In Western nations, Transformers probably served as many people's introduction to mecha; however, that beloved franchise is just a drop in the giant robot bucket. Mecha anime has been around for roughly half a century, and the theme's manga debut goes back even further. Classics like Mitsuteru Yokoyama's Giant Robo and Go Nagai's Mazinger Z helped write the blueprint that would go on to spawn timeless properties like Gundam and all-time great series such as Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Eternal as this topic might be, mecha remains fairly niche. Nowadays, most seasons might contain one or two anime that fit the theme, and they tend not to attract too much attention if they are not part of well-established franchises. As such, newcomers interested in trying out this industry staple genre might not be sure where to start, at least beyond the few household names. To help simplify that process, let's take a look at the best mecha anime ever.
Updated May 10, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Spring 2024 only has one mecha anime, and while not unwatchable, Shinkalion: Change the World is not particularly interesting either. Therefore, this article has been updated with galleries for each series.
29 Magic Knight Rayearth
MyAnimeList: 7.47 (Season 1)
Magic Knight Rayearth is an isekai, magical girl, and mecha anime. A series that combines so many different ingredients should be a chaotic mess, but this '90s cult classic somehow makes it work. The show is held together by its three female protagonists, all of whom have strong and well-defined personalities that allow them to grow throughout the story.
8 Best Seinen Mecha Manga, Ranked
Fans of manga that feature plenty of mechs should check out the following seinen stories if they haven't already.
While initially quite comedic, Magic Knight Rayearth is not afraid to get dark or serious if the narrative calls for it. Now, as good as it is, this series does not focus too heavily on its mecha element, and the fight sequences are fine but nothing too special.