Mecha (science fiction)

A mecha, meka (from the Japanese メカ, meka, abbreviation of メカニック, mechanical ) or mecha in science fiction, is a large vehicle controlled by one or more pilots, which has moving parts such as arms or legs, and varies in its use depending on the work fiction to which it belongs. The term mecha can also be used to refer to a subgenre of science fiction. The difference between a mecha and a robot is that the mecha is controlled by a pilot, while a robot moves on its own.

History

Its origin is found in the animation series of the 70s and 80s, in the Japanese animated genre, which come to symbolize the culmination of technological advances in robotics.

Nowadays they are seen as a way to remove human beings from certain tasks that are dangerous for them, such as the removal of toxic waste, but they do it from a protected cabin or a control room, where they have no contact with others. the material. However, its scope could be expanded, given the great advances in micromotors, computing and in the military, thanks to its recent application as chargers and others.

Types of wicks

Original wick

In the first animes, the mecha is a type of robot or mechanized vehicle that must be manned by a human pilot for its activation, and that has a series of distinctive characteristics, such as weapons or special powers and even fusionability, thus increasing their capabilities.

Biological wick

These mechas are more typical of the 90s, and the EVA that appears in the Neon Genesis Evangelion series is recognized as the first example, since these mechas are actually biological beings. Commands are given through nervous, and in some cases spiritual, interconnection; between the nervous system of the mecha with the nerves at the base of the pilot's brain, done thanks to devices interconnected to computers and coming from the suits and/or accessories thereof placed on the pilots.

Each biological fuse has different capabilities, and even origins of very dubious acceptance. One of its characteristics is the appearance of certain human traits (bleeding, fractures, different wounds, among others) typical of living beings, and even behaviors merely typical of living beings (such as eating).

Mecha as a genre and its subgenres

The mecha is a genre of fictional works, which is a subgenre of science fiction, where these mecha machines are used as part of their plot and depending on the elements of their plot, it can be classified in turn into several subgenres, existing two main ones: super robot, where the robot fulfills the function of a superhero or vigilante (for example Mazinger Z) and real robot, where the robot fulfills the function of a weapon of war (for example Mobile Suit Gundam).

Super robot

Real robot

Appearance in television genres

Animes

The most representative anime series of the genre is definitely the Mazinger Z anime. Some well-remembered mecha animes are:

Tokusatsu

In the case of tokusatsu, the presence of mechas is the defining characteristic of series such as Super Sentai and its American adaptation Power Rangers (where they are called zords), in which the heroes face giant monsters aboard giant mechas that usually transform or combine to form other humanoid mechas piloted by the series squad as a whole. In some seasons these mechas are mere conventional robotic machines, while in others they have a life of their own and work in symbiosis with their crew members. Mechagodzilla also features.

Books

The work The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells shows mechas tripods. The book Space Troops shows mobile infantry soldiers using exoskeletons.

In Spain, works have been published such as the anthology "Dreams of molten steel" from the Palabras de Agua publishing house in 2015.

The novel "EPB: Primera Sangre", by the author Axel A. Giaroli. published by Wave Books in 2018.

"MECHA-CHRONICLES: Stories of Mechas and other Metal Titans" by the Apache Libros publishing house in 2022

Movies

In the Star Wars saga the Imperial Army has several types of mechas, such as the AT-AT or the AT-ST. In Return of the Jedi, Chewacca, takes one of these and, together with the Ewoks, harasses the Imperial garrison on the planet Endor.

In the movie Avatar, the human army of Earth uses fuses to combat the na'vis, the inhabitants who try to protect the Mother Tree, One of these mecha robots is commanded by Colonel Miles Quaritch.

In the Alien 2 movie, Aliens: The Return, we also see how Officer Ripley uses a mecha to fight the Alien queen.

The movie Pacific Rim addresses the topic of mechas — called jaegers, from the German meaning hunters — used to fight giant monsters (kaijus) coming from dimensional cracks in the Pacific Ocean.^{[citation required]}

In the movie The Matrix Revolutions humans defend themselves against the sentinels using fuses.

Mechagodzilla has appeared in the Godzilla films since 1974 as the antagonist and archenemy of Godzilla, in Godzilla vs. Kong reappears as an antagonist.

Video games

Mechas have been very popular themes in video games since the 1980s, particularly in action games. It is from Battletech that the term mech (a contraction of battlemech) became popular, but mech should not be be confused with the more general term of mecha coming from Japanese and popularized by the English translations of the mangas as mecha. Some mecha games are:

• Airmech sand
• Armored Core
• Apex Legends With her introduction of Skins Mecha at the "Mecha Strike Go" event!
• BattleTech
• Battle Clash, Metal Combat Sequel - Falcon's Revenge
• Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
• Final Fantasy VI, in which the Magitek Armors are used, similar to the ♪
• Front Mission
• Hawken
• Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
• Lost Planet 2
• Lost Planet 3
• Mecha-Bandicoot in Crash Twinsanity
• Mecha-Naruto in Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution
• Mechwarrior
• Metal Gear Solid
• Metal Warriors
• Metroid Prime: Federation Force
• Overwatch, appears under the name MEKA (unit of the Mobile Exoforce of the Korean Army)
• Robotech: The Macross Saga
• Rocket Knight Adventures
• Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
• StarCraft, in this saga there are units ♪ of different size and power, called by mythological names, Goliath, Thor and Odin.
• Titanfall
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where they appear ♪ biological under the name of Divine Beastsbuilt by the ancient technology of the Sheikah tribe.
• War Robots, video game of the PIXONIC company, in which you pilot giant robots to destroy the enemy team. It should be clear that even though the game is free, this game has the infamous mode of “pay to win”, making monetary transactions in the game, will give you unfair advantages, despite this, you can play free and have fun.
• Xenoblade Chronicles X, in which the ♪ are called skells.
• Xenogears, in which the ♪ are called gears.
• Zone of the Enders
• Brawl stars, throwing skins mecha from Bo and Crow.