Humanoid robots capable of combating terrorism, corruption, and alien species, among other things? For a very long time, robots have been present in anime to entertain the audience with their unparalleled powers and abilities. That being said, here are the 12 best mecha anime shows on Netflix that you should be watching.
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Gurren Lagann
Set in a world where Lordgenome, also known as the Spiral King, has conquered planet Earth, Gurren Lagann, also known as Tengen Toppa, is a mecha anime that follows two odd teenagers as they work together to resurface from their isolated subterranean village and put an end to the King's oppression.
Their goal is to travel to the surface world and bring the other villagers a more peaceful life away from the constant threat of earthquakes.
This mecha anime follows Simon and Kamina, who decide to fight their situation by piloting the Lagann mecha.
Simon and Kamina, along with the other mecha pilots, fight Lordgenome's forces and the true enemy lurking in the shadows.
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is an everlasting mecha anime. Despite the fact that it has been in the industry for quite some time, the anime's perfectly written narrative continues to capture the hearts of viewers.
Code Geass is a highly recommended must-watch mecha anime due to its amazing plot twists that provide constant entertainment to the viewers.
The anime follows Lelouch vi Britannia, also known as Lelouch Lamperouge, as he leads an avant-garde revolution against his father, the Emperor of Britannia.
Assuming the alias "Zero," Lelouch uses his genius ability and his Geass to carry out his plans, which he obtained through a contract with the enigmatic C2.
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
Based on Harutoshi Fukui's novel of the same name, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn follows 16-year-old Banagher Links as he meets a mysterious girl named Audrey Burne one fateful day.
Audrey is on a mission to steal the key to a device known as the Laplace Box and keep it away from Char Aznable's Neo-remaining Zeon insurgents.
Having said that, the two protagonists meet, and their fates become intertwined.
It is up to Banagher to pilot the newly built Gundam Unicorn in order to defend his friends and the fate of humanity.
Banagher's life will never be the same again three years after Char Aznable's failed attempt to force human migration into space.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
Another Gundam anime on this list, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, depicts life 300 years after the Calamity War.
The plot of this mecha anime revolves around Kudelia Aina Bernstein, a young aristocrat from the Chryse Autonomous Region, and her desire to improve the economic and living conditions on Mars.
Following that, she decides to join the Red Planet's interdependence movement.
Negotiations with Earth and its four economic blocs that control the region are part of this movement.
However, it does not appear to be easy, as Gjallarhorn, the protector of peace, attacks the CGS (Chryse Guard Security) in order to put an end to their ideologies.
As a result of Gjallarhorn's attacks, the members of the CGS decide to shape their own fate and fight against the oppressor's forces.
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway
Set in the 105th year of the Universal Century, Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway follows Noa Hathaway, the son of a Federation commander, as he forms the Mafty dissident faction.
In line with this, despite being the son of a Federation officer, Noa commits violent acts against the Federation's growing tyranny.
Having said that, Noa acts like a loyal soldier who is influenced by the rebel leader, Char Aznable.
Gigi Andalucia discovers Hathaway's other identity as the progenitor of the Mafty one fateful day after Noa's hostile hijacking of a federal plane.
In order to keep his secret, he befriends both Gigi and a Federation colonel named Kenneth Sieg.
However, as the battle between the Federation and the Mafty heats up, his double life is jeopardized.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a classic mecha anime that explores the personal issues and experiences of the Evangelion pilots while also preventing monstrous celestial beings known as Angels from wreaking further havoc in Tokyo-3.
The organization led by the empathetic and cold Gendou Ikari, whose goal is to stop the Angels by using giant humanoid robots known as Evangelions, enters the fray of Earth's defense.
Shinji Ikari, Gendou's neglected son, is the only one capable of piloting Evangelion 01, a new robot that is biometrically synchronized with the boy's biometrics.
Shinji, oblivious to his father's schemes, forces himself to fight the Angels in order to save Tokyo-3 from certain doom.
Knights of Sidonia
Knights of Sidonia is a mecha anime that combines action and sci-fi with a space theme and is aimed at the Seinen demographic.
This mecha anime excels in terms of an exciting and thrilling story, iconic, fluid, and perfectly integrated CGI, well-written and developed characters, and amazing sound.
Knights of Sidonia follows Nagate Tanikaze as he becomes entangled in the events that lead the citizens to seclude themselves from the alien race of Gauna in a number of Sidonia ships.
Tanikaze and his comrades decide to fight their alien foes to free humanity from the threat of being decimated day by day, with the goal of eradicating the alien race.
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Darling in the Franxx
Set in a fictional future world where humans have been forced to seclude themselves in massive fortresses known as "plantations," this mecha anime follows a group of children who grow up to become partner pilots to defeat giant mechanical-like beasts known as "Klaxosaurs."
The Darling in the Franxx anime focuses on Hiro, also known as Code 016, who is a hopeless case after failing the aptitude test and his inability to pilot a Franxx with the opposite sex.
Hiro meets a mysterious horned girl named Zero Two, dubbed the Pilot Killer, one fateful day.
In one particular incident, Hiro joins Zero Two in defeating a Klaxosaur-instigated skirmish.
Hiro, along with Zero Two, becomes a Franxx pilot with the sole goal of eradicating all Klaxosaurs while putting his life in danger.
Pacific Rim: The Black
Although not considered an anime, Pacific Rim: The Black is one of the most anticipated original adult animated series, with a brilliant storyline, strong visuals, and promising characters.
It was released on March 4, 2021, and is based on the Pacific Rim franchise.
This unique net animation depicts two isolated survivors of the war against Kaijus and massive armed robots known as Jaegers.
Taylor and Hayley Travis, two orphaned siblings, come across an old, abandoned Jaeger training robot called Atlas Destroyer.
They eventually acquire it in order to find their parents and deal with the Kaijus and other survivors who attempt to steal the Atlas Destroyer.
Guilty Crown
Guilty Crown is a mecha anime that, aside from the sasageyo-induced memes from the opening, will never grow old.
Guilty Crown is a nostalgic anime that will hit you right in the feels, despite its plot holes and seemingly average narrative.
This mecha anime follows the charismatic Gai Tsutsugami, who leads the Funeral Parlor, a rebel group against the GHQ's oppression.
While the latter saved Japan from the Apocalypse virus during the Lost Christmas Day, the GHQ has since remained in power, subjecting Japan to its draconian rule.
Kuromukuro
Kuromukuro is a mecha anime that combines action and science fiction. It contains not only violence but also profanity, so be warned.
In case you missed it, this is an anime production commemorating the 15th anniversary of the well-known studio, P.A. Works.
Kuromukuro is a mecha anime that not only focuses on the action aspects but also delves deeper into the emotional borders.
The anime follows Yukina Shirahane, a high schooler who meets Kennosuke Ouma, a young samurai from the Sengko era, after solving a part of the puzzle of the ancient artifact discovered by the Kurobe Research Institute.
Yukina becomes entangled in Kennosuke's adventures to defend the Earth in the face of an impending threat from space.
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Last Hope
This Japanese and Chinese mecha anime is set in a dystopian world where humanity has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to a botched experiment.
It not only paved the way for non-human animal hyper-evolution, but it also populated the world with animal-machine hybrids known as BRAI.
In Last Hope, expect a lot of Chinese references, fan service, and robots! The anime follows scientist Leon Lau as he works tirelessly to find a solution to this disaster.
Fortunately, Leon is able to transform standard combat vehicles into humanoid robots by developing a hyperdrive capable of accessing other dimensions in order to combat the BRAI.
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