Mecha, Genre of little Popularity

Today on our section of Discussion With The Reviewer, we peek into the world of mecha, the genre that seen little popularity in recent years.

The moment that the word "mecha" comes into ones mind is bunch of robots toying around space trying very hard to kill each other or just one of those Transformer fans misreading the title of this blog entry.

How would you define a mecha genre? Personally, when asked what is a mecha genre, I would happily answer it with a smile, "Its a show that has robots in them" to the normal people or to fellow anime fans "Its freaking GUNDAM!!".

Nonetheless, one of the main reason the mecha genre is declining in popularity among fans is due to the genre itself being overshadowed by other genres presented such as romance and slice of life.

Don't get me wrong a mix of mecha, romance and other genre such as fantasy gives the anime a new refreshing angle of viewing, but sometimes, it could take the joy out of the anime and leading the viewer into other genre instead of the mecha itself. Again, this is a very grey area.

Guilty Crown

Take Guilty Crown for example, I consider this anime to have mecha genre since it has the use of robotics and stuff but the mecha itself is not the main highlight, but still a good show.

Another reason is due to fans pissed of with the Aldnoah thing. For you guys who does not watch Alndoah.Zero, watch the whole season 1 and 2 and tell me about the ending. By the time you reach the ending, you will be cursing so hard, that the internet broke.

Aldnoah.Zero, The Orange Warrior

Undoubtedly, the mecha genre is notoriously known for its terrible graphic and drawing especially the mecha involves other than the protagonist's mecha/mobile suit. This is pretty much common back in the day when the anime only emphasize on the protagonist's resolution or just to highlight the political struggle a small country have over other major superpower.

The main theme for most of this genre is the politic stability and the power struggle between organizations. Yes, this is one of the reason I love the mecha genre and in particular the Gundam franchise. The political struggle between the born geniuses or DNA-modified human and normal human is always refreshing, seen here in Gundam SEED and its sequel, Gundam SEED Destiny. Other than that, it also projects the antagonist's desire of destruction through elaborate scheme that ultimately did not work due to the main character being in the right place and on the right time. 

To back this up, the story line of some Mecha anime including Gundam is pretty good with variety of characters and most importantly the factions involves in the war. However, some can be pretty bad with the writing and in particular the ending. Right Aldnoah.zero? Its not just season 1, but season 2..

Next, self motivated and somewhat pacifist protagonist. Most protagonist has this trait of justice sewed into them, most notably, never leave a man behind and this is okay. Some of the protagonist has been self motivated due to dark past with the government his or her opposed to or just for their own survival. To be honest, the will to survive is one of the most compelling and mesmerizing trait a character in the mecha realm could have that really captures the audience attention. Either way, the main character can be interesting unless you are talking from point of view Aldnaoh.zero in which the percentage of emotion the main character gives is close to zero divide by infinity. 

Just for the record, I love how freaking calm Inaho in Aldnaoh.zero when he dodge the bullet.
*And God I still pissed off with the ending. A good show that wasted its potential

Gundam. Mobile suits overarm with super weapon of mass destruction which makes me wonder, where can I get one. Yes, Gundam and mecha comes in one pack. Studio Sunrise is the studio that blessed us with this kind of franchise. It is not surprising when the sight that you mention mecha, people will scream Gundam from the top of their lungs.

Most of the non-mecha fans that I met comment on how the main protagonist's mobile suit in Gundam's term posses the power of not being 'destroyed' by other small fries mobile suits while every other soldier's mobile suit gone a complete bonkers. And honestly, I don't care. If destroying other mobile suits like  dropping a fly, so be it.

For you guys who are new to the mecha genre or would like to give it a try, I recommended that you watch these following anime:-

• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 
• Neon Genesis Evangelion
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and SEED Destiny
• Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
•  Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans (Fall 2015)  
• Heavy Object (Fall 2015)

On further notes, Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans is really good. You should definitely watch it.