There are many great shows that are considered to be in the mecha category of anime. Some of these shows include Code Geass, Eureka Seven, and Aldnoah.Zero, all contribute to the mecha category. Other shows such as Rinne no Lagrange, M3 the dark metal and Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse are not as well known in the mecha community but expand the genre to new heights.
Rinne no Lagrange
Rinne no Lagrange, which can be purchased here, utilizes many different elements that are not utilized in a mecha anime. The story focuses on Madoka Kyouno who is the only member of the Kamogawa Girls’ High School Jersey Club. Madoka’s life is turned upside down as Lan, a mysterious girl, asks her to pilot and fight other aliens in a mecha unit called a Vox. This anime combines the genre of high school clubs and mecha to create a unique anime series that is fun and serious. The show only has female mecha pilots, which is unique and refreshing as the mecha genre has a greater male to female character ratio. As a result of only female pilots the show captures the idea that females can pilot mecha units, they can fight equally and in some cases better than male pilots and they can kick some serious ass while remaining feminine. The show is overall refreshing Mecha show as it does something different that has not been done before.
M3 the Dark Metal
M3 the dark metal is a mecha, horror, and science fiction anime that must be watched. The show focuses on a set of 4 boys and 4 girls that have met in a place of darkness. In this anime there is a mysterious substance called Necrometal, which devours and infects anything within a certain distance of the Lightless Realm. The show picks up from here as the main character Akashi is invited to pilot a mecha unit called the Argent to defeat infected entities known as Corpses and uncover the secret of the Lightless Realm. This anime immediately gives you the right amount of chills but does not turn you off but keeps you craving more. Outside of the horror element the mecha portions are well done. In particular, with the intensity that the mecha unit has when it is involved when facing Corpses, it really captures what science fiction Mecha is about. As the anime progresses, despite being part of a group, the primary focus is on Akashi as he saves the world.
Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse
Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse, which can be purchased here, is an anime that is based on the Muv-Luv visual novels. Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse is as the title suggests, an alternative to the visual novels. The story focuses on the main characters Takamura and Bridges working to test new mecha units to defeat the enemy known as BETAs. The anime allows for a major learning curve, as each character is mastering their new mecha unit. By mastering their mecha unit they are helping the main force, allowing for more research to be done on how the machines work. This is different from most war animes as the main characters are not being used for direct fighting but rather are used for research methods. The main characters are not subjected to the cruelty of war and the show has a positive view on humanity surviving an enemy that is over powering them. These pilots represent the only hope. The show understands how to pace itself as each raises the stakes slightly higher so that by the end of the series the former test pilots are now full time soldiers ready to contribute to the war. This anime is a great mecha show, exploring the practical and theoretical side of the use of Mecha units in battle.
