Mech Anime

[spartan231490]

Okay...so after finishing Gurren Lagann I'm left with a severe need for some more mecha anime. I've considered watching Evangelion again but I think it is time for something new.


I haven't seen any of the Mobile Suit Gundam series, so which would I start with? The very first from the late 70s? I hear that MSG Zeta is the series golden series and is universally considered the best of them all.

What is Code Geass like? I dont' know much about it but it always looked like the Naruto of mecha anime, I've never been remotely interested in it. Try to change my mind.

I'd suggest Gundam 00. Gundam seed and Gundam wing are a lot of fun as well.

As for Code Geass, I liked it a lot. Having seen both, even having heard your comparison, I can't think of a way to compare it to Naruto. No filler, it didn't get bloated, the MC isn't an annoying child, it has virtually zero teen angst. The action sequences, for the most part, aren't over the top or drawn out either. It also has a lot more going on than just fake it 'till you make it as a theme.

 

[anthony87]

Aldnoah.Zero - im sure between me typing this and posting it, someone will bring it up. I'd say fucking watch it, its certainly an excellent addition to the genre that champions tactics to win and a interesting(if kinda standard) plot.

I just wish it wasn't the one guy coming up with all the tactics though y'know? At least in the second season there's kind of a justification for it.

 

[Fox12]

The first season of code geass isn't so bad. It's interesting, and has some interesting tactics, but then it proceeds to shit all over itself in the second season. It had potential, but fell flat. Too much silly fan service as well. And pizza. It's nice to know that Pizza Hut survived the apocalypse. Also, it randomly decides it wants to be EVA in the last three episodes.

Gun buster and diebuster got good reviews, maybe try those out.

Honestly, after you've seen EVA the only place left to go is down.

 

[Zontar]

Honestly, after you've seen EVA the only place left to go is down.

Not really, Eva isn't a particularly good Mech anime when you get right down to it. It isn't even that great of a deconstruction given the far better ones which came both before and after it did. Seems that Shinji being a little ***** coupled with the symbolism and the WTFness of the final act of the series/the whole movie are more what made it memorable, and even then memorable in this case does not equate to good.

 

[Zetatrain]

The first season of code geass isn't so bad. It's interesting, and has some interesting tactics, but then it proceeds to shit all over itself in the second season. It had potential, but fell flat. Too much silly fan service as well. And pizza. It's nice to know that Pizza Hut survived the apocalypse. Also, it randomly decides it wants to be EVA in the last three episodes.

Hold on what is this apocalypse you're talking about? As for the Eva thing, I think you are referring to episode 21 which is a bit EVA-ish, but the how are the last 4 episodes anything like EVA?

 

[Lunar Templar]

That one anime i forgot which the like 18 kids gotta pilot the mech using their life force to save the planet and no one gives a shit about their sacrifice show???? cant remember that 1's title either.

I believe this is the show your referring to.

OT:
Gundam, most of them, are pretty good

Macross is another good one

I've been meaning to watch Linebarrles but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[GundamSentinel]

-snip-

I support everything this fine person says concerning Gundam, Macross and Full Metal Panic.

I'd also like to add some extra emphasis on G Gundam, Turn A Gundam and Gundam X. These really don't get as much love as they should.

And on top of that, I'll mention Char's Counterattack and Gundam F91. Both are movies set in the Universal Century (F91 was meant to be a series at some point) and they both are good, fun films. CCA requires some UC knowledge to appreciate, but F91 is perfectly watchable on its own.

And lastly: yes, once you've watched a bit of the Universal Century Gundam series and have gotten a good picture of what's going on there, go watch Gundam Unicorn. I personally think it's the very finest piece of mecha media I've ever seen. Absolutely brilliant in every way, but yeah, it required you to have some knowledge of the UC timeline.

EDIT: Hang on, wait, forgot about Escaflowne. Seriously, go watch that. Both the movie and the series.

 

[Fox12]

Honestly, after you've seen EVA the only place left to go is down.

Not really, Eva isn't a particularly good Mech anime when you get right down to it. It isn't even that great of a deconstruction given the far better ones which came both before and after it did. Seems that Shinji being a little ***** coupled with the symbolism and the WTFness of the final act of the series/the whole movie are more what made it memorable, and even then memorable in this case does not equate to good.

I don't know about that. I'm usually pretty quick to criticize EVA, since t has a whole host of serious problems, but it was still pretty brilliant when it wanted to be. The aspects that worked, namely the characterization, depression, and psychology, worked really really well. It's perfectly imperfect, I guess. It's got severe issues, but I don't think it's fair to say its not very good.

You did just remind me of a great manga i read, though, which has an anime adaptation. I'm an idiot for forgetting it. Bakurano Ours is a pretty amazing mech deconstruction with really good characters. It's depressing as all get out, and it's not an action heavy series at all, but I would recommend it to anyone whose a fan of the genre. It's woefully under appreciated, but it's really good. Just ask Gen Urobuchi, he obviously agrees, since he lifted large parts of the story and put it into Madoke Magica.

Edit: ah, I see someone mentioned Bakurano, the one with the 18 kids, already. Go watch it. Go read it. And, when you're done, go read shadow star narutaru, because that series is hella good.

 

[Lrbearclaw]

I've seen Zoids. I remember watching them on Cartoon Network when I was a child. I even owned the Elephant-like Zoid. Those toys were so difficult to put together. I rewatched it a few years back and really enjoyed it. The show is so over-the-top and stupid it's hard not to enjoy. Plus nostalgia goggles.

"Chaotic Century" was actually season one but "New Century Zero" was season three but first aired in the US. ("Guardian Force" was season 2 but was merged into Chaotic in the English dub.)

Chaotic Century has its comedy moments but is a very serious season, with a pretty dark connotations, not to mention it is not afraid to kill characters on screen.

 

[Hazy992]

I'm currently watching Code Geass myself (just finished the first season) and I can't recommend it enough. The mechs aren't really the main focus though, but it's still a hell of a lot of fun.

And I've never really watched a Gundam series before, but Gundam Build Fighters is on my radar and I've heard a fair bit of praise for it. The premise sounds really interesting.

 

[PlayerDos]

Zoids is the fucking bombdiggity. All of them.

 

[Scars Unseen]

If the original Mobile Suit Gundam is too dated, might I suggest the upcoming Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Gundam:_The_Origin] It's a retelling of the original story, an the first part will be available for simultaneous global paid streaming [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-02-04/gundam-the-origin-gets-simultaneous-global-paid-streaming-and-blu-ray/.84076] on February 28th, with a global BluRay release coming in April.

It actually starts before the events of the original series, so there will be some new elements not found in the original.

 

[Autumnflame]

Full Metal Panic and Voltron are mytwo to add to the list

 

[astrav1]

G gundam. Manliness and justice mixed into a beautiful cheesy pouch of happiness and fighting spirit.

 

[GhostHunter]

Full Metal Panic and Voltron are mytwo to add to the list

the old Voltron right cause the new one/way later continuation were terrible.

Man Gundam is old. personally i like the fights from Gundam 00 but i think Unicorn may have had the best plot of the series ive seen, which pretty only ones 2000ish and on.

Edit oh yea Gundam SEED Destiny has the official HD remaster on youtube in sub.

 

[Autumnflame]

Full Metal Panic and Voltron are mytwo to add to the list

the old Voltron right cause the new one/way later continuation were terrible.

Man Gundam is old. personally i like the fights from Gundam 00 but i think Unicorn may have had the best plot of the series ive seen, which pretty only ones 2000ish and on.

Edit oh yea Gundam SEED Destiny has the official HD remaster on youtube in sub.

Of course the classic. i watched 3d but it wasnt good have refused to watch the even newer series

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

If you want an interesting recent one you can try Knights of Sidonia, it has pretty nice 3d, the characters are good and it's pretty heavy in science fiction.

saw this on netflix, and decided to give it a try...

all cheesiness and typical tropes aside, I REALLY did enjoy the first season of this, Idk when they will, but I'm really wanting a season 2 to come out, so many things left open to explore that I'm curious about. thanks for posting this, otherwise I might not have given it a shot.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

snip

Spoiler: for the show stuff

I'm pretty sure there is one already in the making, stuff like the ship having to turn and turning most people there to paste from the pull was really awesome and don't usually factor in sci fi that much.

lol is it bad that I actually chuckled when that happened? part of it was "oh wow, they DID include that, sweet" and the other part was shock humor kinda seeing random human paintballs hitting up against random parts of the ships fuselage.

Also, for once I could buy that the hero is really really good.

yeah it was at least believable with how they set the story up, and to be honest, the other pilots kind of seem...shit, really, either those garde's have horrible software/tracking or they are just horrible at thinking on their feet.

Also it seemed a bit...bogus that those 4 elite pilots died like they were just play things when they absolutely WRECKED the up and coming pilots in that competition/festival thing.

 

[Zetatrain]

If you want an interesting recent one you can try Knights of Sidonia, it has pretty nice 3d, the characters are good and it's pretty heavy in science fiction.

saw this on netflix, and decided to give it a try...

all cheesiness and typical tropes aside, I REALLY did enjoy the first season of this, Idk when they will, but I'm really wanting a season 2 to come out, so many things left open to explore that I'm curious about. thanks for posting this, otherwise I might not have given it a shot.

I'm pretty sure there is one already in the making, stuff like the ship having to turn and turning most people there to paste from the pull was really awesome and don't usually factor in sci fi that much. Also, for once I could buy that the hero is really really good.

The second season of Knights of Sidonia is set to air in April and will probably be released on Netflix in July or August if the first season's Netflix release is anything to go by.