If there is one thing that humanity can find some kind of consensus on, it’s that giant robots are very cool. The only thing cooler is giant robots that can transform. The sight of a gleaming mecha altering its appearance and converting to a vehicle or super-weapon (or some other object) can inspire awe in any viewer. In no art form is this sight more common than in anime, where transforming mecha are as populous as fish in the ocean.

The origins of transforming mecha can be traced back further than some might think. The first such examples appeared on Japanese television screens in the 1970s, before viewers later discovered mecha anime like Macross, Gundam and, of course, Transformers. With hundreds to choose from, it can be a challenge to select the best of the bunch.

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8

Getter Robo

The OG Of Transforming Mecha Is Still Going Strong

Getter Robo: Armageddon

Release Date

August 25, 1998

• First Appearance: Getter Robo (Anime)
• Original Air Date: April 4, 1974 (Japan)

For transforming mecha anthropologists, Getter Robo is seen as the origin of the species. While there were robot anime before he came along (such as Astro Boy and Gigantor), he was one of the first with the ability to radically alter his form, as well as the ability to combine forms to make a super-mech. In Getter Robo’s case, he comprises three separate crafts, each of which has its own human pilot. The three can combine to make a supreme unit capable of superiority in battle, depending on the environment.

Getter 1 is suited to aerial battles, whereas iterations 2 and 3 could handle ground and marine combat, respectively. The robot’s iconic appearance is thanks to his creative team, Ken Ishikawa and Go Nagai. His story elements would go on to influence everything from Gundam to Neon Genesis Evangelion. The franchise, originally spawned by a manga, is still going strong in Japan, and Getter Robo has appeared in a host of anime series and films.

7

Beast King GoLion aka Voltron: Defender of the Universe

This Absolute Unit Won’t Take It Lion Down

Voltron: Defender of the Universe

Release Date

1984 – 1984

Network

Broadcast Syndication

Showrunner

Ted Koplar, Peter Keefe

Like Macross became Robotech and Diaclone becameTransformers, Beast King GoLion was the precursor of what would become known in the west as Voltron: Defender Of The Universe. The legendary anime got its start in the early 80s and followed five young heroes who each control their own robotic lion, with the power to combine units into the mighty GoLion. The show’s Western iteration is fondly remembered by many as their gateway into anime.

Beast King GoLion iterated on the foundation established by Getter Robo. Each of the GoLion units had its own distinct appearance, and each pilot had their own personality. While these units were all formidable in combat, when they transformed to create their final form, they were nigh unstoppable. This is thanks to GoLion’s offensive abilities, which include devastating claws, a sword and energy blasts that can make short work of the most powerful foe.

6

Escaflowne

Succumb To The Magic

• First Appearance: The Vision of Escaflowne (Tenkū no Escaflowne)
• Original Air Date: April 2, 1996

A potent brew mixing fantasy and romance with epic battle scenes, The Vision Of Escaflowne is yet another creation by Shoji Kawamori, which emerged in the mid-90s and went on to become a cult classic. It tells the story of Hitomi Kanzaki, a high school girl who is magically transported to the war-torn world of Gaea, a realm full of mystical creatures and advanced technology, including the mecha that the series shares its name with.

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The Escaflowne is a powerful device shrouded in mystery and is a pivotal plot device for much of the show. Unlike many of the candidates on this list, it blends magical and elemental aspects. The dragon-inspired suit of armor includes a powerful energy blade and a mystical shield. The magical power at its core means it can unleash devastating magical attacks when it converts to its dragon form.

5

Garland (Megazone 23)

A Cyberpunk Masterpiece Has A Too-Cool Mecha

Megazone 23

Release Date

March 9, 1985

• 

• First Appearance: Megazone 23 (OVA)
• Original Release Date: March 9, 1985

Garland is the name given to the transforming piloted mecha from the classic cyberpunk anime Megazone 23. Released in the mid-80s, this seminal work influenced a slew of titles that came after it. Garland is unique in that it is one of the more realistic-looking entries on this list. Its dimensions are more suited to a single human than the skyscraper-sized Getter Robo, and it is designed with speed and maneuverability in mind.

The mecha is discovered by protagonist Shougo Yahagi, a teenage delinquent who is pulled into a vast cyber-conspiracy which has profound implications for reality as he knows it. Garland has two main functions: Bike Mode, in which it can move at high speed through urban environs; and Robot Mode, where it has a humanoid form for engaging in combat. Its sleek transformation means it can change forms at the drop of a hat, and its incredible futuristic design makes it an enduring classic.

4

Zeta Gundam

The Classic Series Gets Its Very Own Transformer

• First Appearance: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
• Original Air Date: March 2, 1985

The Gundam franchise needs little in the way of introduction. The generations-spanning story of a galactic civil war is an epic space opera that has produced a stack of classic anime titles and produced some of the most instantly recognizable giant robots in the world of pop culture. The first anime TV series was a flop on release and only gained traction with reruns, but now it is an embedded institution.

What makes the Zeta Gundam variant so unique is that it is one of the most mobile suits that could transform. This made it a great fit for the militaristic subtext of the series, where strategy was just as important as weaponry. Its standard robot battle form is a force to be reckoned with. It also made use of the Wave Rider transformation system, giving it an edge in space combat thanks to high-speed capability and also the ability to travel great distances.

3

Gurren Lagann

Go Big Or Go Home

• First Appearance: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
• Original Air Date: April 1, 2007 (Japan)

Anyone looking for subtlety and nuance should probably avoid Gurren Lagann, one of the most bombastic mecha anime in recent history. Its titular robot is the stuff of legend, the product of combining two other units — Gurren and Lagann — via the power of Spiritual Energy, a metaphor for the power of self-belief and determination. What makes this particular mecha so unique is that it undergoes a process of evolution, each version being more spectacular than the one before.

The standard Gurren Lagann is a humanoid mecha which can deploy powerful attacks such as the Giga Deal Breaker. However, across the course of the entire anime, it becomes ever more powerful and gigantic until it reaches its final form: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, a being the size of the universe, wielding a drill that can bore through entire galaxies. While it may not be number one on this list, it gets several points for being the most cosmic.

2

Optimus Prime

Roll Out With The Autobots’ Mighty Leader

Transformers

Current Series

Transformers: EarthSpark

TV Show(s)

The Transformers, Transformers: Prime, Transformers: BotBots, Transformers: Cybertron, Beast Wars: Transformers, Transformers: Rescue Bots, Transformers Robots in Disguise

• First Appearance: The Transformers (Anime adaptation of Diaclone and Microman)
• Original Air Date: September 17, 1984 (America)

Probably the most famous transforming robot in the world, Optimus Prime (another Shoji Kawamori design) has been immortalized in the Transformers animated series and its bombastic 1986 film, but also in comics, manga, anime, video games, live action and even Lego. Whether it’s his Generation 1 design or more recent updates, Optimus Prime is one of the faces carved into the Mount Rushmore of transforming mecha.

Optimus Prime’s main truck mode means he can get to wherever he needs to be fast, but his robot mode means he can also transform quickly and do battle with the villainous Decepticons. Though it didn’t always get much coverage in the show, his trailer could transform to provide a battle hub for other Autobots or even weapons and supplies.

1

VF-1 Valkyrie

An All-Time Icon

Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Release Date

October 3, 1982

• First Appearance: Super Dimension Fortress Macross
• Original Air Date: October 3, 1982 (Japan)

Arguably one of the most iconic transforming mecha of all time, the VF-1 Valkyrie was created by mecha design legend Shoji Kawamori for the game-changing title Super Dimension Fortress Macross, one of the all-time heavy hitters of anime. It not only helped popularize the medium in its native Japan, but also helped it break into the West after it was adapted into the Robotech series.

The Valkyrie was a super-powered jet fighter, created by the United Nations to help level the playing field against the Zentradi, an overpowered alien race intent on conquering Earth. The Valkyrie’s appearance was heavily influenced by real-life aircraft, namely the F-14 Tomcat, but it had two other forms. Gerwalk Mode was a hybrid half-plane, half-mech form which allowed greater maneuverability, while its Battroid Mode was a humanoid mecha which could engage in close combat. With a timeless design which still looks stunning in the present day, the Valkyrie takes the top spot as an all-time great.

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