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There was a small boom this past decade that seems to be over atm. Nothing groundbreaking, but some decent entertainment (and also some I would never, ever reco

by bsanr2 6y ago

There was a small boom this past decade that seems to be over atm. Nothing groundbreaking, but some decent entertainment (and also some I would never, ever recommend, either due to quality or objectionable content). Off the top of my head: several Gundam entries - including AGE, IBO, Reconguista, Unicorn, Thunderbolt, the OO movie, and the Build Fighters and Build Divers series - Rideback, Star Driver, Valvrave, Suisei no Gargantia, Majestic Prince, Cross Ange, Buddy Complex, Aldnoah.Zero, Darling in the Franxx, Heroman, SSSS Gridman, the Evangelion Rebuild series, several mecha musume series, Macross Delta, Muv-Luv Alternative, several Code Geass sequels... I'm sure there are more. One might even consider Attack On Titan a sort of mecha series (it certainly has more in common with Gundam than, say, Godzilla). I think it's only been in the past year that we haven't seen multiple concurrent releases. (I want to reiterate that these are not in any way recommendations or endorsements. I watched and enjoyed many of these shows, but also dropped or never began several because of the questionable nature of one or more of their aspects.) Edit: Bubuki Buranki. Everyone always forgets Bubuki Buranki.

wodenokoto 6y ago
> either due to quality or objectionable content You kinda piqued my interest here: Which one has what objectionable content?
- bsanr2 6y ago
  Depending on who you ask, pretty much everything but the Gundam Builds. I jest. But, to be specific: Valvrave and Cross Ange were criticized for their depictions of rape; several series feature racy imagery, sometimes of underage characters (including the otherwise fantastic Gargantia - skip the dance scene); AoT, IBO, and a few others skirt some politically-sensitive material. And, frankly, a good number of the shows mentioned end up being offensively mediocre, squandering some quite strong openings (Rideback and Aldnoah.Zero especially). Probably the most objectionable thing of all.
  - Animats 6y ago
    Hadn't thought of Rideback as mecha, but I suppose you could see it that way.
  - busterarm 6y ago
    Objectionable content aside, I would agree that outside of the Gundam Build shows, the quality of that list is pretty poor and there was absolutely _nothing_ in the market for Super Robot fans. TTGL set a really high bar.
    - bsanr2 6y ago
      Oh, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed quite a few of the others - Valvrave was a glorious trainwreck, IBO finally committed to and even doubled-down on subverting the expectations of gunota, and Majestic Prince was a solid action dramedy that proved CG mecha was viable and beautifully prefaced Orange's work on Houseki no Kuni and Beastars. (I mean, I can't fault any series that can do this to a Hiraiface. https://imgur.com/a/Eey0x31 https://imgur.com/a/Eey0x31) I dunno where we go after TTGL as far as Super Robot goes. It finally defined and crystallized the essence of that genre - the GAR - and in its thorough reconstruction didn't leave much room. You basically have to introduce real elements to not be a retread. I am glad we got Pacific Rim, that was close. If Super Robot gets its character from emotional directness and intensity, you might have to follow TTGL with something more Ideon or Bokurano-like, turned up to 11.
      - busterarm 6y ago
        Thing is, after GaoGaiGar, I was saying that series would be impossible to top. It took a decade, but TTGL did happen. I think leaning into super robot tropes might be the thing, rather than some mix of real robot shows. It's not like those are doing any better in the market right now.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ASalazarMX 6y ago
> One might even consider Attack On Titan a sort of mecha series My take on it as well. The titans are not robots, but they're mecha-size creatures, and their pilots have a designated cockpit, which they open occasionally to interact with others. The other classic mecha scene is the take from inside the cockpit, so you can see the pilot's reactions. It's a weird mix of mecha and gore.
- YeGoblynQueenne 6y ago
  They're mecha- only biological in origin. There is precedence also, in the Tager faction from the RPG Cthulutech: Factions include the "Tagers," a group of warriors who work for the mysterious Eldritch Society and bond with alien symbionts that produce alien-like suits of flesh over their bodies, giving them enhanced strength and other abilities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CthulhuTech https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CthulhuTech These are basically flesh mecha, though it's been a while since I read the rulebook and I don't remember if they're large or small. Anycase I wonder if they could have been an inspiration for the titans. [SPOILER SPOILER] There is a hint of alien provenance of the titans on the AoT world. That thing that looks like a slug? Edit: Oops. It's really been a while since I read the Cthulutech manual. The bio-mecha are the New Earth Government's Engels, which are Evangelion-big, with pilots always on the cusp of insanity: Engels are giant monstrous creatures fused with human and Nazzadi DNA, encased in locking mecha armour, and controlled by a pilot sitting inside a uterine-like control chamber within the Engel. They are essentially organic mecha. The pilot controls the Engel via the Engel Synthesis Interface, or ESI, and often bonds emotionally with it during their service lifetime. Engels have been known to go on rampages provoked by bloodlust or strong emotions, and consequently are considered very dangerous battlefield weapons. http://cthulhutech.wikidot.com/engels http://cthulhutech.wikidot.com/engels
- bsanr2 6y ago
  I've always thought that one sadly unexamined aspect of mecha is how incredibly vulnerable pilots are outside their machines, and how incredibly dangerous they become once they manage to get in. AOT did make some strides there, by spending a lot of time focusing on how crucial to the shifters' effectiveness their ability to actually shift in a given circumstance is (and how much damage they do once their containment, both physical and strategic, is inevitably breached).
k_sze 6y ago
Unicorn was seriously epic. The opening battle between the Stark Jegan and Kshatriya has to be one of the most blood-boiling battles in the Gundam universe. Hiroyuki Sawano’s music also really helped.

by bsanr2 6y ago

wodenokoto 6y ago

> either due to quality or objectionable content You kinda piqued my interest here: Which one has what objectionable content?

bsanr2 6y ago
Depending on who you ask, pretty much everything but the Gundam Builds. I jest. But, to be specific: Valvrave and Cross Ange were criticized for their depictions of rape; several series feature racy imagery, sometimes of underage characters (including the otherwise fantastic Gargantia - skip the dance scene); AoT, IBO, and a few others skirt some politically-sensitive material. And, frankly, a good number of the shows mentioned end up being offensively mediocre, squandering some quite strong openings (Rideback and Aldnoah.Zero especially). Probably the most objectionable thing of all.
- Animats 6y ago
  Hadn't thought of Rideback as mecha, but I suppose you could see it that way.
- busterarm 6y ago
  Objectionable content aside, I would agree that outside of the Gundam Build shows, the quality of that list is pretty poor and there was absolutely _nothing_ in the market for Super Robot fans. TTGL set a really high bar.
  - bsanr2 6y ago
    Oh, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed quite a few of the others - Valvrave was a glorious trainwreck, IBO finally committed to and even doubled-down on subverting the expectations of gunota, and Majestic Prince was a solid action dramedy that proved CG mecha was viable and beautifully prefaced Orange's work on Houseki no Kuni and Beastars. (I mean, I can't fault any series that can do this to a Hiraiface. https://imgur.com/a/Eey0x31 https://imgur.com/a/Eey0x31) I dunno where we go after TTGL as far as Super Robot goes. It finally defined and crystallized the essence of that genre - the GAR - and in its thorough reconstruction didn't leave much room. You basically have to introduce real elements to not be a retread. I am glad we got Pacific Rim, that was close. If Super Robot gets its character from emotional directness and intensity, you might have to follow TTGL with something more Ideon or Bokurano-like, turned up to 11.
    - busterarm 6y ago
      Thing is, after GaoGaiGar, I was saying that series would be impossible to top. It took a decade, but TTGL did happen. I think leaning into super robot tropes might be the thing, rather than some mix of real robot shows. It's not like those are doing any better in the market right now.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

ASalazarMX 6y ago

> One might even consider Attack On Titan a sort of mecha series My take on it as well. The titans are not robots, but they're mecha-size creatures, and their pilots have a designated cockpit, which they open occasionally to interact with others. The other classic mecha scene is the take from inside the cockpit, so you can see the pilot's reactions. It's a weird mix of mecha and gore.

YeGoblynQueenne 6y ago
They're mecha- only biological in origin. There is precedence also, in the Tager faction from the RPG Cthulutech: Factions include the "Tagers," a group of warriors who work for the mysterious Eldritch Society and bond with alien symbionts that produce alien-like suits of flesh over their bodies, giving them enhanced strength and other abilities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CthulhuTech https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CthulhuTech These are basically flesh mecha, though it's been a while since I read the rulebook and I don't remember if they're large or small. Anycase I wonder if they could have been an inspiration for the titans. [SPOILER SPOILER] There is a hint of alien provenance of the titans on the AoT world. That thing that looks like a slug? Edit: Oops. It's really been a while since I read the Cthulutech manual. The bio-mecha are the New Earth Government's Engels, which are Evangelion-big, with pilots always on the cusp of insanity: Engels are giant monstrous creatures fused with human and Nazzadi DNA, encased in locking mecha armour, and controlled by a pilot sitting inside a uterine-like control chamber within the Engel. They are essentially organic mecha. The pilot controls the Engel via the Engel Synthesis Interface, or ESI, and often bonds emotionally with it during their service lifetime. Engels have been known to go on rampages provoked by bloodlust or strong emotions, and consequently are considered very dangerous battlefield weapons. http://cthulhutech.wikidot.com/engels http://cthulhutech.wikidot.com/engels
bsanr2 6y ago
I've always thought that one sadly unexamined aspect of mecha is how incredibly vulnerable pilots are outside their machines, and how incredibly dangerous they become once they manage to get in. AOT did make some strides there, by spending a lot of time focusing on how crucial to the shifters' effectiveness their ability to actually shift in a given circumstance is (and how much damage they do once their containment, both physical and strategic, is inevitably breached).

k_sze 6y ago

Unicorn was seriously epic. The opening battle between the Stark Jegan and Kshatriya has to be one of the most blood-boiling battles in the Gundam universe. Hiroyuki Sawano’s music also really helped.