Summary
Mecha anime is a rich andunderrated genrethat often goes overlooked. It has a wide variety of themes that can be included in a series in which giant robots are not always used to fight sinister threats. While primarily used as weapons, there are other mecha anime in which the robots are only tools for travel or vital equipment for surviving hazardous environments.
Additionally, mecha are not always colossal machines that tower over skyscrapers. In some anime, mecha are smaller constructed vehicles or armors that are much more reasonable in scale and ability. Smaller or mini-mecha are just as capable and interesting as other mecha anime machines, but they are not as frequent in anime. For fans of mecha and new viewers seeking new series to watch, here are some of the best anime to watch with mini-mecha.
7Appleseed
A Futuristic War Drama
Appleseedis a classic anime film created by the great mind of Masamune Shirow and is just one piece of media in a large array of releases from anime series to several other animated films. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic universe where technology has advanced to the point of AI, robotics, and cybernetics being standard practices in the modern-day world.
After a third world war nearly swept the world away, humanity was saved by a super computer in the last city called Olympus, built on top of the ashes of the world of yesterday. Humans are cared for by sophisticated biodroids, but even machines are not immune to flaws.Appleseedfollows Knute, a member of a dedicated Swat team that ensures peace in Olypuis, and they are charged with investigating the rare and bizarre occurrences of crime that make it way into the utopian city.
Armored Trooper Votoomsis another classic series that debuted in the early eighties and comes from the mind of Ryouske Takahashi, known for his work intheGundamfranchiseonMobile Suit Gundam: 0083 Stardust Memory. The series takes place in a military conflict where an entire universe is on the brink of rekindling a century-long war that involves over two hundred worlds across the galaxy.
A line-powered armor pilot, Chirico Cuvie, is declared an enemy of his planet after his own government hangs him out to dry for participating in an illegal mission they sent him on. With no one to trust and a kill order on his head, Chirico tries to get to the bottom of his betrayal, and a mysterious woman appears in his dreams.
5Get Ride! AMDriver
New and Flashy Designs On A Regular Basis
AM Driveris an entertaining action series that mixesthe Super Sentaiand mecha genres. In a distant future, humanity is constantly threatened by insectoid-like creatures called Bug-Chines. To combat this infestation, candidates are chosen to be AMDrivers, enhanced warriors outfitted with the world’s most sophisticated and powerful technology: AM Technology.
Funded by popular vote and corporations, different teams of AMDrivers appear as superheroes to the world and receive increased budgets, more advanced machines, and power armor to combat the Bug-Chine threat.
4Blue Gender
A Grim Dark Series About Survival
Blue Genderisa sci-seriesset in a post-apocalyptic Earth where an invasion of bug-like extraterrestrials has overtaken the Earth and forced humanity to abandon it. Now residing on a space station called Second Earth, the remnants of humanity hope to reclaim the Earth. A small military group descends to their former planet to put a dent in the bug population.
A young man named Yuji Kaido, frozen for nearly forty years, is awakened into a futuristic horror story where he must fight or die. Soldiers are outfitted with powerful mechs that are the only things that have been proven to be able to combat the aliens. While trying to reconcile with living and having to fight, Yuji Kaido has a difficult time adjusting to his new responsibilities.
Ridebackis a different take on conventional mecha anime. There is no intergalactic threat or interstellar war; instead,unconventional machinescalled Ridebacks are used in a variety of outlets, including rally-style racing events piloted by humans.
Rin Ogata is a young girl struggling with the direction of her future. Once an up-and-coming ballet star, she was forced to abandon her dream after a serious injury halted her career. Out of pure coincidence, Rin finds herself behind the controls of a Rideback, out of control, flying down a city street. Feeling exciliated for the first time since she stopped dancing, Rin seeks to learn as much as she can about Ridebacks.
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040is a futuristic sci-fi series that takes place in a time when humanity’s technological advancement has both aided and harmed the world. Androids and robots are the backbone of society, supporting humanity with free labor and allowing people to live freely every day. Things begin to go awry when malfunctions begin to plague the city of Tokyo, and androids begin to harm humans and go on rampages.
As androids start to malfunction at an accelerated rate, a vigilante group called the Knight Sabers combat the androids to protect humanity and get to the bottom of the malfunctions. Knight Sabers use highly advanced and powerful cybernetic armors to fight on equal terms with the sometimes enormous machinery that wreaks havoc all over the city.
1Zoids: New Century
Wild Competitive Combat Between Animal-Like Machines
Zoids: New Centuryis one of the most influential anime series, and it takes one of the most drastically different takes on the mecha genre. Zoids are animal-like machines, born and developed with personalities and instincts like real animals. Covering a wide variety of beasts, such as lions, T-rex', and sharks, Zoids are tamed and used as tools and weapons by humans.
In theZoids: New Century, pilots use their bio-machine partners in intense battle competitions against other pilots. Bit Cloud is a cocky up-and-coming pilot who comes into possession of the Liger Zero, a zoid that no one can seem to tame. Together, he and the Liger Zero aim to go all the way to the top and let nothing get in their way in winning the Blitz World Cup.
