After reading the other thread about anime, I decided to ask this question. Why do so many anime series feature a post apocalyptic world where giant robots (usually piloted by people) are fighting? There’s a lot that I can’t recall the names of, but I know Neon Genesis Evangelion and a few other modern ones. Plus my husband has recently aquired the entire Robotech dvd collection, and I am aware that that was american and in the 80’s, but it was based on a couple of japanese anime series. But why does it seem to be a recurring theme that in the future, big battles from either humans or aliens will destroy our world and only giant robots will save us?
And, can anyone remember what other anime tv shows/movies did this? I think Key (the one about the robot girl) did it too, I’m not sure but I’ve seen quite a few…
Why do superheros dress up in underwear? It’s just one of those genre conventions that becomes entrenched, even if it defies logic (giant bipedal walking robots are probably the worst form of high-tech weapon you can think of.)
Some other considerations: giant robots offer endless merchandising opportunities. Plus, robots move stiffly and have lots of straight lines, so they may be easier to animate.
I’m sure someone else will fill you in on the early history of anime giant robots, but I’d just like to note that giant robot battles predate the anime age. A while back I saw an American comic from the early 1940s, which featured a confrontation between two huge robots in the middle of the ocean. (Well, one was a magically animated statue and the other was a giant robotic T-Rex, but it’s the same concept.) And this was decades before Robotech, The Empire Strikes Back, Gigantor, or even Godzilla.
Also, Japan has some sort of obsession with robots. Which explains their progresses in anthropromorphic robots (such as Asimo).
While the United States sees the role of robots as safety devices (bomb disposal, radioactive handling, military reconnaisance) it seems like Japan’s vision of the robot is more aimed at human-robot interaction, such as making a robot soccer team, or a robot that can emulate human facial expressions.
This is reflected in the frequent portrayals of giant robots in anime. Many anime series that portray giant robots represent a weapon/tool that cannot be stopped by conventional means. You never see guys with rocket launchers/planes/etc blowing up giant robots- if you want to take down a giant robot, you got to get one of your own and duke it out. Also, chances are the battle won’t be decided by a mere shooting fight- you’ll have to physically BEAT THE CRAP ouf of the other robot.
Probably one of my favorite deptictions of robots is the short “A tale of two robots” from the Robot Carnival anime. In this short, two 19th-century robots slug it out; one is made of wood and is steam-powered, the other powered by batteries. A very cool depiction of ‘low tech’ mecha there
I’d expand this to include an obsession with big destructive things generally, which covers 50-foot mechs as well as sumo wrestlers and Godzilla.
It’s a stereotype that Americans like things BIG, but they got nuthin’ on the Japanese, at least when it comes to unleashing fictional destruction on something.
It never fails to make me laugh that half the time there’s a conflict in anime/manga, all parties involved just happen to have giant robots. “Oh, I keep mine under the street.” “What a coincidence; me too!”
Another thing that gets me in these situations is, generally at least one of the mecha operators is a good guy, thus he would want to save lives–but the thought never occurs to him that he’s just knocked down 5 buildings full of hapless people as he swings his giant robot arm at the bad guy!
There’s this Anime that Adult Swim has started showing called “The Big O” and while some of it is interesting (Everyone lost their memories 40 years prior to the start of the show, it’s the only city left on earth apparently), I’m still trying to figure out the deal with the fact the main character 'A Negotatior" pilots a giant robot, and at least once and episode, has to get in it to fight other giant robots, who both tear up the city.
Oddly enough, the Negoaiator(Roger Smith) finds guns distasteful, but has no qualms about tearing up the city with a giant robot with plenty of missles on it.
I don’t think that segment would have been nearly as funny if it had been subbed, or dubbed well. (The plot was so-so, the dialogue ranged from OK to lame…)
It’s rather obvious that the reason characters in anime fight with giant robots is that they feel … inadequate … to perform in other, less destructive ways. Once the characters attain the self-confidence and ability to perform adequately in hentai, they gradually lose interest in giant robots.
funny thing I noticed about Giant Robots/mecha is they are either extremely imperveous to damage, or extremely susceptable. The main factor is its source.
Important Robot attacks unimportant robot=unimportant robot sliced in half, slight pause, then explosion
Unimportant robot attacks Important robot=no damage. Attacks may cause Important robot to buckle/get thrown about but Important Robots are IMMUNE to unimportant robots.
Important Robot attacks Important robot- The victor goes to the pilot with better martial arts skills/swordsmanship. Gunnery is never a decisive factor in robot battles (unless its an uber super gun, which is so indescriminate you don’t really have to aim much to hit)
Unimportant robot attacks Unimportant robot- Who ever gets the first shot/lightsaber attack off first destroys the other.
A good example of this imperviousness is Neon Genesis Evangelion. The Angels are protected by an AT field, which makes them virtually immune to conventional weapons. Only another AT field can cancel out an existing AT field, which is how the Evas combat the Angels.
You see that’s a misconception. Most anime is actually about nubile young women being raped by demons with many tentacles. Also you forgot it is usually young girls in schoolgirl outfits piloting those mechas.
I read an article about the phenomenone that said that the sense of powelessness in the face of destruction, not just the atom bombs but the firbombing of Tokyo as well, has a lot to do with the giant monsters wreaking havok theme in Japaneese films and comic books.
Also as you can see it is typically two giant monsters or robots fighting and even the one on the side of Japan winds up leveling half the city. Very easily this could represent the feelings of a civillian populace caught in a wake of destruction between political powers they have no control over. ie: Imperial Japan vs the U.S.
If you look at American literary and cinematic art you see some very common themes as well that are somewhat unique.
The big unique discovery.
We view ourselves as the people who conquer the unknown and tame it to our whim. The west and the moon are a big part of that.
Something is coming to destroy the planet and only we can save all of us.
Two world wars (three if you ask Bush Sr) in which the U.S. was key to stamping out a percieved menace. WE are responsible for the fall of the Soviets, we cured polio, etc. Basically we are the most important people ever and the world would fall apart without us.
The “Hero” flick.
Typical Americans (even me) view ourselves as individualists. We identify with the pitcher, not the team. In most of our movies we glorify the efforts of the individual as opposed to the efforts of the group. You look at a David Lean war film (Lawrence does not count as it was specifically about one man) and you see ten times the identifiable personell who exemplify themselves. Typically American war films are about one badass who does it all. Even the movies we make about our enemies have one central bad guy badass. Spielberg seems to be exempt from this which is why I find his war films more interesting that most, but even then his vision may still be the same but modified as in “Ryan” to make the platoon the charachter.
The thing is, because our media influence is so powerful, it tends to destroy or at least push aside film that is not like that which we produce.
