Animal Mecha: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

Mecha are cool. Some animals are pretty awesome. But what if we combine both?

 

 

 

# The first and older type involves otherwise machine-type mecha to be shaped like animals. [[Mechanical Horse]] and [[Spider Tank]] are particular subtropes.

# The second and newer type involves sentient, alive creatures as [[Humongous Mecha]]. Related to [[Mechanical Lifeforms]].

 

 

Compare [[Spider Tank]], [[Mechanical Horse]], [[Robot Dog]].

 

* ''[[Mazinger Z]]'': Many Mechanical Beasts were shaped like animals (insects, crabs, whales...), specially in the later seasons where mythological motifs were used.

** In the sequel, ''[[Great Mazinger]]'', the Mykene Empire army was split in seven armies, and every mecha belonged to one or other division depending on its shape. Five out of seven divisions followed a animal theme: Mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes and insects.

** In the second sequel, ''[[UFO Robo Grendizer]]'', there were less animal-alike mechas, but many Saucer Beasts resembled reptilian creatures.

* [[Reideen]]: It belongs to both types. Although its primary shape is human-looking, it can transform into a bird-like mecha. And it is sentient to boot.

* ''[[Megas XLR]]'' parodies the concept, as well as paying homage.

* The [[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann|Gunmen]].

* Stella's Gaia Mobile Suit in [[Gundam Seed Destiny]] can transform into a dog-like form for ground combat.

** For that matter, the BaCUEs and LaGowe in [[Gundam Seed]].

* The other two ''Eldoran'' anime, ''Ganbarugar'' and ''[[Nekketsu Saikyo Gosaurer]]'', also feature animal mecha.

* ''[[Exalted]]'' has some examples of animal-shaped [[Humongous Mecha|Warstriders]] for use by shapeshifting Lunars in their animal forms, or Lunar Warstriders that change shape along with their pilots.

* [[Gaiking]] has several animal/dinosaur-shaped support mecha, in both continuities.

* The Pachydermobile from an article in ''The Journal of Irreproducible Results'': a four-wheel-drive vehicle intended for observing elephants in their native habitat, designed to look like an elephant as much as possible (and smell like one, too).

* Molly's [http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20090811.html robot lion] in ''[[The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob]]''

* Ausf A Gestell from ''[[Einhander]]'' is a crazed mecha ape. Interestingly enough, it's one of the enemies that ''isn't'' named after an animal in German.

 

* Depending on the continuity, ''[[Zoids]]''.

* Of course, ''[[Super Sentai]]'' (which by then was already being adapted into ''[[Power Rangers]]'') got into the act too, with ''[[Seijuu Sentai Gingaman]]'' / ''[[Power Rangers Lost Galaxy]]'' and ''[[Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger]]'' / ''[[Power Rangers Wild Force]]'' being prominent examples.

** [[Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger]] also has Dinosaur Mecha, the Bakuryuu...except this time, they're all Dinosaurs (well, ok, a few are just prehistoric reptilians, like pterrasaurs and dimetrodons, but close enough), unlike Zyuranger (only the Triceratops and T-Rex are truly Dinosaurs). They're all intelligent, reasoning creatures and treated as characters in their own right, while their [[Power Rangers Dino Thunder|American counterparts]] are more animalistic.

*** What's weird is that rather than mecha, the Bakuryuu are said to be actual descendants of the dinosaurs (on an alternate Earth). Full-body cyborgs, maybe?

'''Optimus Primal:''' Both and neither. }}

** Each continuity tends to have a few characters with animal alt-modes somewhere.

*** ''[[Transformers Cybertron|Cybertron]]'''s got a planet full of them.

* [[Godzilla|Mechagodzilla]] and [[King Kong|Mechani-Kong]].

*** And all together, they evoke the image of a manticore.

* Clockwork Horrors from ''[[Spelljammer]]'' are sentient clockwork giant spiders.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Mecha Tropes]]

[[Category:Animal Mecha]]