and a rock star, a young kid that plays a larger role in things, and of course, zany over-the-top super powers. What's not to love?

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I always come back to Eureka seveN.

There's a lot of action, drama, mystery, and overall crazy stuff that goes on in the show. Also, it has a lot of great characters that get adequate amounts of characterization throughout the show's 50 episode run.

I mean, look at this intro for the first season.


It is without a doubt my favorite anime of all time that also happens to be a decent mecha anime.

I hear ya, I love Eureka 7 and it hit me right in my heart bits *thumps chest* It's also got those fantastic Macross-esque Surfing Mecha Battles and one of my all time favorite endings.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'm not into mecha shows, which is why I like Neon Genesis Evangelion... Them being big fleshy gods 'n all.

 

[Hero of Lime]

The Gundam Series, my favorite being Gundam Wing, which got me into the series in the first place. The mech designs are still my favorites, the Deathscythe trio, Wing Trio, and the Epyon being my absolute top tier Gundam designs.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I'm too a Gundam fan well I became a fan of it since Gundam Wing (I'm not an old school Universial Centry Gundam fan). I don't really have a favourite Gundam series as each incarnation has their own pro and cons but the main thing they all have are cool Gundam/ Mobile suit designs!

Also I liked Eureka Seven, Gurren Lagaan and seen Code Geass (and L2) and I guess Samurai 7 kind of count (it did had mech in it)?

Oh also I like Super Robot Wars as it's a polar oppersite to the Gundam series (it's all about guy showing big ass attack, female pliots get fanservive and don't give a toss about politial conflict/ message or the senseless death to the civilian and generic grunt pliots)!

 

[Talaris]

Of the many mecha anime I've seen, this one has always been my favourite.

Disregarded my many as being a little sister or "clone" to Evangelion, I always think of RahXephon as the superior show. It had a likeable protagonist, philosophical discussions on the power of music, and a unique art style. It doesn't go overboard and throw symbolism everywhere it the hopes that people will believe it as deep and complex, but focuses a lot more on the relationships between the characters, and knows hows to pace itself when revealing plot points to the viewer. It my opinion it also has one of the strongest endings of a mecha anime.

Highly recommended.

 

[Dandark]

I usually don't like mecha anime as much but I loved Code Geass(Probably because it wasn't originally a mecha story in the manga, the giant robots were added for the anime).

Also how can anyone not like Gurren Lagann?

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

The Gundam Series, my favorite being Gundam Wing, which got me into the series in the first place. The mech designs are still my favorites, the Deathscythe trio, Wing Trio, and the Epyon being my absolute top tier Gundam designs.

Heh Gundam Wing got a lot of people into Gundam/Mecha Anime...

I'm a Universal Century devotee myself (My favourites being 8th MS Team, Victory Gundam and Zeta Gundam) but you'd probably also like Gundam 00, it has a lot in common with Wing... in a good way I found.

It's not an Anime but I've been reading and enjoying the crap out of Five Star Stories, it's an epic Mecha Space Opera with lithe, interesting Mecha Designs and completely crazy Character Designs... it's sort of like Gundam meets Dune...

 

[Hero of Lime]

The Gundam Series, my favorite being Gundam Wing, which got me into the series in the first place. The mech designs are still my favorites, the Deathscythe trio, Wing Trio, and the Epyon being my absolute top tier Gundam designs.

Heh Gundam Wing got a lot of people into Gundam/Mecha Anime...

I'm a Universal Century devotee myself (My favourites being 8th MS Team, Victory Gundam and Zeta Gundam) but you'd probably also like Gundam 00, it has a lot in common with Wing... in a good way I found.

It's not an Anime but I've been reading and enjoying the crap out of Five Star Stories, it's an epic Mecha Space Opera with lithe, interesting Mecha Designs and completely crazy Character Designs... it's sort of like Gundam meets Dune...

I've been meaning to see more of the individual Gundam series, so far I've only seen Wing, Seed, and for some reason, G-Gundam. I do need to check out other ones, and I've heard nothing but positive things about 08th MS team, 00, and Zeta, so I'll definitely keep them in consideration next time I'm in a Gundam-y mood.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Pah! You puny heretics waltzing about in your fragile stick walkers. Feel the power of a TRUE GOD MACHINE.

Nothing like a beetle backed mobile fortress of doom unflinchingly marching over your pathetic defenses while firepower rivaling a battleship is unleashed.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

Of the many mecha anime I've seen, this one has always been my favourite.

Disregarded my many as being a little sister or "clone" to Evangelion, I always think of RahXephon as the superior show. It had a likeable protagonist, philosophical discussions on the power of music, and a unique art style. It doesn't go overboard and throw symbolism everywhere it the hopes that people will believe it as deep and complex, but focuses a lot more on the relationships between the characters, and knows hows to pace itself when revealing plot points to the viewer. It my opinion it also has one of the strongest endings of a mecha anime.

Highly recommended.

Finally, I've found someone else who doesn't see it as an EVA clone, its ending was amazing. Also, I liked the movie too and how it showed a different path things could have taken, if you haven't seen the film, I recommend it.

I had a lot of fun recently with Godannar, so I'm going to throw this into the ring! It's a parody of the mecha genre, at least that's how I found it, pure fun. Although if fan service is the type of thing that irks you, might want to give it a miss, I'm not huge on fan service, but I was able to look past it.