History Main / VerticalMechaFins

** [[ShockAndAwe Sylux]] from ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeHunters'' also has these. [[TheSpook We don't exactly know if he's (if they're even a he) a robot, an organic lifeform in a suit, or a cyborg, so whether he counts as "mecha" is unknown.]]

* The Type J-9 Griffon from ''Anime/Patlabor'' wears two pairs of these. The first one houses a [[https://www.mahq.net/mecha/patlabor/patlabortv/type-j-9.jpg flight system]], and the second houses an [[https://www.mahq.net/mecha/patlabor/patlaboroav2/type-j-9-waterunit.jpg aqua unit]].

* SkullKillerJakiou, an earlier series about a berserker cannibal bio-mecha also has these.

[[quoteright:300:[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Eva_Fins_6328.jpg]]]]

*** Interestingly the fins are made much smaller in Rebuild as part of the less exaggerated more human proportioned redesigns, yet the fins store even more stuff in them now. Unit 01's knife is now so big that it barely fits in the fin when folded in half; and, Unit 02 not only has two knives, just as big and in both shoulders now, but also retains its spike cannon from ''End of Eva'', now in both shoulders.

* In ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' [Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann has giant [[ThisIsADrill drills]] mounted on its shoulders. When it performs a Giga Drill Breaker, they detach and connect together before attaching to the mecha's hand.

** The ν Gundam (Nu Gundam) has its [[AttackDrone funnels]]. The fact that they're called Fin Funnels only gives bonus points.

* In feudal Japan, samurai sometimes wore flags on their back. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eboshi_kabuto.JPG The Other Wiki]]. This might also be the original source of inspiration for VerticalMechaFins.

* The Film/{{Transformers|Film Series}} does this with car windows.

* The [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/z/rms-099-red.jpg Rick Dias]], the [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/z/msn-00100.jpg Hyaku Shiki]], the [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/z/msk-008.jpg Dijeh]], the [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/z/rx-178-aeug.jpg Gundam Mark II]], the [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/z/rms-106.jpg Hizack]] and the [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/z/pmx-001.jpg Palace Athene]] in ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' all have large fins on their backs. In this case, they function as either extra "limbs" for zero-G maneuvering, or thruster mounts.

* Eldar Wraith units and Titans in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' have wing-like protrusions sprouting from their upper backs that apparently serve as force-field generators.

* [[EliteMook Geth Primes]] in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' have a fairly large set of these, which serve to draw attention to them. [[GiantMook as if you needed any help figuring out which one was the Prime]]. In universe, these fins are apparently radio transmitters.

* The [[Film/{{Transformers}} Transformers Series]] does this with car windows.

* {{Transformers}} toys - ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' and ''TransformersAnimated'' Megatron, to name a couple. [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 G1]] Optimus Prime had smokestacks to give this effect.

* [[Anime/TransformersArmada Armada]] Megatron. [[Anime/TransformersEnergon Energon]] one too. And Star Saber from ''[[TransformersVictory Victory]]''.

* These are present on [[SuperSoldier SPARTAN]] [[PoweredArmor armor]] in the ''VideoGame/{{Halo}}'' series, and they are used to mount a number of attachments from [[InfiniteFlashlight flashlights]] to [[JumpJetPack boost systems]]. They are generally subtle, though many armor variants [[VideoGame/Halo4 in more]] [[VideoGame/Halo5Guardians recent games]] exaggerate their appearance.

* In the ArmoredCore series, some arms having this, most notably many of Armored Core V and Verdict Day's [[TacticalRockPaperScissors TE-resistant]] arms.

** During the [[spoiler: Genesic]] Final Fusion sequence [[spoiler: which, as you may remember, would have been the original,]] the way the fins fall into the arms suggest they were there as something to keep [[spoiler: Protectgao]] locked in. This extends to Stealth Gao/Stealth Gao II as well, logically.

* [[AwesomeButImpractical The Jagd Mirage]] in TheFiveStarStories with its WaveMotionGun pack installed. There ''is'' a reason why they are nicknamed ''[[MeaningfulName The Twin Towers]]''. Namely, their barrels are 150 meters long, which boosts an already impressively tall (~50 m) Jagd's height to an obscene 200 meters.

* The [[SuperPrototype Guren]] in ''CodeGeass'' gains a pair of Fins when it is upgraded into the [[MidSeasonUpgrade Guren S.E.I.T.E.N.]]. These Fins are more than decoration: they're actually [[DetachmentCombat slash harkens]]... not that it needs them when it can simply RocketPunch enemies with a WaveMotionGun. Still, Kallen likes to [[CherryTapping humiliate outclassed opponents]] with them, especially while delivering a KirkSummation or ShutUpHannibal
* In ShamanKing Asakura Hao has these when using an [[InstantArmor armor-type Over Soul]].
* Earth Engine from Anime/CaptainEarth has these.

* {{Bionicle}}: normal Skrall and Mata Nui have these.

* The [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/macross/macross.htm SDF-1 Macross]] from ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross''. It has fins that turn into a WaveMotionGun.
** And after their botched take-off attempt, the ship loses the conduits that power the gun; bypassing the missing section involves [[TransformingMecha transforming the ship into humanoid form]].
** Both the Modified and Armored Valkyries feature auxiliary boosters that increase the vertical stature of their battroid modes. In "Anime/MacrossDoYouRememberLove", the Modified Valkyrie's right booster has the fuel tank replaced with a "strike cannon" that is even taller (when it's not folded forward).
** The Macross Quarter and the Macross-class ''Global'' research ship from ''Macross Frontier''. In the former's case, the fins don't serve any specific purpose, as the vessel's WaveMotionGun is a detachable Gunpod that the TransformingMecha wields in its right hand.
** they do serve a purpose on the Quarter, they're nacelles for the centerline engine thrusters

* [[Anime/TransformersArmada Armada]] Megatron. [[TransformersEnergon Energon]] one too. And Star Saber from ''[[TransformersVictory Victory]]''.

* [[TransformersArmada Armada]] Megatron. [[TransformersEnergon Energon]] one too. And Star Saber from ''[[TransformersVictory Victory]]''.

* {{Transformers}} toys - ''TransformersArmada'' and ''TransformersAnimated'' Megatron, to name a couple. [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 G1]] Optimus Prime had smokestacks to give this effect.

* Shockwave and Megatron in ''TransformersAnimated'' have this going on, as do [[TheStarscream Starscream]] and the rest of the [[Franchise/TransformersGenerationOne G1]] Seekers.

* The flashback episode of ''GeneratorRex'' chronicling Rex joining Providence. Turns out he's got a SuperpoweredEvilSide that turns him into a HumongousMecha with [[AllYourPowersCombined All His]] [[ShapeshifterWeapon Shapeshifter Weapons]] [[AllYourPowersCombined Combined]], including ''two'' [[{{BFG}} Slam Cannons]], [[ShoulderCannon shoulder-mounted]] in Vertical Mecha Fins position.

* The ''VideoGame/MechWarrior'' series, set in the ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' universe, features VerticalMechaFins on most of the mechs that have them in the boardgame, such as the [[http://wiki.mechlivinglegends.net/images/e/e9/Mauler.jpg Mauler.]]

* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': Although the titular HumongousMecha itself had normal shoulder pads, several Mechanical Beasts had VerticalMechaFins. One example is Baras K9, that had long and pointed shoulders were part of his JetPack. Many Warrior Beast from ''Anime/GreatMazinger'' and Vegan Saucers from ''UFORoboGrendizer'' had VerticalMechaFins. Grendizer itself had hints of this, sporting long, sharp, circular blades sprouting from his shoulders.

* Verdant in ''LinebarrelsOfIron'' has massive fin like pods on its back, their purpose? to hold the 20 swords verdant uses in combat, also serve as a physical shield and when they open up they give the blue mecha a very menacing winged appearance.

* In ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' [Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann has giant [[ThisIsADrill drills]] mounted on its shoulders. When it performs a Giga Drill Breaker, they detach and connect together before attaching to the mecha's hand.

* Present on the eponymous mecha of ''SpaceRunawayIdeon''.

* In feudal Japan, samurai sometimes wore flags on their back. See [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eboshi_kabuto.JPG The Other Wiki]]. This might also be the original source of inspiration for VerticalMechaFins
* Also in the 16th and 17th century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth the heavy Calvary, known as hussars, wore sets of wings on their backs for ceremonial and/or intimidation purposes. This has lead to them being called winged hussars to distinguish them from later and earlier age hussars which were light cavalry.

** As if lampshading their purpose as [[spoiler:restraints]], virtually any change in the Evas will first involves the Vertical Mecha Fins exploding. Such changes include [[spoiler:when the Unit 01 gains an S2 organ in the TV series and performing the Third Impact in ''The End of Evangelion''.]] ''RebuildOfEvangelion'' continues with the [[spoiler:second set of arms Unit 03 grows in their place, Unit 02's Beast Mode purging them to eject its limiters, and Unit 01's ascension to godhood once more.]]