Decline of Mecha Anime: A Deep Dive into the Genre’s Current Status

When it comes to anime products belonging to the mecha genre, recent years have seen significant titles like “Rebuild of Evangelion,” “Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway’s Flash,” and “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.” However, all these brands have their roots established well before the year 2000, making it hard to label them as “new” in any sense.

Currently, the number of mecha-related anime has significantly decreased, leading to discussions among fans. Some enthusiasts even argue that incorporating mecha into anime brands feels “forced,” as the characters no longer need to “pilot robots.” They claim that the use of this beloved trope renders anime visually unappealing.

Fans have debated the reasons behind the current decline of the mecha genre, or at least the lack of new titles in recent years. Questions arise such as, “Is it due to the difficulty of animating non-humanoid robots?” or “First and foremost, is there no creator capable of depicting the relationship between humans and robots in a satisfying manner, as it often ends in failure on one side or the other?”

Reflecting on the past glory days, mecha anime featured intense battle scenes, captivating soundtracks, and impressive animation that audiences adored. However, it seems that the recent generations are less inclined towards the mecha genre, as many now grow up surrounded by machinery from the moment they are born.

Some fans have pointed out that giant robot battles no longer capture the imagination of the younger audience as they once did. Nonetheless, there are still anime series centered around this theme that manage to thrive within the industry, like “Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z.” Yet, many argue that the current interest in mecha anime is not directed towards machinery but rather other genres.