Ask John: Why Are Giant Robots so Popular in Anime?

Question:
I noticed that of all the mecha anime in existence (such as Big O, Giant Robo, Macross, Gundam, etc.) the most realistic of them, such as Macross and Gundam, seem to be more popular than ones like Big O and such. But at the same time, these realistic anime often times have impossible-to-achieve factors that make them more unrealistic than the other ones. I refer mainly to song as a weapon in Macross 7, the irrationally fast repair speeds in Gundam, the illogical and impossible transformations of the Macross Plus mecha, and the completely unrealistic amounts of damage Gundams can take. Why is it that, in spite of these completely unrealistic factors, mecha anime is so incredibly popular?

Answer:
Allow me to address your points before attempting an answer. In a discussion of “realistic” mecha anime, it’s generally not titles like Macross and Gundam are considered “realistic.” There really seem to be three of four different variations of giant robots in anime. There are the “realistic,” the normal giant robots, the really outre giant robots, and the “super robots.” Allow me to give examples. What most die-hard mecha fans consider “realistic” mecha are often ones created by Ryosuke Takahashi, including the mecha from Gasaraki and Votoms, and mecha like those of Dougram and Patlabor- mecha that seem as though they could really exist based on current or not-too-distant technology. The typical mecha are those of Macross, Gundam, Tekkaman, Ideon, Dancougar, Dragonar, Xabungle and Layzner. The more bizarre giant robots usually include the bio-organic monstrosities such as Evangelions, mecha from Koichi Ohata and Masami Obari including Hagane no Oni, Dangaizer 3, Ordian, the insect mecha of Dunbine, and the obtuse but highly researched mortarheads of Five Star Stories. The super robots include the classics like Getta Robo, Mazinger, Tetsujin 28, Danguard Ace, Go Lion, and the Sunrise Yuusha robots including Dawgon, Gaogaiger, Raijin-Oh and so on. Given current technological limitations, all anime mecha are “unrealistic.” Some of the particulars, though, such as the totally mind controlled valkyries of Macross Plus or the Psycho-Gundams of Zeta and Double Zeta Gundam and Char’s Counterattack, and the rock & roll powered valkyries of Macross 7 are a bit more difficult to swallow than others. (I’d like to point out that only the major Gundam Wing mecha are virtually indestructible, and Gundam W is not typical or representative of Gundam. You’ll see in the traditional UC continuity Gundam series that Gundam mecha are much more fragile than you’d expect, creating the famous massive body count associated with classic Gundam.)

I think the reason for the Japanese fascination with giant robots is rooted in Japanese psychology. I may be off base, but given that this is merely my opinion anyway, I’ll go ahead. It’s been said that the Japanese technology boom of the later 20th century was a response to the loss of World War II. The American atomic bombings accounted for a great influence on Japan’s decision to surrender, but the Japanese defeat was not one to superior fighting ability or overwhelming power. Japan was defeated by superior technology- the better bomb. After VJ Day, Japanese society became obsessed with becoming the world’s leader in technology. Japan would never again allow itself to be oppressed by better science or technology. As a result of Japan’s technology boom, generations of Japanese children have grown up surrounded by, inundated by and obsessed by technology. We may account for some of the fascination with giant robots with this rationale. Giant robots may appeal more so to the Japanese than any other country because Japan is the world’s foremost leader in developing new electronics technology. And giant robots signify an absolute immersion in the future. In the way that pilots literally climb into their robots, the viewer, by extension, becomes a part of the technology of the future. In America, where electronics technology has excelled in the realm of computers, many films and novels deal with the internet and wireless communication networks and artificial intelligence. In Japan, which has traditionally been dominated by electronic gadgets, the future is less commonly represented by the internet (as in Lain), and more commonly illustrated as physical objects such as spaceships and mecha.

Once again, this may be incorrect, but I’d like to at least theorize that the fascination with giant robots may have a secondary motivation, still generated by the initial catalyst. The giant robot, and even powered armor, is a symbol of power and strength. American and traditionally thought of itself as the land of the brave and strong, and our cinematic tradition has reflected this in the idolization of singular men, from John Wayne and James Dean to Bruce Willis and Russell Crow. Japan is a society dominated not by individuals but by group psychology. Proper etiquette insists that individuals in Japanese society don’t stand out on their own. Furthermore, to trace back to World War II once again, there may be a subtle inferiority complex at work at the 1960s and 70s root of the giant robot phenomenon. Giant robots are more than men. The earliest giant robots- Tetsujin 28 and Mazinger for example, were towering knights of justice. They were heroes in a society still recovering from defeat in a society that didn’t allow for heroes. In Japanese society, in which everyone has a place in society and no one rocks the boat, the giant robot could become an archetypal role model. Perhaps noting better supports this theory than the “Tale of Two Robots” story in Robot Carnival in which the entire empire of Japan is contained within a single giant robot opposing the “West,” also represented by a singular giant robot.

I may be mistaken in one or more more my points, but I do believe that, essentially, we could theorize that the Japanese fascination with giant robots is a self-perpetuating cycle born out of Japanese psychology and history. What do you think? If you’d like to comment, refute or contribute to this theory, visit the AnimeNation Forum.