Hello /m/,I have some spare time on my hands and decided that I finally want to get into the mecha genre, and would like to ask you for help. The sheer volume of some franchises and releases kept me from navigating them, especially since I don't really

Name
Email
Subject
Comment *
File	Select/drop/paste files here
* = required field	[▶ Show post options & limits] Confused? See the FAQ.

File: 1455911396380-0.webm (7.32 MB, 1280x720, 16:9, Armored Core V Opening Ci….webm)

File: 1455911396517-1.gif (197.24 KB, 348x490, 174:245, 57.gif)

Anonymous 02/19/16 (Fri) 19:49:56 No.13098

Hello /m/,

I have some spare time on my hands and decided that I finally want to get into the mecha genre, and would like to ask you for help. The sheer volume of some franchises and releases kept me from navigating them, especially since I don't really know how to measure the quality of individual releases; my previous experience with the genre mainly comes from playing AC (4, FA, VD) and the original Steel Battalion.

Since there's no concise overview in your sticky, maybe my lack of experience can be of profit to you. I'm more than willing to subsume any information and resources into an easily shareable format.

I'm aware that there's not much I'm bringing to the table myself, and I'm sorry if my inquiry offends you in any way.

tl;dr: I can't into mecha and require directions, offer willingness and proficiency with green peppers.

A big guy For 02/20/16 (Sat) 00:48:15 No.13099

I guess I could start, Armored Trooper VOTOMS is pretty good.

Anonymous 02/20/16 (Sat) 07:14:22 No.13102

File: 1455952462784-0.png (93.15 KB, 250x282, 125:141, 1454571921231.png)

File: 1455952462805-1.jpg (1.32 MB, 2200x1800, 11:9, 1448574732911-1.jpg)

File: 1455952462887-2.jpg (2.5 MB, 4269x4600, 4269:4600, 1451158332134.jpg)

to witness the birth of a new /m/an and to guide him is a wonderful thing, well lets get you started.

1.Watch something

maybe the original gundam, maybe some super robot show (cant point you to one since im a real robot fag), maybe VOTOMS or perhaps something from second pic related.

2.Play more mech games

AC is great but you should other titles and franchises, my suggestions to you are SRW games, Assault Suit games (Also known as Target Earth and Cybernator on the west) and some mechwarrior games such as MW4(and its stand alone expansion mercenaries) and mech commander if you are into RTSs.

3.Make a /m/ folder

save pictures of your favorite designs, mechs, Gunplas and Plamos and download artbooks. my /m/ folder is currently at 2,37 Gigs and growing everyday.

There is no need to rush through things, there are plenty of shows to watch, games to play and artbooks to read, if you try to go through everything as fast as possible you are not going to absorb and enjoy any of it so dont try to bite more than you can chew.

Now go have fun, you are going to have a good time, i guarantee it.

Anonymous 02/20/16 (Sat) 13:32:09 No.13106

Did you come here because the other /a/utists didn't want to spoonfeed you?

Anonymous 02/20/16 (Sat) 20:21:25 No.13109

File: 1455999685030.webm (2.91 MB, 480x270, 16:9, Break Blade.webm)

break blade and the getter robo manga or ovas

Anonymous 02/21/16 (Sun) 00:44:48 No.13111

>>13102

Calling Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water and Texhnolyze mecha is a real stretch.

By the way, we already have a similar thread at >>12055 which OP should check out.

Anonymous 02/21/16 (Sun) 13:47:00 No.13116

File: 1456062421080-0.jpg (2.5 MB, 4269x4600, 4269:4600, Chart 1 - General ⁄m⁄ reco….jpg)

File: 1456062421082-1.jpg (1.32 MB, 2200x1800, 11:9, Chart 2 - ⁄m⁄ Series.jpg)

File: 1456062421105-2.jpg (2.59 MB, 2800x3000, 14:15, Chart 3 - Gundam.jpg)

File: 1456062421105-3.png (49.74 KB, 598x497, 598:497, 2hu.png)

I'm reposting the charts for reference purposes.

First of all, thank you very much to all of you for your help. This is a lot of information, so I'll try to take it from the top.

With the data from the charts and the posts in the other linked thread, it looks like there are two established main genres, with ten loosely defined non-exclusive sub-genres.

The two recommended anime to get started appear to be Armored Trooper Votoms and Gundam 0079. Votoms seems to be pretty straightforward; for Gundam, a novice should watch the first three 'series' and the first film, and then continue from there to either other franchises as presented in charts 1 and 2 and/or watch Turn A, Unicorn, and 00, after which one may pick from chart 3 as he/she pleases.

However, branching out based on charts 1 and 2 poses the novice with exactly the challenge that made me rescind my previous efforts, since it offers a lot of choice, but little direction.

An Anon in the other thread suggested to organize the information in a tree structure, and I second that notion. If you could start making specific recommendations for chart 2 and put them into context with other works, I could start organizing them.

That is, of course, if my assumptions about how to enter the genre as detailed above are correct.

Regarding chart 1, it's even more extreme, since it throws a lot of franchises on different systems without any type of guide around, especially for the specific franchise recommendations, which imposes an "organisational" overhead over anybody who wants to get into one.

Also, that chart recognises language barriers, but omits technical ones, like the lack of an Xbox classic emulator.

The criteria as to what constitutes as mecha seem to be very broad, as well. I'm likely overstepping my competence with making these assumptions, but a game doesn't seem to be /m/ to me just because there are mechs presented at some point. It also merely glazes over some (apparently) more esteemed series as the Mech Warrior games.

While chart 1 offers a lot of variety, it's a bit too much for a beginner. Since I'm acquainted with some titles on there, I'd like to stunt it myself using my experience and also factoring in technical limitations as mentioned above.

I hope we can work together on this, it's all a bit over my head.

>>13106

I rarely lurk the bigger boards nowadays, and even less frequently post.

For the sake of a background, I'm mostly hanging around in /2hu/, /thg/ and /kind/. Are you confusing me with someone?

>SRW games

If I understand correctly, those are to /m/ what Carnival Phantasm is to Type-Moon, so playing those at the beginning would probably confuse me…

> my /m/ folder is currently at 2,37 Gigs and growing everyday.

I'll make sure to work hard, as well!

Anonymous 02/21/16 (Sun) 18:44:52 No.13124

>>13116

If you ever feel like playing SRW play the first 2 OG games for the GBA, they are translated and should give you a good feel for the rest of the games, after that you can try playing fan translations and later on if you can speak and read moon you could try the rest of the games that are not translated.

Anonymous 02/21/16 (Sun) 19:26:11 No.13126

File: 1456082771301.jpg (571.5 KB, 1280x1028, 320:257, gundam metaverse timeline.jpg)

>>13116

From what I've heard, it's best to watch everything made before Turn A before seeing it since it's supposed to be some sort of distant conclusion to the Gundam franchise (unless Reconguista in G takes place after Turn A, which would be interesting).

I haven't seen any Gundam shows after 0079 and right now I'm taking a little break from mecha to catch up on some other genres I'm interested in, so I'm just parroting what other anons have told me and others.

Anonymous 02/21/16 (Sun) 22:51:02 No.13129

File: 1456095063008.jpg (454.68 KB, 900x900, 1:1, 265444c2177bc3f475759596b4….jpg)

>>13126

Thank you, I'll take that into consideration, too!

Anonymous 02/22/16 (Mon) 23:20:43 No.13148

>>13126

>2016

>still posting an image that outright contradicts every single official word on the subject

go back to halfchan faggot

Anonymous 02/23/16 (Tue) 12:23:38 No.13159

>>13116

Macross Plus falls under Cyberpunk? How? I could include it in another chart I made.

Anonymous 02/23/16 (Tue) 13:54:28 No.13160

>>13116

I think you're fairly overthinking it, and possibly misenterpreting things as you seem tot ake Votoms and Gundam as the representative each of each of the two main genres, when the two main loosely defined genres are Super Robot and Real Robot (both Votoms and Gundam would fall in the latter, try Gundam as it might in the last couple decades to escape back into super robot. there's a reason these are "loosely defined")

I'd instead turn this on format. How easily do you watch a 50 episode show? Would you rather watch a 6 episode OVA? Etc.

In order to get a decent spread of genres, I'd maybe suggest, hmm. Gundam 0079, Gurren Lagann, Gunbuster, Evangelion, Patlabor. From there we can work on "if you liked this maybe you'll like this".

Oh, and if you're also interested in manga, read Getter Robo.

Anonymous 02/23/16 (Tue) 16:25:44 No.13163

>>13162

Pacific Rim's good, if a bit far-removed aesthetically, and the robot vs monsters theme isn't as common in animation as one'd think, being more the realm of toku. Also, as far as I've noticed at least, there's no correlation of gender in super or real robo; super robo is, after all, named for Mazinger, piloted by a man, for an example, and the stereotype of manly men with huge sideburns and GUTS is very much more rooted in super than real robo, although existing in the latter too.

It's easier to think of it with the "soft sci-fi, hard sci-fi" mindset, although only vaguely; again, they're only loosely defined genres, after all, Gundam is considered the father of Real Robo and already by the second series you have literal ghosts around and shit. Generally though, I consider it as "super robo: mecha as super hero, real robo: mecha as combat vehicle" and think that works.

I don't think it's a bad idea to go for Votoms, if you really want to, I was just offering some works that occurred to me that'd give a nice spread of genres. Gundam 0079 as forefather to Real Robo, Patlabor as a more down-to-earth exploration of it; Gunbuster as a serious Super Robo/Real Robo hybrid of sorts, mixing Super Robo aesthetics and feel with real sci-fi, plus it's just 6 episodes; Gurren Lagann as a modern exploration and celebration of super robo, and especially being basically a positive twist on Getter Robo; and Evangelion as an example of works that fall outside the whole super/real spectrum since they're clearly mecha in spirit but have something completely outside the scheme of normal mecha, in this case, the fact they're not robots at all; an alternative could be Escaflowne, but I'd say these I said are also fairly mainstream and notable and relevant to the history of anime, so they're not bad starting points. There's the additional advantage that I don't think these are a big workload- Gundam's some 52 episodes IIRC, Gurren Lagann 26, Gunbuster 6, Evangelion 26+Movie (no need for the Rebuilds just yet unless you feel like it), Patlabor we can say for a start just the Early Days 7 ep OVA.

I'll throw in 2004's Tetsujin 28 (24 eps, additional movie that's an alternate continuity but similar in theme if you want) too simply for being a personal favourite, and maybe to serve as an example that you don't need post-Gundam-style aesthetics to have a compelling mecha story.

RE: the Gundam timeline and Turn A, there's some mistrust over if the sources are correct, rumours, mistranslations, what. All that's known for certain is that it comes after UC, and the other shows that had happened at the time are also referenced. We're not even sure where Reconguista fits.

Anonymous 02/23/16 (Tue) 17:08:35 No.13165

File: 1456247315968.jpg (505.11 KB, 1280x800, 8:5, 41f717545748d990003b65a48a….jpg)

>>13160

I'm sorry to have left the impression that I take either of those two to be Super Robot series. I'm not aware of the specifics, but the litmus test appears to be: For RR, the story and setting are more or less gritty, there's a lot of (pseudo-)technical fluff surrounding the franchise, and the mechas are piloted by men; for SR, it's about vermin extermination on a galactic scale, the machines are powered by GUTS AND HARD WORK, and the mechas are piloted by women (or rather, girls).

The reasons I consider both series as possible entries to the genre are:

a)They are highly recommended by users of this board;

b)They offer a compelling story and engaging characters aside from the core /m/ aspects;

c)They have high historical relevance for the genre itself;

d)They are likely uncharted territory for any newcomer, as opposed to some Super Robot series.

You're right about the workload, of course. 52/43 episodes are nothing to sneeze at, especially if all you just want to have a look at the genre.

This then somewhat conflicts with my prior posts and stance about the difficulty of the genre's entry barriers, but since this is not an issue of acquisition, but the media itself, I'd disregard myself and call it a test of commitment.

Some of the VOTOMS OVAs seem to be disconnected from the main series or act as a prequel, so these might qualify for your specifications. However, maybe something completely unrelated might be more appropriate; did you have something in mind? Pacific Rim, maybe?

>>13159

Those are just charts from this thread and the other (>>12055) I reposted for easy referencing; I can't answer your question, sorry.

>>13148

The contents of the picture that Anon posted correlate with other (though secondary, at best) sources on the matter:

http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/8715/what-is-the-chronology-of-the-gundam-series

http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Gundam_Wiki:Timelines

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Century

Can you please circumstantiate your objection?

>>13163

Oh dear, sorry about that. I revised my post due to some errors I committed.

I tried to be a bit facetious about the definitions, since I clearly lack the experience to make an informed deliberation about the categories. I haven't watched either Mazinger or Getter Robo.

Regarding TTGL and Gunbuster, that's what I was referring to with d); most people probably have some notion of the Super Robot subgenre, as there probably are few people who haven't seen Gurren Lagann, so getting acquainted with the other half first is probably more important.

The first "season" of Gunbuster and Evangelion seem to be quite the oddballs, though, now that you mention it. Especially Evangelion - the last third and End of, in any case - are nothing I'd recommend for recreation or distraction.

As much as the rebuilds are scoffed at, they are a lot easier on the eye and the emotional stability of the viewer, at least in my experience.

Maybe this, along with considerations about the run time, make the Rebuilds a better recommendation for beginners; I'm aware this opinion is somewhat contested.

>[…] there's some mistrust over if the sources are correct, rumours, mistranslations, what.

I haven't found any source for those qualms, so for the time being, I'll use the charts I have at hand right now, under reservation.

Some order is better than none!

Also, thank you for your other recommendations! I hope I can come up with results soon.

Anonymous 02/23/16 (Tue) 19:26:30 No.13166

>>13165

eh, I quite like the rebuilds, but I'd really argue they lack the punch they have if you didn't watch the show first. Really don't advise heading for that first.

If you've already seen TTGL, I throw the heavy recommendation again that you read Getter Robo. No anime of Getter has adapted the manga faithfully, so they don't act as a replacement. Just be aware it has no end as the author died eventually. Still a worthy read.

Anonymous 02/23/16 (Tue) 19:28:36 No.13167

Also for what it's worth I actually started Gundam with Turn A, I think if you don't watch at least some basic UC first you'll miss some thematic points, and obviously you'll miss more direct references they do sometimes, but otherwise I think it stands fine enough on its own that it's not mandatory to watch it last.