Mecha anime came back in the late 1950s, one of the oldest anime genres. This genre has been used repeatedly to tell various stories to the kids related to wars and other things. Various mecha anime merchandise has also become popular over time. Many clothes, toys, and games have been sold using them. There have been several successful mangas that have been made into animations of related topics. There are various mecha anime available to watch, and it can be a bit tedious job to figure out which ones to watch. So, this list has been prepared, which contains the best mecha anime series. The viewers will now know where they have to start and what to watch next.
55. Build Divide: Code Black (2021)
- Director: Yūya Hoshino
- Writer: Yūya Hoshino, Shōji Gatoh
- Cast: Takuya Eguchi (Teruto Kurabe), Azusa Tadokoro (Kiyoi Tokimitsu), Miku Itō (Samantha)
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
- Platform: Funimation, Crunchyroll
In the anime Build Divide: Code Black The protagonist, Teruto (a young man with a mysterious past), is a challenger to beat the reigning King by taking control of the game. However, Teruto first struggles with who he is and his lost memories. To win the power that will defeat the King, he must participate in duels with powerful opponents through his deck of cards while seeking the truth of his past.
The series brings in elements of card battling and mecha combat, where characters summon mecha-like beings to battle it out in high-stakes duels. As it continues on, Teruto forges alliances and confronts experienced players while uncovering the dark secrets that control society and the true nature of the Build Divide game.
54. Best Mecha Anime Series: Re: Creators (2017)
- Director: Ei Aoki
- Writer: Rei Hiroe
- Cast: Sora Amamiya (Selesia Upitiria), Aoi Koga (Chikori Morikawa), Yoshimasa Hosoya (Mamika Kirameki)
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Platform: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll
In the anime Re: Creators The plot is about the high school girl, Mamika Kirameki, who got lost and ended up with Selesia. Mamika’s story gets more entangled within the conflict that breaks out between the creators-who are in fact the storytellers-and creations-who happen to be their characters. While the conflict is building, the strength of forces manipulating the play behind the scenes escalates. The creations fight for survival but to figure out what their existence is in reality.
One of the central ideas behind Re: Creators centers on the thought of creation and authorship. Creations started questioning their purpose, what their authors had planned for them, and their place in the world.
53. Reign of the Seven Spellblades (2023)
- Director: Tetsuo Hirakawa
- Writer: Kento Shimoyama
- Cast: Yuichiro Umehara (Oliver Horn), Azusa Tadokoro (Karin), Sayaka Ohara (Ludmila)
- IMDb Rating: N/A (As of now)
- Platform: Crunchyroll
The series Reign of the Seven Spellblades follows a boy named Oliver Horn who enrolls at the academy with a shady background and something that drives him to find his father’s killing truth.
Fast enough, he becomes friends with an array of students: a mysterious, powerful mage, Mikael, and a sharp-tongued, talented girl, Nina. Together, they face increasingly dangerous magical challenges, along with the pleasures of navigating the complexity of life in this academy.
The academy is not just for learning spells there but also hides grimmer dangers of dark magic, political intrigue, and even hidden conspiracies. The series brings fantasy, mystery, and action together as Oliver and his friends take on sinister opponents, uncover conspiracies, and explore deeper mysteries of magic in their world.
52. Godzilla Singular Point (2021)
- Director: Atsushi Takahashi
- Writer: Toh Enjoe
- Cast: Ayumu Murase (Yun Arikawa), Tomo Muranaka (Mei Kamino), Kaiji Tang (Jet Jaguar)
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
- Platform: Netflix
Godzilla Singular Point is set in the near future. Two young protagonists, Yun Arikawa, a graduate student and engineer, and Maya Kamino, a researcher at a university, get caught up in an unfolding global crisis caused by strange, monstrous creatures appearing around the world.
The events are launched when a succession of strange things start happening; all of it is connected by the mysterious onset of various forms of kaiju, not least of all Godzilla. And these aren’t just mindless monsters-these are part of a larger event, complex and potentially apocalyptic. Yun and Maya research the origins of these creatures along with other scientists and their ties to a strange “singularity” involving exotic theories of quantum mechanics, otherworldly signals, and inaccessible dimensions.
51. Best Mecha Anime Series: Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song (2021)
- Director: Shinpei Ezaki
- Writer: Rei Kono
- Cast: Mai Fuchigami (Vivy), Koki Uchiyama (Matsumoto), Tia Lynn Ballard (A.I.)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
- Platform: Funimation, Crunchyroll
Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song is based on Vivy, an artificial intelligence character called the “Songstress of Fluorite Eye’s Song,” who was made with the intention of making people happy by singing. She lives in a theme park and performs daily, but she is unaware of the larger purpose for which she was created. A mysterious AI from the future appears to Vivy one day and informs her that a horrible conflict between AIs and humans will eventually break out, resulting in their destruction.
In his attempt to alter significant historical occurrences, Matsumoto enlists Vivy, using her singing and AI skills to affect the human-AI interaction that would result in this catastrophe.
50. Darling in the Franxx (2018)
- Director: Atsushi Nishigori
- Writer: Atsushi Nishigori, Naotaka Hayashi
- Cast: Yūto Uemura (Hiro), Nakayama Yui (Zero Two), Haruka Tomatsu (Ichigo)
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Darling in the Franxx is a post-apocalyptic mecha anime based on a story in which, in the past, there were few remnants of human existence who survived on this planet inside giant, roaming mobile fortress cities. To battle such monsters, little kids are enrolled as pilots inside massive mechanical constructs called Franxx—where there is always a boy and girl to make one whole couple, which will create their special link as the first steps toward synchro inside of fighting these terrifying Klaxosaurs.
The story focuses on a young boy named Hiro, who used to be one of the bright hopes for pilots but is now an unloved and unwanted member of the Parasites since his previous mission failed. The life of Hiro changes after he meets the mysterious girl known as Zero Two. She has been known for having many former partners who have been unable to survive piloting with her. Following a number of events, Hiro is chosen as her new partner and an unlikely relationship between the two forms.
49. Megaton-kyuu Musashi (2021)
- Director: Yūji Ikuhara
- Writer: Yasuyuki Mutou
- Cast: Kazuya Nakai (Goro), Hiroshi Kamiya (Ichika), Rikiya Koyama (Jo)
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
- Platform: Funimation
Megaton-kyuu Musashi is a mecha-action anime. It takes place in a world where an alien race known as the Draktor invaded and almost eradicated humanity from the face of Earth. Most of Earth’s population was destroyed, and those left were forced to live in underground cities in hiding.
In terms of the protagonist, three are young pilots of giant mecha called Musashi: Ryo Shido, Teru Hayakawa, and Aoi Kiriya. Equipped with powerful guns, these people are humanity’s last hope at fighting the war against the invading Draktor. For them, during the battles aimed at protecting those remnants of mankind, they could not help facing the mysteries encircling their past, the type of mission ahead, and more importantly, to whom they could be enemies.
48. Best Mecha Anime Series: Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)
- Director: Yuuichirou Hirakawa
- Writer: Haro Aso
- Cast: Eiji Hanawa (Akira), Natsuki Hanae (Akira), Maaya Sakamoto (Saki)
- IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
- Platform: Netflix
In Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, one of Akira’s bucket list items involves him attempting to pilot a giant robot. This moment is more about fulfilling his wild dreams during the apocalypse rather than a primary plot point. The inclusion of this mecha adds an element of humor and absurdity to the show. While a grim world riddled with zombies surrounds him, Akira is excited to be piloting this massive machine for a change in the action-horror atmosphere.
This isn’t a very central part of the series but does play well into the overarching theme of Zom 100—where even in a zombie-infested world, Akira takes the opportunity to do stuff he would’ve never done had he been leading his normal life.
47. The Orbital Children (2022)
- Director: Mitsuo Iso
- Writer: Mitsuo Iso
- Cast: Akio Ohtsuka (Takahashi), Yumiko Kobayashi (Maru), Hiroshi Kamiya (Satoshi)
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
The Orbital Children is ultimately a story that takes off much space exploration and survival in the first parts. But somehow, some kind of mecha does surface where there would be more space robotics.
Specifically, certain robots can transform and allow these young ones to interact within this desolate expanse or go to extreme limits, like retrieving another exoskeleton to put into their backs with more life in it or safeguarding the youngsters.
There is also a focus on future space technology, including drones, automated systems, and AI, which are all major components of the story. The mechanical elements are not giant mechas like in most mecha anime, but they still make up a big part of how the characters move around and survive the space crisis.
46. Heavy Object (2015)
- Director: Tachikawa Yuzuru
- Writer: Gō Zappa
- Cast: Kazuya Nakai (Qwenthur Barbotage), Maaya Sakamoto (Havia Winchell), Yuichi Nakamura (Frolaytia Capistrano)
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Platform: Funimation
Heavy Object is highly focused on mecha warfare, having the Objects as an integral part of the setting in the anime. The Objects are gargantuan, massive, machine-like contraptions that exist solely for large-scale military battles. Qwenthur and Havia’s story revolves around defeating these gigantic war machines. Most of their comrades focus on direct combat, but Qwenthur uses his brains and resourcefulness to detect weaknesses in the Objects.
The series depicts the nature of the contrast between the abundant power of the Objects and the ingenuity of the characters, mainly utilizing strategy, teamwork, and quick thinking rather than brute force. The entire time, they are protecting Milinda, finding ways to outsmart the larger, more powerful enemy Objects.
45. Best Mecha Anime Series: Muv-Luv Alternative (2021)
- Director: Yukio Nishimoto
- Writer: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
- Cast: Tomokazu Seki (Takeru Shirogane), Ai Kakuma (Sumika Kagami), Yuka Iguchi (Meiya Mitsurugi)
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Platform: Funimation
The setting of Muv-Luv Alternative is very heavy on mecha warfare, in which TSFs (Tactical Surface Fighters) are the heart of the warfare against the BETA. Mechas are very advanced, humanoid machines with multiple weapons and armor for close- and long-range combat against alien invaders.
Takeru enters a military academy where young soldiers are trained to pilot TSFs, powerful mechas designed solely to battle the BETA. However, soon, he finds that his world is not what he thought it to be; in fact, he has been brought from a peaceful, alternate dimension to this dystopian one. Struggling to come to terms with his memories and emotions, Takeru must confront the harsh reality that he is now up against as he gets himself involved with an elite team of TSF pilots and military personnel.
44. Revisions (2019)
- Director: Goro Taniguchi
- Writer: Yousuke Kuroda
- Cast: Nobunaga Shimazaki (Shiro Usazaki), Aoi Koga (Miku Nakadai), Kazuya Nakai (Dai Aoe)
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Platform: Netflix
Revisions is a very mecha-centric, and the mechas represent the primary defense against all things Revision. The mechas are not at all like robot humanoid beings but rather biomechanical constructs that the characters bond with. The story revolves around Daisuke Dojima, who is a high school student, and along with his friends, he ends up caught in this bizarre phenomenon where they are transported 15 years into the future.
This makes Daisuke and his gang of friends wind up in an apocalyptic world where the Earth has been marred by enormous, biomechanical creatures named the Revisions. They devastate everything within their paths in this ravaged landscape. And they are after all a manifestation of a rather chaotic phenomenon—a distortion that has altered space and time; it throws them into a particular timeline where, for their very survival, Daisuke has to fight and survive.
43. ID: Invaded (2020)
- Director: Ei Aoki
- Writer: Mari Okada
- Cast: Kazuya Nakai (Sakaido), Tomokazu Seki (Ava), Akio Otsuka (Futagami), Rie Kugimiya (Mei Kurokami)
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Platform: Funimation
ID: Invaded is a psychological thriller and science fiction anime series that combines detective work with surreal and twisted alternate realities. The story centers around Sakaido, a brilliant yet troubled detective; the overall story revolves around him, who happens to be hired by a secret government organization to solve a series of murders that are committed in an unusual manner.
The catch is that the murderer is someone who enters a virtual world called “Id Well,” which is a distorted version of the murderer’s subconscious. To investigate the murders, Sakaido must enter the Id Well himself. In this respect, he plays the role of Kieta Sakaido, an earlier incarnation of himself who was a criminal. The anime does not, of course, feature mechs in the old sense but instead uses advanced technology and sophisticated systems to tap into human psyches, offering a very far-off but still technologically-led storyline.
42. Best Mecha Anime Series: Argento Soma (2000)
- Director: Koichi Ohata
- Writer: Hiroshi Onogi
- Cast: Takehito Koyasu (Takuto Kaneshiro), Yuko Miyamura (Mayumi Saeki), Yukari Tamura (Reika Kirishima)
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Platform: Available on DVD
Argento Soma is centered around Takuto Kaneshiro, an ex-soldier who psychologically suffered when his partner was killed during a mission by the terrorist group Roms. Takuto’s pain and anguish force him into revenge against the Roms and those who killed his partner. During this process, he is enlisted in a stealth operation to pilot the humanoid mecha called Argento, which has been created as an all-purpose weapon with which to fight against the Roms.
During Takuto’s membership in the project, he understands that not only is Argento a formidable mecha used to fight and vanquish one’s foes but also linked with the dark tragic events related to the coming of the Roms on Earth. Gradually, Takuto would discover all the secrets about the essence of Roms, its affinity with humankind, and ethical dilemmas brought about by war.
41. Takt Op. Destiny (2021)
- Director: Yoshihiro Takamoto
- Writer: Kiyoko Yoshimura
- Cast: Kaito Ishikawa (Takt Asahina), Miku Itou (Destiny), Sora Amamiya (Anna Schneider), Takahiro Sakurai (Leonard)
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Takt Op. Destiny revolves around Takt Asahina, a gifted young conductor who manages to survive attacks from D2s. Takt’s life changes drastically when he encounters Destiny, a hazy girl who is one of the Musicarts-the known beings made to defend humankind and counter the D2s. These Musicarts are fueled by music, and they can fight off using magical powers derived from the essence of the music they embody. Takt, in the role of a conductor, can control the power of Destiny with his music.
Takt and Destiny journey through a destroyed America, fighting D2s and facing a numerous array of dangers as they attempt to revive music for the world. It also includes mecha-like elements using the Musicarts. These powerful beings are humanoid in appearance and have abilities that can be compared to mecha combat, but they’re not machines as such.
40. Kyoukai Senki: Kyokkou No Souki
- Director: Hiroyuki Kanbe
- Writer: Tatsuhiko Urahata
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: N/A
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming Platform: N/A
Kyoukai Senki: Kyokkou no Souki, a follow-up to 2021’s AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline, will be a 6-part ONA series. The original Sunrise Beyond series explored political topics linked to oppression while telling a conventional mecha story that was influenced by Gundam and Code Geass. Even though the show occasionally played it too safe, it was still able to give good action and music.
There isn’t a lot of information currently available regarding the sequel, however, it appears to concentrate on the South Sea islands.
39. Best Mecha Anime Series: Knights Of Sidonia
- Director: Kobun Shizuno, Hiroyuki Seshita
- Writer: Sadayuki Murai
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming Platform: N/A
Due to its platform exclusivity and 3D CG animation, Knights of Sidonia, which made its debut as the first Netflix original anime, had a barrier to entrance. The latter is usually difficult to market, but this art form works well for a sci-fi mecha anime set in the icy chill of space.
Knights of Sidonia features an outcast with an aptitude for an outdated type of mecha that turns out to be the most reliable line of defence against an alien danger. The story is very traditional in most respects. Naturally, this results in a tonne of fantastic fight scenes.
38. Giant Robo The Animation: The Day The Earth Stood Still
- Director: Yasuhiro Imagawa
- Writer: Yasuhiro Imagawa
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming Platform: N/A
Giant Robo the Animation is a recommendation for a mecha anime that is a little peculiar because, despite its name, the titular Giant Robo is absent for significant portions of the OVA series. The anime imagines a world where a great power source has altered everything and where the heroic Experts of Justice and the malevolent Big Fire have been engaged in a decade-long covert war. The latter team is made up of the most skilled fighters on Earth and a youngster with mecha control abilities.
This anime is still regarded as a classic in the mecha genre even if it treats Giant Robo like a special attraction. Giant Robo the Animation excels on almost every level thanks to its outstanding production value, fantastic characters, and world-building. Additionally, the anime becomes better as it goes along, resulting in a wonderful.
37. Gargantia On The Verdurous Planet
- Director: Kazuya Murata
- Writer: Gen Urobuchi
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming Platform: N/A
In the future shown in Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, people will have left a dying Earth and taken to the heavens. Humans formerly lived among the stars and created an alliance whose troops are brainwashed to only think about combating an extraterrestrial menace. Ledo, a soldier, crashes upon Earth one day and finds that life is still present on the water-covered planet. Ledo starts to doubt his programming as he interacts with the people.
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet is an ambitious sci-fi anime with infrequent action scenes, but its world-building is what really stands out. Ledo is a fantastic and genuine protagonist who responds realistically to the revelations he encounters.
36. Best Mecha Anime Series: Star Driver
- Director: Takuya Igarashi
- Writer: Yoji Enokido
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming Platform: N/A
In other words, if the first few chapters of Star Driver do not resonate with a viewer, they can definitely move on to something else. Star Driver establishes a rhythm in its first episode and maintains it for virtually the whole duration of its run.
A secret organization is working to break the last shrine maiden’s seal on an island that is home to strong mecha known as Cybodies that can only be utilized in a special world outside of reality. This will allow them to deploy these mecha anywhere they like. Takuto Tsunashi, fortunately for the maiden, shows up just in time to serve as her carefree knight.
35. Fafner
- Director: Nobuyoshi Habara
- Writer: Tow Ubukata
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming Platform: N/A
An unexpectedly lengthy anime called Fafner made its premiere in 2004 and has since spawned further seasons and even a number of films. Fafner follows a group of youths charged with operating enormous robots to fend off these threats while they are supported by their families. The story takes place decades after aliens invaded and destroyed Japan.
Since the anime spends a lot of time examining the relationship between the pilots and their parents, and these dynamics are typically portrayed in a more positive light than in something like Neon Genesis Evangelion, the latter’s inclusion helps this story stand out from many other mecha shows.
34. Space Runaway Ideon
- Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino
- Writer: Yoshiyuki Tomino
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming Platform: N/A
Space Runaway Ideon made its debut in 1980, and once its run was over, the 1982 film The Ideon: Be Invoked, it was forgotten. The fight between humanity and the Buff Clan, an alien civilization, in this super robot anime takes place on the planet Solo. People will stop at nothing to obtain a tremendous energy source that this world possesses.
The beginning of Space Runaway Ideon sets a sombre and dismal tone that doesn’t waver. This 1980s anime is unavoidably dated in many aspects because it has been more than 40 years since it first aired, yet its plot and concepts still hold up well. The film is also excellent.
33. Best Mecha Anime Series: SSS.Gridman
- Director: Akira Amemiya
- Writer: Keiichi Hasegawa
- Cast: Yuya Hirose, Hikaru Midorikawa, Soma Saito
- IMDb: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
- Streaming Platform: N/A
Because Akane Shinjou, one of the anime’s main antagonists, is so appealing, SSSS.Gridman frequently sparks strong opinions. This character not only steals the show, but she also experiences the most significant arc and advances the plot at the same time. She needs to connect with someone, or else SSSS.Gridman won’t work. But the opposite is also accurate.
Epic fights between the titular mecha and a variety of inventive kaiju are shown in the anime Trigger. These battles all feature fantastic animation and soundtrack, of course. Although initially a little sluggish, the tale picks up steam later in the season.
32. Getter Robo: Armageddon
- Director: Yasuhiro Imagawa
- Writer: Hideki Sonoda
- Cast: N/A
- IMDb: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- Streaming Platform: N/A
Getter Robo established the Super Robot subgenre, which often combines mecha with superpowers (or mythical origins). The original programme, which debuted as an anime and manga in 1974, is influential and significant, yet it can be challenging to revisit in the modern era. Getter Robo has thankfully received a couple OVA episodes that are more palatable to contemporary viewers. New Getter Robo from 2004 is a good place for newcomers to start if they want to join the franchise.
Having said that, Getter Robo: Armageddon deserves to be mentioned since it is so great. The conflict between humanity and the Invaders, an alien danger that can take many different forms, is the focus of this anime. The Getter crew roams the post-apocalyptic wilderness in quest of foes because Earth has essentially become a wasteland.
31. The Big O
- Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama
- Writer: Chiaki J. Konaka
- Cast: Steve Blum, Lia Sargent, Michael Forest
- IMDb: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
- Streaming Platform: N/A
The Big O is one of the few anime series that was more popular outside of Japan. It is also easy to understand why: the show’s cool protagonist and neo-noir aesthetic were ideal for a decade that had previously given rise to Batman: The Animated Series.
The Big 0 is a big robot mecha anime that is set in a city with a large population of amnesics. They live in a metropolis with no future, one that frequently serves as the scene of clashes between enormous robots, and have persevered for decades without knowing their common history. Usually, Roger Smith is in one of these mecha.
30. Best Mecha Anime Series: Knights Of Sidonia
- Director: Kōbun Shizuno
- Writer: Sadayuki Murai Tetsuya
- Cast: Aya Suzaki, Ayane Sakura and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Funimation
Knights Of Sidonia is an action, sci-fi, space and Mecha genre anime. Each episode of the show is 24 minutes long, and the experience of watching this show can not be described in a word short than excellent. It is yet another beautiful mecha series with a great story.
Humans have predicted that there is going to be an attack on Earth. To protect themselves, They make spaceships , and send humans to various other planets to live.
Kaunas is an alien group determined to destroy the galaxy. This happens even before they hear from the spaceships. Kaunas take over the Earth and believe that humans no longer exist. Many other twists are in the plot, making it a must-watch.
29. Robotics: Notes
- Director: Toshihiko Kajioka
- Writer: Chiyomaru Shikura, Naotaka Hayashi
- Cast: Kaito Yashio, Akiho Senomiya, Frau Kojiro and others
- IMDb Ratings: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
- Streaming Platform: Funimation
The robotic club of Central Tanegashima High School always wanted to finish GunPro 1, which comes under giant robots. Akiho Senomiya and Kaito Yahisho are the main characters and very different. Akiho wants to complete the construction of the robots, but Kaito has other interests.
The twists and turns happen as the show moves fast, just as a roller coaster. The series is not based on the novel story and is a little less from it.
28. Gargantia On The Verdurous Planet
- Director: Kazuya Murata
- Writer: Gen Urobuchi
- Cast: Marc Diraison, Kyle Hebert and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
Gargantia On The Verdurous Planet falls under sci-fi, action, adventure and mecha anime. It came out in April 2013 and ran till June 2013.
This series forces the viewers to think about various things, like whether humans are normal or not. What do aliens feel when they land on Earth? Nobody would have thought such things. The planet mentioned is a Blue Planet where there is fresh air.
The plot is perfect, and there are many twists and turns. Each episode runs for 23 minutes and promises a lot of things. It has won many awards and is on the list of popular anime. This is a perfect watch and won’t fail the viewers’ expectations.
27. Best Mecha Anime Series: Promare
- Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Writer: Kazuki Nakashima
- Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Kari Wahlgren, Neil Kaplan and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
- Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Studio Trigger has made Promare, and it is just pure goodness. The movie came out in 2019, it showed a world divided into two subcategories due to discrimination against Burnish. When the planet’s fate has to be decided, two people from these opposite groups come together.
The music and animation of Promare are stellar, and the energy is too high because of the incredible fights. There are decent buildings and good characters in Promare, and it is an excellent mecha series.
26. Aldnoah.Zero
- Director: Ei Aoki
- Writer: Katsuhiko Takayama, Gen Urobuchi, Shinsuke Onishi, Ayumi Sekine
- Cast: Sora Amamiya, Natsuki Hanae, Kensho Ono and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll
Aldona. Zero is a military, sci-fi, action and Mecha genre anime. This show takes the viewers into a completely unknown world where something unimaginable happens.
Many new technologies are developed that are used in the war. Humans have found a way to reach Mars, and the secret passage through Moon is known as Hypergate. Then, there is Vers Empire, which humans formed.
25. FLCL
- Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
- Writer: Yoji Enokido
- Cast: Kari Wahlgren, Steve Blum, Stephanie Sheh and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
FLCL can not be described with just the help of mere words. It covers many things and is a comedy filled with philosophy. FLCL is a masterpiece and requires multiple viewings to understand it fully. Some don’t like it and call it pretentious, and some love it.
This 2000 OVA series is among the most famous and known mecha anime. It features robots coming out of the heads of the protagonists.
24. Best Mecha Anime Series: Gunbuster
- Director: Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki
- Writer: Toshio Okada, Yoji Enokido
- Cast: Rei Sakuma, Norio Wakamoto and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll
Gunbuster serves as Hideaki Anno’s debut as a director. Anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water show some similarities with Gunbuster. The anime also imitates Aim for the Ace! Anime which is a tennis manga.
It is an OVA mecha series covering many faced characters with real robot action and sci-fi. These things are a good mix in the anime.
23. Break Blade
- Director: Tetsurō Amino , Nobuyoshi Habara
- Writer: Yunosuke Yoshinaga
- Cast: Chiwa Saitou, Hiroshi Kamiya and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Break Blade consists of six original video animations. It takes on the conventional plot of a hero piloting a mecha to save the country from the invading forces. There are many twists in the anime with the addition of magic. A good time has been devoted to developing various conflicts and characters.
The main reason one should watch Break Blade is due to its action scenes. There are many great mecha duels in the anime that are fascinating and nicely animated.
22. 86
- Director: Toshimasa Ishii
- Writer: Toshiya Ōno
- Cast: Ikumi Hasegawa, Shōya Chiba, Natsumi Fujiwara and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, VRV
Considered among the best shows of Spring of 2021, 86 gathered fans’ love immediately after its release. The anime is about war, humanity and discrimination.
The anime 86 had a massive success that led to the official announcement of its second season long before the first concluded. It will be known among the best modern mecha anime in the future.
21. Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex
- Director: Kenji Kamiyama
- Writer: Kenji Kamiyama, Masamune Shirow, Mamoru Oshii and others
- Cast: Atsuko Tanaka, Richard Epcar, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Video, Vudu
Ghost in the Shell has inspired many sequels and spin-offs with the same quality as the original one.
The original movie of Ghost in the Shell is remembered until now due to its fine quality in everything and is considered among the best mecha anime. In 2002, a series on the same was announced, and many fans were doubtful about it, although Yukata Maseba was the man producing it. He has been behind much successful anime like Trigun, Akira, and Sailor Moon.
20. Best Mecha Anime Series: Magic Knight Rayearth
- Director: Toshihiro Hirano
- Writer: Clamp
- Cast: Wendee Lee, Bridget Hoffman and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Funimation
Just think of magical girls who can turn into Mecha. That’s Magic Knight Rayearth for you. The plot of the anime is strictly according to the source material. Just a character has been added named Inova. The three girls go to Cephiro to save the princess and the land.
Magic Knight Rayearth has won various awards like Best Theme Song. So, music and mecha anime fans, this anime is just for you.
19. Full Metal Panic!
- Director: NA
- Writer: Shoji Gatoh
- Cast: Luci Christian, Tomokazu Seki, Chris Patton and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
Full Metal Panic! has a similar plot to Eureka Seven and Iron-Blooded Orphans. Sousuke Sagara is responsible for protecting a Kaname Chidori from a potential threat from terrorists. Kaname is a high school girl in Full Metal Panic and isn’t aware of the threat initially. Sousuke gets admission to the same school so that she can remain undercover.
Kaname is blessed with power, and she is unaware of her powers. The terrorists want to kidnap her to use that power for their benefit. Sousuke and her allies must protect her.
Until now, the series Full Metal Panic would seem to be serious, but it also falls under the sitcom genre, and the social misunderstandings make it fun to watch. The two main characters are determined to protect each other. Kaname wants to protect Sousuke from the evil things of high school, and Sousuke protects her from the terrorist threat.
18. Aim for the Top! Gunbuster
- Director: Hideaki Anno
- Writer: Hideaki Anno Toshio, Okada Hiroyuki Yamaga
- Cast: Rei Sakuma, Norio Wakamoto, Kazuki Yao and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
Aim for the Top! Gunbuster marks the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, who worked on Shin Godzilla and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The anime is short, with only six episodes and a compelling plot.
The viewers who want to watch a quirky mecha anime should get it. Noriko Takaya is the protagonist, and her father was a courageous admiral who went missing during the war. She is taken along by Coach Ota, a crewmate of her father.
17. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
- Director: Gorō Taniguchi
- Writer: Gorō Taniguchi, Ichirō Ōkouchi
- Cast: Jun Fukuyama, Johnny Yong Bosch, Takahiro Sakurai and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Code Geass is a genre-defining anime and is an exception as its original anime set the benchmark for the others of the same genre. The show presents the viewers with a fascinating plot, although many don’t agree.
Code Geass is a Sunrise production and attracts the viewers through its characters, and there is a mix of political elements. Animation and combat are outstanding, and betrayals and alliances are often seen. Code Geass is like War of the Roses in terms of combat scenes.
The plot of Code Geass is very enthralling as in Code Geass, Lelouch, who is the exiled prince, gained the power of Geass, and through that power, he can control anyone. He aims to lead an assault on Brittania. The viewers are kept engaged with the plot as there is a lot of tension in Code Geass.
16. Best Mecha Anime Series: Eureka Seven
- Director: Tomoki Kyoda
- Writer: Dai Satō
- Cast: Kaori Nazuka, Yūko Sanpei, Tony Oliver and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Funimation
The premise of Eureka Seven deals with a fourteen-year-old boy who wants to join a mercenary group. He finds his way of achieving it when he meets Eureka.
The show Eureka Seven has won various awards, including Best Character Design, Best Screenplay and Best Female Character. This anime finishes in 2006 and is among the highest quality mecha anime.
15. Armored Trooper Votoms
- Director: Ryōsuke Takahashi
- Writer: Sōji Yoshikawa, Jinzō Toriumi
- Cast: Hozumi Gōda, Shigeru Chiba, Banjō Ginga and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: HiDive
Chirico Cuvie was given an espionage mission by the Gilgamesh Federation in which he is an Armed Trooper pilot. His mission doesn’t go well, and then he is abandoned and left to Balarant Union, the enemy. Chirico manages to escape and discovers the truth behind the mission assigned to him.
Armored Trooper Votoms is the perfect mecha anime for the viewers who like action scenes.
14. Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Director: Hideaki Anno
- Writer: Hideaki Anno, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Ikuto Yamashita and others
- Cast: Spike Spencer, Allison Keith, Amanda Winn-Lee and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Non-Genesis Evangelion is among the most popular mecha anime, and it influenced many other mecha anime. Even after more than twenty-five years of its release, it continues to be a well known and most-watched anime.
Not much subsequent series can match the levels of the original series, and this fact makes Neon Genesis Evangelion a nice watch and has great drama.
Fans who were searching for something different, unique, great plot, and good character design should watch Neon Genesis Evangelion.
13. The Vision Of Escaflowne
- Director: Kazuki Akane
- Writer: Shōji Kawamori
- Cast: Paul Dobson, Terry Klassen, Andrew Francis and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 43%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The Vision of Escaflowne is a unique mecha anime with a crossover between Mecha and fantasy. It has high art, adventure, action and is from the late 1990s.
The series is based in a fantasy world and narrated by Hitomi who is a teenager. Escaflowne, Van, and robots fighting for the King of Fanelia are the Mecha of this series. The visuals are great, and this anime is perfect for fans who like the genre to be more than Mecha.
12. Best Mecha Anime Series: Gundam Build Fighters
- Director: Kenji Nagasaki
- Writer: Yōsuke Kuroda
- Cast: Seth Leslie, Mikako Komatsu, Sachi Kokuryu and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Gogoanime
Gundam Build Fighters gave Gundam franchise a much-needed push. Build Fighters is based in a universe where Gundam is nothing more than a show, and the technology allows the use of Gundam models in various battles and treatments.
This show: Gundam Build Fighters, is a tribute to the best Gundam designs and also has many Gundam characters leading to the fans calling it a Gundam heaven. We also see a great deal of drama and battle.
This is an excellent series and can be viewed by children also. Gundam Build Fighters has amazing fight scenes that can be considered the best in Gundam and the entire history of the mecha genre. In all, Gundam Build Fighters is a must-watch.
11. King Of Braves Gaogaigar
- Director: Hitoshi Kako, Toshinori Yokoyama, Mami Kohara and others
- Writer: Yoshitake Suzuki
- Cast: Nobuyuki Hiyama, Kenichi Ogata, Tomoe Hanba and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Gogoanime
Takara finished braves franchise as GaoGaiBar. This is also a robot anime, and there are heroes and great action. Gutsy Geoid Guard is a secret organization that works against Zonderians, an alien race that wants to turn humans into real robots. There are giant robots in King of Braves Gaogaigar.
The show is for kids and is very entertaining, and is full of drama in its first half, making it an easy watch for everyone. The mecha designs in King of Brave Gaogaigar has been done by the same person who created Transformers. This fact makes the show an excellent watch for robot fans.
10. Bubblegum Crisis
- Director: Yasunori Ide, Ken’ichi Yatagai and others
- Writer: Toshimichi Suzuki
- Cast: Rio Natsuki, Yuu Asakawa, Satsuki Yukino and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Claymore with high technology and robot suits is Bubblegum Crisis for the viewers. Knight Sabers is a female team that fights equipped with high technology suits. The tone of this show is the same as Well and was released in 1991 in North America. It falls under super robot anime.
Bubblegum Crisis is also famous for its popular spin-offs and crossover appearances in various TV series.
9. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
- Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
- Writer: Kazuki Nakashima
- Cast: Tony Oliver, Marina Inoue, Katsuyuki Konishi and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
Studio GAINAX is known for making excellent mecha anime, and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is just another example of that fact. They have presented many great robot anime like Evangelion and Gurren Lagann. The plot of the series begins with Kamina and Simon, who are two teenagers living underground. They find a real robot and learn about an alien force determined to fight humanity and suppress it.
Those who expect hotblooded energy in real robot anime series should watch Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. The episodes of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann are better than the previous ones, it is a super robot show, sci-fi show, and there is an insane feat in each one. There are fantastic battle scenes that are inspired by the manga.
8. Best Mecha Anime Series: Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
- Director: Noboru Ishiguro
- Writer: Kenichi Matsuzaki
- Cast: Mari Iijima, Arihiro Hase, Vic Mignogna and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Macross is proof that two things that should not be combined and have nothing in common can also be combined very easily. An alien battleship lands on Earth, and then humanity has a rapid surge in the development of technology as they find out more about its technology. This was done just in time as humanity needs to fight Zentraedi, a different race of aliens.
Fans for its combat scenes love Macross, and the love stories in the background make this series unique. Then, there is also an idol whose songs bring peace to the galaxy, and all this makes Macross a unique show in the world of mecha anime.
7. Astro Boy
- Director: Osamu Tezuka
- Writer: Osamu Tezuka
- Cast: Susan Blu, Wally Wingert and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
When Astro Boy was released in 1963 in Japan, a new anime genre was introduced, Mecha. This show is a modern way of telling the story of Pinocchio, and the exception here is just that instead of a puppet, there is a robot. Astro Boy features robots, and kids in Japan like this anime character a lot. This movie became a hit in Japan.
The show’s version that came in the 1980s is a remake of the one that aired in the 1960s. The series also has a loyal fanbase and is earning significant revenues.
6. Mobile Suit Gundam 00
- Director: Seiji Mizushima
- Writer: Yōsuke Kuroda
- Cast: Lisa Ann Beley, Richard Ian Cox, Mamoru Miyano and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Hulu, Netflix
In Mobile Suit Gundam 00, we see that a similar approach like Gundam Wing has been followed. A group of teenage boys are seen making mobile suits and plotting an attack on various locations across the globe.
Celestial Being is a group in Mobile Suit Gundam 00 that operates to shut all the conflicts in the world with the help of military powers. In all, Mobile Suit Gundam is a must-watch.
5. Best Mecha Anime Series: Macross Frontier
- Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi, Shōji Kawamori
- Writer: Hiroyuki Yoshino, Shōji Kawamori
- Cast: Aya Endo, Megumi Nakajima, Jun Fukuyama, Yuichi Nakamura and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: NA
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Macross Frontier is set 50 years after the original series Macross. This show focuses on the group that colonized the Frontier ship of Macross.
The musical aspect of the original Macross series is very famous, and in this also we see two idols. Ranka Lee is a young girl aiming to become a legend. Sheryl Nome, also known as Galactic Fairy, is already famous. These work together with Alto Saotome, a pilot and protects Frontier. Vajra, a new alien threat, just appeared.
4. Appleseed
- Director: Shinji Aramaki
- Writer: Masamune Shirow, Shinji Aramaki, Luci Christian and others
- Cast: David Matranga, Takehito Koyasu, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Liam O’Brien and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 25%
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Masuasume Shirow, the artist who made Ghost in the Shell, also created the manga of Appleseed. This animated series is somewhat different from the original one, and the manga and only the characters and setting is the same.
Appleseed’s plot is about a society where humanity exists with robots, and then some bioroids are a combination of both. Briareos and Deunan are the main characters who have robotic implants and are also very skilled in using their exo-suits. The plot of the robot anime is entertaining, and it also focuses a lot on adventure and action.
3. Mobile Police Patlabor
- Director: Mamoru Oshii
- Writer: Masami Yuki, Kazunori Itō
- Cast: Toshio Furukawa, Michihiro Ikemizu, Shigeru Chiba, Daisuke Gōri and others
- IMDb Ratings: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
- Streaming Platform: 9anime
Special Vehicles Unit deals with crimes related to giant robots meant for industrial purposes. Patlabor is very different from other mecha show that most people have seen since now as it is a robots series with police procedural elements.
Fans looking for a series with an element of comedy and adventures, your search stops here on Patlabor. The show shares many similarities with Barney Miller Show. The primary characters spend their time maintaining robots and filing various reports instead of solving crimes.
2. Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
- Director: Shinya Watada
- Writer: Ichirō Ōkouchi
- Cast: Kikuko Inoue, Steve Staley, Gary Dubin, Emilie Brown, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
The 08th MS Team is excellent. The 1990s animation is so good even to watch today, and it impressed many when it was released. Every combat encounter in the show is very tense, and there are no absurd plots. It is always fascinating to watch the combat to see which side will win. The series also has an element of romance and discusses the soldiers.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans is another excellent watch from the franchise. In Iron-Blooded Orphans, we see that even after 300 years of Calamity War being over, the governing system of the Earth has been lost, and a new government will form a new world.
1. Best Mecha Anime Series: Ghost In The Shell
- Director: Rupert Sanders
- Writer: Kazunori Itō
- Cast: Scarlett Johansson, William Frederick Knight, Mimi Woods, Tom Wyner, and others
- IMDb Ratings: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Ghost in the Shell came in the 1990s and served as an inspiration for many other films. The first movie of the franchise came almost 30 years ago. The style and tone of the shows have changed a lot in the sequel series since then, but it can not be as good as it was in the 1990s.
The whole franchise of Ghost in the Shell is worth a watch and is full of drama. Innocence is the direct sequel to the original film, and this CGI was combined with the traditional hand-drawn anime making it unique.
