Anime With Unconventional Mecha

The mecha genre in anime has become the source of some of its most iconic media, with certain franchises becoming global hits not only with their compelling narratives but also iconic designs. Thinking of the mecha genre today would likely result in mainstays such as Gundam, which in itself ushered in the Real Mecha subgenre that focused on more realistic portrayals of robots and how they affect daily life.

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By  Jonathan Rodriguez

However, one of the more interesting aspects of the mecha genre would be the actual mecha themselves. With hits such as Gundam staying strong with its decades’ worth of stories, it would be difficult to contend with the genre and other existing franchises, especially if mecha design concepts were common. Interestingly enough, certain anime stand out among their compatriots in the mecha genre for their unique robot designs - some of which even boast their uncommon approach to mecha as their selling point.

Updated June 18, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Gundam SEED Freedom rocking the mecha scene with the return of protagonists Kira Yamato, Athrun Zala, and Shinn Asuka fighting a new threat to peace in the Cosmic Era, fans of the mecha genre might be wondering if the heroic Gundam-esque designs of special head plates, padding, and vibrant colors have always been the norm in the genre.

Surprisingly enough, this isn’t always the case - some mecha anime have featured robot designs that are rather unconventional in the mainstream sense. Among must-watch shows that feature these unique elements include an anime with police patrolling robots, a documentary-style show featuring realistic military robots, biomechanical animals, and even stylized knight-like mecha.

1 Patlabor: The Early Days

Compact Design Perfect For Crime Fighting

The Patlabor multimedia franchise began with a 1988 manga and the OVA Patlabor: The Early Days, which animated its near-future setting and the Labor robots that came with it. The OVA follows the same premise as the manga: the adventures of Noa Izumi and her comrades as members of the Special Vehicle Section of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Unlike other mecha anime, Patlabor: The Early Days establishes a setting where the police use Patrol Labors (hence the franchise name) as special vehicles to help catch criminals and terrorists. Similar to police procedural anime such as Ghost in the Shell, Noa’s adventures in Patlabor are both a mixture of comedic and serious, all to establish the pivotal role of Patlabors in their jobs as crime fighters.

Design-wise, Patlabors diverge from typical mecha fanfare with their focus on realism. Each Patlabor’s color scheme adopts the whites, grays, and blues of traditional police vehicles, complete with emergency lighting. They are usually slightly taller than a two-story house, while their handling is depicted to require a certain degree of precision - especially when controlling specially made weapons. The OVA and subsequent anime show a semi-realistic technological progression to Patlabor designs, revealing quite a stark departure from most mecha shows that like to boast increasingly complex and high-tech designs for visual flair.

2 The Five Star Stories

Fantasy Sci-Fi Designs Resemble More Knight, Less Mecha

The 1989 film The Five Star Stories adapts the beginning segments of the ongoing manga of the same name. It is positioned as a grand space epic set in the wartorn Joker Star Cluster and the mission of immortal emperor Amaterasu to fulfill his destiny of ruling the land. He is accompanied by Lachesis, his artificial lifeform bride, and war machines known as Mortar Headds.

The epic setup of The Five Star Stories isn’t new in the context of mecha stories, but its grandiose fantasy-esque setup has paved the way for Mortar Headds to have quite a unique approach to mecha design. On top of the intricate nature of its interior mechanics, all Mortar Headds resemble suits of armor. Save for Amaterasu’s Knight of Gold, all other Mortar Headds have sleek designs characterized by large pauldrons and greaves, oversized shields, and an assortment of melee-inspired weaponry.

3 Flag

Rigid Mecha Designed As The Next Step After Military Vehicles

When photojournalist Saeko Shirasu took a picture of civilians raising a white flag in wartorn Uddiyana, it became a symbol of peace that accelerated the peace negotiations in the area. Unfortunately, an extremist group steals the flag just before the agreement is settled, prompting the United Nations to secretly send the Special Development Command and their HAVWC (High Agility Versatile Weapon Carrier) mechas to retrieve it. Saeko is brought in as an accompanying photographer, and their story is framed through her photographs in Flag.

Unlike other mecha anime, HAVWCs in Flag are realistic depictions of what a mecha-like Warmachine could look like in real-world militaries. HAVWCs are essential oversized four-wheel vehicles with an upright mode to aim their gatling guns. They are incapable of extremely complex maneuvers and need an exorbitant amount of time to get attuned to new weaponry. The rigid nature of HAVWCs can be a delightful alternative to the usual hyper-agile mecha in other series.

4 Zoids: Chaotic Century

Mechanical Lifeforms Based On Animals

It’s not uncommon for a mecha toy line to have their accompanying multimedia franchise, and Tomy’s Zoids began its anime stint with Zoids: Chaotic Century. The anime is set on Planet Zi, populated by biomechanical lifeforms known as Zoids. Chaotic Century is set during the tumultuous ceasefire between the Helic Republic and Guylos Empire, where Van Flyheight’s discovery of the Shield Liger will determine the fate of the two nations.

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Despite its age, it’s Chaotic Century that will propel Zoids into new sequels and unique concepts such as interchangeable armor (New Century), fusion (Fuzors), and Liger gimmicks (Genesis, Wild). Unlike other mecha anime featuring humanoid robots, the animal-inspired mecha in Zoids boasts recognizable interior circuitry and enlarged joint caps. Mecha fans will also appreciate the translation of animal body parts into mechanized limbs, especially when integrated with weapons such as blasters, missile launchers, and even bladed armaments.

5 Code Geass

Wheels On Tank-Sized Mecha Enable Fast-Paced Combat

While technically half-supernatural and half-mecha anime, Code Geass explores the Black Rebellion conducted by exiled prince Lelouch vi Britannia when he obtains the mysterious Geass to force anyone into submission. However, when powerful mecha known as Knightmare Frames replaced conventional tanks, Lelouch as Zero also needed these powerful war machines to win his war. Although Knightmares still vaguely resembles traditional mecha, the anime’s addition to the concept makes Code Geass a decent introduction to “weird” robot designs.

At their core, Knightmare Frames are much smaller than conventional mecha, keeping in line with the concept of being bipedal improvements to tanks. Unique to Knightmares are large cockpits attached to the back that are ejected in times of danger, head units that convert into radar systems, and wheels beside the legs that can be lowered to let the unit traverse the ground much faster - which coincidentally facilitate much of the anime’s high-octane mecha fights.

6 Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Multiple Transformation Options Add Versatility To The Mecha Concept

When an alien spacecraft crash lands on Earth in Super Dimension Fortress Macross, humanity’s hopes of using its advanced technology to improve human civilization are interrupted when other aliens attack the planet. Across the Macross franchise, pilots defend Earth using variable fighter aircraft, all of which use alien technology to transform. While the idea of a mecha that transforms between a vehicle and a humanoid robot isn't new, what makes Macross’ mecha rather unconventional is the feature of an intermediate mode.

Known as the GERWALK (Ground Effective Reinforcement of Winged Armament with Locomotive Knee-Joint), this transitory phase maintains the jet-like look while extending its limb components. In the series, GERWALK Mode allows low-altitude flight and terrain navigation while using more powerful humanoid-mode weapons. Despite how “clunky” this mecha style looks, the GERWALK mode is a testament to Macross’ pursuit of a more realistic take on mecha technology.

7 The Vision Of Escaflowne

Dieselpunk Knight Aesthetic Seems More Like Suits Of Armor Than Giant Mecha

When high schooler Hitomi finds herself on the planet Gaea in The Vision of Escaflowne, she ends up involved in a war between the planet and the colonizing Zaibach Empire. Amid the chaos, Hitomi becomes connected with Van, the pilot of a mystical mecha known as the Escaflowne that serves as the world’s last hope against the Empire. Mecha in Escaflowne are known as Guymelefs, originally produced to fight dragons until they were mass-produced by the Zaibach Empire to be a part of their fighting force.

While most Guymelefs in Escaflowne resemble traditional mecha, the intricate nature of their designs betrays the typical robot aesthetic. Replacing hard angles and vents is an adornment of jewels and ornaments. Moreover, the accompanying curves and layering make Guymelefs resemble the armor of medieval knights, with an activation sequence that reveals a dieselpunk interior adding much-needed depth to Escaflowne’s retro-fantasy aesthetic.

8 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Hunched Back, Demon-Faced Mecha Ironically Save The World From Angel Threat

Regarding mecha with weird designs, Neon Genesis Evangelion and its demon-like Evangelion Units become synonymous with the concept. Practically a subversion of both the mecha and anime genres, Neon Genesis Evangelion puts viewers in the shoes of teenager Shinji Ikari as he’s tasked by his estranged father to pilot the eponymous mecha against extraterrestrials called Angels threatening to destroy the world.

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Compared to mecha like Gundam, which often stand tall and proud, the EVA Units border on the monstrous with their hunched posture, sleeker bodies, demon-inspired faces, and a tendency to go berserk every once in a while. Moreover, the anime implying EVA Units are both organic and mechanical adds depth to the mecha at a time when other “hero mecha” are often made out of special metals.

9 Star Driver

Stylistic Mannequin Designs Focus On Grandeur

In the fictional Southern Cross Isle of Star Driver, protagonist Takuto is the “Galactic Pretty Boy” tasked to cross paths with the Glittering Crux Brigade, a nefarious group seeking to possess the mysterious giant Cybodies beneath the Isle for their nefarious purposes. With the help of the Cybody Tauburn, Takuto fights other Cybodies in the alternate reality called Zero Time.

While technically mecha, Cybodies in Star Driver feature wildly different designs based on their intended purpose and fighting style. Visual prowess seems key to their designs, as most Star Driver mecha boast some stylistic grandeur. The protagonist, Tauburn, has thin limbs and relatively strong curved features that fit its musketeer aesthetic. Other Cybodies have limbs, body shapes, and extra appendages modified specifically to their designs, with no apparent unifying design features except mannequin-like appearances before activation.

10 Granbelm

Wide, Chibi Mecha Knights Facilitate Witch Wars

Set in a world where magic families wage war in a battle royale known as the Granbelm, protagonist Mangetsu Kohinata discovers her magical lineage and acquires the White Lily, a magical mecha Armanox that she uses to fight against six other girls in the competition. Winning the Granbelm will grant the victor the title of Princeps Mage, giving them access to all the world’s magic trapped in the Magiaconatus.

Mecha in Granbelm appear more cute than tenacious due to their small and stocky frames. However, while their appearance is similar to the diminutive SD Gundam, units in Granbelm emphasize their magical origins. In turn, Armanox often have giant shoulder blades that end in capes or wings, glowing crystals and bands, and use energy-based melee weapons such as blades.