Though it's not without its own Super Robot bullshit. Anything to do with Newtypes, Coordinators and similar concepts are way too super. See: everything to do with the last parts of Z, ZZ and Char's Counterattack. Soul Power is generally not a real robot concept...
>AC Thats kind of pushing it. You have shit like dragon heads, angel wings and beam scythes, but it's mostly based on in-universe science even if it is stupid. I think Wing is a super robot show that tries too hard to act like real robot. Actually, I'm pretty sure that the Gundams in Wing were all unused designs for G Gundam.
I would say Gundam as a whole is a mix of both. You have the mostly realistic mass produced mobile weapons, then you have the Gundams which are usually borderline invincible super weapons.
@@ES21007 i don't know some of that stuff could be possible, maybe not to the extreme that the gundam universe takes it too but the crispr experiments are interesting.
Newtypes, Coordinators, etc affect the pilot, not the robot itself. Most gundam are still 'real' robots. Something that could make a gundam a super would be like the Zero System or the Moonlight Butterfly.
Real Robot: Common usage and military application. Enemies are usually other people. Super Robot: Mass production is rare and enemies are usually monsters.
Even more simply put: Real Robots are soldiers (for example: Full Metal Panic, Gundam, Macross) Super Robots are superheroes (Literally any 70’s or 80’s Mecha, the Brave Series, GaoGaiGar)
super robot: the more angry protagonist is, more stronger it gets. real robot: becomes stronger as --technology gets more advanced-- protagonist becomes more depressed.
super/real have much easier distinction age ago.... super robot have very powerful attack power /heavy armor that could take alot of punishment while real is mostly agile type robot, however years after year the distinction slowly blur especially new gundam keep getting something equal to super robo trope
@@maxinehell1394 But thing is, Super Robots have always only been super powerful and incredibly durable in their own stories, with real types only being fragile by their standards. Go back as early as comparing the original Gundam in 1978 with Mazinger Z from 1972, and you'd see that the Gundam is basically just as powerful as any of the Mechanical Beasts, except way more responsive and has longer combat range but with limited ammo. Another example of real and super being close, would be Getter Robo, which is not only powerful, but also fairly agile and fast comprable to the likes of Variable Fighters in Macross. If there was something that was more clear back in the day, was the tone and direction of the story. With Super Robots being more lighthearted with a clear white and black morality, while Real Robot tends to be more girtty with a more grey moral area..... But the Robots themselves have always been fairly similar in everyway except presentation, with the moral aspect being the one that got the most blurry. If there is one difference that has remained constant however, is that supers are always treated as *fantastically special, as something never seen before,* while real types are *just the next gen, but with a new gimmick.*
@@zettovii1367 while you maybe correct, especially when we discuss it in deep, i still could easily tell which category the robot is from 1970 to early 2000 base on my simple description with few error
This is really the discussion between fantasy in a sci-fi setting (star wars) and sci-fi in a sci-fi setting (star trek). Excellent points and questions.
WurmToken This example is interesting. Sure Star Wars is a typical example of a classic space opera, the Force makes it very fantasy. But if we'll discuss common technologies SW will become way more realistic than Star Trek. Main type of sublight propulsion? Just ion jets. Existing real technology. Death Star. Sure the way how beams combine in the movie is pure fiction and just for the visual aesthetics. But the idea behind it... just a huge space station with super powerful reactor and lasers. The only thing that makes building such weapon platform in real life at the moment impossible is resources question. Handguns and such - mostly laser and plasma weapons. Again existing technology, just not really feasible at this point for such use. So when it comes to technology SW is more "hard" in some aspects. Star Trek got its share of fantasy stuff also - godlike entities or even devil, psychic powers etc-etc. But overall setting isn't fantasy.
@Santiago Scarpino last time I encountered Mechs in SRW that were agile and can deal damage with range were Brain Powerd's Brain Powerds and Grand Chers. They had HP and EN Regeneration for 10% each so they could sustain for longer skirmishes, and they also had a barrier-like field that blocks most of the damage unless someone just has enough damage to beat the hell out of them... if they could even land a hit. I dunno, I see them as Tomino's skinnier cousins for Dunbine.
@Santiago Scarpino This is less so in recent games. X and T definitely downscale the damage potential of the Bilbine/Bellvine (and meanwhile the Sirbine has always been behind the Bilbine)
Pretty damn good analysis. I geavitate to 08th MS Team because its very relevant to my experience in the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan around armored vehicles. The show has a very Vietnam War like atmosphere which isn't much different from the counter insurgency operations in the middle east. Hell atleast Vietnam had a conventional military like the NVA.
@@solarlunar64 it wasn't supposed to stick to its own terminology in the first place. I mean, it's just a mecha show overall, with some overlapping tropes. And besides, not counting the Build Series, G Gundam is the only Super Robot show the franchise has produced so far.
@@77SilentAssassin77 can't agree when it's still a Real Robot series + the show had everything a Real Robot show could do. Not helped that the Turn A can't do everything before the huge change of performance in the show proper, along with being thousands of years away from its prime, which is pretty much key in certain Real Robot shows involving prototypes of mecha.
But Mazinger Z Is powered by an exotic non scientific source of energy while Gundams are powered by nuclear reactors Mazinger Z has strange weapons while Gundams use bullets, rockets and beam weapons All the non scientific things about fighting on giant humanoid robots and the Minovski particles physics are explained in scientific terms and create a coherent universe This is the main difference between super robot (fantastic machines) and real robots (realistic machines)
@@definitelynotcharaznable7749 Minovski particles are not scientific too. But they are treated like they were a scientific thing. It's like Jedi Powers in Star Wars. But i agree with you that sometimes newtypes are treated more like Jedi than a fictional science matter.
I absolutely adore the fact that you identified all the anime featured in the video. I can't stand it when a TH-camr shows some cool looking clip and you have to go digging through the comments hoping someone identified it.
As a point of order concerning Ideon and Hard Science, Hard Science in Science Fiction doesn't necessarily mean just realistic technology: Different authors aim at different sciences, depending on what they want to say. A work concentrating on Biology or Sociology for example, will often not spend much thought on the physics of a space drive. So you could argue that Ideon gets to climb a couple more notches up on the science-scale if you consider what Ideon has to say about Human nature, instead of concentrating on the silliness of giant robots fighting.
Long time ago fans used to call Anime like Ideon and Evagelion Hybrid Robots. My favourite super robot Anime is UFO Robo Grendizer Fav Real Robot is Patlabor
Robot lion. Sentient robots with super AI. Said robots combining together to form a bigger badder robot. Said robot lion combining with a train, a drill and a jet to form one of the most badass looking robots of all time. And a kickass opening song. Gaogaigar really IS the greatest!
@@bimafaw Gaogaigar took many elements from might gaine and volfogg's design was lifted from that series. Seeing that gaogaigar is the king of braves, it would've made sense to include all the other braves in gaogaigar to show inheritance and such
I'm 46 and grew up with the Shogun Warriors and Force Five. While I initially loved Starvengers (Getter Robo G), I really, really grew to love Leiji Matsumoto's Danguard Ace. The mecha, the pilots, their training programs, and the enemies felt more real, and, to this day, I'm not sure whether Danguard Ace qualifies as "super robot" or "real robot." (Captain Mask was the man.)
@@zettovii1367 No, impulse Gundam is definitely a real robot (from what I recall, it uses a battery to power all its systems). G Gundam or perhaps ZZ Gundam is more super robot
@@ExieNguyen Well, Impulse Gundam did have multiple dynamic poses, kinda like Tryon 3. If that's not a factor to consider a bot a Super Robot, what is?
@@zettovii1367 Fair enough. In the end, it really depends on one's opinion. Gundams in general I would say are more real robots than super robots, but then again I can't change your opinion can I?
As someone who already has a decent grasp on the mecha genre this video was absolutely worth it just to see clips from shows I haven't seen yet! And personally I prefer real robot shows since I prefer when there is a power limit as it forces creative problem solving and customization to over come obstacles instead of just using determination. But honestly super robot is basically JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love that too.
That is why I prefer the fusion of both genres, it could be said, for example, I prefer the world and wicks of real robots, but I like when they put things in super robots, something like real world with mystical things, but they remain in a balance without going too far. real or exceed the super.
Well, classic super robot shows like the original Mazinger Z did tend to use more than just determination, as a big part of the show involved Koji using Mazinger's arsenal to somehow figure out the weakness of the monster's gimmick of the day, before beating them with smarts and blasting them off with power. So something like a power ceiling isn't really out of the realm of a super robot show, much like how a "real type" show isnt exactly above using super natural elements, as even Gundam have pulled off a few major wins due to Newtype powers. The difference between the genres is more the presentation. While in a real type show, the robots are generally pretty mundane with a few exceptions, in a super robot setting the robots are considered to be super machines that are beyond any mundane artillery. Its harder to tell what specific bots are super or real types, cause the "super" element is pretty much subjective to the series (a Gundam would definitely be a super robot by Mazinger Z's standards, since its above their in-universe military by a huge margin, but Mazinger Z itself wouldn't be considered much other than a high spec MS in the gundamverse).
One thing I don't like about the discussion on realism is that a lot of people's opinion on it boils down to "if it has it, it's good, if it doesn't, it's bad". Realism isn't just a spectrum, it's also applied differently to different aspects of a story for different purposes. Evangelion has cultivated, artificial, dormant god-analogues as its designated "robots". But if you imagined a nation having access to these nigh-incomprehensible, physics-defying, psychology-fueled entities and having to weaponize them, NERV is incredibly realistic in how it treats and handles them. SSSS Gridman has a completely magical mecha fighting completely magical kaiju in a world which follows rules all of its own. But the way the protagonists react to these impossible events is incredibly believable, from their confusion to their speculations to their attempt at maintaining some form of normality in such a crazy situation. Gurren Lagann has an unrealistic setting, unrealistic mecha, unrealistic enemies and a completely unrealistic portrayal of how societies work and evolve over time. And it's still absolutely awesome, because it knows what kind of story it wants to tell, and tells it incredibly well!
When someone is so willing to say that they love one genre and hate another in such a broad way is likely someone who has only seen a few installments of either genre.
@@paolagarcia3009 I like mecca that presents a wide variety of purpose built vehicles instead of anthropomorphic mobile suits. I like a show that can really make me believe what I am seeing on screen could potentially work in real life.
@@UncleMikeDrop I like that it has both humanoid and vehicular forms (preferably one for each type of terrain), but as you say at the same time it can be in the real life of our world with the concepts that it is from both sides.
@@UncleMikeDrop That's something I still really like about the original Gundam and sorta feel like is missing in newer installments, in the original we saw tons of tanks, jets, spaceships and other weapons but as Gundam has gone on it has started focusing on the mechs to the exclusion of everything else it feels like. I was really happy that in IBO we saw a return of other vehicles in the form of the APCs they use and some of the newer Gundam series set during the OYW have showcased more conventional vehicles but I'd like to also see some new Federation tanks and air craft actually in action. I feel like a pretty central part of Gundam and what makes it stand out among the rest and feel more believable is the thesis that mechs aren't the absolute best weapon ever but just like other weapons they have their ups and down, and in atmosphere they are at a significant disadvantage compared to jets and tanks since tanks are smaller and can easily hide behind terrain while jets are faster. Mechs are only the best weapon in space.
SRW is the best mecha tactical RPG series that blend multiple series seamlessly together. Is still alive but some of the best games were in the PS2 era. When it comes to action mecha games Armoured Core and Zone of the Enders are top of the cream. AC6 proved that robot games are far from dead, but is also true that the robot genre as a whole is not as popular as it used to be.
There's also the tendency to take a Real Robot setting and throw a Super Robot into it, and I think Gunbuster qualifies, arguably Gundam Wing, 00 and Unicorn as well. Eva is a deconstruction of the entire mecha genre so I'd say the answer to whether or not it's a Super Robot or Real Robot series is "yes".
I admit I've watched my fair share of Mecha and it's mainly an aesthetic preference as to why I prefer "Real Robot", It's why - despite it's extremely supernatural themes I love Gasaraki. The TAs are some of my favorite designs.
Surprised you did mention Martian Successor Nadesieco as the plot is "real robots" inspired by Super Robots fighting alien Super Robots who turn out to be humans also inspired by Super Robots...
I concur with your thesis, that there really isn't two boxes where one could categorize mecha shows; that all mecha shows fall into a spectrum with how realistic it is at one end and how fantastical it is on the other end. Take for example my favorite Gundam show, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. On the one hand, the show is very realistic depicting the mobile suits as weapons that need maintenance. On the other hand, the Zeta Gundam's piece of Newtype technology (the bio-sensor) is very much something that would see more in your typical super robot show.
syaondri If it was Claratek alone, then you could excuse the majority of super robots as simply “sufficiently advanced” real robots. I mean, the original Mazinger Z is pretty much just a powerful robot made of a really durable ore and a new power source, hardly any different from the classic Gundam. The difference between them is less how the mechs are made, and more their roles in their respective stories. Mazinger Z isn’t just more advanced than most other suits, but it’s treated like something outside the conventional machinery, like something that “could be the devil or god”. Gundam on the other hand, although also considered a technological marvel in universe, is treated less as a supernatural entity, and more as just particularly advanced machine, that may beat most other things, but still largely goes by the same rules as every other vehicle in the verse.
For me, the definition of "real" vs "super" is not a something involved with the setting, but more the narrative themes of the story: hence you can have an entire series where the mechs are powered by magic fairy dust and still be a "real" robot because the story takes care to present the mecha in a more "militaristic" way (see the examples of Gundam 00 and Dunbine). You can also have a "Super" robot where the mecha itself is fairly mundane tech-wise and yet considered a "Super" simply due to how the story treats it (e.g. DaiGuard). There's even tropes that can cross between the two: Genesis of Aquarion is undoubtedly a "Super" robot show, and yet it's used as the prototype for the Mass-produced Assault-Type Aquarion used in a very militaristic fashion complete with drab, monotone colors.
The way I distinguish things: Super Robots are basically superheroes in the form of giant robots. Conversely, Real Robots are "realistic" war stories with the robots treated being no different from a military tank or jet, they just have arms and legs. Of course, there will always be overlap and at the end of the day, it's all giant robots. It's all awesome.
I'm nearing the end of a Gundam (UC first, then beyond) watchthrough and it's interesting how the muddiness fluctuates. That being said, Unicorn, Banshee, and Phenex are basically super robots.
Great piece. Although I think you are overthinking or over complicating the differences between "Super Robot" and "real Robot" shows. You are conflating tone with sub genre, which as you notice, is not a very good means of categorizing them. The main dividing point is in the "Super Robot" sub genre, the Robot at least the Hero Robot is generally a unique often somewhat unexplainable creation. Something that carries within it secrets to be mastered or unlocked and mysteries to be solved. Something that cannot simply be duplicated or re-created by the protagonists. Whereas in the "Real Robot" subgenre, the robot is simply a tool. often a mass production machine. A stock weapon of war. Something that can and will be duplicated. Even in those cases where it is a unique prototype. The main thing to be mastered, unlocked or have it's mystery solved in the "Real Robot" shows is often the pilot or the human characters. And it is possible to cross the streams a bit if you will. Ideon is unquestionably a "Super Robot" show as it is a unique alien machine that the humans are having to solve and master. It just happens to be featured against the backdrop of a real robot story. Similarly EVA is a very dark Super Robot story transposed against a real robot backdrop. Gunbuster may actually be the opposite. A Real Robot told against the backdrop of a Super Robot story. It doesn't really matter if these are high fantasy, Aura Battler Dunbine is basically a "real Robot" story told using a High Fantasy Reality. The Aura Battler's are just production mecha in the magical fantasy world. There may be a third not quite refined sub genre of "Mystical Robots". Where the Robot is simply some sort of projection/extension of the mystical pilots with little actual function on its own. Magic Knight Rayearth or Escaflowne. The Robot is more akin to one of the Main Characters mystical abilities, and less of a presence by itself. And yes there is some obvious blending of these genre's at times. The Big O is a Super Robot show in the present of it's world. But it's past was that of a Real Robot one. It's just that the robots are the last remnants of the great armies. Giant Gorg is similar in that regard. Heck Macross/Robotech is essentially a Real Robot show fighting for possession of a Super Robot (The ship itself.) And of course there is the 4th genre of robot animes. The one that was very rare in Japan, until they exported something back from the Americans, and fell in love with it. And that is the Intelligent Robot Genre. Robots that talk and move by themselves, although often with a human pilot for guidance. Transformers, the various Brave series including GaoGaiGar, etc. Prior to the 80's Japanese mostly viewed independent intelligent robots as rather creepy. So had only a few examples. Astroboy and Astroganger being the main examples. Until the return to Japan of Optimus Prime!
So Mazinger Infinity, Mazinkaiser SKL, Godannar and Gurren Laggan are Real Robot show as it robots can be mass produced. So Gargantia, Full Metal Panic and Orguss with its sequel 02 are Super Robot show as it's a unique often somewhat unexplainable creation. Do I understand you correctly?
Super Robot is when robots fight without too much emphasis on the Science and gruelling realism. More like a Superhero show than anything else. Real Robot is when there’s an explanation for a lot, and where a Bullet casing ending a life is a common occurrence.
The distinction between the two is ever made significant due to SRW and other amalgam ideas. Super robots made it to make "Suit makes Superman" Trope and Real Robots for "Ace pilot" trope. This was further supported with SRW game mechanics that inorder to compensate with less powerful machines for Real Robots is their Pilots being inherently great while Super Robots only barely needed support from their pilots via spirit commands making them "mages" in the game.
Wait, Unicorn was actually going back in time? I always interpreted that as the psycho frame going crazy and showing all sorts of visual hallucinations.
The director did an interview about it, and apparently yeah, kind of. The Neo Zeong's ability to blow up mobile suits was it reversing the time on their engine components etc. It's all a little silly and I wouldn't think about it too much.
Wow! I didn't expect this to be as nice as it was, but the whole super vs real argument clearly is something you have a ton of interest in and the video itself was super amazing!
Five Star Stories is pretty good example of blurring real and super robot; MH is not a robot, but rather an organic being with mechanical components, not unlike the EVA. Their capabilities are mostly on par with real robots, despite their massive size and unique origins.
Seems Fantasy based Robots seem to be between Super or Real due to magic and fantasy. Guessing Rayearth robots are more Super robot while Dubine series are more Real robot with a bit of Super (because magitech) Unfortunately fantasy based Robots seem to rarely get upgrades as a result of thier universe lore reasons.
Well, a lot of Super Robot series rarely do have upgrades because they mostly end up having new powers entirely individually. A good example would be the entirety of the Getter Robo Franchise. The Original Getter would then be succeeded by the Getter Robo G. In turn, Getter Robo G gets succeeded by the Shin Getter, and Shin Getter eventually becomes one of the parts of the Getter Emperor.
There were other inversions of tropes and show settings that can be interesting. A great example has to be Dai Guard, which is really a Real at the scale of a Super, and is in a Super Robot setting.
@Weston Meyer But is Dunbine really a super, when it's fantastical elements is practically everywhere in the story? I mean sure, none of that aura battler things are part of the modern world, but its awefully common in Byston Well, which is where most of the story take place.
@Weston Meyer I second this idea. Dunbine, in its own universe is basically a real, but when in comparison to other series in a SRW setting, Dunbine is a Super Robot, yet dodgy. The idea that some series that are Reals in their own setting but Supers in SRW's settings and vice versa is not uncommon though.
Real robot: The only time you can really call the "bad guys" *bad guys* is when they nerve-gas the colony Super robot: You can really call them "bad guys" because they start with nerve gassing the colony
Watching this video made me realize both parties determine the genre of the show in 2 ways, either the main bot/subject of the show or the plot/theme of the show. And I think this is where the problem lies. Just like what the video said, animes doesn't just have to be purely super/real robot, there are times where it's a sci fi mixed with fantasical elements or the other way around, and it makes it even more confusing when determining the genre of the show. But at times people are just missing a lot of key points. I observed most people tend to go over power levels than what the show is trying to convey. Gundam 00 is purely science fiction. It's not a super robot show despite having extreme power levels; It's far from it. Yes, the mechas definitely couldn't exist in the present day, in fact all and every mechas from the mecha genre couldn't exist in the modern world, but it has concepts that may or may not exist in the real world. Hating on 00 because of the unrealistic mechas is like saying quantum mechanics doesn't exist because it hasn't been proven yet, when it is, in fact, a concept that has already been implemented on modern technology. It's the same on every other shows like this.
*Thank you* for calling Macross Delta a hot garbage. Never have I seen a TH-camr willing to call it one. They either don't care about Macross in general or super whaling into Kawamori and his drunk ideas.
@@paraclonebasedtrooper8225 yes, I know. We've met before. Still, it does not help that Macross Delta is what people would first stumble to nowadays when it comes to Macross. We need to show them SDF, Plus, and Frontier--what Macross originally were.
TheRibbonRed oh shit. I recognize your name. my apology, and feeling like an idiot already for repeating my self. but I think I said this before, but delta actually introduce me to macross. and made me hate the franchise, since I thought it was bascially the same formula as delta, and thought the scene from frontier was from delta. before I even knew it was not from delta. Frontier is a better modern take as a macross franchise. than shit stain delta. bascially made the new fans and the old fans enjoy it. and feels a perfect sequel for the original macross.
@@paraclonebasedtrooper8225 it's fine lol. Pretty sure I was blind-raged with Delta too just 3 years ago (during its premiere) that I did the same and not notice who I was talking to lol. As for Frontier, yeah. It's basically the most excellently modernized state of Macross up to now. Sure, the daily life element is more prevalent in Frontier, but everything else about it is better for the modern audience to just drop in--pretty much signifies how amazing the Macross vets and A-team of the Japanese Animation industry that worked on Frontier were. I wish I could say the same with Delta but...we all know that Kawamori would much rather move to full on AKB0048 rather than perfecting the #2 biggest mecha IP in Japan.
@@TheRibbonRed my main problem with delta. Is bascially the characters and the plot it self. The characters are unbearable to like. I had to remind my self that this is macross and not a knock off of a macross and love live. The plot of delta was soo bad that I forgot what war are they fighting? Is it the virus or that some type of cult that they only exist so the "good guys" can save the world? What's the purpose of them existing? And delta just fucks up do you remember love?
This may be a game I'm about to bring up- But I'm curious, what would the Next's in Armored core 4, and AC4A be considered? Primal Armor and other Kojima particle tech make the Next's such capable super weapons that they are practically God like, it tries and succeeds at grounding itself in the setting it's almost like pacific rim, if that makes sense? Y'all's thoughts?
The first mecha anime i watched was eureka seven, and after watching it i tried to find the manga and, without entering in spoiler territory, i am glad i watched the anime first. Sorry for my English.
I personally prefer to classify the series by its titular robot type (after considering all events in the series). Which means to me Eva is super. Japanese seem to have a better time handling all this, just refering to all of them as giant robots inside an spectrum.
Votoms is one of the most underrated mech shows. Even as a gundam fan I think it nailed the gritty War torn tone more than even 8th MS team or War in the pocket.
The information in this video earned you an upvote and Fav, but the King of Braves respect earns you a Sub. More folks need to know about that series. That said, no props for the Supar Robot series Gundam Wing and Outlaw Star? (Yes, I consider Outlaw Star to be a mecha. If your spaceship is routinely using hand-to-hand combat, it is clearly a piloted robot of some sort.) Also: The Transformers. Yes, it started in the US, but it has had iterations on both sides of the Pacific.
Haha! No wonder you love Gaogaigar. Not only because I love it as well, but also the Yuusya series are made by Sunrise and the mech designs often came from the same designers as Gundams. Bandai/Sunrise owns Gundam and they know how to make mech animes for a long time.
tbh the genres are pretty easy to tell apart. Ideon is definitely super robot, because its a special unique unit, created for a specific purpose. Evangelion units regardless the fact that they got organic features, they're common in the series and are used for warfare, they use common weapons, nothing out of normal.
This whole real robot/super robot thing was just invented by Super Robot Wars to distinguish between dodgy robots and tanky robots. So if a robot is dodgy it's a real robot, and if it's tanky it's a super robot. There, done.
It's 2019 and as of this year, I still haven't had my GaoGaiGar/Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann combination attack in Super Robot Wars. THE WHOLE WORLD NEEDS THAT CROSSOVER OF MANLINESS.
@@someguy912 Well, what we need is an all green glowing shit combination attack. I know Gurren Lagann takes a lot from Getter Robo, but I'm of the mind that both GGG and TTGL brought back the manliness and GAR to mecha anime. To me Evangelion was an embarrassment, and brought a trend of pansy emo anime til the spirit of the Super Robot 70s came roaring back to triumph. So I think being such hot blood, stomp ass shows they deserve a combination attack
The Super/Real divide is more of a sliding scale, with harder sciences on the REAL side and more supernatural/exotic stuff on the SUPER side. Also SUPER Robots tend to end up becoming actually godlike in power (Say hello, Getter EMPEROR, Demonbane, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, SHIN ZERO, Awakened Cybuster). This leads to weird hybrids like Unicorn Gundam and Turn A, which have Super-style physics-breaking bullshit (Psychoframe craziness and MOONLIGHT BUTTERFLY with a side of NANOMACHINES, SON), or crazy shit like Phantom Mech phenomena in the Battletech universe. Even the weaker Getters are more like Real Robots, the SUPER part comes into play when the Getter Rays act up and the physics breaking begins.
The "super robot" genre is mostly focused on the espectacle, the action, the cool mecha; while the "real robot" genre is focused on the drama, the conflict, the flawed pilot. If it is focused on science or fantasy, its not really what determines nor defines any of those genre.
Gundam (UC universe) is more of a cross between Real Robot and Super Robot I would say, it does get realistic sometimes but when it dives into the Newtype stuff, let's just say it gets abit fantastical and dreamlike sometimes..
UC doesn't really fit either molds. As the series went on and on, it begins to show Super Robot tropes like Newtype Powered Mechs or whatnot, but the calendar still shows many more tropes from Real Robot shows that the franchise established.
I would say UC goes heavy science fantasy near the end. Its still rather real robot. But the people of the world get rather fantastical. The robots are still designed like real robots. However they are designed to have neural interfaces that would work with the fantastical people of the series. So imo, the robots stay pretty Real Robot in UC, but the humans fall off into heavy scifi mystical space powers, kinda like jedi.
I thought super robots where steel supermen and real robots were tanks. Even if some gundam like the 00 raiser are more like super robots than real robots. And the fact that they all show up in srw.
I got into mecha after playing Titanfall half to death, and I cringe when I see giant capital ships hovering over the ground in-atmosphere... I'll take Real Robots for 500...
in Gundam series it's justified with their own physics with minovsky craft/flight system (Universal Century) or mass manipulation properties of GN particles (00's Anno Domini).
@@syaondri actually Dom use normal jet engine for hovering skirt thruster rather than minovsky flight system like mothership. Miniaturized minovsky flight system for MS (called minovsky craft) first used by Penelope in Hathaway Flash.
@@DualEdgest GaoGaiGar is like this perfect fusion between Real and Super robot. GaoGaiGar is all about Hot Blooded Courage, while at its core, its science at work, with luck and everything. All the things they use are explained somewhat and holds true to itself. So it is really like the perfect fusion.
![What is the Universal Century? [Gundam Timelines]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IWlm8CE8yCQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![What is the Universal Century? [Gundam Timelines]](/img/tr.png)
This man really did a 12 minute video on mecha anime just to show us GaoGaiGar's opening. I love it.
that's just what a real man does!
Playing the whole opening is an absolute power move
it's important to send a message
"I guess where I am going with all this is that... *GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST* "
*YES, NOW we are talking.*
I mean, I don't know if I agree with that, but I thought that was funny.
yes
@@ultris07 it's gaogaigar you don't question it.
@@Soulmaestro2088 Question Everything!
well this series just became next on my anime list
Most gundam e.g. UC/AC/CE universes are real robot series, Mobile Fighter G Gundam is super robot all the way.
Though it's not without its own Super Robot bullshit. Anything to do with Newtypes, Coordinators and similar concepts are way too super.
See: everything to do with the last parts of Z, ZZ and Char's Counterattack. Soul Power is generally not a real robot concept...
>AC
Thats kind of pushing it.
You have shit like dragon heads, angel wings and beam scythes, but it's mostly based on in-universe science even if it is stupid.
I think Wing is a super robot show that tries too hard to act like real robot.
Actually, I'm pretty sure that the Gundams in Wing were all unused designs for G Gundam.
I would say Gundam as a whole is a mix of both.
You have the mostly realistic mass produced mobile weapons, then you have the Gundams which are usually borderline invincible super weapons.
@@ES21007 i don't know some of that stuff could be possible, maybe not to the extreme that the gundam universe takes it too but the crispr experiments are interesting.
Newtypes, Coordinators, etc affect the pilot, not the robot itself. Most gundam are still 'real' robots. Something that could make a gundam a super would be like the Zero System or the Moonlight Butterfly.
Real Robot: Common usage and military application. Enemies are usually other people.
Super Robot: Mass production is rare and enemies are usually monsters.
try obsolete series.its as close as real bots can get to now adays
Yeah, it's pretty much the gist of it.
Even more simply put:
Real Robots are soldiers (for example: Full Metal Panic, Gundam, Macross)
Super Robots are superheroes (Literally any 70’s or 80’s Mecha, the Brave Series, GaoGaiGar)
it's a term created for a crossover game series Super Robot Wars its practically meaningless term imo
@@TheZooropaBaby mazinger z was called a super robot in its opening
super robot: the more angry protagonist is, more stronger it gets.
real robot: becomes stronger as technology gets more advanced.
super robot: the more angry protagonist is, more stronger it gets.
real robot: becomes stronger as --technology gets more advanced-- protagonist becomes more depressed.
The louder the protagonist yells*
Wait so Gundam Ibo is super robot!!?
@@Shotgunric97 lol no, but it has Super Robot tropes. Just because it has those tropes, it doesn't mean it's a Super Robot.
@@dygardkuroyuri2624Take G Gundam for example
Not going to lie, was going through the video and was thinking, where the hell is GaoGaiGar in all this? Then I got to the end and about died laughing
On the throne, where all KINGS sit.
Totally super robot, if you are still wondering
super/real have much easier distinction age ago.... super robot have very powerful attack power /heavy armor that could take alot of punishment while real is mostly agile type robot, however years after year the distinction slowly blur especially new gundam keep getting something equal to super robo trope
@@maxinehell1394
But thing is, Super Robots have always only been super powerful and incredibly durable in their own stories, with real types only being fragile by their standards. Go back as early as comparing the original Gundam in 1978 with Mazinger Z from 1972, and you'd see that the Gundam is basically just as powerful as any of the Mechanical Beasts, except way more responsive and has longer combat range but with limited ammo.
Another example of real and super being close, would be Getter Robo, which is not only powerful, but also fairly agile and fast comprable to the likes of Variable Fighters in Macross.
If there was something that was more clear back in the day, was the tone and direction of the story. With Super Robots being more lighthearted with a clear white and black morality, while Real Robot tends to be more girtty with a more grey moral area..... But the Robots themselves have always been fairly similar in everyway except presentation, with the moral aspect being the one that got the most blurry.
If there is one difference that has remained constant however, is that supers are always treated as *fantastically special, as something never seen before,* while real types are *just the next gen, but with a new gimmick.*
@@zettovii1367 while you maybe correct, especially when we discuss it in deep, i still could easily tell which category the robot is from 1970 to early 2000 base on my simple description with few error
Pretty interesting video I guess
"GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST!"
*Instant like*
He convinced me to watch Gao Gai Gar just by saying that, so.... yup!
Can't we all agree that giant robots as a whole are awesome?
Of course
Most definitely.
Most certainly, good sir
Absolutely.
Absolutely
GaoGaiGar is the greatest? I see you are a man of culture as well.
ANYONE WHO CALLS OUT GAOGAIGAR GETS SUBBED. PERIOD. THIS IS THE POWER OF AN OATH SWORN THROUGH COURAGE!
THE OATH BETWEEN MEN
This is really the discussion between fantasy in a sci-fi setting (star wars) and sci-fi in a sci-fi setting (star trek). Excellent points and questions.
WurmToken This example is interesting. Sure Star Wars is a typical example of a classic space opera, the Force makes it very fantasy. But if we'll discuss common technologies SW will become way more realistic than Star Trek. Main type of sublight propulsion? Just ion jets. Existing real technology. Death Star. Sure the way how beams combine in the movie is pure fiction and just for the visual aesthetics. But the idea behind it... just a huge space station with super powerful reactor and lasers. The only thing that makes building such weapon platform in real life at the moment impossible is resources question. Handguns and such - mostly laser and plasma weapons.
Again existing technology, just not really feasible at this point for such use. So when it comes to technology SW is more "hard" in some aspects.
Star Trek got its share of fantasy stuff also - godlike entities or even devil, psychic powers etc-etc. But overall setting isn't fantasy.
We could go further; Battletech is much harder than most if not all Real Robot anime.
Was a pretty good video, but then "GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST". Congratulations, you have earned a subscriber.
10/10 Ending
Been rocking this GaoGurrenGar avatar on youtube forever!
Long live the King of Braves!
Your pfp goes so hard
Real robots can dodge and deal okay damage, super robots can take a hit and deal big boy damage.
Yeah that's just SRW.
But if we go by that, then Cybuster and Dunbine can prove that to be faulty.
@Santiago Scarpino last time I encountered Mechs in SRW that were agile and can deal damage with range were Brain Powerd's Brain Powerds and Grand Chers. They had HP and EN Regeneration for 10% each so they could sustain for longer skirmishes, and they also had a barrier-like field that blocks most of the damage unless someone just has enough damage to beat the hell out of them... if they could even land a hit.
I dunno, I see them as Tomino's skinnier cousins for Dunbine.
@@dygardkuroyuri2624 Well you also got The Weisswruter from SRW OG and the upgraded prototype of it in the sequel
@Santiago Scarpino This is less so in recent games. X and T definitely downscale the damage potential of the Bilbine/Bellvine (and meanwhile the Sirbine has always been behind the Bilbine)
yeah but you can have thounsands of smol bois and it'll make big boi damage
Pretty damn good analysis. I geavitate to 08th MS Team because its very relevant to my experience in the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan around armored vehicles. The show has a very Vietnam War like atmosphere which isn't much different from the counter insurgency operations in the middle east. Hell atleast Vietnam had a conventional military like the NVA.
I fought in WW2 and this was very realistic
Going from G Fighter to Gundam Thunderbolt it’s hard to believe they are part of the same franchise.
Different Calendars tho, G Gundam is in Future Century while Thunderbolt takes place in Universal Century.
DX Strider yes I know, just showing that even one franchise doesn’t even follow the terminology that it’s known for.
@@solarlunar64 it wasn't supposed to stick to its own terminology in the first place. I mean, it's just a mecha show overall, with some overlapping tropes. And besides, not counting the Build Series, G Gundam is the only Super Robot show the franchise has produced so far.
@@dygardkuroyuri2624 Not true if you think about Turn A and what it does.
@@77SilentAssassin77 can't agree when it's still a Real Robot series + the show had everything a Real Robot show could do.
Not helped that the Turn A can't do everything before the huge change of performance in the show proper, along with being thousands of years away from its prime, which is pretty much key in certain Real Robot shows involving prototypes of mecha.
Dat feel when you check the specs and find out that Mazinger Z was actually as tall as Mobile Suits.
But Mazinger Z Is powered by an exotic non scientific source of energy while Gundams are powered by nuclear reactors
Mazinger Z has strange weapons while Gundams use bullets, rockets and beam weapons
All the non scientific things about fighting on giant humanoid robots and the Minovski particles physics are explained in scientific terms and create a coherent universe
This is the main difference between super robot (fantastic machines) and real robots (realistic machines)
@@riblo72 well, New type ability is definitely not scientific at all. That's why we call it space magic
@@definitelynotcharaznable7749 Minovski particles are not scientific too. But they are treated like they were a scientific thing.
It's like Jedi Powers in Star Wars.
But i agree with you that sometimes newtypes are treated more like Jedi than a fictional science matter.
So all that detail just to say "GaoGaiGar is the best"?
I agree.
GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST
I approve of this conclusion.
LMAO that cut to GAOGAIGAR xD amazing conclusion to vid.
The OP song alone confirm that
Expectations subverted!
Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion but......
I think Might Gaine is pretty Underrated, however Gaogaigar is pretty Epic
I absolutely adore the fact that you identified all the anime featured in the video. I can't stand it when a TH-camr shows some cool looking clip and you have to go digging through the comments hoping someone identified it.
I was gonna give you the like before shouting 'GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST" but dammit, now you've really earned it.
As a point of order concerning Ideon and Hard Science, Hard Science in Science Fiction doesn't necessarily mean just realistic technology: Different authors aim at different sciences, depending on what they want to say. A work concentrating on Biology or Sociology for example, will often not spend much thought on the physics of a space drive. So you could argue that Ideon gets to climb a couple more notches up on the science-scale if you consider what Ideon has to say about Human nature, instead of concentrating on the silliness of giant robots fighting.
*In summation, Gaogaigar is the greatest!.
Fixed that for you 👍.
As soon as you started the GaoGaiGar intro, I knew you were a human of class
Long time ago fans used to call Anime like Ideon and Evagelion Hybrid Robots.
My favourite super robot Anime is UFO Robo Grendizer
Fav Real Robot is Patlabor
Oh hey, a fellow Grendizer fan! Still waiting for Grendizer to be converted to anime format...like me?!
@@UltraGalaxyify Modern anime you mean? Because it already has an anime series.
@@Hektols Yeah, that's what I meant
Robot lion.
Sentient robots with super AI.
Said robots combining together to form a bigger badder robot.
Said robot lion combining with a train, a drill and a jet to form one of the most badass looking robots of all time.
And a kickass opening song.
Gaogaigar really IS the greatest!
GaoGaiGar is not only the GREATEST, but also the BRAVEST
Might gaine's pretty brave too
Might gaine have same VA with gaogaigar VA in japanese dub of course
@@bimafaw Gaogaigar took many elements from might gaine and volfogg's design was lifted from that series. Seeing that gaogaigar is the king of braves, it would've made sense to include all the other braves in gaogaigar to show inheritance and such
@@someguy912 If anything, considering it's the same creator for both shows (I think), I wouldn't be surprised if Mightgaine was Gao-Gai-Gar's ancestor
It is, after all, the KING OF BRAVES!
I was not expecting to leave this video with hype for a show I never new existed.
GaoGaiGar is now on my "to watch" list.
Did you watch it?
Ah Zambot 3, Aura Battler Dunbine, and Space Runaway Ideon. Definitely did not have the most traumatizing endings I had ever seen. *wink*wink*
z gundam was just the start of his massacre
@@FanEverton Not at all. Zambot 3 was the start. But then Space Runaway Ideon took it way beyond anything Kill Em All Tomino has ever made.
@@rangertubefan I didn't know Zambot got depressing, considering most Super robot shows have happy endings.
Ned Innis I mean Musashi did die in Getter Robo anime and Mazinger Z get wrecked by the end of it run before Great show up :|
Thanks for the heads up
There’s something very cleansing about listening to the entire GaoGaiGar op here
Nice to see Patlabor on here. I'm watching the TV version now and I love it!
Yh its pretty good, im currently watching the OVA's and movies too
I'm 46 and grew up with the Shogun Warriors and Force Five. While I initially loved Starvengers (Getter Robo G), I really, really grew to love Leiji Matsumoto's Danguard Ace. The mecha, the pilots, their training programs, and the enemies felt more real, and, to this day, I'm not sure whether Danguard Ace qualifies as "super robot" or "real robot." (Captain Mask was the man.)
It's Super Robot, dude.
yea it's super robot.
If u want a clear visual reference to how super and real robots are different just watch Tryon 3 first fight on Gundam build fighters
AH-64A Apache attack helicopter yes
So.... Impulse Gundam is a Super Robot?
@@zettovii1367 No, impulse Gundam is definitely a real robot (from what I recall, it uses a battery to power all its systems). G Gundam or perhaps ZZ Gundam is more super robot
@@ExieNguyen
Well, Impulse Gundam did have multiple dynamic poses, kinda like Tryon 3. If that's not a factor to consider a bot a Super Robot, what is?
@@zettovii1367 Fair enough. In the end, it really depends on one's opinion. Gundams in general I would say are more real robots than super robots, but then again I can't change your opinion can I?
Also can't fuckin believe you put the entirety of GaoGaiGar's OP in here, goddamn legend
As someone who already has a decent grasp on the mecha genre this video was absolutely worth it just to see clips from shows I haven't seen yet! And personally I prefer real robot shows since I prefer when there is a power limit as it forces creative problem solving and customization to over come obstacles instead of just using determination. But honestly super robot is basically JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love that too.
Super Robots are just visible STANDO POWA
That is why I prefer the fusion of both genres, it could be said, for example, I prefer the world and wicks of real robots, but I like when they put things in super robots, something like real world with mystical things, but they remain in a balance without going too far. real or exceed the super.
Well, classic super robot shows like the original Mazinger Z did tend to use more than just determination, as a big part of the show involved Koji using Mazinger's arsenal to somehow figure out the weakness of the monster's gimmick of the day, before beating them with smarts and blasting them off with power. So something like a power ceiling isn't really out of the realm of a super robot show, much like how a "real type" show isnt exactly above using super natural elements, as even Gundam have pulled off a few major wins due to Newtype powers.
The difference between the genres is more the presentation. While in a real type show, the robots are generally pretty mundane with a few exceptions, in a super robot setting the robots are considered to be super machines that are beyond any mundane artillery. Its harder to tell what specific bots are super or real types, cause the "super" element is pretty much subjective to the series (a Gundam would definitely be a super robot by Mazinger Z's standards, since its above their in-universe military by a huge margin, but Mazinger Z itself wouldn't be considered much other than a high spec MS in the gundamverse).
@@zettovii1367
At least the regular Mazinger verioons.
Something like the Shin Getter or Mazinger Zero are in different leagues.
@@tyaty
Yeah, those are without a doubt Super Robots through and through, since there isnt anything mundane about them.
One thing I don't like about the discussion on realism is that a lot of people's opinion on it boils down to "if it has it, it's good, if it doesn't, it's bad".
Realism isn't just a spectrum, it's also applied differently to different aspects of a story for different purposes.
Evangelion has cultivated, artificial, dormant god-analogues as its designated "robots". But if you imagined a nation having access to these nigh-incomprehensible, physics-defying, psychology-fueled entities and having to weaponize them, NERV is incredibly realistic in how it treats and handles them.
SSSS Gridman has a completely magical mecha fighting completely magical kaiju in a world which follows rules all of its own. But the way the protagonists react to these impossible events is incredibly believable, from their confusion to their speculations to their attempt at maintaining some form of normality in such a crazy situation.
Gurren Lagann has an unrealistic setting, unrealistic mecha, unrealistic enemies and a completely unrealistic portrayal of how societies work and evolve over time. And it's still absolutely awesome, because it knows what kind of story it wants to tell, and tells it incredibly well!
When someone is so willing to say that they love one genre and hate another in such a broad way is likely someone who has only seen a few installments of either genre.
I like the fusion of both but that the world is real robots and that the mecha have a bit of super as modern gundam could be said.
@@paolagarcia3009 I like mecca that presents a wide variety of purpose built vehicles instead of anthropomorphic mobile suits. I like a show that can really make me believe what I am seeing on screen could potentially work in real life.
@@UncleMikeDrop I like that it has both humanoid and vehicular forms (preferably one for each type of terrain), but as you say at the same time it can be in the real life of our world with the concepts that it is from both sides.
@@UncleMikeDrop That's something I still really like about the original Gundam and sorta feel like is missing in newer installments, in the original we saw tons of tanks, jets, spaceships and other weapons but as Gundam has gone on it has started focusing on the mechs to the exclusion of everything else it feels like. I was really happy that in IBO we saw a return of other vehicles in the form of the APCs they use and some of the newer Gundam series set during the OYW have showcased more conventional vehicles but I'd like to also see some new Federation tanks and air craft actually in action. I feel like a pretty central part of Gundam and what makes it stand out among the rest and feel more believable is the thesis that mechs aren't the absolute best weapon ever but just like other weapons they have their ups and down, and in atmosphere they are at a significant disadvantage compared to jets and tanks since tanks are smaller and can easily hide behind terrain while jets are faster. Mechs are only the best weapon in space.
I for one am a super robots guy, but that doesn't mean i hate real robots
5:30 _"I must somehow make sense of our convoluted situation."_ I want a clip of this.
Look up Garzey's Wing
Gunbuster is amazing, best Gainax series.
Can we agree that Super Robot Wars are some of the best games when it comes to mecha? The mixture of real robots and super robots.
I agree it's kind of sad that we don't get a lot of good mecha video games
SRW is the best mecha tactical RPG series that blend multiple series seamlessly together. Is still alive but some of the best games were in the PS2 era.
When it comes to action mecha games Armoured Core and Zone of the Enders are top of the cream.
AC6 proved that robot games are far from dead, but is also true that the robot genre as a whole is not as popular as it used to be.
There's also the tendency to take a Real Robot setting and throw a Super Robot into it, and I think Gunbuster qualifies, arguably Gundam Wing, 00 and Unicorn as well.
Eva is a deconstruction of the entire mecha genre so I'd say the answer to whether or not it's a Super Robot or Real Robot series is "yes".
Well the other side real robot in a super robot setting is dai garud
I admit I've watched my fair share of Mecha and it's mainly an aesthetic preference as to why I prefer "Real Robot", It's why - despite it's extremely supernatural themes I love Gasaraki. The TAs are some of my favorite designs.
I like both but if you put a lions face on a robots chest I am more likely to get into it.
@@Gaia_Gaistar That's valid - I'd prefer a machine gun on it's chest, but can definitely see the appeal.
This end made me watch GaoGaiGar, thank you, it was a great anime
I like how Garzey's wing was used
Because I'm pretty sure it takes place before dunbine
Actually it takes place after
Surprised you did mention Martian Successor Nadesieco as the plot is "real robots" inspired by Super Robots fighting alien Super Robots who turn out to be humans also inspired by Super Robots...
👍👍
1:43 what's with the panzer 4 f2 and panzer 4 C
I concur with your thesis, that there really isn't two boxes where one could categorize mecha shows; that all mecha shows fall into a spectrum with how realistic it is at one end and how fantastical it is on the other end. Take for example my favorite Gundam show, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. On the one hand, the show is very realistic depicting the mobile suits as weapons that need maintenance. On the other hand, the Zeta Gundam's piece of Newtype technology (the bio-sensor) is very much something that would see more in your typical super robot show.
syaondri
If it was Claratek alone, then you could excuse the majority of super robots as simply “sufficiently advanced” real robots. I mean, the original Mazinger Z is pretty much just a powerful robot made of a really durable ore and a new power source, hardly any different from the classic Gundam.
The difference between them is less how the mechs are made, and more their roles in their respective stories. Mazinger Z isn’t just more advanced than most other suits, but it’s treated like something outside the conventional machinery, like something that “could be the devil or god”.
Gundam on the other hand, although also considered a technological marvel in universe, is treated less as a supernatural entity, and more as just particularly advanced machine, that may beat most other things, but still largely goes by the same rules as every other vehicle in the verse.
For me, the definition of "real" vs "super" is not a something involved with the setting, but more the narrative themes of the story: hence you can have an entire series where the mechs are powered by magic fairy dust and still be a "real" robot because the story takes care to present the mecha in a more "militaristic" way (see the examples of Gundam 00 and Dunbine). You can also have a "Super" robot where the mecha itself is fairly mundane tech-wise and yet considered a "Super" simply due to how the story treats it (e.g. DaiGuard). There's even tropes that can cross between the two: Genesis of Aquarion is undoubtedly a "Super" robot show, and yet it's used as the prototype for the Mass-produced Assault-Type Aquarion used in a very militaristic fashion complete with drab, monotone colors.
Daigurad is a real robot actually
The way I distinguish things: Super Robots are basically superheroes in the form of giant robots. Conversely, Real Robots are "realistic" war stories with the robots treated being no different from a military tank or jet, they just have arms and legs. Of course, there will always be overlap and at the end of the day, it's all giant robots. It's all awesome.
I should've expected that in the end. Such classy end to a well balanced video.
I feel like there are two circles that overlap with each other.
It's like Star Wars and Star Trek.
Very few things can match Gaogaigar's intro
Shin Getter robo ,Gaiking, Mazinkaiser's insert songs and Intro songs are good as well
@@giornogiovanna2590 Kotetsushin Jeeg's Ost is great too
G Gundam's openings and the "God Finger Theme" are just some of the things that can match GaoGaiGar's intro
@@dygardkuroyuri2624 Don't even get me started on G Gundam...cuz thats my shit lol
@@dygardkuroyuri2624 *FRY IN THE SKY*
This video actually introduced me to GaoGaiGar and I'm loving the fuck out of it so far
Thanks
This man literally saved the best for the FINAL
I'm nearing the end of a Gundam (UC first, then beyond) watchthrough and it's interesting how the muddiness fluctuates. That being said, Unicorn, Banshee, and Phenex are basically super robots.
The biggest difference should be if the series is about giant robots or the people inside of those giant robots.
Great piece. Although I think you are overthinking or over complicating the differences between "Super Robot" and "real Robot" shows. You are conflating tone with sub genre, which as you notice, is not a very good means of categorizing them. The main dividing point is in the "Super Robot" sub genre, the Robot at least the Hero Robot is generally a unique often somewhat unexplainable creation. Something that carries within it secrets to be mastered or unlocked and mysteries to be solved. Something that cannot simply be duplicated or re-created by the protagonists. Whereas in the "Real Robot" subgenre, the robot is simply a tool. often a mass production machine. A stock weapon of war. Something that can and will be duplicated. Even in those cases where it is a unique prototype. The main thing to be mastered, unlocked or have it's mystery solved in the "Real Robot" shows is often the pilot or the human characters. And it is possible to cross the streams a bit if you will. Ideon is unquestionably a "Super Robot" show as it is a unique alien machine that the humans are having to solve and master. It just happens to be featured against the backdrop of a real robot story. Similarly EVA is a very dark Super Robot story transposed against a real robot backdrop. Gunbuster may actually be the opposite. A Real Robot told against the backdrop of a Super Robot story. It doesn't really matter if these are high fantasy, Aura Battler Dunbine is basically a "real Robot" story told using a High Fantasy Reality. The Aura Battler's are just production mecha in the magical fantasy world.
There may be a third not quite refined sub genre of "Mystical Robots". Where the Robot is simply some sort of projection/extension of the mystical pilots with little actual function on its own. Magic Knight Rayearth or Escaflowne. The Robot is more akin to one of the Main Characters mystical abilities, and less of a presence by itself.
And yes there is some obvious blending of these genre's at times. The Big O is a Super Robot show in the present of it's world. But it's past was that of a Real Robot one. It's just that the robots are the last remnants of the great armies. Giant Gorg is similar in that regard. Heck Macross/Robotech is essentially a Real Robot show fighting for possession of a Super Robot (The ship itself.)
And of course there is the 4th genre of robot animes. The one that was very rare in Japan, until they exported something back from the Americans, and fell in love with it. And that is the Intelligent Robot Genre. Robots that talk and move by themselves, although often with a human pilot for guidance. Transformers, the various Brave series including GaoGaiGar, etc. Prior to the 80's Japanese mostly viewed independent intelligent robots as rather creepy. So had only a few examples. Astroboy and Astroganger being the main examples. Until the return to Japan of Optimus Prime!
So Mazinger Infinity, Mazinkaiser SKL, Godannar and Gurren Laggan are Real Robot show as it robots can be mass produced.
So Gargantia, Full Metal Panic and Orguss with its sequel 02 are Super Robot show as it's a unique often somewhat unexplainable creation.
Do I understand you correctly?
This is true
@@johnbalkin8223 Having another mecha of the same technology in the series doesn't mean it's been mass-produced
Super Robot is when robots fight without too much emphasis on the Science and gruelling realism. More like a Superhero show than anything else.
Real Robot is when there’s an explanation for a lot, and where a Bullet casing ending a life is a common occurrence.
"GaoGaiGar is the GREATEST!!" Followed by the Zeorymer theme song. You, sir, are a man of culture!
Basically, the two can be best summarized as:
Super Robot: Super Heroes
Real Robot: Starship Troopers
Never heard of like 90% of these before, so many things to watch lol
The distinction between the two is ever made significant due to SRW and other amalgam ideas. Super robots made it to make "Suit makes Superman" Trope and Real Robots for "Ace pilot" trope. This was further supported with SRW game mechanics that inorder to compensate with less powerful machines for Real Robots is their Pilots being inherently great while Super Robots only barely needed support from their pilots via spirit commands making them "mages" in the game.
Wait, Unicorn was actually going back in time? I always interpreted that as the psycho frame going crazy and showing all sorts of visual hallucinations.
The director did an interview about it, and apparently yeah, kind of. The Neo Zeong's ability to blow up mobile suits was it reversing the time on their engine components etc. It's all a little silly and I wouldn't think about it too much.
DAMN Gaogaigar looks sick AF!! nostalgic for sure. great video
Wow! I didn't expect this to be as nice as it was, but the whole super vs real argument clearly is something you have a ton of interest in and the video itself was super amazing!
Five Star Stories is pretty good example of blurring real and super robot; MH is not a robot, but rather an organic being with mechanical components, not unlike the EVA. Their capabilities are mostly on par with real robots, despite their massive size and unique origins.
Seems Fantasy based Robots seem to be between Super or Real due to magic and fantasy. Guessing Rayearth robots are more Super robot while Dubine series are more Real robot with a bit of Super (because magitech)
Unfortunately fantasy based Robots seem to rarely get upgrades as a result of thier universe lore reasons.
Well, a lot of Super Robot series rarely do have upgrades because they mostly end up having new powers entirely individually.
A good example would be the entirety of the Getter Robo Franchise. The Original Getter would then be succeeded by the Getter Robo G. In turn, Getter Robo G gets succeeded by the Shin Getter, and Shin Getter eventually becomes one of the parts of the Getter Emperor.
There were other inversions of tropes and show settings that can be interesting.
A great example has to be Dai Guard, which is really a Real at the scale of a Super, and is in a Super Robot setting.
@Weston Meyer
But is Dunbine really a super, when it's fantastical elements is practically everywhere in the story? I mean sure, none of that aura battler things are part of the modern world, but its awefully common in Byston Well, which is where most of the story take place.
@Weston Meyer I second this idea. Dunbine, in its own universe is basically a real, but when in comparison to other series in a SRW setting, Dunbine is a Super Robot, yet dodgy.
The idea that some series that are Reals in their own setting but Supers in SRW's settings and vice versa is not uncommon though.
Real robot: The only time you can really call the "bad guys" *bad guys* is when they nerve-gas the colony
Super robot: You can really call them "bad guys" because they start with nerve gassing the colony
Watching this video made me realize both parties determine the genre of the show in 2 ways, either the main bot/subject of the show or the plot/theme of the show. And I think this is where the problem lies. Just like what the video said, animes doesn't just have to be purely super/real robot, there are times where it's a sci fi mixed with fantasical elements or the other way around, and it makes it even more confusing when determining the genre of the show.
But at times people are just missing a lot of key points. I observed most people tend to go over power levels than what the show is trying to convey. Gundam 00 is purely science fiction. It's not a super robot show despite having extreme power levels; It's far from it. Yes, the mechas definitely couldn't exist in the present day, in fact all and every mechas from the mecha genre couldn't exist in the modern world, but it has concepts that may or may not exist in the real world. Hating on 00 because of the unrealistic mechas is like saying quantum mechanics doesn't exist because it hasn't been proven yet, when it is, in fact, a concept that has already been implemented on modern technology. It's the same on every other shows like this.
Question do you think the mechs from obsolete could be built in real life
give a Real Robot genre a long run and it will eventually became a Super Robot
*Thank you* for calling Macross Delta a hot garbage. Never have I seen a TH-camr willing to call it one. They either don't care about Macross in general or super whaling into Kawamori and his drunk ideas.
TheRibbonRed macross delta made the franchise lost its identity.
@@paraclonebasedtrooper8225 yes, I know. We've met before.
Still, it does not help that Macross Delta is what people would first stumble to nowadays when it comes to Macross. We need to show them SDF, Plus, and Frontier--what Macross originally were.
TheRibbonRed oh shit. I recognize your name. my apology, and feeling like an idiot already for repeating my self.
but I think I said this before, but delta actually introduce me to macross. and made me hate the franchise, since I thought it was bascially the same formula as delta, and thought the scene from frontier was from delta. before I even knew it was not from delta.
Frontier is a better modern take as a macross franchise. than shit stain delta. bascially made the new fans and the old fans enjoy it. and feels a perfect sequel for the original macross.
@@paraclonebasedtrooper8225 it's fine lol. Pretty sure I was blind-raged with Delta too just 3 years ago (during its premiere) that I did the same and not notice who I was talking to lol.
As for Frontier, yeah. It's basically the most excellently modernized state of Macross up to now. Sure, the daily life element is more prevalent in Frontier, but everything else about it is better for the modern audience to just drop in--pretty much signifies how amazing the Macross vets and A-team of the Japanese Animation industry that worked on Frontier were.
I wish I could say the same with Delta but...we all know that Kawamori would much rather move to full on AKB0048 rather than perfecting the #2 biggest mecha IP in Japan.
@@TheRibbonRed my main problem with delta. Is bascially the characters and the plot it self. The characters are unbearable to like. I had to remind my self that this is macross and not a knock off of a macross and love live.
The plot of delta was soo bad that I forgot what war are they fighting? Is it the virus or that some type of cult that they only exist so the "good guys" can save the world? What's the purpose of them existing?
And delta just fucks up do you remember love?
The end was an absolute truth.
This left me with more questions than answers, but if anyone asks me the same question, at least I can now spread this curse. '-'
Really loving your mecha/anime videos man, keep it up!
This may be a game I'm about to bring up-
But I'm curious, what would the Next's in Armored core 4, and AC4A be considered? Primal Armor and other Kojima particle tech make the Next's such capable super weapons that they are practically God like, it tries and succeeds at grounding itself in the setting it's almost like pacific rim, if that makes sense? Y'all's thoughts?
I'd say Armored Core is Real Robot, the tech itself is the reason for the power up, not emotions or stuff like that.
Definitely an underrated channel and videos my dude
Me: Ok, I guess you may have a point in some of these, but I still consider...
Zorak: *GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST*
Me: Welp, I can't object to that.
Every year more people take the Oath Sworn Through Courage... fucking love GaoGaiGar.
"vastly inferior sequel Diebuster"
Wow now that's a steaming take
I still think calling Diebuster a merely "vastly inferior sequel" is being far too kind to it.
@@ioregnak8370 well you're welcome to be dead wrong.
TO be fair I had to take a steaming Diebuster the other day.
The first mecha anime i watched was eureka seven, and after watching it i tried to find the manga and, without entering in spoiler territory, i am glad i watched the anime first.
Sorry for my English.
I personally prefer to classify the series by its titular robot type (after considering all events in the series). Which means to me Eva is super.
Japanese seem to have a better time handling all this, just refering to all of them as giant robots inside an spectrum.
The GaoGaiGar brings up an additional like at here.
they were right, this 12 and half minutes video is just a gaogaigar propaganda and i can totally agree with that gaogaigar is the greatest
Votoms is one of the most underrated mech shows. Even as a gundam fan I think it nailed the gritty War torn tone more than even 8th MS team or War in the pocket.
The information in this video earned you an upvote and Fav, but the King of Braves respect earns you a Sub. More folks need to know about that series.
That said, no props for the Supar Robot series Gundam Wing and Outlaw Star? (Yes, I consider Outlaw Star to be a mecha. If your spaceship is routinely using hand-to-hand combat, it is clearly a piloted robot of some sort.) Also: The Transformers. Yes, it started in the US, but it has had iterations on both sides of the Pacific.
I think Eva for super-robots is what Watchman is for superheroes
A more in depth look on "what if this was actually happening in real life"
Haha! No wonder you love Gaogaigar. Not only because I love it as well, but also the Yuusya series are made by Sunrise and the mech designs often came from the same designers as Gundams. Bandai/Sunrise owns Gundam and they know how to make mech animes for a long time.
besides gainax and state light and gonzo in the early 00s 90% of mecha series are made by sunrise
tbh the genres are pretty easy to tell apart. Ideon is definitely super robot, because its a special unique unit, created for a specific purpose. Evangelion units regardless the fact that they got organic features, they're common in the series and are used for warfare, they use common weapons, nothing out of normal.
This whole real robot/super robot thing was just invented by Super Robot Wars to distinguish between dodgy robots and tanky robots. So if a robot is dodgy it's a real robot, and if it's tanky it's a super robot. There, done.
This only applied to classical game like before alpha 2. Since then I have seen Super that dodge like crazy and Real that deal ton of damage
So Getter Liger is a real robot while GP02 is super.... Got it
@@zettovii1367 GP02A, correction.
@@zettovii1367 And Liger couldnt dodge shit in the classical SRW
tigera6
He dodged quite a lot in my play through tho. Used that after image dodge quite frequently.
It's 2019 and as of this year, I still haven't had my GaoGaiGar/Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann combination attack in Super Robot Wars.
THE WHOLE WORLD NEEDS THAT CROSSOVER OF MANLINESS.
Brandon Teppelin The world would break from all the screaming
A gurren lagann/getter robo combination attack makes more sense as gurren lagann takes heavy inspiration from getter
@@someguy912
Well, what we need is an all green glowing shit combination attack.
I know Gurren Lagann takes a lot from Getter Robo, but I'm of the mind that both GGG and TTGL brought back the manliness and GAR to mecha anime.
To me Evangelion was an embarrassment, and brought a trend of pansy emo anime til the spirit of the Super Robot 70s came roaring back to triumph.
So I think being such hot blood, stomp ass shows they deserve a combination attack
This
@@brandonteppelin6353 You can even sprinkle in other braves in the attack and watch the universe explode 10000 times over
The Super/Real divide is more of a sliding scale, with harder sciences on the REAL side and more supernatural/exotic stuff on the SUPER side. Also SUPER Robots tend to end up becoming actually godlike in power (Say hello, Getter EMPEROR, Demonbane, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, SHIN ZERO, Awakened Cybuster).
This leads to weird hybrids like Unicorn Gundam and Turn A, which have Super-style physics-breaking bullshit (Psychoframe craziness and MOONLIGHT BUTTERFLY with a side of NANOMACHINES, SON), or crazy shit like Phantom Mech phenomena in the Battletech universe. Even the weaker Getters are more like Real Robots, the SUPER part comes into play when the Getter Rays act up and the physics breaking begins.
Chris Goh so what you’re saying is that getters are real robots on performance enhancing drugs
@@joshuamendoza7596 Getters are an eldritch force of the universe wearing a super robot as a neat three-piece suit.
Chris Goh I know I was just making a joke
Just found your channel. I agree. GaoGaiGar is the best
The "super robot" genre is mostly focused on the espectacle, the action, the cool mecha; while the "real robot" genre is focused on the drama, the conflict, the flawed pilot. If it is focused on science or fantasy, its not really what determines nor defines any of those genre.
You need to watch more super robot shows
did not see GaoGaiGar coming. Especially happy that the full intro played.
>Diebuster is vastly inferior to Gunbuster
Them's fightin' words
Both seres are good, but I prefer Gunbuster.
No matter real robots or super robots, they both fall into the category of science fiction. Meaning that basically, they are the same.
Gundam (UC universe) is more of a cross between Real Robot and Super Robot I would say, it does get realistic sometimes but when it dives into the Newtype stuff, let's just say it gets abit fantastical and dreamlike sometimes..
Newtypes pushing back asteroids, blocking colony lasers and manipulating time is definitely super robot to me
@@edwardbarillas7263 sounds like a super hero show to me
UC doesn't really fit either molds. As the series went on and on, it begins to show Super Robot tropes like Newtype Powered Mechs or whatnot, but the calendar still shows many more tropes from Real Robot shows that the franchise established.
I would say UC goes heavy science fantasy near the end. Its still rather real robot. But the people of the world get rather fantastical. The robots are still designed like real robots. However they are designed to have neural interfaces that would work with the fantastical people of the series. So imo, the robots stay pretty Real Robot in UC, but the humans fall off into heavy scifi mystical space powers, kinda like jedi.
Be it real robot or super robot, you can be certain that GaoGaiGar will always win.
I thought super robots where steel supermen and real robots were tanks.
Even if some gundam like the 00 raiser are more like super robots than real robots.
And the fact that they all show up in srw.
Where a mecha series falls get settled when it gets into Super Robot Wars.
I got into mecha after playing Titanfall half to death, and I cringe when I see giant capital ships hovering over the ground in-atmosphere...
I'll take Real Robots for 500...
in Gundam series it's justified with their own physics with minovsky craft/flight system (Universal Century) or mass manipulation properties of GN particles (00's Anno Domini).
@@syaondri actually Dom use normal jet engine for hovering skirt thruster rather than minovsky flight system like mothership. Miniaturized minovsky flight system for MS (called minovsky craft) first used by Penelope in Hathaway Flash.
Watch GaoGaiGar then, no capital ships ever orbit Earth, therefore real robot.
@@DualEdgest
GaoGaiGar is like this perfect fusion between Real and Super robot.
GaoGaiGar is all about Hot Blooded Courage, while at its core, its science at work, with luck and everything.
All the things they use are explained somewhat and holds true to itself.
So it is really like the perfect fusion.
There should be a game of thrones series of sort with Titans.