Mecha anime is often criticized for “being about robots and not about characters”.
The genre is divided into two subgenres: real robot and super robot, neither of which is just about the mechs.
People should actually watch anime in the genre before making blanket statements on it.
When anime fans ask for recommendations, they often mention that they don’t like mecha anime. Often this remark is followed by exceptions, like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Code Geass and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. And usually, the reason for disliking the genre (and for liking the exceptions) is something superficial along the lines of “I want an anime about characters, not about giant robots.” Which makes sense at first glance, but is actually a complete misunderstanding of what the genre is about.
Two subgenres
Normally, the mecha genre is divided into two subgenres. Super robot anime usually features a one-of-a-kind machine, with the pilot fighting aliens or some other threat to save the world, and is somewhat similar to superhero movies. They usually don’t focus much on the exact technology behind the mecha, usually following the “rule of cool” instead. Examples of super robot anime would be Mazinger Z and Gurren Lagann.
Real robot anime, on the other hand, usually focuses on more realistic (however realistic the genre may be) and usually mass-produced robots, often used as weapons of war between humans. Shows like Code Geass or virtually any Mobile Suit Gundam installment are real robot anime. Of course, there are anime that fall somewhere in between, like Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Neither subgenre is just about robots
Neither super robot nor real robot mecha anime, however, is about the machine itself. Super robot anime usually uses it as a cool weapon, akin to a superpower in a battle shounen series. It is still mainly about the characters piloting it. Real robot anime is even further away from the criticism point of “being only about the robots”, usually featuring complicated relationships between characters, commentary on social issues like perpetual war between humans, and the struggle of the soldiers behind it.
The genre is worth watching
The criticism of not wanting to watch “just an anime about robots” trivializes the genre and paints a wrong picture of it. The criticism doesn’t hold up against the majority of mecha anime — not to mention that a lot of them are actually similar to the “exceptions” that people usually mention. For example, Code Geass might as well be another Gundam spin-off, being similar to shows like Gundam 00. Evangelion is heavily inspired by Hideaki Anno’s previous work, Space Runaway Ideon.
Overall, maybe you should actually give some shows from the genre a try before you make blanket statements about it. Mechs are, first and foremost, a setting, part of the worldbuilding needed to tell the story.
No, it’s not just about giant robots.
Summary:
Mecha anime is often criticized for “being about robots and not about characters”.
The genre is divided into two subgenres: real robot and super robot, neither of which is just about the mechs.
People should actually watch anime in the genre before making blanket statements on it.
When anime fans ask for recommendations, they often mention that they don’t like mecha anime. Often this remark is followed by exceptions, like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Code Geass and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. And usually, the reason for disliking the genre (and for liking the exceptions) is something superficial along the lines of “I want an anime about characters, not about giant robots.” Which makes sense at first glance, but is actually a complete misunderstanding of what the genre is about.
Two subgenres
Normally, the mecha genre is divided into two subgenres. Super robot anime usually features a one-of-a-kind machine, with the pilot fighting aliens or some other threat to save the world, and is somewhat similar to superhero movies. They usually don’t focus much on the exact technology behind the mecha, usually following the “rule of cool” instead. Examples of super robot anime would be Mazinger Z and Gurren Lagann.
Real robot anime, on the other hand, usually focuses on more realistic (however realistic the genre may be) and usually mass-produced robots, often used as weapons of war between humans. Shows like Code Geass or virtually any Mobile Suit Gundam installment are real robot anime. Of course, there are anime that fall somewhere in between, like Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Neither subgenre is just about robots
Neither super robot nor real robot mecha anime, however, is about the machine itself. Super robot anime usually uses it as a cool weapon, akin to a superpower in a battle shounen series. It is still mainly about the characters piloting it. Real robot anime is even further away from the criticism point of “being only about the robots”, usually featuring complicated relationships between characters, commentary on social issues like perpetual war between humans, and the struggle of the soldiers behind it.
The genre is worth watching
The criticism of not wanting to watch “just an anime about robots” trivializes the genre and paints a wrong picture of it. The criticism doesn’t hold up against the majority of mecha anime — not to mention that a lot of them are actually similar to the “exceptions” that people usually mention. For example, Code Geass might as well be another Gundam spin-off, being similar to shows like Gundam 00. Evangelion is heavily inspired by Hideaki Anno’s previous work, Space Runaway Ideon.
Overall, maybe you should actually give some shows from the genre a try before you make blanket statements about it. Mechs are, first and foremost, a setting, part of the worldbuilding needed to tell the story.
