Recommendations for a mecha newbie

[Galt]

I've been into anime for a few years now; looking over my collection I find that mecha / giant robot shows are virtually absent (with one exception - Full Metal Panic). I actually know very little about this genre. The only other mecha shows I've seen is a few episodes of Evangelion and the first 7 or 8 episodes of Robotech.

I'd like some recommendations on R1 series / OVAs / movies that would be a good introduction to this genre. Old school is fine. I'm not interested in starting longer series at the moment (like Gundam or Robotech), but feel free to recommend longer series anyways (for future reference).

Two titles that have grabbed my attention so far are the re-release of Votoms and the RahXephon thinpak.

Thanks in advance!

Galt

[Genesis]

Martian Successor Nadesico is a nice series with good amount of houmor.

And Escaflowne is a great series as well. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[AbeChinchilla]

I'll recommend the only mecha shows I ever got into:

GODANNAR - A hilarious take on classic mecha (70's-era). This show isn't just fast-paced, it's also crazy! So much happens in the first few episodes, it's almost amazing that anyone could keep up!

Full Metal Panic! - It's not only mecha, it seems to be a huge blend of various other genres into one. It's very entertaining.

Evangelion - Beware, the mind-fucking.

Gundam Wing - The only Gundam series that could keep my interest for more than a single episode. Many "powerful" characters too.

[Captain Impulse]

In my opinion you wouldn't be making a mistake going with VOTOMS or RahXephon, although in execution they are VERY different series. I guess the real question comes down to: "Why giant robot shows?" Or more specifically, what are you looking for in your giant robot fix? Lots of action? A thought-provoking and potentially confusing plot? Sexy female robot pilots? A healthy mix of everything?

There's such a long list of giant robot titles, I'll try to pick a few "good ones" (re: my opinion) and in which giant robot niche I think they fit into.

RahXephon - All around great show, with an interesting plot that is slowly revealed throughout the show. Might take 2-3 viewings to totally grasp everything though. Similar to EVA in that regard, although with a more satisfying ending, to be sure. Animation quality is great throughout. Has a few really gut-wrenching moments too.

Dai-Guard - What happens when a corporation full of bean-counters and pencil-pushers gets ahold of a giant robot, which happens to be the only weapon against invading aliens? Well...let's just say trouble arises when something's not in the budget. The three heroes aren't your typical robot pilots by any stretch of the imagination, and much of the comedy derives from office-related humor; think Voltron meets Office Space. /images/graemlins/wink.gif Definitely was a surprise to me how much I enjoyed it.

Godannar - Giant robot action and more sexual innuendo and fanservice than you can shake a stick at. This show's hilarious. Spoofs the whole "giant robots combining" sub-genre in an...inappropriate but funny way.

Neon Genesis Evangelion - Yeah yeah...everyone recommends EVA. It's awesome. Moving on.

Giant Robo - 'Nuff said. Trust me on this one.

I'll recommend more later when I have some time.

[DanielJr]

Definitely consider RahXephon. (http://www.neo-rahxephon.com/) Magnificent series. Lots of mystery, lots of twists, a solid romance, and hey, even a good ending. Can't go wrong with the thinpak either, it includes all the extras too. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Ingraman]

I'd suggest CPM's Patlabor series. If you don't want to get into the 47-episode TV series, there's the 7-episode original direct-to-video series (on a different continuity). It's got a wonderful cast, and great mecha designs, but in some episodes (at least for the TV series and its 16-ep. direct-to-video relative) the mecha doesn't actually appear... ^_^;

[Darkseid]

I highly recommend Votoms and Giant Robo out of titles already mentioned.

Others fitting your criteria would be Megazone 23, Vision of Escaflowne, Mazinkaiser and Hades Project Zeorymer. Each has good action and/or story, though from different time periods. Happy hunting.

[Galt]

[ QUOTE ]
Captain Impulse said:
I guess the real question comes down to: "Why giant robot shows?" Or more specifically, what are you looking for in your giant robot fix? Lots of action? A thought-provoking and potentially confusing plot? Sexy female robot pilots? A healthy mix of everything?


[/ QUOTE ]

Good question; I should of provided that info in my original post.

Why giant robot shows? I want to expand my tastes and collection into other genres that I am unfamiliar with. Right now, probably 90% of my collection is shoujo, shonen romance / harem, and comedy. I figure that there is a lot of great shows out there that I'm not giving a chance since they are outside of my usual preferences.

Lately I've been getting into "deeper" shows like Twelve Kingdoms and Planetes. I like the strong character development and the social, political, and economic circumstances surrounding the main characters. I'd like to see some of those same themes in a mecha show. Something a bit more on the serious side.

That said, I am still open to trying anything. I don't want to dismiss what could be an enjoyable show.

Galt

[Captain Impulse]

In that case, without dismissing any other suggestions, I highly suggest you check out RahXephon, Neon Genesis Evangelion, VOTOMS, Zone of the Enders, Blue Gender, and Gasaraki (this one is really hit or miss with people). All of those titles have a lot more to them than a simple robot-vs.-monster-of-the-week syndrome. These shows are some of the few that weren't created simply to create a new marketable franchise to bleed to death; they are filled with complex characters and intriguing/multi-layered storylines (some will have you scratching your head for a time).

I'll also give, to a slightly lesser extent, recommendations to the following:
Geneshaft
Patlabor (actually, this should probably be in the above list, although there's a lot more comedy here than other series...at least until you get to the movies).
(The Vision of) Escaflowne
Martian Successor Nadesico

...and while not "giant robot" anime by any stretch (although there are plenty of "robots"/cyborgs in it), you really, really can't go wrong with Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex on ANY level. Anything in the Ghost in the Shell universe, actually. Although I recommend saving the second movie, Innocence, until far into your viewing cycle. It's a bit of a head trip.

[GetterBeam]

I am terrified by the lack of Getter Robo: Armageddon within this topic. Getter Robo is essential to a human being's healthy development.

Other than anything involving Getter.....Zeorymer, Nadesico, Dangaizer 3, and G Gundam are all good choices alogn wiht the rest mentioned in the thread.

But seriously, Getter is the essential thing here when all is said and done.

[DanielJr]

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:
Lately I've been getting into "deeper" shows like Twelve Kingdoms and Planetes. I like the strong character development and the social, political, and economic circumstances surrounding the main characters. I'd like to see some of those same themes in a mecha show. Something a bit more on the serious side.

[/ QUOTE ]
RahXephon!!

[joelgundam01]

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:
Why giant robot shows? I want to expand my tastes and collection into other genres that I am unfamiliar with. Right now, probably 90% of my collection is shoujo, shonen romance / harem, and comedy. I figure that there is a lot of great shows out there that I'm not giving a chance since they are outside of my usual preferences.

[/ QUOTE ]

With your tastes, I definitely recommend Escaflowne.

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:
Lately I've been getting into "deeper" shows like Twelve Kingdoms and Planetes. I like the strong character development and the social, political, and economic circumstances surrounding the main characters. I'd like to see some of those same themes in a mecha show. Something a bit more on the serious side.


[/ QUOTE ]

Wow with this description a Gundam series would be right up your ally. I suggest checking out one of the Alternate Universe series (Wing or Seed).

[JackProton]

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:
Lately I've been getting into "deeper" shows like Twelve Kingdoms and Planetes. I like the strong character development and the social, political, and economic circumstances surrounding the main characters. I'd like to see some of those same themes in a mecha show. Something a bit more on the serious side.


[/ QUOTE ]
If you liked Plantes - including the initial humorous episodes - then definitely give Patlabor TV a try. When you're in the mood for the more serious side, try the Patlabor movies.

[raence]

There is always gunparade march, I still think it's cheap at best buy.

[The Creation]

[ QUOTE ]
Raence said:
There is always gunparade march, I still think it's cheap at best buy.

[/ QUOTE ]

YES, go with that! but beware it's much more than just a simple mech show. in fact the characters themselves are the main focus of the show. mechs are just tools for fighting off alien bugs.

i don't really enjoy escaflowne simply because i don't like hitomi (the main female character,) but with the anime legends box set out you might wanna give it a try. i do love the mech design though.

the mech shows i've enjoyed: vandread, dual, rahxephon, eva, gundam 08th ms team, and zone of the enders. most of which you can find cheap and thinpacked.

full metal panic is okay however the following seasons (fumoffu and the second raid) are REALLY good so i would also recommend it just to get to know the characters a bit.

[Puppet Master]

Well I'm really not a mecha fan to be honest but I personally enjoyed these

G-Gundam - Some of it's kinda cheesy but it was the first one I truly enjoyed. It's like a fighting show but in mechas.

Zone of the Enders - Thinpak has the entire TV series and the prequel OVA.

[macross011a]

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:
The only other mecha shows I've seen is a few episodes of Evangelion and the first 7 or 8 episodes of Robotech.

[/ QUOTE ]

I strongly advise against watching Robotech. It's an edited, kiddified story that is along the lines of 4Kids-style edited anime TV. Trust me as a fan who watched Macross first before finding Robotech to be a fraud.

This thread (http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=228) sums up what was edited and which anime titles were used to make it.

Fortunately, there's now unedited, uncut and subbed versions available.

The Macross Compendium (http://macross.anime.net/) is the ultimate site on all Macross anime and spin-off media available and fully sanctioned by Big West and Studio Nue, the companies that made Macross.

Here's the rundown:

Super Dimension Fortress Macross: The current release of the 36-episode anime has a biligual language option (English subs and two audio tracks) and shows the story unedited. The dub is so-so and the Japanese audio has a few bugs but acceptable to watch.

Likewise, the events between the edited Robotech and unedited Macross become more noticable in the later episodes.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that Mari Ijimna, the Japanese voice actress of Minmay plays the character in English and Japanese in ADV's Macross DVDs. And her songs are far better than the Robotech crap songs. Mari is the better Minmay because she sang quality songs, both in Macross and in the Japanese mainstream.

Super Dimension Calvalry Southern Cross: Despite the Super Dimension name, it's *not* a sequel to Macross. It takes place on planet Glorie in the 22nd century, where Earthers emigrate from their homeworld wrecked by a nuclear war. The former native inhabitants of Glorie return and try to evict the Earthers out.

The story is weak because the heroes of the show are a group of unprincipled slackers, which makes them a bunch of troublemakers when off-duty.

Genesis Climber Mospeada: Producted by defunct Artmic Studios, this anime lead to the inspiration to their future projects such as Bubblegum Crisis, Gall Force, Megazone 23 and MADOX-01. The alien Inbit invade Earth to be their new home but hampered by resistance fighters and other Earthers from their Martian colonies.

Megazone 23: This mecha anime has a serious mix of cyberpunk science fiction and was the inspiration of the Matrix. A rebelious motocycler discovers a transformable motocycle and later gets caught by the enforcers of the virtual world. Like the Matrix, it is a three-part OAV.

There's less action compared to the titles above but it makes up for its dramatic storytelling and the virtual world that shifts the events onward.

Macross II: Created by Bandai Vision (not Studio Nue), it involves a news reporter who knows about the alien Marduk from a survivor from a wrecked ship.

It has pacing problems but it makes up for its artwork.

Macross Plus: This 4-part OAV is the true continuation of Macross, with ties to Macross episodes 27 and 36 in particular. In AD 2040 a story of two male test pilots are fighting for a new sponsership on new transformable fighters and fighting for one woman they love.

Its dogfight visuals set the bar in mecha combat unlike any other until it was succeeded by Macross Zero (which is unavailable outside of Japan).

The movie edition of Macross Plus is the Director's Cut, originally intended to be created first until it was changed as an OAV.

Avoid the kiddified, 4Kids-style Robotech and pick up the titles I mentioned above instead. You won't regret it.

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
Scourge said:
Trust me as a fan who watched Macross first before finding Robotech to be a fraud.



[/ QUOTE ]

Because of course that makes you such a totally unbiased observer.

(not saying you are wrong, but using that as a way of justifying your opinion is just absurd)

[christianlf]

I'd echo recommendations for RahXephon, Eva, Giant Robo, Escaflowne, Gundam 08th MS Team (the only gundam I can really stand)...

And I'll throw in for Eureka Seven. I know from surface appearances, it may look a little silly (sky surfing robots and all), but it really does get harder hitting as it goes along, examining the nature of war and rebellion, what it is to murder for a cause, losing innocence, and finding love. I really didn't expect it to go as far as it did, so I was pleasantly surprised. It also doesn't hurt that it has a kickin' soundtrack and top-notch animation.

I also advise caution if you go into Macross. I know it's sacrilege, but I really think that without the nostalgia, it may not have a great effect for you. I honestly found it to be a very silly and ham-handed in its delivery. I just could never take the crux of the story seriously, and because of that, all of the moments they were aiming to evoke emotion didn't affect me. If you can accept some rather...unrealistic plot developments, you may have an easier time stomaching it than I had. Now, the caveat being that the show is considered a classic by many fans, a landmark title and all of that, so maybe I just have bad taste. /images/graemlins/wink.gif But if you're looking for something gritty, realistic, with deep political overtones and all of that, this definitely is not the show for you.

edit: clarified/reworded

[macross011a]

[ QUOTE ]
Fencedude said:
Because of course that makes you such a totally unbiased observer.

(not saying you are wrong, but using that as a way of justifying your opinion is just absurd)

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, but a Robotechie in my neighborhood pissed me off for saying that Robotech is better than Macross. He agrivated me and that made me upset.

The most common argument I had with him is with episode 36.<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>In Macross, the ship SDF-1 Macross survived the final battle, while the Robotechie said that the ship was destroyed. The irony is that the Robotechie didn't put two and two together that the ship is intact after he saw Macross Plus.</span>

[Galt]

[ QUOTE ]
joelgundam01 said:
Wow with this description a Gundam series would be right up your ally. I suggest checking out one of the Alternate Universe series (Wing or Seed).

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it possible to jump in with either Wing or Seed without seeing any other Gundam series first? I'm assuming so, since these sound like they are self contained.

Galt

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
Scourge said:


Sorry, but a Robotechie in my neighborhood pissed me off for saying that Robotech is better than Macross. He agrivated me and that made me upset.



[/ QUOTE ]

So what? That has nothing to do with what I said.

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:
[ QUOTE ]
joelgundam01 said:
Wow with this description a Gundam series would be right up your ally. I suggest checking out one of the Alternate Universe series (Wing or Seed).

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it possible to jump in with either Wing or Seed without seeing any other Gundam series first? I'm assuming so, since these sound like they are self contained.

Galt

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely.

Honestly, the only Gundam shows that really NEED to be watched in a specific order are Gundam -&gt; Zeta -&gt; Double Zeta (though this is highly optional) -&gt; Char's Counter Attack

The UC OVAs are all quite self contained, and F91 and Victory take place far enough in the future that it doesn't matter.

Wing, G, X, Turn-A and Seed/Destiny are all self contained universes.

[Darkseid]

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:Is it possible to jump in with either Wing or Seed without seeing any other Gundam series first? I'm assuming so, since these sound like they are self contained.
Galt

[/ QUOTE ]

Like the above said, the AU continuity storylines are self contained away from the other Gundam series. I personally reccommend Gundam Seed out of that set as it does have a pretty good story. If you want to see origins of many archetypes, I also reccomend the original Mobile Suit Gundam film trilogy. It will lay out the the basis of many story elements and you can decide later if you want to pursue the subesquent titles.

[Vicserr]

Well, see that little link that says R1 Mecha Dvds on my sig, click it, it contents encompases what's available in the Giant Robo/Mecha genre in R1

Giant Robot Shows:
You can'r go Wrong with the classic Storytelling of New Getter Robo and Mazinkaiser, evoking the classic series on which they're based with new stories and animation, they just rock, also Big O is cool, if you want fanservice with your giant robot you should try Super Heavyweight God Gravion/Gravion Zwei and Marriage of God and Soul Godannar

Mecha:
Mobile Suit Gundam, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimencion Century Orguss 02(the orig series is not available on dvd and about half on vhs), Genesis Climber Mospeada, Gasaraki, Blue Gender, Robotech, Zone of the Enders, Dai Guard, Rahxephon, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Armored Trooper V.O.T.O.M.S., Aura Battler Dunbine. All of them Highly recommended for the mecha fan

[Shsway]

Definitely give Dai-Guard and Patlabor TV a try. I was thoroughly and decidedly NOT a mecha fan of any sort until I saw these two shows, and now I've slowly been looking to expand my horizons from here. To find more programs that combine character-driven stories and human sensibilities with the cool robot things.

I also just polished off Vision of Escaflowne last week. Excellent series, though it could be argued that the meticulous story-writing/direction fall apart three-quarters of the way through. Still, what an epic and gorgeous show! Most definitely deserving of a rewatch and a spot on the shelf.

All of these series can be obtained for rather low prices these days.

[pianocello]

I recommend:
Eureka 7
G Gundam
08th MS Team
Full Metal Panic

[demondragonking]

i'll reccomnd orguss 02, its been one my favorite mecha shows of all time. one of the more underated shows ever IMO.

project hadyes zeromyer
any go nagai mecha show: getter robo..etc
Big o season one and two
robot carnival(though still r2)
the five star stories
any gundam show
macross plus
full metal panic
casshan robot hunter
zoids
venus wars

[mighty_vespa]

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:
Is it possible to jump in with either Wing or Seed without seeing any other Gundam series first?

[/ QUOTE ]

Seven years ago, Wing was my gateway into the Gundam-universe. Since then, I've seen most of the OVAs (War in the Pocket, Stardust and 08th Team), SEED's first series and a bit of the original series.

Based on all that, I honestly enjoyed 08th Team the most. I think it had to do with characters (Aina!), the music (Kohei Tanaka!) and that the Gundams weren't in space. Not that I don't like a good space duel or anything. But I loved seeing mechs throwdown in the jungle, and the human element be more involved, being that there was a breathable atmosphere, gravity and all.

And I second any recommendations for:

Patlabor
RahXephon
Giant Robo
Dai-Guard

[Vicserr]

[ QUOTE ]
Galt said:
Is it possible to jump in with either Wing or Seed without seeing any other Gundam series first?

[/ QUOTE ]

Alternate Universe Gundam shows (G Gundam, Gundam Wing, Gundam X, Turn A Gundam and Gundam Seed &amp; Destiny) are stand alone, you don't need any knowledge of Universal Century Gundam shows to enjoy(althought you'll miss the homages and that kind of stuff).

For UC Gundam shows, getting the Mobile Suit Gundam Movies are a must /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[LupusUmbrus]

I think they've all been mentioned already, but recommendations are...
Gundam Wing - One of the only Gundam series to hold my interest. Very Gundam, but a fun watch.
Gundam 08th Team - Highly recommended for mecha fans. Great characters and mechs fighing in a jungle setting.
Rahxephon - Excellent show. Parallels Eva in terms of "classic" statis (imho).
Patlabor - This one's all about it's fun cast of characters. Very accessible, even for non-mecha fans.
Evangelion - The classic.

[sawmill]

I'm no fan of mecha shows. I tend to refer to them as YAMAs (Yet Another Mecha Anime) but there have been a number of shows with mechas in secondary or unusual roles that I have liked. Most of which have already been mentioned except for perhaps Infinite Ryvius and Z-Mind.

[WeirdlyGruesome]

Since you're "new" to the genre, but not new to anime, I'd say follow your "anime instincts". Of the two shows you referenced, I'd go with Eva. For a "new" show that you might not really know about, I'll draw a really weak link to Robotech and suggest Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. You don't need to know all the background on Gundam and it's still a strong story in my opinion.

[cjed]

Well, there have been plenty of suggestions so far, my Mecha recommendations ( Full Metal Panic you already have) would be:
Rahxephon
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Dual!
Gasaraki
Vandread
I really liked all of these, for different reasons. Dual! and Vandread are closest to Full Metal Panic in that there's a stong comedy element. Rahxephon, NGE and Gasaraki are all more serious shows, and to my mind all have a common failing in the endings (that's not to say they're not excellent shows).

[Digital Boy]

Macross is a true classic, I think it's the first realistic anime that treats robot like fighting machines and they also explain why we would build 45 foot robots.(I also like Robotech, but YMMV)

[lostnomad84]

The series I would reconmend anyone to start watching mecha are:
- Macross
- Gundam Wing

Macross is just simply a classic and a very good series from start to finish. I think Gundam Wing is an excellent choice because if you've never really watched a mecha series before, especially Gundam, some tend to start very slow and you can easily get turned off from enjoying it. Macross and Gundam Wing do not have this problem when they start off.

If you happened to take my advice and watch Gundam Wing, then I suggest to look at the 08th MS Team. It is a good introduction into the original Gundam universe and a good lead into watching the Trilogy of Gundam Movies. If you want more UC Gundam after that, Zeta Gundam is a must!

[Chloe]

Since the OP said he has had little to no exposure to mecha(which was basically ME not too long ago), I'm going to say start with Patlabor. It's a better gateway to the others because it does not focus on the mecha all the time, and has a very nice cast and some good episodes. It will be much more accessible to someone coming from his anime background, and will prepare you for the more mecha-centric shows you will want to see after seeing Patlabor. /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

Edit: After looking at another thread it occurs to me that for a bit of light mecha &amp; comedy fluff, the Original Project A-ko and the Nuku Nuku Ova are worth a passing glance. The latter one has the only Octopus mecha I've ever seen to boot. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Galt]

[ QUOTE ]
Kingmole said:
Edit: After looking at another thread it occurs to me that for a bit of light mecha &amp; comedy fluff, the Original Project A-ko and the Nuku Nuku Ova are worth a passing glance. The latter one has the only Octopus mecha I've ever seen to boot. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Project A-ko has mecha in it? Funny thing is that I bought the A-ko box from Best Buy a few months ago as a blind buy. It was dirt cheap, so I thought what the heck. Haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but will move it up on my "to watch" list. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

Galt

[Galt]

Just wanted to give a big "thank you" to everyone for posting recommendations and feedback. I have quite a bit to go through. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

I may post questions / requests for additional comments in a day or so after I've done research. Mainly need to figure out how much money I can allocate in my ACen fund for mecha shows. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Galt

[Murasame]

I'd also recommend Gundam 0083, as to how it has at least imo a more focused plot than 08th MS Team. Plenty of action and excitement plus it has GP03. How can you go wrong with that?

[SmoothTex]

Evangelion -- This is generally considered the biggie, and it's certainly interesting, but the ending will probably piss you off. Maybe I'm just projecting. I think that, as a penalty for the last 2-3 episodes, the makers of Evangelion should be forced to read poorly translated "Garfield" comic strips until they lose the will to live.

Dual -- This is the one to watch right after Evangelion. It's somewhat of a parody of Evangelion. I really liked this one, but I tend to like harem shows...and crack whores!

Gasaraki -- I really wanted to like this one, but I really found it rather dull. It was kind of all over the place with political intrigue, magic, and mecha fighting. Truth be told, it just bored me. I still use this one to cure my insomnia.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED -- A re-telling of the original Mobile Suit Gundam. I liked it a lot. I learned that the best thing about the future navy is that female officers are chosen for their breast size and their tendency to not wear bras. That is a navy that I will gladly volunteer for.

Macross -- I loved this show. Hated the music, though. The Robotech music was better, but that's not NEARLY enough to recommend it over Macross. I really wanted someone to pimp slap Minmay...with a mecha hand.

Escaflowne -- This show does a great job of integrating mecha into a medieval fantasy setting. IIRC, the mechas are powered by fairies and apples.

Blue Gender -- I really like the English dub. The main female character really made me feel funny where I go pee pee. Great show.

Vandread -- I know I said above that I like harem shows but this one is utter crap, IMO. If I ever hit the lottery, I'll gather up all copies of this anime and shoot them into the sun, which would probably then turn fecal brown.

Rah-Xephon -- This does Evangelion better than Evangelion. I liked this show a lot. Catchy theme song too.

Dai-Guard -- Mecha for grown ups. I loved this one. A bunch of office workers with typically crappy office type jobs occasionally get to jump in a giant robot and go kick a huge tetrahedron's ass.

Godannar/Gravion -- I group these two together because all I can think about when I see their names are the titties in these shows. Big bouncy juicy gigantic titties. I think even some of the mechas have titties too. I think there's a story in there somewhere about aliens that invade the earth and then bounce off the titties back into space. There, I ruined the ending for you.

Genesis Climber Mospeada -- This is some true old school goodness. I thought the ending was a little too "after school special" but overall the series is excellent.

Hope I helped.

[joelgundam01]

[ QUOTE ]
SmoothTex said:
Escaflowne -- This show does a great job of integrating mecha into a medieval fantasy setting. IIRC, the mechas are powered by fairies and apples.


[/ QUOTE ]

Really and here I thought the mechs were powered by dragon hearts. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Azumangaman]

Ok so I haven't seen to many mecha shows but I'd reccomend Dai-Guard . It's probably one of the cheapest shows that are really cool out there. I scored the complete collection for 10 dollars /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif. The sub isn't very good though, but the Dub is above average IMO.
Check it out!

[Vicserr]

[ QUOTE ]
joelgundam01 said:
[ QUOTE ]
SmoothTex said:
Escaflowne -- This show does a great job of integrating mecha into a medieval fantasy setting. IIRC, the mechas are powered by fairies and apples.


[/ QUOTE ]

Really and here I thought the mechs were powered by dragon hearts. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Or he could watch Yoshiyuki Tomino's Aura Battler Dunbine, where he can get all the mechs and fairies he wants (Don't remember seeing fairies on Escaflowne - but I haven't rewatched the show for a long time) /images/graemlins/wink.gif

and everybody can wait for 08/29/2006 for the coming of the Greatest of the Yuusha shows to storm R1 courtesy of Media Blasters

Hail to The King of Braves GaoGaiGar!!!!!!!!!!!!! /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif

[SmoothTex]

[ QUOTE ]
joelgundam01 said:
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SmoothTex said:
Escaflowne -- This show does a great job of integrating mecha into a medieval fantasy setting. IIRC, the mechas are powered by fairies and apples.


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Really and here I thought the mechs were powered by dragon hearts. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

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Yeah I get that wrong all the time. The Escaflowne mechas are NOT powered by Fairies and Apples....San Francisco is.

[joelgundam01]

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SmoothTex said:
[ QUOTE ]
joelgundam01 said:
[ QUOTE ]
SmoothTex said:
Escaflowne -- This show does a great job of integrating mecha into a medieval fantasy setting. IIRC, the mechas are powered by fairies and apples.


[/ QUOTE ]

Really and here I thought the mechs were powered by dragon hearts. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I get that wrong all the time. The Escaflowne mechas are NOT powered by Fairies and Apples....San Francisco is.

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/images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

I just cracked up on that one.