If the prosperity of the Transformers movies will be believed, everyone loves watching robots fight one another. Anime continues to be supplying these epic over-the-top action tales since Gigantor (Tetsujin 28-go) was launched completely in 1963.
Some historic anime still inspire the mecha genre even today while newer shows attempt to innovate it with new types of storytelling and action. Mecha animearen’t going anywhere in the near future because of these fantastic shows, whatever the genre’s contemporary recognition or presence. For individuals searching to dip their toes into this world, here are the best mecha anime to begin with.
Contents
- 28 Knights Of Sidonia
- 27 Giant Robo The Animation: Your Day Our Planet Was Still
- 26 Gargantia Around The Verdurous Planet
- 25 Star Driver
- 24 Fafner
- 23 Space Runaway Ideon
- 22 SSSS.Gridman
- 21 Getter Robo: Armageddon
- 20 The Large O
- 19 Promare
- 18 Bokurano
- 17 The King Of Braves GaoGaiGar
- 16 FLCL
- 15 The Vision Of Escaflowne
- 14 Patlabor: The Mobile Police
- 13 Gunbuster
- 12 Damaged Blade
- 10 Magic Dark night Rayearth
- 9 Armored Trooper Votoms
28 Knights Of Sidonia

Debuting because the first Netflix original anime, Knights of Sidonia included an entry barrier because of its platform exclusivity and it is 3D CG animation. The second is commonly a tough sell for most of us, however this art style is a great fit for any sci-fi mecha anime occur the tough coldness of space. Knights of Sidonia informs an extremely conventional story in many ways, because it follows an outsider with a talent to have an archaic make of mecha that turns out to be the most reputable type of defense against an alien threat. Naturally, this can lead to lots of awesome fight sequences.
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As enjoyable because this area of the narrative is, Knights of Sidonia builds the majority of its intrigue through its search for humanity’s development. Earth’s remains established roots with an asteroid, crafting a colony built on incredible technological achievements along with a fragile power imbalance.
27 Giant Robo The Animation: Your Day Our Planet Was Still

Japanese Title |
Giant Robo the Animation: Chikyuu ga Seishi Suru Hi |
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Studio |
Phoenix Entertainment |
Where you can Stream |
N/A |
Giant Robo the Animation is really a slightly unusual mecha anime recommendation since, despite its name, the eponymous Giant Robo requires a backseat for extended stretches from the OVA series. The anime envisions a global redefined with a fantastical source of energy along with a secret decade-lengthy conflict between your evil Big Fire and heroic Experts of Justice. The second includes Earth’s finest players along with a boy who are able to control the titular mecha.
Even when it treats Giant Robo like a special attraction, this anime continues to be a vintage within the mecha genre. Featuring high production value together with generally great figures and world-building, Giant Robo the Animation hits the objective on virtually every level. The anime also improves as the story goes along, culminating within an unforgettable final OVA episode.
26 Gargantia Around The Verdurous Planet

Gargantia around the Verdurous Planet envisions the next where humanity has abandoned a dying Earth and brought towards the skies. Once one of the stars, humans created an alliance that brainwashes its soldiers to concentrate solely on fighting an alien threat. Eventually, Ledo, a soldier, crashes onto Earth and finds out the water-covered planet continues to have existence onto it. Because he meets the locals, Ledo starts to question his programming.
An ambitious sci-fi anime with sporadic action sequences, Gargantia around the Verdurous Planet‘s highlight is its world-building. Ledo is another great and grounded protagonist, one which adapts realistically towards the revelations he encounters.
25 Star Driver

Star Driver finds a rhythm in the first episode and adheres into it for pretty much the whole of their run essentially, when the first couple of chapters don’t land having a viewer, they can most likely proceed to another thing.
With an island that hosts stylish mecha referred to as Cybodies that may simply be utilized in a distinctive realm outdoors of reality, a secret organization strives to eliminate the final shrine maiden’s seal to allow them to begin using these effective machines anywhere that they like. Fortunately for that maiden, Takuto Tsunashi arrives just over time to do something as her carefree dark night.
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Star Driver mainly includes Takuto fighting people of the organization, with many episodes after this formula with virtually no deviation. Although this can grow repetitive, the show’s fantastic animation, killer soundtrack, and likable primary figures help prevent monotony.
24 Fafner

Japanese Title |
Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Assailant |
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Studio |
Xebec, I.Gzwei |
Where you can Stream |
Funimation |
Fafner is really a surprisingly lengthy anime that debuted in 2004 and it has gone onto produce follow up seasons or even a assortment of movies. Set decades after aliens invaded and destroyed Japan, Fafner follows several teenagers given the job of piloting giant robots to battle off these threats, even while they’re based on their own families.
The latter’s inclusion helps set this story aside from a number of other mecha shows because the anime devotes a lot of time for you to going through the relationship between your pilots as well as their parents, which dynamics are usually portrayed inside a more positive light compared to something similar to Neon Genesis Evangelion.
23 Space Runaway Ideon

Japanese Title |
Densetsu Kyojin Ideon |
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Studio |
Sunrise |
Where you can Stream |
N/A |
Debuting in 1980, Space Runaway Ideon fell into obscurity after finishing its run with 1982’s The Ideon: Be Invoked movie. This super robot anime involves humanity’s conflict by having an alien race referred to as Buff Clan, a gathering that occurs in the world Solo. Our planet holds a effective power source that individuals is going to do almost anything to get hold of.
Space Runaway Ideon strikes a harsh and dark tone in early stages and rarely lets up next point. As increasing numbers of than 4 decades have passed because the series aired, this ’80s anime is unavoidably dated in lots of ways, nevertheless its story and styles endure well. The film can also be great.
22 SSSS.Gridman

SSSS.Gridman is commonly polarizing, because the anime’s appeal comes lower to 1 of their central antagonists: Akane Shinjou. Besides this character hog the limelight, but she also experiences the most important arc within the story whilst driving the plot forward. If she does not click with someone, then SSSS.Gridman will probably fall flat. However, overturn also is true.
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Trigger anime pits the eponymous mecha against an array of creative kaiju in epic battles. Naturally, these fights have the ability to brilliant animation and music. Although a little slow initially, the storyline blossoms throughout the season’s later half.
21 Getter Robo: Armageddon

Japanese Title |
Change!! Getter Robo: Sekai Saigo no Hi |
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Studio |
Brain’s Base |
Where you can Stream |
N/A |
Super Robot tales typically combine mecha with superpowers (or mythical origins), and Getter Robo pioneered the sub-genre. Debuting being an anime and manga in 1974, the initial show is influential and important, but it can be hard to revisit in this point in time. Thankfully, Getter Robo has become a couple of OVA series which are readily available to modern viewers. Newcomers searching to get involved with the franchise should begin with 2004’s New Getter Robo.
That stated, Getter Robo: Armageddon is simply too awesome not receiving a mention here. This anime involves humanity’s fight from the Invaders, an alien threat that may assume several forms. With Earth reduced to basically a wasteland, the Getter team roams the apocalypse looking for opponents to battle. Getter Robo: Armageddon opens with three fantastic episodes before losing its way for some time as a result of alternation in director however, the series accumulates steam for the finish and created some fantastic fight sequences.
20 The Large O

The Large O is among individuals rare anime that found a larger audience in Western nations compared to Japan. It’s also simple enough to determine why: the show’s neo-noir aesthetic and awesome protagonist were ideal for ten years which had already spawned Batman: The Animated Series.
A giant robot mecha anime, The Large happens inside a city having a population of amnesiacs. While these folks have pressed on for many years without understanding of the shared history, they appear in a metropolis without any future, one which has a inclination for everyone because the playground for battles between massive robots. Roger Cruz could possibly be present in one of these simple mecha.
19 Promare

Japanese Title |
Promare |
---|---|
Studio |
Trigger |
Where you can Stream |
Cinemax Max, Hoopla |
Promare is unfiltered Studio Trigger goodness. The 2019 movie envisions a global split by discrimination against an organization referred to as “Burnish,” and 2 individuals from opposite walks of existence have to get together once the fate from the planet is at risk.
“Hype” is the specific game here, as Promare offers a full-frontal assault to people’s ears and eyes. Simply to be obvious, that’s a positive factor. Boasting unsurprisingly stellar animation and music, Promare is really a blast of one’s that throws out some awesome mecha fights alongside its colorful figures and decent world-building.
18 Bokurano

Bokurano is really a “realistic” mecha anime, meaning it attempts to illustrate the earth’s response to massive battles involving monsters and robots in as grounded a means as you possibly can. Within this world, children must pilot a mecha to safeguard our planet from deadly creatures. The issue? They’ll die.
Bokurano is dark, frustrating, and sporadically brilliant. The anime includes a couple of problems that prevent achieving full greatness, mainly that the majority of the figures lack depth, however the anime’s high points greater than justify sitting through its less strong moments.
17 The King Of Braves GaoGaiGar

Japanese Title |
Yuusha-Ou peut-rrtre un GaoGaiGar |
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Studio |
Sunrise |
Where you can Stream |
N/A |
The Brave franchise was Sunrise and Takara’s attempt for crafting a substitute for Transformers because the franchise’s recognition dwindled throughout the ’90s. Split up into eight shows, because both versions happens in separate timelines, Brave did not hit a house run until its final incarnation, The King of Braves GaoGaiGar. Carrying out a child delivered to Earth thanks to a mecha lion, GaoGaiGar finds the protagonist and several other heroes protecting the earth from your alien invasion.
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Epic action defines this anime, even though the show begins quite episodic, GaoGaiGar adopts a serial narrative structure as the story goes on, becoming all of the better for this. The anime created a good spin-off dubbed Betterman along with a fantastic follow up OVA series known as The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final.
16 FLCL

Japanese Title |
FLCL |
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Studios |
Gainax, Production I.G, Signal.MD, Production GoodBook, Nut, Revoroot |
Where you can Stream |
Adult Go swimming, Crunchyroll (Seasons 2 & 3), DirecTV (Seasons 1 & 2), Hulu (Season 1), Spectrum (Seasons 1 & 2), VRV (Seasons 2 & 3), |
Temperature imagine an anime, FLCL can be defined as several things. A surreal comedy full of philosophical ideas, the anime is definitely an avant-garde masterpiece that needs multiple viewings to completely comprehend on the other hand, some might describe the show as pretentious or even more style than substance.
Whether or not someone loves, hates, or feels indifferent towards the 2000 OVA series and it is more polarizing successors, FLCL is ultimately among the most significant mecha anime ever. The other show has robots appearing out of the protagonist’s brow?
15 The Vision Of Escaflowne

Japanese Title |
Tenkuu no Escaflowne |
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Studio |
Sunrise |
Where you can Stream |
Funimation |
The Vision of Escaflowne takes inspiration from multiple genres to produce a familiar but unique experience. Blending fantasy, romance, and mecha action, the isekai anime centers around Hitomi, a woman having a unique capacity to predict the long run, who’s come to the fantasy realm of Gaea by Van, a king. Then, she becomes embroiled inside a tense conflict which will determine the planet’s fate. This war involves Van utilizing a effective mecha known as Escaflowne.
Airing throughout the 1990s, The Vision of Escaflowne is rightfully considered like a cult classic, and also the show has aged reasonably well. While impressive because of its period of time, the anime’s animation and art style are naturally archaic by today’s standards that stated, the series continues to be enjoyable towards the eyes. More to the point, the storyline is timeless.
14 Patlabor: The Mobile Police

Japanese Title |
Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor: On Tv |
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Studios |
Sunrise, Production I.G, Studio Deen, Production Reed, Madhouse |
Where you can Stream |
N/A |
Patlabor was a reasonably large deal throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s, producing OVAs, Tv show, and 2 excellent, although completely different movies. The franchise happens within an alternate reality where work robots are commonplace, so naturally, there should be an activity pressure made to keep these technological entities under control. This division from the Tokyo, japan Metropolitan Police features its own mechas known as Patlabors.
Both series and Patlabor: The Film offer highly entertaining cases each week-type storylines built upon a powerful roster of figures. They endure very well, particularly the feature film. Patlabor 2: The Film is really a different animal entirely, focusing much more on social and political styles. This entry was directed by Mamoru Oshii, who adopted Patlabor 2: The Film with Ghost within the Covering.
13 Gunbuster

Gunbuster was Hideaki Anno’s directorial debut, and also the creator would follow-up the anime with Nadia: The Key of Blue Water and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Gunbuster traverses similar ground to NGE, although whilst tossing inside a parody towards the Strive for the Ace! tennis manga.
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An OVA series, Gunbuster blends sci-fi robot action with multifaceted figures, intriguing social styles, as well as slice of existence elements. More to the point, it juggles many of these things well. The anime accomplishes a great deal during its short runtime, and also the story builds for an impeccable crescendo. Diebuster, the follow up, doesn’t quite hit exactly the same highs when it comes to its story, but it’s no slouch within the action and animation department.
12 Damaged Blade

Japanese Title |
Break Blade |
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Studio |
Production I.G, Xebec |
Where you can Stream |
HIDIVE |
Composed of six OVAs, Break Blade takes the familiar idea of quite the hero piloting a mecha to safeguard a nation from the effective invading pressure and adds a enjoyable twist with the inclusion of the magic system. The anime also devotes a respectable amount of your time to developing the main relationships that comprise the story’s primary figures and conflicts.
While that’s great, the main need to watch Break Blade is its brilliant, visceral, and punishing battles. Each OVA features a minimum of a number of great mecha duels, ones which are superbly animated and consistently captivating.

Full Metal Panic!‘s recognition continues to be somewhat sporadic through the years. The initial series and The 2nd Raid are very well-considered as 2000s mecha anime, however the 2017 movies and 2018’s Invisible Victory series passed mostly undetected. As a whole, Full Metal Panic! is really a fun entry-level action mecha anime serviced by two strong figures in Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori.
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While its political and social styles are simply fine, the series has a tendency to deliver within the action department. Full Metal Panic! can also be pretty amusing, especially in the first season’s opening episodes and also the Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu spin-off.
10 Magic Dark night Rayearth

Imagine magical women however they transform into mecha — thanks for visiting Magic Dark night Rayearth! The show stuck to the source material well outdoors of adding an anime-exclusive character named Inouva and demonstrated three women transported to Cephiro in order to save the imprisoned princess and save the land.
Magic Dark night Rayearth also won the very best Theme Song award in the first-ever Animation Kobe Awards so anybody that watches it ought to anticipate to hear a significant bop.
9 Armored Trooper Votoms

Japanese Title |
Soukou Kihei Votoms |
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Studio |
Sunrise |
Where you can Stream |
HIDIVE |
Very few mecha anime have spawned into lengthy-running series but Ryousuke Takahashi managed to do this with Armored Trooper Votoms. Using the original released in 1983, the show was the very first real dive in to the realistic mecha subgenre of anime. The plot focuses much more around the figures than you are on the wars happening too passing on a significantly different focus than other mecha anime.