History Main / ImpossiblyGracefulGiant

[[FullMetalPanic http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/giantrobottango.jpg]]
[[caption-width:302:This trope is brought to you by two giant robots doing the tango.]]

* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': The SuperRobotGenre TropeMaker actually subverted this trope. When the series was animated, GoNagai reminded the cartoon-makers Mazinger-Z was a huge, heavy machine, therefore it should look heavy. Hence, Mazinger walked apparently slowly, shaking the ground and making much noise with each footstep, the robot was frequently seen from below to reinforce the sensation of it was very tall... It still was more agile it should, but for no means it seemed graceful or nimble. GoNagai wanting Mazinger-Z seemed heavy was the reason of [[RazorWings Jet Scrander]] was a MidSeasonUpgrade. GoNagai intended Mazinger-Z flew all along, but he feared if Mazinger flew from first, the robot would seem light, so he only gave it wings when it was firmly established Mazinger was heavy.

* The Showa {{Godzilla}} series played this trope completely straight, as well some of the Millennium films, particularly ''Godzilla vs. Megaguirus'' and ''Godzilla: Final Wars''. The Heisei series attempted to avert this as part of the filmmaker's attempts to make Godzilla DarkerAndEdgier. In lieu of the exciting battles seen during the Showa era, inspired by pro-wrestling, Heisei kaiju slowly waddle towards eachother, [[BeamSpam spew lasers back and forth]], and when they're feeling really ambitious, will mix things up with some [[WimpFight shoulder bumping]]. Fans complain about the fight sequences of the Heisei era to this day.

* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': The SuperRobotGenre TropeMaker actually averted this trope. When the series was animated, GoNagai reminded the cartoon-makers Mazinger-Z was a huge, heavy machine, therefore it should look heavy. Hence, Mazinger walked apparently slowly, shaking the ground and making much noise with each footstep, the robot was frequently seen from below to reinforce the sensation of it was very tall... It still was more agile it should, but for no means it seemed graceful or nimble. GoNagai wanting Mazinger-Z seemed heavy was the reason of [[RazorWings Jet Scrander]] was a MidSeasonUpgrade. GoNagai intended Mazinger-Z flew all along, but he feared if Mazinger flew from first, the robot would seem light, so he only gave it wings when it was firmly established Mazinger was heavy.

* The [[GundamW Gundam Heavyarms]], despite being the heaviest Gundam in its series, can do circus acrobatics just because its pilot can. Later taken to ridiculous heights when it does a spinning flip carrying four in-scale gatling guns.

* The Showa {{Godzilla}} series played this trope completely straight, as well some of the Millennium films, particularly ''Godzilla vs. Megaguirus'' and ''Godzilla: Final Wars''. The Heisei series attempted to avert this as part of the filmmaker's attempts to make Godzilla DarkerAndEdgier. In lieu of the exciting battles seen during the Showa era, inspired by pro-wrestling, Heisei kaiju slowly waddle towards eachother, [[BeamSpam spew lasers back and forth]], and when they're feeling really ambitious, will mix things up with some [[ZeroChops shoulder bumping]]. Fans complain about the fight sequences of the Heisei era to this day.

* The [[GundamW Gundam Heavyarms]], despite being the heaviest Gundam in its series, can do circus acrobatics just because its pilot can. Later taken to [[BeyondTheImpossible ridiculous heights]] when it does a spinning flip carrying four in-scale gatling guns.

* The Showa {{Godzilla}} series played this trope completely straight, as well some of the Millennium films, particularly ''Godzilla vs. Megaguirus'' and ''Godzilla: Final Wars''. The Heisei series attempted to avert this as part of the filmmaker's attempts to make Godzilla DarkerAndEdgier. In lieu of the exciting, pro-wrestling inspired combat seen during the Showa era, Heisei kaiju slowly waddle towards eachother, [[BeamSpam spew lasers back and forth]], and when they're feeling really ambitious, will mix things up with some [[ZeroChops shoulder bumping]]. Fans generally found these fight scenes woefully uninspired.

* The Showa {{Godzilla}} series played this trope completely straight, as well some of the Millennium films, particularly ''Godzilla vs. Megaguirus'' and ''Godzilla: Final Wars''. The Heisei series attempted to avert this as part of the filmmaker's attempts to make Godzilla [[DarkerAndEdgier]]. In lieu of the exciting, pro-wrestling inspired combat seen during the Showa era, Heisei kaiju slowly waddle around, [[BeamSpam spew lasers at eachother]], and when they're feeling really ambitious, will mix things up with some [[ZeroChops shoulder bumping]]. Fans generally found these fight scenes woefully uninspired.

* The Showa [[Godzilla]] series played this trope completely straight, as well some of the Millennium films, particularly ''Godzilla vs. Megaguirus'' and ''Godzilla: Final Wars''. The Heisei series attempted to avert this as part of the filmmaker's attempts to make Godzilla [[DarkerAndEdgier]]. In lieu of the exciting, pro-wrestling inspired combat seen during the Showa era, Heisei kaiju slowly waddle around, [[BeamSpam spew lasers at eachother]], and when they're feeling really ambitious, will mix things up with some [[ZeroChops shoulder bumping]]. Fans generally found these fight scenes woefully uninspired.

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

[[folder: Film - Live Action]]

* During the Heisei series, the [[Godzilla]] films attempted to avert this, as part of the filmmaker's attempts to make the series [[DarkerAndEdgier]]. In lieu of the exciting, pro-wrestling inspired combat seen during the Showa era, Heisei kaiju slowly waddle around, [[BeamSpam spew lasers at eachother]], and when they're feeling really ambitious, will mix things up with some [[ZeroChops shoulder bumping]]. Fans generally found these fight scenes woefully uninspired.

Apparently, nobody told this to Japan - watch any given mecha anime, and you'll see hundred-meter battle machines moving with the lithe, fluid grace of martial artists. Even more confusing: the pilot can pull off these amazing feats with nothing more than [[IKnowMortalKombat a pair of joysticks and a set of pedals]]. Why is this? Probably because, if the robots moved like the multi-ton walking tanks that they are, then the series would bore its viewers to death -- thus making this a rather obvious sub-trope of RuleOfCool, then (''{{Battletech}}'' fans may disagree).

It should be noted that this phenomenon occurs almost exclusively in Japanese media; HumongousMecha from Western sources tend to actually be big, slow, clumsy walking tanks (see ''BattleTech''). This happens occasionally with Japan as well (see: ''ArmoredCore'' before the fourth installment, and of course, ''SteelBattalion'').

A couple of variations exist for this trope. The first is the [[ExpressiveMask Emotive Faceplate]], where the robot will have a face that looks just like a human's, which mirrors its pilot's current mood (and sometimes even moves its mouth as he speaks). The second is the Kung Fu Robo, where the machine is specifically intended to copy the pilot's motions, typically because said pilot is a master martial artist who can do more with [[GoodOldFisticuffs two bare fists]] than an entire aircraft carrier's worth of missiles and bullets.

The trope's old name, "Mo Cap Mecha", came from motion capture (sometimes shortened to mocap), the process by which computers can read and copy the actions of people wearing specially designed suits, producing much more lifelike CGI. Note that a mecha's movements do ''[[IThoughtItMeant not]]'' necessarily have to be controlled by some kind of motion-capture system for it to fall under this trope; what matters is that the mecha move with much greater agility than should realistically be possible for a machine of its size in real life.

A few of the below examples can be explained in-story as being thanks to materials far lighter than they should be, direct neural interfaces, lots and lots of maneuvering thrusters, a form of gravity control to eliminate inertia, or some combination thereof.

It should be noted that this phenomenon occurs almost exclusively in Japanese media; HumongousMecha from Western sources tend to actually be big, slow, clumsy walking tanks (see ''BattleTech''). This happens occasionally with Japan as well (see: ''ArmoredCore'' before the fourth installment).

----
!!Examples of Kung Fu Robo

* The original Kung Fu Robo (technically, Karate Robo), was Tadao Nagahama's ''Toushou Daimos''. Unlike the other examples, the title robot only copied its operator's upper body due to the fact that he specialized in punches. Despite that, it doesn't stop it from launching fluid kicks (even more so in SuperRobotWars)
* ''GGundam'', probably the best known example. Unlike in other Gundam shows, the pilots actually use mocap suits, instead of more traditional controls. The show is sometimes referred to as "''StreetFighter'' [[RecycledINSPACE with giant robots]]", with varying degrees of disdain attached to the nickname.
* ''GearFighterDendoh'' is an odd case, as the titular machine is a Kung Fu Robo piloted by '''two''' people at the same time.
** Dendoh's evil counterpart, Knight Ogre, is a one pilot version
* Similarly, ''{{Gunbuster}}'' itself is controlled by Noriko this way, while OneeSama Kazumi uses a more traditional cockpit to operate secondary systems in battle.
* A related field is the "worn" mecha, which is smaller in scale, worn like PoweredArmor rather than piloted like a jet, and usually operated by a system that copies the pilot's actions. Noteworthy examples include ''VisionOfEscaflowne'', the hardsuits and police armors of ''BubblegumCrisis'', the gun platforms of ''TheMatrix: Revolutions'', and the kohbu of ''SakuraTaisen''. The loading machine used in ''[[Film/{{Alien}} Aliens]]'' also uses this control method.
** Note that in VoE, mecha actually ARE somewhat slow and clunky. They "feel" heavy.
** The [=CID=] (Cybernetic Infantry Device) in DaleBrown's ''Act Of War'' series falls under this. Bigger than PoweredArmor, smaller than HumongousMecha, It encases the user and reads their bodily movements. Several characters describe the sight of a three-meter robot making all the involuntary movements of a human as [[{{UncannyValley}} disconcerting]].
** One particularly amusing example of this sort of mecha is the Landmate from ''{{Appleseed}}''. The pilot sits in the torso and controls the suit's leg movements directly, while the suit's arm movements are slaved to the pilot's own arms. In order to grant the pilot full range of arm motion, his or her arms are inserted into armored sleeves that protrude from the front of the cockpit -- which leads to the amusing image of a Landmate carrying a HumongousMecha-scale machine gun, while a stubby little pair of human-sized arms sticking out of its chest pantomime holding a much smaller machine gun.
* Pricilla's Armor, Brownie, in ''GunXSword'' is synched to her movements, and she's a superb acrobat. This is specifically mentioned as being unusual. The Original Seven's Armor, meanwhile, are controlled by the ''thoughts'' of their drivers. Any mecha that has to be controlled manually moves much less fluidly.
* Confusingly enough, ''{{Xenogears}}'' has MoCapMecha which perform martial arts just like their pilots - but are controlled by the standard RealRobot setup (control sticks and foot pedals). It's worth noting that the game's director is an unabashed fan of ''GGundam''.
** The upgraded versions of the mechas are stated to be controlled by the pilot's thoughts and a character is shown having great difficulty with this at first.
* The [=VariableFighters=] of ''{{Macross}}'' are able to perform dizzying feats of acrobatics and aerobatics, especially in their recent incarnations in ''MacrossFrontier''. A VF is actually ''more agile'' than its pilot or any human can be, able to perform almost any movement that the pilot can mentally image for its control system.
** One [[{{Narm}} utterly priceless]] example comes from 11th episode of [[SuperDimensionFortressMacross the original series]] when Max is on a Zentradi ship with the rest of his team captured. He proceeds to go all [[MetalGear Solid Snake]] and hides in a bathroom, then when a soldier comes in Max attacks him, steals his clothes, [[DressingAsTheEnemy changes into them]], and leaves the guy in the bathroom [[PaperThinDisguise and walks off unnoticed]]; all while in ''a freaking Valkyrie'' (for the uninformed, the Zentradi are all giants).
* Both the Gran Kaiser and Gran Sigma from ''{{Gravion}}'' are controlled this way, although the other combining parts and controlled in a more conventional way.
* What may actually be the very first instance of the trope is ''RobotTaekwonV'', which came out a few years before Daimos but is little known outside its native Korea, who was piloted by a Tae Kwon Do champ using a motion capture interface. Seems to have started off as a cheap knockoff of ''MazingerZ'' before GrowingTheBeard (which is more than can be said for most South Korean robot cartoons).
* The Warstriders of ''{{Exalted}}'' fit right into this part of the trope, too. They're operated through a system not too dissimilar from the one used in ''VisionOfEscaflowne''.
* Justified it ''{{One Must Fall}}'' where a high-tech medication system is used to put the pilots into a trance and control their mecha as if it were their own body without physically entering the robot. Also conveniently explains why most mecha are vaguely humanoid-shaped. [[spoiler: Big Bad Hans Kreissack instead opts to directly insert his brain into the Nova robot, with fatal consequences after his defeat.]]
* There's the Shura machines in ''SuperRobotWars'', especially Ialdabaoth, Valefor and the likes, which can more or less be described as [[FistOfTheNorthStar Hokuto Shinken Robo]].

!!Examples of standard MoCapMecha

* Practically every SuperRobot anime. GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger is extremely common. Exception: ''DaiGuard'', which is clunky and falling apart anyway.
** Deserving special mention is ''MazingerZ'''s Boss Borot, the show's PluckyComicRelief. Its normally blank-eyed face is probably the best example of an Emotive Faceplate, even sprouting CrossPoppingVeins at times.
*** Also, in ''{{Mazinkaiser}}'' Kouji and Sayaka pose their robots after taking them out [[BeachEpisode to the Beach]]. When Kouji inevitably angers Sayaka, she head-plants Mazinkaiser and goes for a swim to cool off... ''in the mech''.
** ''GetterRobo'''s Stilva is a possible second place - it's extremely flexible, mirrors the pilot's expressions, and even has a tongue, full set of teeth and an ''uvula'' (you know, the dangly thing at the back of your throat).
* The Arm Slaves of ''FullMetalPanic'', despite being designed to be more realistic, can actually waltz with one another.
** [[AllThereInTheManual According to the light novels]], Arm Slaves work by replicating the pilot's movements on a larger scale (i.e. bending your elbow 10 degrees results in the mecha bending it 30). In other words, they're quite literally MoCapMecha.
*** Technically that would be a 3:1 ratio. Scaling up the size with that system would result in the controller only able to move their arm about 60 degrees, unless the robot's arm goes past 180.
* ''CodeGeass'' shows some incredible variety on this; most of the Mecha-Mooks move like one would expect from miniaturized battle robots, but when two [[SuperPrototype Super Prototypes]] or Ace Customs fight one another (especially Lancelot versus Guren Mk-II) it's almost like watching a Jet Li movie.
** Of course, the OddlyNamedSequel falls prey to this exact trope in the second episode when the mass produced MechaMook version of the Lancelot twirls its double-ended sword like [[StarWars Darth Maul]].
*** [[FanNickname Spinzaku]] is able to make the Lancelot do his signature spinning kick.
* Ignoring the aforementioned ''GGundam'', the entire ''{{Gundam}}'' franchise uses this to varying degrees, despite being the origin of the RealRobot genre. Some noteworthy feats include the ZetaGundam throwing ''DragonBall''-style rapid punches and GundamWing's Heavyarms performing acrobatic feats just like its pilot does.
** A more literal example comes from the oft-maligned ''SDGundamForce'', where the mecha in that series actually did use motion capture. On the other hand, they're more like RidiculouslyHumanRobots than HumongousMecha.
*** To be fair, Newtype-piloted Gundams are controlled using PsychicPowers.
*** ...although this mostly applies to fire control. The number of true psychic-''controlled'' Mobile Suits/Armors can be counted on one hand, including novels. (For extremely practical reasons in-universe: Human pilot with human emotions + MS/MA that acts on your every emotion/whim = THE BEAST II.)
* ''GaoGaiGar'' features both the standard version of this trope and the Emotive Faceplate. Both can be seen as justified since almost all the mecha are either gigantic RidiculouslyHumanRobots or (as for the titular robot) are controlled by advanced cyborgs. The series being RuleOfCool in animated form doesn't hurt, either.
** On the Emotive Faceplate front, Mic Sounders the 13th wins hands down.
* ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' features machines about as expressive as ''GaoGaiGar'', made of equal parts RuleOfCool and RuleOfFunny. In one episode, TheChick Yoko accidentally loses her top, causing all nearby males -- ''including'' Gurren Lagann -- to ogle.
* The Antibodies of ''BrainPowered'' perform such feats as dancing and ice skating, but since they're intelligent, [[OrganicTechnology bio-organic creatures]] most viewers are willing to let it slide.
** Ditto for [[spoiler:the [=EVAs=] in ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'']], though they don't ice-skate.
* The eponymous ''GiantRobo'' doesn't have an Emotive Faceplate, but that doesn't stop it from crying.
* Featured heavily in ''SuperRobotWars''. Some, such as the fan-favorite DGG series, are Kung Fu Robos, but most fall into the same category as the above examples. ''Original Generations'' attempted a [[JustifiedTrope Justification]] by saying that such motions, including dodging, are pre-programmed into the mecha's computer and can be activated easily.
** Then there's the [[SuperRobotWars3 Valsione]], which is built ''intentionally'' to look like a multi-story tall woman, complete with simulated skin for "her" Emotive Faceplate. {{Otaku}} protagonist Ryusei calls it cute, this editor calls it [[UncannyValley friggin' creepy]].
** Quite a few of the real-types and even some of the Supers are direct subversions of this trope - the Alt Eisen looks and moves like a brick, to the extent that its upgraded Riese form is equipped with a Tesla Drive, a piece of equipment that normally allows the equipped mecha to fly. The Rise is so heavy it requires the Tesla Drive in order to ''stand up''. This editor considers it a mark of sniper/BottleFairy Excellen's fine motor control that she is able to make the Weiss Ritter pull off complex hand motions.
** The Hi no Masou Kishin (Elemental Lord of Fire) Granveil can pull off complex hand incantations, as can some of the other Masou Kishin and [=RyuKoOu=] to a lesser extent, but those are all magical - in the case of [=RyuKoOu=], made by an ancient Chinese civilization, and for the others, actually blessed by gods of some sort.
* The mecha in ''EurekaSeven'' ''surf'' through the air, with the pilot only using pedals and joysticks. Somewhat justified, however, in that the mecha are actually exo-skeletal [[OrganicTechnology organisms]] made from scub coral, and the armor is just a control system that [[EmpathicWeapon manipulates the already-present nervous system]], which presumably has its own reflexes.
* Live Action example: ''SuperSentai''/''PowerRangers''. However, these ''are'' people in robot costumes.
** Once, though, the mecha would walk with a slow, lumbering motion, until the Storm Megazord (Sempuujin in sentai?) and its Lightning Mode came along, allowing it to dance around and make quick moves (though it could only be sustained for one minute before reverting to its bulkier shape and movements.) Since then, though, it?s been nothing special, with the sort of mecha that used to be slow and lumbering now being capable of {{Spider-Man}} level acrobatics.
*** Depends on the mecha really; Lightning Mode is an exception, not the rule. In more recent times, ''SuperSentai'' seems to be asking the question, [[BeyondTheImpossible "Just how many individual mecha can we combine into one?"]] and the results tend to be so bulky that the stuntman inside the suit can barely move (e.g. Engine-Oh G12 from ''{{Engine Sentai Go-onger}}''). For a better example of mecha suits designed to allow more agile movement (and as a result, more fast-paced combat), you should turn to the ''ChouSeiShinSeries'' by Toho.
*** Well, the others don't take it to ''quite'' the Lightning Mode's level, but they do get a lot more agile in general. The very next season's main formation ''flies horizontally'' to drill through its opponent as a finisher, and then there was that ''actual'' Spidey-esque scene where it swings up and ''over'' the airship it's fighting in the premiere. The ''next'' season has one that does plenty of leaping and rolling, and has an attack that involves leaping about half a mile into the air before bringing its sword down. Things seem to be gradually returning to normal, though.
*** [[GoseiSentaiDairanger Dairanger's]] [=RyuSeiOh=], the lightest "normal" mecha, made a point of mimicking (semi-alive) its pilot's movements. [=RyuRanger=] does a high kick, [=RyuSeiOh=] does a high kick. Additionally, while the [[RuleOfCool toy design]] has a say in the rubber suit design, the toy's range of movement would make a crappy mecha (watch pre-Zyuranger/PR gattai footage - not called "flying shoeboxes" for nothin'). Thus, the somewhat bulky DaiRenOh is ''much'' faster with the its sword [=DaiOhKen=] or its arms, than you would really expect.
* ''{{Patlabor}}'': RealRobot anime undermined by such gems as ''hand-loaded giant revolvers''.
* The mechas in ''{{Gankutsuou}}'' are designed for sword-fighting. Why they were made is unknown, but probably has something to do with regular, non-giant-robot duelling being [[RuleOfCool not cool enough]] for [[RecycledInSPACE far future]]/[[SchizoTech 19th century]] french nobles.
* The Eldar Wraithguard, and presumably their larger cousins, in ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' punch and kick things, or in some cases use melee weapons, in addition to using more conventional weaponry. Justified by the vastly superior technology of the Eldar compared to most other factions, which have more ponderous mechs, and that Wraithguard/lords are built of psychoactive material controlled by an Eldar soul. On the rather bizarre end, you have the Penitent Engines used by the Sisters of Battle, which have the punished heretic attached to the front without any apparent control interfaces.
** I think the cables leading from the pilot's spine probably count.
* In ''BattleTech'', some mechs have limited Mo Cap capacities, such as fully formed hands (while most others simply have the arm end in one or several weapon modules) that can be controlled by the pilot using special motion-capture gloves. Hand-to-hand combat is possible but typically a matter of exchanging fairly uncoordinated blows via slamming the joystick back and forth. A few types even have mech-sized melee weapons (Which, despite being called swords or axes, all are described as basically being stylized clubs). The recent TechManual revealed that these are controlled like any other weapon, though -- hit the close range mode button, move the reticle over the target and pull the trigger: the 'mech's DI computer works out the motions needed, possibly with some help from the mechwarrior's neurohelmet.
** ProtoMechs, which fans frequently try to forget, are true MoCapMecha, using a direct interface to the pilot's brain to translate thought into movement. [[CursedWithAwesome The system is also known to cause pyschotic delusions that the pilot really is the Proto, and will eventually destroy their nervous system.]]
** For the most part, though, BattleTech 'Mechs handle just like what they are: 20-100 tons of fusion-powered heavy armor with legs.
* Many {{Transformers}} display amazing speed and agility, but being MechanicalLifeforms they probably get a free pass.
* The Headmaster unit from ''TransformersAnimated'' can apparently control ''any'' robot it replaces the head of despite the only controls we see Masterson actually use being two oversized leavers.
* In ''MegasXLR'', the titular robot behaves like this, despite being controlled by ''a car steering wheel.''
** And a video game controller (or three), and a joystick, and a keyboard, and a lot of buttons...
*** And [[BigRedButton one special]] ContextSensitiveButton that has [[LampshadeHanging a different label and effect each time it's used.]]
*** And when he was missing the car (which is the cockpit/head) he used a secondary bridge that consisted of an early controller with a nob and one switch, which controls horribly.
*** And when Megas' battle computer was missing, Coop piloted it on "manual control" - a DanceDanceRevolution pad. If he was in better shape, it might have been enough.
* ''TheBigO'', although realistically slow and bulky like you'd expect, falls prey to this, pulling off blocks, dodges, and parries in fights despite all movement being handled by a pair of foot pedals and two horizontal-movement-only radial levers. Then again, it is sentient, and Roger is often said to be "fighting alongside" Big O than merely piloting it - if it doesn't want to do something, the levers don't move. The actual effect of watching such a battle is that Roger might not be piloting it so much as he is ''controlling Big O's balance''.
** And each style of Mecha in the series had one movement aiding device, depending on the terrain it was built for. For instance, the Big O had a series of grappling anchors that were ''meant'' to fix its position, but were strong enough to support its weight and thus allowed it to avoid many sorts of attacks.
** One episode also had a surprisingly nimble Megadeuce that was actually able to ''jump''.
* It's hard to tell how ''{{Evangelion}}'' follows this, but the Jet Alone seemed to move pretty slowly, even when out of control (which made it seem just as much a bad replacement as its breakdown).
** [[spoiler: Of course, the breakdown is because someone (probably Ritsuko) sabotaged it, ]]AND it doesn't bring 14 year old children as pilots into mortal danger. But it would still lack an AT-field.
** For the uninformed, fighting Angels without an AT field is like fighting Tanks with a broken sword.
* The console game ''ZoneOfTheEnders'' is built around this trope, putting you, the player, in control of a dizzyingly agile [[AMechByAnyOtherName Orbital Frame]].
** It's a bit difficult to discern how an Orbital Frame is piloted, though, as the only interface we see are those two orbs that the pilot puts their hands on.
*** Interestingly enough, however, Zone of the Enders was ''conceived'' based on the same concept: Kojima noticed that in Gundam and oiher giant robot shows, most giant robots are controlled via two sticks. Then he looked at the PS2 controller and saw.. two sticks.
** Plus you have highly advanced AIs in a lot of them, most notably Jehuty's ADA, that are capable of moving the Frame on their own. An even better example is Dolores who, being a RobotGirl, has a full human set of movement and uses it just like any other person (at one point she actually squirms because apparently targeting lasers tickle). By comparison, you get to control a mining frame at the beginning of 2nd Runner, and that thing's just clunky.
* ''{{Gasaraki}}'' explains it through the use of computers that automatically calculate proper motion, positioning, and balance based on the terrain and the gross movements of the pilot. That is to say, the pilot presses on the pedal, and the computer figures out how best to make the legs move for the terrain and speed desired.
* Just to emphasize that [[TropesAreNotBad this isn't always]] [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality a bad trope]], the modern remake of ''{{Reideen}}'' had HumongousMecha that moved as if the air was saturated with molasses- as slow and deliberate as one would expect a hundreds-of-stories-tall robot to move. Fans' number one complaint? That ''the battles were too sluggish''.
* TruthInTelevision: See [[http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-05/man-machine this story]], which will make any geek's eyes light up.
** And the group which that guy tried to copy ideas from or something (don't recall exactly), but which (while not nearly close to completion) is actually working on making mecha of some sort a reality, [[http://www.mechaps.com/ Mechanized Propulsion Systems]], or [=MechaPS=] for short. Their plan is far more realistic, they've got several engineers on staff of varying specialities, and they look to have a shot of actually creating something that could be legitimately called a mecha. The first models will more closely resemble the power loader from {{Aliens}} than a Gundam, but at least it's a step in the right direction.
* In ''RobotJox'' it's strongly implied that all the robots (or at least the ones Achilles pilots) are all MoCapMecha, with a system that combines a neurosensory arms-and-hands interface that's likely based off ''Toushou Daimos'' with a motion sensitive treadmill to serve at the robot's control. The novelization explicitly says this.
* {{Bokurano}} averts this for the most part, having the mechs move slower and more sluggishly then the anime standard, with the exception of one fight where the pilot somehow managed to make the mech move with all the speed and grace of a ninja. This was never brought up or replicated again.
* In the pen and paper roleplaying game Rifts, one supplement includes a VR system where the pilot of a giant robot is safely on a satellite, while his giant robot is elsewhere, mimicking his every move.
* The mecha RTS ''Metal Fatigue'' plays this trope very straight, with the intro cutscene showing that combots have VERY spacious cockpits exactly because they are controlled via motion capture, despite being MightyGlaciers. In-game, combots have a full range of human motions, as evidenced by one attack animation that appears when two combots armed with a katana and an axe are duelling: one combot does a powerful overhead strike the other parries into a BladeLock, then retaliates by ''[[CounterAttack kicking the attacker away]] without losing balance''. Keep in mind that a combot is a literal HumongousMecha, being easily at least sixty meters tall.
* In the FPP game ''{{Shogo}}: Mobile Armor Division'', the sections where you go on foot and the sections where you are in the mecha are both identical in terms of gameplay - all your mechas, even the supposedly heavy ones, are incredibly gentle and glib, can hop around with ease, etc.

*** Actually, sufficiently powerful attacks can penetrate an Angel's AT Field. And if anyone watched enough movies or played enough games, I'm sure they have destroyed their fair share of Tanks with weapons even less deadly then a Broken Sword. Like a Yo-Yo.

The trope's name comes from motion capture (sometimes shortened to mocap), the process by which computers can read and copy the actions of people wearing specially designed suits, producing much more lifelike CGI. Note that a mecha's movements do ''[[IThoughtItMeant not]]'' necessarily have to be controlled by some kind of motion-capture system for it to fall under this trope; what matters is that the mecha move with much greater agility than should realistically be possible for a machine of its size in real life.

Click the edit button to start this new page.