Mecha Anime Iceberg
Anime
mecha anime I like, starting from the most popular and going more niche as you scroll (i dont like CG, 86 or DITF)
TV, 1995,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
We will start with the genre deconstruction. It takes the "boy pilots giant robot" trope and uses it as a vehicle for brutal, deeply psychological character studies on anxiety, depression, and the pain of human connection. Everyone knows Eva, as everyone should.
TV, 2007,
27 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Spectacular celebration of human will overcoming impossible odds, and the power of believing in yourself and others around you. It starts small and escalates to a scale that is literally galaxy sized. Must watch.
OVA, 2000,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Not a typical mecha, robots don't arrive in cockpits, they burst out of a boy's forehead via a spatial portal, a metaphor for puberty and the chaos of growing up. It's an explosive, six episode blend of non stop action, surreal comedy, and a legendary rock soundtrack by The Pillows. Pure, unfiltered Gainax energy. Must watch also.
TV, 2002,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:8
FMP! flawlessly blends hard military sci fi with an absurd high school comedy.
TV, 2005,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A beautiful coming of age romance set against an epic backdrop of war, revolution, and environmentalism.
TV, 2015,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:9
The first Gundam entry. The story is a morally gray tragedy focusing on the child soldiers and their fight for a place in the world, emphasizing the unbreakable, yet ultimately self destructive, bond between the characters.
TV, 2007,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A spectacular, politically charged thriller focusing on the enigmatic organization which attempts to eradicate all warfare using armed, high tech intervention with their unstoppable Gundams.
TV, 2007,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Again, a very unique one. Fifteen children agree to a contract to pilot the giant mecha in a series of battles to save Earth, only to discover the brutal cost of victory.
TV, 2002,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:9
A modern-ish retelling of the original Gundam with a focus on genetic discrimination between "Naturals" and "Coordinators."
TV, 2022,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
First mainline Gundam series with a female protagonist. It beautifully mixes Shakespearean drama and dark political plotting with adorable character relationships.
TV, 1996,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Brilliant fuse of isekai/high fantasy with powerful, medieval themed mecha called. It's a visually stunning shoujo influenced adventure anchored by an incredible, sweeping orchestral soundtrack by Yoko Kanno.
TV, 2008,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:8
The ultimate formula of og Macross with action centered on a massive colonization fleet encountering an alien threat.
TV, 1979,
43 eps
Me:-
Author:8
The classic that killed the Super Robot era by treating giant robots not as superhero gadgets, but as disposable military hardware subject to logistics, repairs, and ammunition limits. It pioneered the "Real Robot" genre, telling a complex, morally gray story about the horrors of war, political machinations, and the tragic rivalry between protagonist Amuro Ray and the masked antagonist, Char Aznable. It set the template for nearly every serious mecha anime that followed.
OVA, 1988,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This six episode OVA is the foundational work of Hideaki Anno (pre-Evangelion). It starts as a charming tribute to classic sports anime and then spirals into a jaw dropping, high stakes galactic war drama where the protagonists must pilot the massive Gunbuster.
TV, 2004,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Sci-fi, post-war retelling of Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, Seven Samurai.
TV, 2002,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Often unfairly dismissed as an Evangelion clone, RahXephon carves out its own identity with a beautiful story focused on music, romance, and the question of identity.
TV, 1982,
36 eps
Me:-
Author:9
This 1982 classic pioneered the "Real Robot" aesthetic for transforming mecha, introducing the iconic Valkyrie variable fighters that switch between Fighter, Gerwalk, and Battroid modes. It solidified the Macross trilogy of "Singing, Fighting, and Loving" as its central theme, telling a sprawling sci-fi war story where pop idol Minmay's songs become humanity's best weapon against the alien Zentraedi. A foundational work of anime history.
TV, 2010,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Pure visual spectacle and style. It's less about military realism and more about theatricality, striking character poses, and high fashion aesthetics.
TV, 1999,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Set in Paradigm City, a metropolis of amnesia where everyone lost their memories 40 years ago, this series is a pitch perfect blend of film noir detective stories and massive Super Robot action.
TV, 2014,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Set in a world where everyone can use "magic" to pilot the mecha by manipulating quartz, protagonist Rygart Arrow is a rare "un-sorcerer" who cannot. This weakness becomes his strength when he discovers an ancient Golem, the Delphine, which only he can pilot.
OVA, 1996,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
The definitive "Vietnam War in space" take on the Gundam franchise. It strips away the Newtype drama and overpowered prototype mecha to focus on the grit, grime, and logistics of conventional ground warfare in jungles and rough terrain.
TV, 1985,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:9
The BEST Gundam. Set several years after the original Gundam, this series plunges into a deeply cynical and political landscape where the former heroes have become the oppressors.
Movie, 2004,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Based on the manga by Shirow Masamune (Ghost in the Shell), this film is a technical landmark for Japanese CGI animatio. It features the iconic Landmates, mecha that bridge the gap between powered armor and full Mobile Suits.
TV, 2012,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Refreshingly upbeat and positive take on the mecha genre, focusing on the incredibly energetic protagonist whose only mission is to make sure she has no regrets in life.
OVA, 1989,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This short, masterful OVA stands apart by focusing not on ace pilots or Newtypes, but on Al, a ten year old boy who idolizes Mobile Suits.
ONA, 2015,
4 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Set in a derelict sector of space littered with debris and the corpses of Mobile Suits, this OVA focuses on a visceral, tragic rivalry between Federation pilot Io Fleming and Zeon sniper Daryl Lorenz.
OVA, 1994,
4 eps
Me:-
Author:9
This four-episode OVA/movie is a technical and artistic masterpiece, renowned for its unparalleled, realistic computer assisted animation of high speed variable fighter dogfights.
TV, 1999,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino (the creator of Gundam), this series is a bold, artistic departure set 2,000 years in the future on an Earth that has regressed to a 1920s aesthetic. More than just a story, it is a meta commentary that links all previous Gundam timelines together and serves as a hopeful, peaceful reflection on the destructive cycle of war across history.
TV, 1999,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
While featuring mecha and intense space battles, the true conflict occurs inside the massive training ship, the Ryvius, after an accident kills all the adults, leaving 500 hormonal, stressed out teenagers in charge.
TV, 1996,
39 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Set on an Earth devastated by a massive Colony Drop that wiped out 99% of humanity, this series functions as a "Mad Max with Mobile Suits" story.
TV, 2006,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This series is a powerful, melancholic dive into the nature of reality, memory, and consciousness, asking what it truly means to be alive when you realize your entire existence might just be data.
OVA, 1992,
7 eps
Me:-
Author:-
This nine part OVA is a dazzling, self contained love letter to the works of Mitsuteru Yokoyama (Tetsujin 28-go).
TV, 2000,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:-
Set in a world fighting a race of metallic aliens, the true focus is the deeply traumatized protagonist and the captured, colossal alien creature he must pilot.
TV, 1998,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This series stands out for its intense focus on military logistics, corporate espionage, and geopolitics, using mecha as highly realistic, expensive pieces of battlefield hardware. Better than CG ever tried to be.
TV, 1997,
49 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Ultimate expression of Super Robot passion and courage
ONA, 2006,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This series is a radical departure, telling its story through the simulated lens of a combat journalist's camera, giving it a unique, pseudo documentary feel.
TV, 1980,
39 eps
Me:-
Author:6
A colossal, ancient Super Robot piloted by children, Ideon is director Tomino's infamous and relentless portrayal of mutually assured destruction.
TV, 1972,
92 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This 1972 classic, created by Go Nagai, invented the core genre trope of a human piloting a giant, powerful, almost magical robot from a dedicated cockpit. Before Mazinger Z, giant robots were remote controlled.
TV, 1983,
49 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This 1983 Tomino work pioneered the concept of Isekai in the mecha genre.
TV, 2000,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Set in 1960s Japan, this hidden gem follows an optimistic orphan named Marin whose quiet life is upended when a mysterious, powerful Super Robot named Melan Blue crash lands into her building.
TV, 1984,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A hidden gem from Yoshiyuki Tomino (the creator of Gundam). This series is an unconventional adventure story on a forbidden tropical island, where a boy named Yuu discovers the massive, silent, and ancient mecha, Gorg, who acts as his protector.
TV, 1982,
50 eps
Me:-
Author:7
This series is a blend of Mad Max and Spaghetti Western set on the desert planet Zora.
TV, 1983,
46 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A group of thirteen children, ranging in age from 4 to 15, are accidentally stranded in space after an alien attack. They must learn to pilot the relatively generic military mecha and operate a giant battleship to survive and make their way back to Earth.
TV, 1999,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:8
Originating from the massively popular Super Robot Wars franchise, this standalone TV series (theres also an OVA) centers on the spiritual, medieval tech mecha known as Elemental Lords from the subterranean realm of La Gias.
TV, 1989,
41 eps
Me:-
Author:8
This series is the third entry in Sunrise's "Eldoran" lineup. It features three young boys transported to a mystical world on the Moon where they pilot magical mecha known as Madou Kings.
TV, 2000,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Recently finished this, it was fun, nothing to write home about.
