Sorry, but Neon Genesis Evangelion is not on the list!
Japan has long been a leader in the technological race, so it is not surprising that art has fantasized about the possibilities of machines in the future. Mecha, in particular, is an anime genre about huge military robots.
Despite the popularity of the genre, the abundance of titles can drive some newcomers crazy. Here's where a beginner can start.
Giant robots have played a big role in Ghost in the Shell since Mamoru Oshii's first film. However, in the Stand Alone Complex series, which became the spiritual successor to the full-length anime, thinking tachikomas (a kind of military walkers) act not as enemies, but as allies.
The creators spend a lot of time on the interactions between the tachicoms and the members of Section 9. The huge robots are revealed in the series as children who need attention. This is an unexpected solution creating a lot of comical moments in such a serious anime.
Patlabor: The Movie
Speaking of Mamoru Oshii and his contributions to the mecha genre, Patlabor: The Movie (Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor the Movie) should be mentioned. In the future, where high tech has become commonplace, the police use huge robots (they are called labors) to fight crimes.
Unlike the exceptional cyberpunk Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor is more drawn to an industrial plot about police work in the future. This is a very prosaic story in the spirit of The Wire.
For those who want a more dynamic story, Promare is perfect. At first glance, this is another industrial story (this time about the fire department), but Promare is qualitatively different due to its explosive visuals.
Studio Trigger is famous among anime fans mainly for its exceptional visual style and great attention to detail. Promare in this regard is literally an exhibition of the company’s technical achievements. This is a fast and furious action movie that presents mecha as colorful comics.
Gurren Lagann (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) was in many ways a competitor to Neon Genesis Evangelion and was defeated, but this is not entirely fair. Gurren Lagann is set in a future where people live underground.
The creators raise some difficult political questions about the nature of power and the state much more acutely than other examples of the mecha genre. The robots here are used by characters more as a tool, but they are animated with such love that it is simply impossible not to succumb to the charm of mecha.
Another political series featuring huge robots. It's no exaggeration to say that, like Gurren Lagann, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch) is an exemplary mecha shonen. The giant robots here are not important in themselves, but they are cleverly woven into the plot.
In Code Geass there is a room for friendship, intrigue, grandiose action scenes, and a little bit of philosophy. Perhaps Code Geass is an ideal substitute for Neon Genesis Evangelion in almost every way, if you found it too dark.
Sorry, but Neon Genesis Evangelion is not on the list!
Japan has long been a leader in the technological race, so it is not surprising that art has fantasized about the possibilities of machines in the future. Mecha, in particular, is an anime genre about huge military robots.
Despite the popularity of the genre, the abundance of titles can drive some newcomers crazy. Here's where a beginner can start.
Giant robots have played a big role in Ghost in the Shell since Mamoru Oshii's first film. However, in the Stand Alone Complex series, which became the spiritual successor to the full-length anime, thinking tachikomas (a kind of military walkers) act not as enemies, but as allies.
The creators spend a lot of time on the interactions between the tachicoms and the members of Section 9. The huge robots are revealed in the series as children who need attention. This is an unexpected solution creating a lot of comical moments in such a serious anime.
Patlabor: The Movie
Speaking of Mamoru Oshii and his contributions to the mecha genre, Patlabor: The Movie (Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor the Movie) should be mentioned. In the future, where high tech has become commonplace, the police use huge robots (they are called labors) to fight crimes.
Unlike the exceptional cyberpunk Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor is more drawn to an industrial plot about police work in the future. This is a very prosaic story in the spirit of The Wire.
For those who want a more dynamic story, Promare is perfect. At first glance, this is another industrial story (this time about the fire department), but Promare is qualitatively different due to its explosive visuals.
Studio Trigger is famous among anime fans mainly for its exceptional visual style and great attention to detail. Promare in this regard is literally an exhibition of the company’s technical achievements. This is a fast and furious action movie that presents mecha as colorful comics.
Gurren Lagann (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) was in many ways a competitor to Neon Genesis Evangelion and was defeated, but this is not entirely fair. Gurren Lagann is set in a future where people live underground.
The creators raise some difficult political questions about the nature of power and the state much more acutely than other examples of the mecha genre. The robots here are used by characters more as a tool, but they are animated with such love that it is simply impossible not to succumb to the charm of mecha.
Another political series featuring huge robots. It's no exaggeration to say that, like Gurren Lagann, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch) is an exemplary mecha shonen. The giant robots here are not important in themselves, but they are cleverly woven into the plot.
In Code Geass there is a room for friendship, intrigue, grandiose action scenes, and a little bit of philosophy. Perhaps Code Geass is an ideal substitute for Neon Genesis Evangelion in almost every way, if you found it too dark.
_17235.webp)
_17235.webp)
_17235.webp)
