Anime fans who particularly enjoy series that include robots, cyborgs, androids, and things of the sort may not realize that their favorite series fall under a specific genre. Mecha is a genre of Japanese anime and manga that encompasses all things classified as mechanical innovations, but robots are typically the primary focus. This unique genre was popularized in the early 1980s when Shoji Kawamari created the highly successful anime franchise, Macross, which resulted in a series of mecha-themed books, films, televised anime, video games, and more.
Since then, the genre had expanded drastically and has become widely popular within and outside the anime community. It now includes various subgenres from remote-controlled, which consist of mecha that are controlled externally as seen in the first mecha anime, Tetsujin 28-go, to sentient, which includes mecha that are self-aware and emotionally intelligent, similar to the robots in Transformers. There are many fan-favorite mecha anime series and films, and regardless of their release date, some remain at the top to this day.
10 Aldnoah.Zero, A Series With Advanced Martian Technology (451,574 Members)
Released in the summer of 2014, Aldnoah.Zero was a series loved by mecha anime fans across the globe. The series was centered around the discovery of a portal on the Moon that allows humans from Earth to travel to Mars, where they uncovered advanced technology.
Those who settled on Mars formed a civilization called the Vers Empire of Mars, and soon after, conflict arose between them and the Terrans, the humans who remained on Earth. The conflict led to a battle, a temporary ceasefire, and eventually the assassination of the Vers Empire's Princess Asseylum Ver Allusia, which triggered an all-out war between the two worlds.
9 Ghost In The Shell, The Story Of A Society Filled With Human-Robot Hybrids (497,847 Members)
Recognized as one of the most iconic anime films from the 90s, Ghost in the Shell portrays a story set in the future of a technologically advanced society in Nihama City. The city's population is filled with human-robot hybrids, one of which is a mysterious hacker referred to as the "Puppet Master."
The chief of the Public Security Section 9, Motoko Kusanagi leads a case on the "Puppet Master" that takes her down a rabbit hole of dark details of the criminal's course of action, causing her to pose introspective questions regarding the meaning of life.
8 Infinite Stratos, The Journey Of Male Mecha Pilot In A Female Dominated Industry (538,664 Members)
The popular seinen mecha anime, Infinite Stratos, premiered in January 2011. The series falls into the subgenre of piloted mecha, which features mechanical technology, typically vehicles, that are controlled internally by a pilot.
The story follows 15-year-old Ichika Orimura, who is the only male able to steer an exoskeleton weapon specifically designed to be piloted by women only. He is later forced to attend a training school for pilots and he, alongside his friends, embark on a journey to defend against the dangers that present themselves throughout the series.
7 FLCL, A Classic Series Following The Life Of Naota Nandaba (657,107 Members)
Regarded by anime fans as one of the best binge-worthy series of all time, FLCL is a six-episode anime that aired from April 2000 to March 2001. The series follows the mundane life of a junior-high schooler, named Naota Nandaba, whose brother, Tasuku, leaves for America to pursue a career in baseball.
Naota is left to deal with the remnant of Tasuku's life, including his ex-girlfriend, Mamimi Samejima. His humdrum life suddenly switches to an exhilarating one when he meets Haruko Haruhara, a fun-loving, Vespa-riding, wild child.
6 Date A Live, An Anime Where Harem Meets Mecha (799,169 Members)
With the fourth season of the series fast approaching, Date A Live has accumulated a large fanbase, whose support has ensured the continuation of the series. The series depicts the story of the protagonist Shidou Itsuka and his little sister, Kotori, and how they work together to rid the world of dangerous-earthquake-causing spirits using Shidou's charm.
It falls under the subgenre of mecha referred to as wearable, which includes robotic exoskeleton suits rather than piloted mechanical technology. The characters wear a special suit of armor called a Combat Realizer Unit that is enhanced with weaponry and military hardware.
5 Guilty Crown, The Tale Of A Mechanically Powered Rebellion (1,022,118 Members)
Set in the year 2039, the series Guilty Crown unfolds the action-packed story of a war between the military force known as GHQ and Funeral Parlor, a group of revolutionaries who resist the rule GHQ has over the nation of Japan.
The protagonist, Shu Ouma, develops a supernatural ability after running into Inori Yuzuriha, and shortly after, he is dragged into the ongoing war to use his newfound power to help the resistance. The series is popular for the unique mechanical weaponry used by the GHQ, known as Endlave, which is a remotely piloted, human-like war machine.
4 Darling In The Franxx, The Love Story Of An Unlikely Pair Of Mecha Pilots (1,182,490 Members)
Most mecha anime are set in a dystopian future, and Darling in the Franxx is no different. The series was popular among fans after its release in early 2018, and it won the Newtype Anime Award for Best Mechanical Design later that same year.
The story perfectly blends elements of action and romance when Hiro, a boy who aspires to pilot giant weaponry used to defeat Klaxosours known as FranXX, meets Zero Two, a girl with the same codename as the infamous FranXX pilot, "Partner Killer." The duo soon embarks on a journey together to defeat the beasts that have driven humanity to near-extinction.
3 Neon Genesis Evangelion, A Series With Piloted Mecha That Are Also Sentient (1,302,261 Members)
The series, Neon Genesis Evangelion, is unique in the way that it features sentient piloted mecha, Evangelions. Nerv, the United Nations special agency tasked with saving the world from complete destruction, use their Evangelions to defend humanity from the Angels that seek to end it.
Not long after reunited with his father, Shinji Ikari, is unexpectedly enlisted as the Nerv pilot of Evangelion Unit-01. Since its initial release in 1995, it has won several awards and has maintained a high standing among other series in popularity polls.
2 Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Centers Around The Battle For Humanity Against Sentient Robots (1,306,863 Members)
Since the premiere of the anime adaptation in April 2007, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann has been widely successful. The series' popularity resulted in the release of 27 televised episodes, four light novels, two animated films, and a Nintendo DS video game.
The mecha anime follows the adventures of Simon and Kamina alongside Yoko to venture out from their underground village to the wastelands on the surface above. They find themselves in a battle to defend the remainder of humanity from the Beastmen, who pilot powerful, sentient robots called Gunmen.
1 Code Geass Follows A Hero Turned Villian In A Militarized, War Machine-Driven Society (1,747,963 Members)
Ranked as the #1 mecha anime and the 17th most popular anime overall on MyAnimeList, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is a series that has captivated its viewers since its release in 2006. The series covers a wide range of topics relating to real-life societal issues and is watched by viewers everywhere of all ages, despite being a seinen anime targeted toward adult men.
Lelouch Lamperouge, the protagonist of the series, becomes a vigilante to defeat the Holy Empire of Britannia, a militarized nation that uses robotic war machinery to conquer and terrorize Area 11, a place formerly known as Japan.
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