The Ultimate Ranking: The Most Mind-Blowing Anime Mechs Ever!

Giant mechs are a significant and prominent feature in the world of anime. Throughout anime history, the largest mechs have made a profound impact on the medium. Unlike other forms of entertainment, mechs hold great importance in anime. Foundational series such as Tetsujin 28-go (known as Gigantor in the U.S.) and Gundam have established crucial tropes and elements, paving the way for groundbreaking series like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Eureka 7 to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in mech anime.

In the process of pushing the limits of mech anime, the concept of a giant robot has also been reimagined. In the past, Tetsujin 28-go's 50-foot mech was considered enormous, but as time passed, its stature became less impressive. However, the size of a mech does not necessarily determine the quality of the anime it appears in. Interestingly, some of the largest anime mechs find themselves within some of the greatest mech anime storylines.

10 Danguard Ace - 656 Feet Tall

9 Gunbuster - 787 Feet Tall

At the smaller end of the size range, yet still towering over most mechs, is the battle robot Danguard Ace from Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace. This mechanical marvel served as the ultimate guardian of Earth against the nefarious ambitions of Dr. Doppler, a mad scientist who aimed to confine humanity to an increasingly inhospitable planet. Scaling the heights of skyscrapers, the Danguard Ace stood an impressive 656 feet tall (200 meters), making it a formidable presence. Notably, this mecha made its appearances in both the Japanese mecha anime and the American comic book realms, a rarity in the crossover between these two universes. In fact, it was among the three mechas that constituted the frontline defense in Marvel's Shogun Warriors comic series from 1979 to 1980.

The Gunbuster, featured in the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, who would later become known for the iconic mecha anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, is the protagonist mecha. It is a combination of two lesser mechas, namely the Buster Machine #1 and Buster Machine #2, and when fully assembled, it stands an impressive 787 feet (240 meters), which is over half the height of New York City's Empire State Building.

In the anime, the Gunbuster serves as Earth's top "mobile suit" in the battle against hostile alien invaders whose goal is the eradication of humanity. However, there is a catch. The Gunbuster is so technologically advanced that it requires extensive training, spanning several months, to effectively operate the deep space battle robot. Suitable candidates are carefully selected for this demanding task.

8 Macross Quarter - 1,549 Feet Tall

7 Zearth - 1,640 Feet Tall

The evolution of anime mecha has seen a remarkable advancement, shifting from a single robot body to the incorporation of multiple independently functioning parts. Yasuhito Kikuchi and Shoji Kawamori's Macross Frontier's Macross Quarter takes this progression a step further, as it serves as both a formidable robotic warrior and a highly efficient star cruiser when not engaged in battle. In addition to its ability to engage enemies akin to a regular, albeit slower, star warship, the Macross Quarter can also transform into a piloted "mobile suit" with articulated legs, arms, and a head for maximum combat effectiveness. Standing at a towering height of 1,549 feet (472 meters), the Macross Quarter surpasses most of the Earth's existing structures in size.

Bokurano, created by Hiroyuki Morita and Kazuyoshi Yaginuma, presents an intriguing narrative that revolves around a group of children who agree to take on the task of piloting a state-of-the-art "mobile suit". At first, the kids assume it to be a routine quality assurance and bug testing job. However, once they enter the simulation, they quickly realize that it is far from ordinary. Instead, they find themselves thrust into a life-or-death battle against alien mechas, where their mission is to defend the Earth or face the consequences of failure. The mecha they are compelled to operate goes by the name of Zearth, and despite its slender physique compared to previous mechas, it stands an impressive 1,640 feet (500 meters) tall in its minimalist design.

6 Shikoutazer - 1,640 Feet Tall

While Tomoki Kobayashi's Akame Ga Kill! cannot be classified as a mecha anime, it features a prominent mecha known as the Shikoutazer. The storyline follows Tatsumi, a rural boy who ventures to the capital to earn money for his village by becoming a swordsman. Unfortunately, his plans are thwarted when he is conned out of his funds and forced to work for a powerful yet oppressive family. During his time there, he witnesses the deep-rooted corruption within the government. After being rescued by the rebel group Night Raid, Tatsumi joins their cause to overthrow the tyrannical rulers. However, standing in their path is the colossal Shikoutazer, a towering 1,640-foot (500 meter) mecha that serves as the ultimate defender of the royal family and the entire empire, deterring anyone who dares threaten their power.

5 SDF-1 Macross - 3,970 Feet Tall

Included on this list of Macross mecha anime franchise is the Super Dimension Fortress (SDF-1) Macross, a colossal mecha that serves as both an intergalactic star cruiser and a mobile fortress. The SDF-1 made its debut in Tatsunoko Production's Macross and revolves around its sudden appearance on Earth, bringing together the entire world to harness its power and explore the far reaches of the universe. However, the SDF-1 and its crew were unexpectedly whisked away to distant light years. In its humanoid battle form, the SDF-1 stands at an impressive height of 3,970 feet (1210 meters) and has the capacity to accommodate the population of a small city.

4 Dekabatsu - 3.1 Miles Tall

3 Macross Cannon "Soldier Mode" - 3.7 Miles Tall

Gainax Studio's popular mecha anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann introduces the impressive Dekabatsu, a city-sized mecha that reaches a staggering height of 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) into the sky. Initially, this colossal robot was employed by the inhabitants of Earth to combat the enigmatic alien race called the Anti-Spirals. However, once the Anti-Spirals were forced to retreat, they utilized their own massive mechas, including the Dekabatsu, to oppress humanity. As a result, humans were coerced to dwell beneath the Earth's surface for numerous generations. The only way to defeat the Dekabatsu was through a coordinated assault, where hundreds of smaller mechas simultaneously attacked it until its weak spot was identified and exploited.

Kenichi Yaygai's Macross II: Lovers Again presents the third installment in the Macross series, introducing the formidable Macross Cannon Soldier Mode. This powerful mech emerges following the establishment of peace with the initial extraterrestrial race that attacked Earth. However, a new intergalactic menace, known as the Marduks, embarks on a relentless assault on our planet. Luckily, Earth's previous encounters with alien adversaries have equipped it with the necessary preparations to face this new threat.

Among the arsenal at their disposal are the Macross Cannons, colossal Super Dimension Fortresses that stretch an astounding 3.7 miles (6,000 meters), bearing a resemblance to the iconic SDF-1 and Macross Quarter. The Macross Cannon sets itself apart by transforming into a cannon configuration during battle bot mode, enabling it to unleash immense amounts of energy capable of obliterating entire fleets of star cruisers.

2 Getter Emperor - As Large As A Galaxy

While the concept of robots merging together to create colossal super-powered mecha has become quite cliché in modern mecha anime, this was not always the case prior to the introduction of Getter Robo—the pioneering anime that showcased the first-ever composite super mecha known as Getter Robo. Humanity harnessed the power of Getter Robo to safeguard themselves against the malevolent intentions of the Dinosaur Empire, an evolved species of dinosaurs that held humans responsible for the extinction of their dinosaur ancestors, which once roamed the Earth. As humanity ventured into space with Getter Robo, a new iteration emerged that united the abilities of three Getter Robos to give rise to the colossal Getter Emperor. According to the Getter Robo Anthology Chapter 4, when unrestricted, the Getter Emperor spans the size of an entire galaxy.

1 Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - Bigger Than the Universe

Following humanity's triumphant victory over the Anti-Spirals, it seemed as though the alien invaders would retreat to their own realm within the universe. However, they regrouped with a colossal force, equipped with even more formidable mechas. Faced with yet another ruthless attempt to annihilate them, the humans deemed it necessary to finally eliminate the ongoing threat posed by the Anti-Spirals. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, our series protagonist Simon harnessed an immense amount of Spiral Energy, enabling him to create the awe-inspiring Super Tengen Toppa Guren Lagann (STTGL). The STTGL, a mecha of such monumental proportions that it surpasses the magnitude of the observable universe, possesses an incalculable level of power. Undoubtedly, it stands as the unparalleled "mother of all mechas".

In the world of mecha anime, the sizes of robots and mobile suits can reach astonishing proportions. From the early days of Astro Boy to the towering Gigantor and even the space-consuming Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, the evolution of these colossal mechs in just over 50 years is truly remarkable. It is hard to imagine, but only time will reveal the unimaginable dimensions that the future anime mechs will attain.