Mecha is one of the biggest genres in anime, and decades ago it may have been the biggest too. This gave rise to several classics that defined the genre in their time, whether it was the militaristic Real Robot anime or the more cartoonish Super Robot anime. Of course, many of them were products of their time, and if published today they might experience a much different response.
Even some of the best mecha anime would look a little shabby today, and for different reasons. In some cases, it was the circumstances surrounding their original releases that made them so great. Others would be heavily criticized for certain design or storytelling elements, making them off-limits to today’s audiences.
The first Gundam anime is definitely dated
The original Gundam Mobile Suit The anime was released in 1979, and it launched a venerable mecha anime franchise and the Real Robot subgenre. As a result, there were still some experiments, but the problems were not yet resolved. To that end, it’s best to look back on this anime with more nostalgic feelings than anything else.
An attempt to dub the first Gundam the English-language anime was not successful, and this was partly due to the age of the material. This was especially noticeable in cartoonish elements such as the Gundam Hammer, with this concept actually being retconned into the compilation films. This may be the best way to enjoy the original series, as it certainly doesn’t live up to its successors.
Evangelion symbolism is not enough today
Neon Genesis Evangelion was one of the most important mecha anime of all time, especially considering how it revolutionized anime storytelling as a whole. This was largely due to its surreal symbolism, which gave the impression of particularly profound themes. Even if the themes themselves were strong, this pseudo-intellectual angle would be much more scrutinized today.
Evangelionif released today, would be much more “seen through” by viewers, and the false symbolism would be criticized. Likewise, if a false ending focusing on Shinji Ikari’s psychology was still released, there would be even more controversy than in the 1990s. While it certainly deserves its reputation, some of this is based on the allegedly esoteric nature of the imagery.
Gundam Wing was pure melodrama
New Gundam Wing mobile report was the second alternate universe anime in the franchise, but it was the first in the franchise to be localized in the West. This saw it become incredibly popular during its run on the Toonami programming block, and it remains a popular part of the brand. Unfortunately, some aspects have aged better than others, and modern audiences may not accept its flaws.
Gundam Wing is full of sometimes absurd melodrama, and this is especially true of the protagonist and Wing Gundam pilot, Heero. Its actions and reactions are those of bad soap operas, and as serious as the story is, it’s not the best-written anime in the franchise. It doesn’t help that the quality of the classic dub is somewhat questionable at times, and while many fans are now celebrating the anime’s 30th anniversary, it’s far from the best. Gundam.
Aquarion was never great
Genesis of Aquarius was more than a little inspired by one of the best examples of the mecha genre, and it is one of many questionable “rip-offs” of themes seen in the Neon Genesis Evangelion animated. It was criticized for this upon its release, but it was still successful enough to gain popularity in the mid-2000s. This first anime has since spawned several sequels, but that probably wouldn’t have happened today.
The original Aquarion the anime would seem even more generic today, especially since there was almost nothing particularly great about it. In fact, the only thing particularly liked was its theme song, but those aspects aren’t enough to redeem something that’s forgettable at best. Add to this the renewed love for Evangelionand it’s just hard to see modern audiences caring.
Escaflowne would just be another Isekai today
The hodgepodge of genres Escaflowne’s vision is a large part of its appeal, and it is beloved for the way it combines the fantasy and mecha genres with the then-burgeoning isekai anime genre. At the time, isekai wasn’t as big, and such an inventive combination of genres made this anime even more beloved. Unfortunately, this ranking risks being ignored today, which shows to what extent the public is tired of the genre in question.
Even if he does things differently, the fact that it’s an isekai would be held against him. Escaflowne Today. Likewise, it’s not even a typical isekai power fantasy, so those who like the way the genre manifests itself today would probably be disappointed. As a result, it’s hard to see anyone in today’s anime fandom giving this gem a chance if it came out today, and a lot of that is due to the influx of “reincarnation” stories.
Gundam SEED Destiny was the worst part of the Cosmic Era
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny was the second anime in the Cosmic Age timeline, with this alternate universe world being second only to the classic Universal Century in popularity. Following on from its predecessor, Destiny of seeds is from Zeta Gundam Mobile Suit what his predecessor was at the first Gundam. Unfortunately, there were a multitude of problems, and these would be looked down upon even more today.
Gundam SEED Destiny had an insufferable cast and protagonist, to the point that it ultimately had to revert to the previous anime’s protagonist. Character deaths were undone in random and ridiculous ways, and the melodrama was taken to considerable degrees. It took over a decade before it received a sequel, and if it were released today it might be outright ridiculed for its downright awful writing.
Voltes V is an old-school show through and through
V-turns was one of the last Super Robot anime of the 1970s, with this mecha classic released before the medium-switching original. Gundam Mobile Suit. This arguably paved the way for the Real Robot anime with heroes fighting each other and a charming, more-than-one-dimensional villain. Still, it wouldn’t cut it for modern viewers, and it was largely out of fashion by the end of the decade.
V-turnsdespite its iconic status in the Philippines, is simply too old-school for modern mecha fans, and there’s no chance it would succeed today. All the hallmarks of yesteryear are there, from the uninteresting and simplistic fights to the barely developed characters. Perhaps there’s a reason the franchise is never revisited, as its formula is too stuck in the way things were done in the 1970s.
GaoGaiGar was a child reaction anime
The latest installment in an anime franchise that was once meant to replace the classic Transformers franchise, The King of the Brave GaoGaiGar was an incredibly silly Super Robot anime from the 1990s. Intended to be a rejection of the dark themes seen in other modern mecha anime around that time (namely, the surreal psychoanalysis of the edgy Neon Genesis Evangelion), it was pure hot-blooded action. Of course, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, especially among today’s mecha anime fans.
The cultural moment that GaoGaiGar vs is now over, so it’s essentially a reactionary anime with little merit of its own. It was better when it stood against a particular zeitgeist, and without that it’s just a run-of-the-mill kids’ anime starring a cool robot. It’s no surprise that Takara Tomy eventually returned to Transformers franchise, as its replacement simply lacked the cool factor of robots in disguise.
G Gundam would be canceled in today’s Western culture
Although he was the first to move away from the classic chronology of the Universal Century, Mobile Fighter G Gundam isn’t even the brand’s best entry into an alternate universe. It is known for being essentially a Super Robot anime, with the “Gundam Fight” tournament replacing a traditional military conflict between space colonies. As a result, it resembled an action-based shonen fighting anime, and it was known for its unique (and particularly offensive) giant robots.
G Gundam it lacked the real depth of the other entries, and it was really just a silly Super Robot prank. Without the “help” of being one of the first Gundam If anime were localized in the West, it would lose a lot of its luster in the West. Worse still, the national stereotypes depicted in the drawings seen in the G Gundam the anime would certainly rub many the wrong way, and it’s possible that it could be the most politically controversial mecha anime of all time.
Darling in the Franxx might be too sensual today
Darling in the Franxx was one of the few popular mecha anime of the 2010s, as the genre saw a decline in its importance over the course of the decade. It presents a world in which children are accustomed to piloting mechas that fight inhuman enemies known as klaxosaurs. Although it was well received at the time, it also sparked some controversies, and these would be even stronger today.
Darling in the Franxx was known for its sexual nature, with much of the material having adult overtones. Some of this flirted with the line of pure fan service, and it’s questionable how much of this was necessary. It is more than likely that the increasingly international fandom of anime today might take issue with some of these aspects.