Favorite Mecha Anime of Author S. Craig Zahler
by S_Craig_Zahler | created - 29 May 2016 | updated - 07 Dec 2021 | PublicGoldymarg, Gaogaigar, Madox-01, Neue Ziel, Guntank, Gunbuster, Black Getter, Zakus, Valkyries, Boomers, Scopedogs, Tortoises, SPTs, and other favorite robots are featured in the below recommended mecha anime shows (ranked in order of how much I enjoyed the show). Although I give some (begrudging) credit to Macross Zero for showing me that particularly artful computer generated mecha can work, I STRONGLY prefer for my mecha to be hand drawn and dynamic. The top 6 are essential works in their varied styles.
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1. Getter Robo Armageddon (1998–1999)
Not Rated | 28 min | Animation, Sci-Fi
Sent to jail after being accused of murdering Getter Robo creator Dr. Saotome, Ryoma Nagare must once again team up with his former comrades and pilot Getter Robo when Saotome returns from ... See full summary »
Stars: Naoya Uchida, Bill Wise, Hideo Ishikawa, Douglas Taylor
Votes: 170
2. Gurren Lagann (2007)
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Two friends, Simon and Kamina, become the symbols of rebellion against the powerful Spiral King, who forced mankind into subterranean villages.
Stars: Tetsuya Kakihara, Shizuka Itou, Yuri Lowenthal, Marina Inoue
Votes: 21,050
3. Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982–2002)
TV-PG | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
An alien spaceship crash lands on Earth and her secrets lead to a desperate war against an alien enemy sent to retrieve the ship.
Stars: Arihiro Hase, Mari Iijima, Vic Mignogna, Monica Rial
Votes: 2,306
4. Armored Trooper VOTOMS (1983–1984)
TV-MA | Animation, Action, Drama
The end of the 100 year war between the planets Bavalant and Melkia does not allow Melkian soldier Chirico Cuvie a moment of peace. His accidental involvement in a clandestine mission ... See full summary »
Stars: Hozumi Gôda, Shigeru Chiba, Banjô Ginga, Kazuko Yanaga
Votes: 228
5. King of the Braves GaoGaiGar (1997–1998)
Animation, Action, Adventure
A special organization using giant robots and aided by an alien boy battles the threat of a menace that inflicts havoc by turning humans into destructive mecha menaces.
Stars: Nobuyuki Hiyama, Maiko Itô, Tsutomu Kashiwakura, Tomoe Hanba
Votes: 119
6. Gunbuster (1988–1989)
PG | 30 min | Animation, Action, Drama
A young pilot, daughter of a deceased space captain, is selected to pilot a gigantic robot as a key point of Earth's defense during a space war.
Stars: Noriko Hidaka, Rei Sakuma, Norio Wakamoto, Maria Kawamura
Votes: 2,013
7. Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (1996–2013)
TV-PG | 25 min | Animation, Action, Drama
During a one-year war, a young lieutenant leads a mobile suit team against a secret Zeon weapon, meeting its pilot who questions the morality of the war.
Stars: Steve Staley, Steve Kramer, Debra Rogers, David Ellenstein
Votes: 1,880
8. Macross Plus (1994)
Not Rated | 35 min | Animation, Adventure, Drama
Two old friends/rivals find themselves rival test pilots in competing projects while a mutual old flame returns to them with her own secrets.
Stars: Edward Mannix, Bryan Cranston, Michael Forest, Paris Themmen
Votes: 4,008
9. Mobile Suit Gundam (1979–1980)
TV-14 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In the war between the Earth Federation and Zeon, a young and inexperienced crew find themselves on a new spaceship. Their best hope of making it through the conflict is the Gundam, a giant humanoid robot, and its gifted teenage pilot.
Stars: Hirotaka Suzuoki, Tôru Furuya, Toshio Furukawa, Kiyonobu Suzuki
Votes: 2,779
10. Gunbuster 2: Diebuster (2004–2006)
27 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
A young girl leaves her home to be a space pilot. She meets top pilot Lal'C during a space monster attack and joins the Solar Defense Force.
Stars: Yukari Fukui, Maaya Sakamoto, Miyuki Sawashiro, Mitsuo Iwata
Votes: 658
11. Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (1989)
Not Rated | 180 min | Animation, Action, Drama
In a space colony, a young boy discovers a cadre of terrorists and innocently decides to help them.
Stars: Daisuke Namikawa, Kôji Tsujitani, Megumi Hayashibara, David Hayter
Votes: 1,504
12. Bubblegum Crisis (1987– )
TV-MA | 25 min | Animation, Action, Fantasy
A female mercenary team, armed with unique power armor suits, battle the forces of the corrupt mega-corporation, Genom in futuristic Tokyo.
Stars: Yoshiko Sakakibara, Kinuko Ômori, Michie Tomizawa, Akiko Hiramatsu
Votes: 1,771
13. Mazinkaiser (2001– )
TV-14 | 210 min | Animation, Sci-Fi
In one of their epic battles, the Mazinger Team suffers a crushing defeat at the hands of Dr. Hell and his minions after Mazinger Z is stolen and its pilot, the legendary Kouji Kabuto, is ... See full summary »
Stars: Hiroya Ishimaru, Ai Uchikawa, Hiroshi Yanaka, Kôsei Tomita
Votes: 238
14. Space Runaway Ideon (1980–1981)
TV-MA | 30 min | Animation, Action, Drama
The apocalyptic, bleak chronicles of the Solo starship as they cruise across the cosmos, and wage war with the extraterrestrial Buff Clan over a celestial robot known as the Ideon.
Stars: Yoku Shioya, Hideyuki Tanaka, Yô Inoue, Fuyumi Shiraishi
Votes: 143
15. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985–1986)
TV-14 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Drama
Eight years after the One Year War, the Earth Federation creates an elite force called the Titans to hunt Zeon remnants. When Titans proves to be no better than Zeon, the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG) is formed to restore peace in space.
Stars: Nobuo Tobita, Shûichi Ikeda, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Miyuki Matsuoka
Votes: 1,553
16. Metal Skin Panic MADOX- 01 (1987 Video)
Not Rated | 48 min | Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Koji Kondo is a young mechanic who finds the Madox-01. He gets stuck inside the machine before he finishes reading the manual. He must now evade the government and find his girlfriend before she disappears forever.
Director: Shinji Aramaki | Stars: Yasunori Matsumoto, Michael McGhee, Scott Simpson, Yôko Asagami
Votes: 373
17. Megazone 23 Part II: Please Give Me Your Secret (1986 Video)
Not Rated | 82 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Framed for murder and on the run, Shogo Yahagi must make contact with EVE to determine the fate of everyone on board Megazone 23, which is under attack from the alien Dezalg.
Directors: Yasuo Hasegawa, Ichirô Itano, Katsuhisa Yamada | Stars: Kazuki Yao, Maria Kawamura, Shigeru Chiba, Kôichi Hashimoto
Votes: 366
18. Mazinger Z (1972–1974)
30 min | Action, Animation, Sci-Fi
Teenager Koji Kabuto pilots the amazing super-robot Mazinger Z to avenge its inventor (his grandfather) against the Mycene Empire, led by the evil mad scientist Doctor Hell.
Stars: Jôji Yanami, Hiroya Ishimaru, Isamu Tanonaka, Osamu Katô
Votes: 1,511
19. Vontes V (1977)
Sci-Fi
Director: Jun Urbano | Stars: Chiquito, Elizabeth Oropesa, Panchito, Tange
Votes: 109
20. Casshan (1973–1974)
TV-14 | Animation, Action, Adventure
A scientist turns his willing son into a cyborg and sends him out into a post-apocalyptic world to hunt down his first creation, a homicidal robot dictator and his vast army of mechanical soldiers.
Stars: Ikuo Nishikawa, Reiko Mutô, Kenji Utsumi, Emiko Tsukada
Votes: 190
21. Megazone 23 (1985 Video)
Not Rated | 81 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In 1980s Tokyo, a young motorcycle enthusiast discovers that the transforming bike/mecha entrusted to him by his murdered friend holds the key to the true nature of his world.
Directors: Yasuo Hasegawa, Noboru Ishiguro, Ichirô Itano | Stars: Masato Kubota, Maria Kawamura, Mîna Tominaga, Mayumi Shô
Votes: 726
22. Robotix (1985–1995)
TV-Y | 7 min | Animation, Action, Family
A human starship crew crash lands on a planet and divides between two sides of a war fought by two camps of giant robots.
Stars: Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Corey Burton, Michael Bell
Votes: 138
23. Zambot 3 (1977–1978)
30 min | Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
When alien invaders come to Earth, the Jin family reveals its alien nature. Their ancestors came to Earth from planet Biar, after it was conquered by the army of Gaizok, who is now aiming ... See full summary »
Votes: 85
24. Astro Boy (1963–1965)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
As long as trouble's brewing across the universe, the small but powerful robot, Astro Boy, will have adventures, assisted by his mentor, Dr. Elefun.
Stars: Billie Lou Watt, Mari Shimizu, Esperanzita Martínez, Ray Owens
Votes: 1,040
25. Macross Zero (2002–2004)
35 min | Animation, Action, Drama
In the year 1999 a huge extraterrestrial battleship crash-landed on Earth, bringing the human race in contact with very advanced technology.
Stars: Ken'ichi Suzumura, Sanae Kobayashi, Yuka Nanri, Akira Kamiya
Votes: 1,046
26. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991–1992)
Not Rated | 390 min | Animation, Action, Drama
After the One Year War, Peace was signed between Zeon and the Earth Federation. Three years later, however, some remaining forces of Zeon who never gave up steal the new Federation mobile ... See full summary »
Stars: Ryô Horikawa, Akio Ôtsuka, Rei Sakuma, Dorothy Elias-Fahn
Votes: 1,215
27. Dangard Ace (1977– )
30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Planetary Robot Danguard Ace is a Japanese science fiction anime series created by Leiji Matsumoto in giant robot genre.
Star: Akira Kamiya
Votes: 77
28. Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Big Battle (1986 Video)
TV-MA | 60 min | Animation, Action, Drama
Directors: Ryôsuke Takahashi, Toshifumi Takizawa | Stars: Shigeru Chiba, Hideki Fukushi, Issei Futamata, Banjô Ginga
Votes: 42
29. Blue Comet SPT Layzner (1985–1986)
24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In an alternate 1996, the US and USSR take the Cold War to Mars. A group of teenage cadets, the Cosmic Culture Club, are sent as a message of goodwill to both sides by being assigned to the... See full summary »
Stars: Eriko Hara, Masaharu Satô, Kôichi Hashimoto, Minoru Inaba
Votes: 50
30. Black Magic M-66 (1987 Video)
48 min | Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
A freelance reporter discovers that two killer androids are running loose and have a little girl for a kill target.
Directors: Hiroyuki Kitakubo, Shirow Masamune | Stars: Yû Mizushima, Ichirô Nagai, Shinji Ogawa, Yoshiko Sakakibara
Votes: 1,320
31. Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984)
Not Rated | 114 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Earth braces for an invasion of giant male bionoids and their enemy, giant female bionoids.
Directors: Noboru Ishiguro, Shôji Kawamori, Katsuhito Akiyama, Tatsuya Kasahara | Stars: Arihiro Hase, Mari Iijima, Mika Doi, Michio Hazama
Votes: 3,432
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