This man really did a 12 minute video on mecha anime just to show us GaoGaiGar's opening. I love it.

Playing the whole opening is an absolute power move

"I guess where I am going with all this is that... *GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST* " *YES, NOW we are talking.*

Real Robot: Common usage and military application. Enemies are usually other people. Super Robot: Mass production is rare and enemies are usually monsters.

Pretty interesting video I guess "GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST!" *Instant like*

super robot: the more angry protagonist is, more stronger it gets. real robot: becomes stronger as technology gets more advanced.

Most gundam e.g. UC/AC/CE universes are real robot series, Mobile Fighter G Gundam is super robot all the way.

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

Can't we all agree that giant robots as a whole are awesome?

GaoGaiGar is the greatest? I see you are a man of culture as well.

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.

ANYONE WHO CALLS OUT GAOGAIGAR GETS SUBBED. PERIOD. THIS IS THE POWER OF AN OATH SWORN THROUGH COURAGE!

10/10 Ending Been rocking this GaoGurrenGar avatar on youtube forever! Long live the King of Braves!

Real robots can dodge and deal okay damage, super robots can take a hit and deal big boy damage. Yeah that's just SRW.

Was a pretty good video, but then "GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST". Congratulations, you have earned a subscriber.

Going from G Fighter to Gundam Thunderbolt it’s hard to believe they are part of the same franchise.

Dat feel when you check the specs and find out that Mazinger Z was actually as tall as Mobile Suits.

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.

GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST

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

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 was not expecting to leave this video with hype for a show I never new existed. GaoGaiGar is now on my "to watch" list.

I was gonna give you the like before shouting 'GAOGAIGAR IS THE GREATEST" but dammit, now you've really earned it.

So all that detail just to say "GaoGaiGar is the best"? I agree.

GaoGaiGar is not only the GREATEST, but also the BRAVEST

Also can't fuckin believe you put the entirety of GaoGaiGar's OP in here, goddamn legend

I absolutely adore the fact that you identified all the anime featured in the video. I can't stand it when a KZfaqr shows some cool looking clip and you have to go digging through the comments hoping someone identified it.

5:30 _"I must somehow make sense of our convoluted situation."_ I want a clip of this.

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!

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.

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.

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.)

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

Nice to see Patlabor on here. I'm watching the TV version now and I love it!

"GaoGaiGar is the GREATEST!!" Followed by the Zeorymer theme song. You, sir, are a man of culture!

Ah Zambot 3, Aura Battler Dunbine, and Space Runaway Ideon. Definitely did not have the most traumatizing endings I had ever seen. *wink*wink*

Gunbuster is amazing, best Gainax series.

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 like how Garzey's wing was used Because I'm pretty sure it takes place before dunbine

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.

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".

As soon as you started the GaoGaiGar intro, I knew you were a human of class

This end made me watch GaoGaiGar, thank you, it was a great anime

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.

I feel like there are two circles that overlap with each other.

Very few things can match Gaogaigar's intro

Really loving your mecha/anime videos man, keep it up!

This video actually introduced me to GaoGaiGar and I'm loving the fuck out of it so far Thanks

Never heard of like 90% of these before, so many things to watch lol

I should've expected that in the end. Such classy end to a well balanced video.

DAMN Gaogaigar looks sick AF!! nostalgic for sure. great video

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.

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.

Interesting commentary. The footage you used is pretty top shelf. Good job on that.

This man literally saved the best for the FINAL

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 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.

Wow, this really put a lot into perspective. Great video!

I just wish to state, that I completely agree with your final conclusion. Good job sir. I have liked and subscribed now on that alone.

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.

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!

1:43 what's with the panzer 4 f2 and panzer 4 C

Definitely an underrated channel and videos my dude

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!

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.

Every year more people take the Oath Sworn Through Courage... fucking love GaoGaiGar.

There’s something very cleansing about listening to the entire GaoGaiGar op here

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 KZfaqr willing to call it one. They either don't care about Macross in general or super whaling into Kawamori and his drunk ideas.

did not see GaoGaiGar coming. Especially happy that the full intro played.

I've actually wanted to check out Goagaigar for some time but I definitely will since it seems well loved.

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.

"vastly inferior sequel Diebuster" Wow now that's a steaming take

I had a few problems with what you said in this video; but then Gaogaigar came on and it's all great.

Every time I hear the ggg intro or the final version, I get them chills and goosebumps. Great anime and great song. Seriously though, that man sang with everything he's got

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 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.

Thanks for making that video. It does pointing out the differences of Robot shows.

Macross delta : you have a innergalactic travel worthy vessel which able to go warp speed and withstand reentry with no bigger size than a conventional size aircraft, put more to the table with a variable transformation gimmick to boot. and use it to dance along in an idol group concert aside of combat? Yeah, that’s what gonna happen in the future

This left me with more questions than answers, but if anyone asks me the same question, at least I can now spread this curse. '-'

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.

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.

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!

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.

>Diebuster is vastly inferior to Gunbuster Them's fightin' words

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.

Interesting video here, would like to see reviews for some of these shows

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.

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.

I am soo happy giant robo was featured here. Gaogigar was the best robo anime out there. Omg i fell in love with it

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..

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.

I was literally trying to explain why Gundam is different than all the other fantasy robots, this is perfect. Thank you lmao

Where a mecha series falls get settled when it gets into Super Robot Wars.

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...

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.

People praise Gaogaigar yet neglect the other Brave shows and Transformer animes. Where's the love for Super God Masterforce and J-Decker?

Rule #1 about Garzey's Wing: we don't talk about Garzey's Wing