Mecha anime is a science fiction anime genre, with the participation of robots, is a war between humans and giant robots. Mecha anime is not only epic in terms of looks, but also has extreme content and plot. Mecha anime not only has thrilling action scenes, fierce battles, and the ending is that the strong always win, the righteous will suppress the darkness. However, sometimes mecha anime have a sad ending, which many viewers regret. Or the touching scenes have made the viewer's emotions surge. Let's join the top 10 saddest mecha anime in today's article! Japanese sad anime films are a genre of anime movies that win the hearts of many audiences. With touching, profound and humane content, these films have touched the depths of viewers' hearts.
1 Darling In The FranXX
Darling In The FranXX - Japanese science fiction television anime. Photo credit: VietOtaku
Darling in the FranXX - Trailer
- Director: Atsushi Nishigori
Music: Tachibana Asami
Episodes: 24
Status: Full
Genre: Science fiction, Mecha, romantic comedy,
Premiere: January 14, 2018 – January 26, 2020
DARLING in the FRANXX, abbreviated as DarliFra, is a 2018 Japanese science fiction anime television series produced by CloverWorks and animated by Trigger that premiered on January 13, 2018. The film was announced at the Anime Expo 2017 in July 2017.
Darling in the FranXX is a mecha anime adapted from the Robot Battle manga but there is quite a lot of heated debate among the fandoms of the series. In the future, the world is almost completely destroyed. Humanity must build a mobile city called Plantation to survive and serve as a headquarters to fight the klaxosaur – a recluse living creature, attacking humanity. In that world, the children are born and trained to be a Parasite – the controller of the FranXX. All children carry character codes, not their names. One day, a group of neophytes were preparing for their first FranXX rehearsal, when a klaxosaur suddenly appeared and attacked. In a critical situation, a FranXX suddenly appears and rescues them.
Darling in the FranXX officially switched to the melodrama genre with a tragic ending. The ending separates Zero Two and Hiro from their friends, which is undeniably poignant, but also deeply moving.
2 M.D. Geist
The Sokihei M.D. Geist Mecha Anime is a manga and anime series about a post-apocalyptic world. Image source: Dailymotion
M.D. Geist: Director's Cut (JP) - Battle with the Final Terminator
- Characters: Vaiya, Krauser, Kurtz, Hans, M.D. Geist, Golem, Geist,...
Written by: Riku Sanjo
Directors: Ôhata Khôichi, Hayato Ikeda
Released: May 21, 1986
Genre: Adventure, robotics, action, fiction
Sokihei M.D. Geist is a manga and anime series about a post-apocalyptic world. The Geist is MD-02, a Most Dangerous Soldier, genetically engineered to act as a killing machine, but everyone in the MDS units goes insane.
As a result, the Geist is placed in a cartoon suspended in a bridge vault orbiting the planet Jerra until it crashes a few years later, awakening him and sending him into another war on this planet.
M.D. Geist effectively combines fantasies of mechanical power and the horror genre by transporting the audience into a post-apocalyptic world where violence reigns. Geist is the protagonist and one of several genetically engineered warriors who wear powerful mechanical MDS suits to wipe out evil.
However, most of these MDSs are insane and become even more dangerous than the monsters they must eliminate.
3 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Mecha Neon Genesis Evangelion anime. Image source: GameStar
Neon Genesis | Evangelion Eva-00,Eva-02 Battle
- Director: Hideaki Anno
First episode: October 4, 1995
Episodes: 26
Title song: A Cruel Angel's Thesis
Creators: Anno Hideaki, Gainax, TV Tokyo, Tatsunoko Production, Nihon Ad Systems
Adapted from: Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021),
Composer: Hidetoshi Sato
Genre: Apocalypse and post-apocalypse, Mecha, Fiction, psychological
Shin Seiki Evangelion, is a Japanese anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko, directed by Anno Hideaki. The series first aired on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996.
The series explores the experiences and emotions of the Evangelion companies and members of the Nerv as they try to stop the Angels from causing multiple cataclysms. In this process, they are called to understand the ultimate cause of events and human motives.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is not only an important mecha series but also considered by many to be a must-watch anime. Evangelion has no shortage of action between robots and aliens. The series is a surreal and psychologically challenging experience
4 Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt
Anime Mecha Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt. Nguồn ảnh: Bilibili
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: A Soldier's Sacrifice [AMV]
- Type: ONA
Status: Broadcast finished
Air: 25/12/2015 to 22/4/2016
Source: Manga
Genre: Action , Drama , Science fiction
Topics: Mechanical, Military, Space
Duration: 18 minutes/ episode
Mobile Suit Gundam has over 50 different Gundam franchises in existence. Most Gundam series have a sadness but some try to be even more desperately sad. Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt is an eight-episode OVA series that features beautiful animation and takes advantage of explosive jazz soundtracks.
UC 0079, at the end of the One Year War, the Federal Army and Zeon disputed an area called Thunderbolt Sector in Side 4 Moore. This OVA follows the battle between Io Flemming of the Union and Daryl Lorenz of the Zeon faction
What makes Thunderbolt the saddest mecha anime series is that the determined pilot, Daryl Lorenz, actually dedicates his body to his own purpose. Each conflict with the Gundam causes him much damage until he loses most of his limbs, but is unable to give up his position as Gundam.
5 Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
Mecha Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans anime. Photo credit: Spiderum
MOBIL SUIT GUNDAM IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS English Dub Trailer
- Genre: Mechanical, military science fiction
Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai
Air: 4 October 2015 - 2 April 2017
Duration: 24 minutes/episode
Episodes: 25/25
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, also known as Gundam IBO and G-Tekketsu, is a 2015 Japanese anime series about a mechanic and the fourteenth major installment in the Gundam franchise. It aired in Japan on MBS and other JNN stations from October 4, 2015 to March 27, 2016.
Iron-Blooded Orphans follows the exploits of a group of underage soldiers who form their own security company after rebelling against the adults who have betrayed them on a Mars with futuristic terrain. The series deals with several real-life issues such as war, slavery, child soldiers, poverty, neocolonialism, and corruption. The catchphrase of the series is "Survival on the battlefield."
Many Mobile Suit Gundam series choose to focus on the cost of war and the cost of humanity. A lot of Gundam franchises explore this emerging theme effectively, but Iron-Blooded Orphans is a devastating piece as casualties keep mounting.
6 Gurren Lagann
Mecha Gurren Lagann anime. Image source: VietOtaku
Gurren Lagann
- Status: Full 27/27
Country: Japan
Studio: Gainax
Air: April 1, 2007 – September 30, 2007
Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi
Kazuki Nakashima
Genre: Action, Adventure, Humor, Drama, Mecha
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann commonly referred to as Gurren Lagann is a mecha theme anime made by Gainax and co-produced by Aniplex and Konami. Gurren Lagann is an extremely easy anime to watch. The anime is 27 episodes long and is an original anime, there is no need to read more manga to understand or get the full experience. The entire series is available in both subtitled and dubbed formats on Hulu, and it is also possible to purchase a Blu-ray version with both formats included.
In some future, people will have to live underground, suffering from all kinds of deprivations: lack of food, lack of shelter, lack of light, lack of sanitation and so on and so on. Fed up with the cramped life of burrow-eating, young Kamina of Jeeha Village is determined to find his way to the surface, where he was once taken up by his father. Accompanying Kamina is Simon - a shy and weak sugar boy, but he is the owner of a "small but martial arts" mecha The content seems familiar, a weak kid picks up a mecha...
There is optimism and hope that propel the characters in Gurren Lagann forward. However, it's hard not to choke up at the ending with most characters facing death.
7 Code Geass
Mecha Code Geass anime. Image source: Netflix News
ode Geass - Lelouch Death? and Aftermath
Director: Gorō Taniguchi
Ichirō Ōkouchi
Music: Kōtarō Nakagawa, Hitomi Kuroishi
Studio: Sunrise
Episodes: 25
Status: Full
Genre: Anime series, Sci-Fi, Super Power, Drama, Military, Mecha, Action,
Code Geass is an anime series created by Sunrise, directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with original character designs by the mangaka group CLAMP.
Code Geass is a manga adapted into mecha anime that has only gained more acceptance over time as iconic anime like Attack on Titan inspired its bold developments. Code Geass doesn't diminish the power of the infamous mecha genre Lelouch centers on, but also focuses on making him the villain.
There's nothing too cold about blackening heroes and Code Geass excelling in this installment. It is heartbreaking that Lelouch becomes blackened by power and strays further from his starting point.
8 RahXephon
Anime Mecha RahXephon. Image source: YouTube
RahXephon - Opening (OP) ver. 2
Director: Yutaka Izubuchi
Music: Ichiko Hashimoto
Episodes: 26
Status: Full
Genre: Drama, Mecha, Action, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery, Psychological
Premiere: 21.01.2002 to 11.09.2002
RahXephon is a Japanese anime television series created and directed by Yutaka Izubuchi. The film follows 17-year-old Ayato Kamina's ability to control a machine known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place in the world.
RahXephon is a mecha anime for teens. This anime is quite similar to Neon Genesis Evangelion. RahXephon takes place in a vague vision of the future, where Ayato Kamina, a shy teenager, becomes the key to social salvation through driving the standard machine.
9 Blue Gender
Blue Gender Mecha Anime. Photo credit: DeviantArt
Blue Gender Opening - Break Free
Genre: Romance, horror, science fiction, machinery, post-apocalyptic
Director: Masashi Abe
Katsumi Hasegawa
Music: Kuniaki Haishima
Episodes: 26
Status: Full
Premiere: October 10, 1999 - March 31, 2000
Blue Gender is a Japanese anime television series created by Ryōsuke Takahashi, creator of Armored Trooper Votoms and Gasaraki, which aired in Japan from 1999 to 2000 and lasted 26 episodes.
Blue Gender is an anime adaptation of the manga that feels like humanity is extinct for a reason. Humanity has been forced to retreat from Earth and take refuge on a second Earth due to the exterminative efforts of the extraterrestrial Blue. Yuji Kaido, the timeless savior of the series, faces an uphill battle against Blue and tries to secure the future of humanity.
10 Space Runaway Ideon
Mecha Space Runaway Ideon anime. Image source: JustWatch
Space Runaway Ideon Opening HD
Genre: science fiction, mechanical, post-apocalyptic
Director: Yoshiyuki Tomino
Music: Koichi Sugiyama
Episodes: 39
Status: Full
Premiere: May 8, 1980 - January 30, 1981
Space Runaway Ideon is a 1980 anime television series produced by Sunrise, created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, produced shortly after his most famous work, Mobile Suit Gundam. Space Runaway Ideon begins in the year 2300, the bleak, apocalyptic history of the star ship Solo as they travel across the universe and wage war on the extraterrestrial Buff Clan over a celestial robot known as Ideon.
Space Runaway Ideon looks bright and cheerful thanks to its '80s color palette, but the nostalgic series has built a reputation for rampant deaths and tragedies in anime.
