Mecha anime & manga - Big robots. Other than Gundam.

[00R-Gundam]

First episode of the new Code Geass was pretty fun. I wish I hadn't looked up spoilers of the big reveal, but I liked it. Action was really good. Glad that there's less float systems this time around, since KMFs really do lose a bit of their charm when they all fly.

Theres a new serie? I thought it ended with resurrection. Ill have to check it out.

Saikyo Yuusha Robo Gundan is better; it's one of my favourite mecha songs. And Soldat J is the best character in GaoGaiGar; the J-Ark is one of my favourite spaceships. God, I love the Brave series.

I prefer Guy, but J is a pretty cool rival for Guy. King J-Der has probably one of the best attacks, the J-Quath and the J-Phoenix. Still prefer genesic gaogaigar and the Goldion Crusher.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

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Someone needs to watch Vandread.

 

[numetalborder]

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Mecha recommendation: Break Blade.
Manga/Anime

Follows Rygart(Chad) whose the only human who cant operate the mechs in the setting since he cant use "magic" but the Mecha Gods demand a plot and by god they will give it to us which leads to the finding of the mech Delphine which can be piloted by non magic users.

The Delphine is pretty cool and fast, works on a time limit but some of the fights involving it are pretty cool and it has a big ass shuriken which he uses to attack and propel Delphine to gain speed.

Thanks for reminding me, the ending came out recently. I've been waiting close to two years for it.

 

[Android raptor]

Since it's still pride month, how 'bout Bravern? I am a Bravern enjoyer.

 

[Space Police]

Since it's still pride month, how 'bout Bravern? I am a Bravern enjoyer.

It mostly stood out for Bravern's design. Otherwise, it was very rushed yet also stretched out too long. I wish there was more info on the Deathdrives, and I wish it was more earnest and less parodic/ironic. It was neat that the army's logo resembled the Exkaiser forces logo, though.

Here's a small Bravern image dump. Collecting fanart and theorizing while the show was on was very fun.

Sparkaiser, a cancelled Obari OVA that would be reused as Smith's favourite hero:

 

[Android raptor]

Idk, I though Bravern was pretty solid for how short it was. More on the Deathdrives would be nice though.

I hope it gets a movie or something, especially since I've seen speculation that Smith might still be able to become Bravern.

 

[FatMebius]

Since it's still pride month, how 'bout Bravern? I am a Bravern enjoyer.

Bravern was a good time. Glad Obari finally had a work that wasn't shat on by normies and critics. It was a bit short and a smidge rushed in places. But, I can see it getting fleshed out or having some unused material get some love in SRW eventually.

 

[Space Police]

Idk, I though Bravern was pretty solid for how short it was. More on the Deathdrives would be nice though.

I hope it gets a movie or something, especially since I've seen speculation that Smith might still be able to become Bravern.

I think that was from the story packed with the DVDs. I think it's about how Bravern is an alien spirit who uses Smith as his medium to manifest (sort of like Ultramen bonding with humans), and this spirit's constant trait in all timelines is his love for Isami. There's also a novel called Future Warrior Lulu that's on Hobby Japan, and it's about Lulu and Superbia fighting Soldat Terrors in the time between the timeskip.

Also, I figured out a way to fix G Dangaioh: the person who constantly follows the Dangaioh pilots is that red-haired woman from Peace Fortress. She's telepathically causing all those organizations to send the evil robots because the original Dangaioh was created as an anti-Dangaioh Ur weapon (the Dangaioh Ur was created as the original anti-Bunker weapon, but it was unstable so it was sealed away) and if the Dangaioh is not always in battle, the Dangaioh Ur will perceive it as a threat and awaken to destroy the Dangaioh and those who created it. Once there are no more organizations with robots that can be weaponized against Dangaioh, the Dangaioh Ur awakens, powered by the braincells of Kuya's brother like in the anime, and sets out to destroy Dangaioh and Peace Fortress, heavily damaging both. Once the Peace Fortress figures out how to stop the Dangaioh Ur, the original personality of Kuya's brother takes over, the Dangaioh Ur realizes that it was meant to protect the Earth from the Bunker, and it becomes an ally of Dangaioh and Peace Fortress. The sequel to this first act would be about the Bunker's arrival at Earth and Dangaioh and Dangaioh Ur working together to defeat them.

 

[Space Police]

I'm on Episode 6 of Toei Mazinger, and the show is really starting to pick up after a rough first few episodes (I almost dropped it but I'm glad I didn't). Part of the reason it's good is because the robots are treated very realistically -- in Episode 5 Mazinger is cleaned, and in Episode 6 the Aphrodite-A is taken back to its hangar with crane trucks. The character designs are lovely, especially the "funnier" ones like Boss and Shiro. Dr. Hell's stuff is quite cool too, especially his Char helmet foot soldiers (Leiji Matsumoto's Lightspeed Esper manga had one) and his base on Bardos with lots of Thunderbirds functions. Speaking of which, I watched the first few episodes of Thunderbirds Are Go too, and it was immensely entertaining. It's a lot easier for me to watch than the puppets, and it's a winner with regards to both vehicles and plot.

 

[XYZpdq Jr.]

I'm on Episode 6 of Toei Mazinger, and the show is really starting to pick up after a rough first few episodes (I almost dropped it but I'm glad I didn't). Part of the reason it's good is because the robots are treated very realistically -- in Episode 5 Mazinger is cleaned, and in Episode 6 the Aphrodite-A is taken back to its hangar with crane trucks. The character designs are lovely, especially the "funnier" ones like Boss and Shiro. Dr. Hell's stuff is quite cool too, especially his Char helmet foot soldiers (Leiji Matsumoto's Lightspeed Esper manga had one) and his base on Bardos with lots of Thunderbirds functions. Speaking of which, I watched the first few episodes of Thunderbirds Are Go too, and it was immensely entertaining. It's a lot easier for me to watch than the puppets, and it's a winner with regards to both vehicles and plot.

Captain Scarlet did a very solid job of supermarionation->cg remake

But yeah Toeizinger really isn't what people expect from the stereotypes of super robots

 

[Space Police]

But yeah Toeizinger really isn't what people expect from the stereotypes of super robots

For some reason it feels like most of the super robot stereotypes come from the Brave series. I don't know why, especially considering the Braves never went full mainstream anime in the West -- perhaps it's because people think of super robot shows as magical girl shows but with robots (and the Brave robots had magical qualities), or maybe it's the Transformers anime from the early 2000s, which were quite a bit like the Brave series.

Also thanks for the Captain Scarlet rec. Is the Firestorm Gerry Anderson anime any good? I've heard nothing but bad things about it, but it looks pretty cool.

 

[XYZpdq Jr.]

Is the Firestorm Gerry Anderson anime any good?

Haven't tried it.
closest to Anderson Anime that I've tried is that Technoboiger / Thunderbirds 2085 thing, think I caught an ep of the Thunderbirds-up dub, like, once
you might be able to squint about Terrahawks as there's legends that grew out of a pile of wreckage from an unrealized Sunrise/Anderson co-production

also if you check into New Captain Scarlet be careful about episode order, iirc tubi's is fucked up
I don't recall it being SUPER critical but it's not as nothing as most last eps of Anderson puppets

 

[FatMebius]

Haven't tried it.
closest to Anderson Anime that I've tried is that Technoboiger / Thunderbirds 2085 thing, think I caught an ep of the Thunderbirds-up dub, like, once
you might be able to squint about Terrahawks as there's legends that grew out of a pile of wreckage from an unrealized Sunrise/Anderson co-production

also if you check into New Captain Scarlet be careful about episode order, iirc tubi's is fucked up
I don't recall it being SUPER critical but it's not as nothing as most last eps of Anderson puppets

The viewing order was all fucked up when it was broadcast on British TV too initially. They aired it like, chopped into weird 10 minute segments in some kids block. So, I dunno, maybe Tubi is following the English broadcast order or something.

 

[Space Police]

Chapter 1 of the new Baan Gaan novel is out, with new art! https://hobbyjapan.co.jp/braveuniverse/novel_bg_ep01.html

 

[Space Police]

Some more weird mecha stuff:
Max Robo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNAHx-mkFvo
Tomica Heroes Jobraver: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhWipIfRhqz06Qqx8ojw7plQNBy4RYyMv
Gaicoodan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLxy2BD_dcg

 

[Fatsuit Shinji]

For some reason it feels like most of the super robot stereotypes come from the Brave series. I don't know why, especially considering the Braves never went full mainstream anime in the West -- perhaps it's because people think of super robot shows as magical girl shows but with robots (and the Brave robots had magical qualities), or maybe it's the Transformers anime from the early 2000s, which were quite a bit like the Brave series.

Thank the 80ies and 90ies Gundam fanboys for that as they were very hostile to the "super robot" genre for being unrealistic.* Even when the super robot genre prior to Gundam had already done everything like repair, refuel, maintenance, refits and etc.

*Same fucks who had largely refused to acknowledge the existence of Armored Trooper VOTOMS until the late 1990s.

 

[00R-Gundam]

Super Robots > Gundam

Theres something magical about the Super robot genre especially the Braves that jist makes me hyped and excited. Sadly i dont get that with most of the general mecha genre.

 

[Islamic Jihad Rocket]

I saw this on twitter, I’m not too sure how to feel about it.

https://x.com/MangaMoguraRE/status/1808747392230928520

“Due to recent tragedies like wars & natural disasters, he wanted to make a show that's more uplifting and full of hope. He says that works that are too grim really don't have a place in our current world. While Fukuda does appreciate the writing of the Toei version, he says having characters die one after another doesn't fit with current times.”

Really does come off with the same vibe as “made for modern audiences”, maybe it’s just me but this kinda trigger a red flag for me.

Go Nagai stuff has always been violence, and over-the-top kind of goofy, it isn’t it being “light hearted and hopeful” being a bad change of tone, but the fact this came out right before the anime is supposed to come out just kinda rubs me the wrong way. I think I’ve seen enough Go Nagai/Dynamics Productions content to have a grasp what it is, and this doesn’t really feel like “Go Nagai” to me, especially when you consider the original Grendizer manga was violent as hell.

Maybe just me, but I’ll probably pass on the show until reviews come out for it; I’m still holding out it will be good regardless but; too much shit nowadays gets neutered because “violence bad”.

 

[Space Police]

“Due to recent tragedies like wars & natural disasters, he wanted to make a show that's more uplifting and full of hope. He says that works that are too grim really don't have a place in our current world. While Fukuda does appreciate the writing of the Toei version, he says having characters die one after another doesn't fit with current times.”

Really does come off with the same vibe as “made for modern audiences”, maybe it’s just me but this kinda trigger a red flag for me.

Go Nagai stuff has always been violence, and over-the-top kind of goofy, it isn’t it being “light hearted and hopeful” being a bad change of tone, but the fact this came out right before the anime is supposed to come out just kinda rubs me the wrong way. I think I’ve seen enough Go Nagai/Dynamics Productions content to have a grasp what it is, and this doesn’t really feel like “Go Nagai” to me, especially when you consider the original Grendizer manga was violent as hell.

Maybe just me, but I’ll probably pass on the show until reviews come out for it; I’m still holding out it will be good regardless but; too much shit nowadays gets neutered because “violence bad”.

I think this can go three ways: the first way, it will be like Dendoh where it takes place in a bright, hopeful world and there just happens to be tons of cool heroics. The second way, it will be like SEED where it's super dark and gritty, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. The third way (and this is what I'm super worried will happen because of Okouchi and the low-budget studio), it will mostly be a SOL anime where Maria spams onii-chan and there's lots of "hilarious" fanservice moments with Sayaka while Hikaru (the only competent female character) looks on, shaking her head, and Koji and Duke angst it out as the big conclusion for the episode while the villains/Photon Lab workers speak about the plot for 2 minutes/episode in the vaguest of terms and there's still tons of unanswered questions.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

“Due to recent tragedies like wars & natural disasters, he wanted to make a show that's more uplifting and full of hope. He says that works that are too grim really don't have a place in our current world. While Fukuda does appreciate the writing of the Toei version, he says having characters die one after another doesn't fit with current times.”

So people shat on Gigguk for his mecha video years ago, but this quote right here I think helps vindicate him a bit as to why it is the mecha genre hasn't been hitting as hard and grabbing attention as much anymore like it used to. His words were about how we live in (relatively) peaceful times and mecha historically was about war, and war as we know it has changed (somewhat). Here, we have this big-mouthed faggot being weepy about how hard it is and that we can't have such dire depictions such as death because it's too depressing and we need it to be uplifting and hopeful.

Bitch, death is inevitable and is a cruel reality of war and life in general. You cannot have a message of hope without death. Mechas have historically been tools of war, and mechas have no distinction between good and evil because literally anyone can pilot a mecha and use it however they want.

Is it okay to ease up on characters dropping like flies? Sure, sometimes they just can get incapacitated and put out of commission which is always treated as the death of a "dream" or "ambition" that the main hero has to then carry for them. If they do that without compromising the message, then it'll have done its job. Otherwise, if characters are just never going to die due to offscreen bullshit to avoid having to depict a cruel reality in escapist fiction or the goals of the characters have changed to "fit with current times" which ends up fucking around with the foundation, then it's going to suffer and not leave much of an impact outside of pissed off fans.

Raise the stakes is all mecha fans are asking for. We don't want just cool robots to buy garage kits of, we want stories that leave an impression and inspire us to do better. Hell, we just want some interesting, compelling conflict. It's seriously not that hard to do.

Mitsuo Fukuda has worked on mecha in the past, he should know this. Did SEED legit fuck with him or something?