Line #87 Main/AnimalMecha


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/{{Transformers}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/grimlock_3339.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Me Grimlock give you head start.]]
3
4	{{Mecha}} are cool. Some animals are pretty awesome. But what if we combine both?
5
6	Animal mecha are, simply put, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin mecha built in the shape of animals]]. They are usually modeled after creatures considered badass, especially dinosaurs, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]], predatory beasts ([[PantheraAwesome often big cats]]), and [[GiantFlyer birds of prey]].
7
8	There are two subtypes of animal mecha:
9
10	# The first and older type involves otherwise machine-type mecha to be shaped like animals. MechanicalHorse and SpiderTank are particular subtropes.
11	# The second and newer type involves sentient, alive creatures as HumongousMecha. Related to MechanicalLifeforms.
12
13	Mecha based on aquatic creatures tend to be prone to IfItSwimsItFlies.
14
15	Compare SpiderTank, MechanicalHorse, MechanicalInsects, MechanicalAnimals, and RobotDog. A common form of the {{Robeast}}. For robots with bird-like legs, see the ChickenWalker.
16	----
17	!! Examples of the first type:
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19
20	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
21	* ''Anime/FutureRobotDaltanious'' has Beralios, who was once an ordinary Earthern lion until he was experimented on by the scientists of Helios. He forms 1/3rd of the titular robot. His [[DistaffCounterpart Spear Counterpart]], [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/meralion.png Meralion]], also counts.
22	* ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'''s Galactor fielded bird mecha as MonstersOfTheWeek.
23	* ''Mazinger'':
24	** ''Anime/MazingerZ'': Many Mechanical Beasts were shaped like animals (insects, crabs, whales, dinosaur-like lizards...), specially in the later seasons where mythological motifs were used.
25	** ''Anime/GreatMazinger'': The Mykene Empire army was split in seven armies, and every mecha belonged to one or other division depending on its shape. Five out of seven divisions followed a animal theme: Mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes and insects.
26	** ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer'', there were less animal-alike mechas, but many Saucer Beasts kept the animal theme, resembling reptiles, wolves...
27	* ''Anime/GoLion'' / ''Anime/{{Voltron}}'' consists of five lion-based mecha, each forming a single body part.
28	* ''Anime/PanzerWorldGalient'': The titular HumongousMecha is a TransformingMecha. He has two modes: robot... and Falcon Flight Form, what is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin (a falcon-shaped mecha).
29	* ''Anime/{{Raideen}}'': It belongs to both types. Although its primary shape is human-looking, it can transform into a bird-like mecha. And it is sentient to boot.
30	%%* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': The Gunmen.
31	* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'':
32	** Stella's, and later [[spoiler:Andrew Waltfield's]] Gaia Gundam in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' can transform into a dog-like form for ground combat.
33	** For that matter, the [=BuCUEs and LaGowe=] in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED''. In addition, there's the Kerberos [=BuCUE=] Hound from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDCE73Stargazer'', an upgraded, beam weapon-armed, close-combat version of the standard [=BuCUE=].
34	** The Gafrans and the Danazines from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE'' can transform into dragons.
35	** The [=GF11-042NSB=] Mammoth Gundam, seen in a flashback in ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam''.
36	*** Also from G Gundam: the [[MechanicalHorse Mobile Horse Fuunsaiki]], piloted by ''an actual horse''.
37	** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'':
38	*** The [[{{Robeast}} Mobile Armor]] Hashmal is an ArmlessBiped that resembles a flightless bird or a two-legged dragon. Its Plumas {{Attack Drone}}s are StarfishRobots.
39	*** The Gundam Flauros can transform to a quadrupedal mode for more stability. This also changes the shape of its head to something broadly dog-like.
40	* Three of the robots from ''Anime/ZettaiMutekiRaijinOh'' (of the ''Eldoran'' franchise) are in the shape of animals: Hou-Oh (bird), Juu-Oh (lion), and Bakuryu-Oh (dragon.)
41	* The other two ''Eldoran'' anime, ''Anime/GenkiBakuhatsuGanbaruger'' and ''Anime/NekketsuSaikyoGosaurer'', also feature animal mecha.
42	* ''Franchise/{{Zoids}}'', depending on the continuity. The name is derived from the Greek prefix zo- (as in "zoology") meaning "animal-like," just as "android" means "man-like."
43	* ''Anime/{{Gaiking}}'' has several animal/dinosaur-shaped support mecha, in both continuities.
44	* Some of the Team Rocket mechas from ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' such as the Meowth balloon and the Magikarp submarine.
45	* The Golden Condor from ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'' counts, as well as the sea dragon-themed ''Thalios'' submarine in its third season.
46	* In addition to the ubiquitous {{Spider Tank}}s, ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' has Jigabachi anti-tank helicopters that are built like wasps, complete with a large [[https://ghostintheshell.fandom.com/wiki/Natural_Enemy?file=2sac4x02.jpg rear-mounted gun]] on a section that can swing forward. It gets somewhat funny when Section 9's Tachikoma mini-tanks decide that the rogue AI-piloted Jigabachi they've been assigned to deal with are their natural enemies and get cold footpads.[[note]]The joke being there are species of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_wasp spider wasps]] that use spiders as living nests for the wasp's eggs.[[/note]]
47	-->'''Tachikoma:''' Umm... Mister Batou, can we go home? We have [[INeedToGoIronMyDog upset stomachs]].\
48	'''Batou:''' What stomachs?
49	* The ''Anime/TimeBokan'' franchise is known for featuring multiple animal-shaped mechas:
50	** In ''Time Bokan'', the mechs used by the heroes are all based on insects (the main three are a rhinoceros beetle, a grasshopper and a stag beetle, each coming with auxiliary vehicles based on smaller ones like ladybugs or bees), while all the villain mechas are based on animals (barring two of them, a blimp and an {{Oni}}).
51	** Anime/{{Yatterman}} features a slew of animal mechs patterned after firetrucks: three different dogs, a pelican, an anglerfish, a panda, a dinosaur and an elephant. The 2008 remake ditches most of them except for the first dog, the pelican and the anglerfish, replacing them with a mole, a gorilla, a chinese dragon and a whale.
52	** ''Zenderman'' follows a similar situation, replacing the firetruck theme with a train one. This time the mechs are a lion, a beaver, a bear, a mole, a gorilla, a tiger and a dachshund.
53	** ''Anime/TimePatrolTaiOtasukeman'' amps up the game: not only five out of the six mechas used by the heroes are animal themed (rhinoceros, seal, frog, tanuki and orangutan), but the titular Time Patrol also features a bunch of bird themed spaceships (the heroes have a stork one, the villains a vulture one, the patrol chief a pelican one and one episode features a rooster-themed rescue ship). Villains also start to use animal mecha from the second third of the series onwards.
54	** The successive series ditch the animal mechas to feature regular {{Super Robot}}s, but some still have animal companions. For example, ''Yattodetaman'' features Daitenba, a robot pegasus that helps the main mecha Daikyojin.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
58	* ''Animation/{{Mechamato}}'': [[RobotBuddy MechaBot]] has the ability to transform everyday objects into high-tech devices. Sometimes he transforms them into animal-like contraptions such as the [[SpiderTank Mechaspider]] and Mechamonkey.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Comic Books]]
62	* In ''ComicBook/EightBillionGenies'', Dave Masters, a disgruntled car assembly line worker, uses his wish to get a "carasaurus" that could breathe fire and devour other cars after he lost his job when the factory closed.
63	* ''Comicbook/SupermanVsTheAmazingSpiderMan'': The Flying Octopus, Comicbook/DoctorOctopus' aircraft looks like a... flying octopus.
64	* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'': This version of The Rhino is a giant rhinoceros machine rather than a [[TheBrute Brute]] with SuperStrength like his original counter-part.
65	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Sangtee Empire {{Space Fighter}}s look quite a bit like mechanical fish.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Fan Works]]
69	* ''Fanfic/{{Contraptionology}}'': Angel Bunny builds a giant rabbit-shaped mecha as his personal mad science project.
70	* ''Fanfic/FarceOfTheThreeKingdoms'': Shu transports their supplies in robot cows.
71	* ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'': Theecat's equibots, which can merge to become Lord Equus, a horse-headed HumongousMecha.
72	* ''Fanfic/TheWeaverOption'': After Dragon gains a high enough position in the Mechanicus, she begins introducing various Dragon Armors which act as hard counters to heldrakes and similar daemon engines. After significant arguing and wheedling, she even manages to build her own Titan-sized Dragon Armor.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
76	* The ''Anime/DoraemonFilmSeries'' has more than one villain who uses animal-shaped mechs around.
77	** Two adventures set underwater, ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheCastleOfTheUnderseaDevil'' and ''Anime/DoraemonNobitasGreatBattleOfTheMermaidKing'', have their respective {{Big Bad}}s utilizing giant ships shaped like fishes to assault the heroes.
78	** In ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheIslandOfMiraclesAnimalAdventure'', Sherman and his {{Mooks}} use mechas shaped like prehistoric animals to attack the titular island. The henchwoman Sky notably pilots a mecha modeled after a Quetzalcoatlus while Sherman himself uses a mech based on a Glyptodon in an attempt to trample over the main gang.
79	** The 2016 remake of ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheBirthOfJapan'', being an ActionizedAdaptation, has the heroes fighting two gigantic elephant robots serving as Gigazombie's PraetorianGuard (absent in the original).
80	** Non-villainous example with the Moonbits from ''Anime/DoraemonNobitasChronicleOfTheMoonExploration'', who drives {{hopping machine}}s shaped like rabbits as their main transport.
81	** Another non-villainous example in ''Anime/DoraemonNobitasNewDinosaur'', with the Time Police agent Jill piloting a submarine mech shaped like an Ichthyosaur in the Cretaceous Seas. His mech is in fact introduced scaring away a ''real'' Ichthyosaur.
82	* ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolfTheTigerProwess'': The Tigbot King, the large robotic tiger powering the amusement park, is controlled by one of the villains near the end to attack the goats and wolves.
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Literature]]
86	* Several of the Chrysalis mecha in ''Literature/IronWidow'' are animalistic in design, though usually based on mythical creatures rather than ordinary animals. The first to appear is the Nine-Tailed Fox, while later we encounter the [[TheFourGods Vermilion Bird, White Tiger and Black Tortoise]]. They can shapeshift into more humanoid forms, however.
87	[[/folder]]
88
89	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
90	* Several ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' series. Notably, animalistic mecha in ''Super Sentai'' often have their own personalities and can talk, which is [[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore almost invariably edited out]] in ''Power Rangers'' (e.g. ''Abaranger'' into ''Dino Thunder'' and ''Go-Onger'' into ''RPM'').
91	** ''Series/ChoujuuSentaiLiveman'' was the first installment to feature Animal Mecha, unless you count Variblune and Varidorin from ''Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger''. (which resemble a bulldog and a bird)
92	** The most recognizable PR examples are probably the Dinozords of ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers''.
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Pinball]]
96	* The robot snake in ''Pinball/{{Viper}}'' almost gets as much attention as the sexy {{Fembot}} its menacing.
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Roleplay]]
100	* The Godmodder in ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'' makes use of Mechs that are based off of VideoGame/{{Minecraft}} mobs. It's worth noting that these are more powerful robotic versions of his army of [[KingMook Terrors.]]
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
104	* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' has some examples of animal-shaped [[HumongousMecha Warstriders]] for use by shapeshifting Lunars in their animal forms, or Lunar Warstriders that change shape along with their pilots.
105	* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' and by extension, the ''Videogame/MechWarrior'' series, occasionally have AnimalMecha. In most cases, it's simply a few design features on the mech being reminiscent of animals, such as the radar suite on the [[http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/1/12/WLF-5_Wolfhound.jpg Wolfhound]] being contained in two ear-like antennas. The Clans have a habit of creating things to glory the clan and, as most are named after animals, this has led to quite a few 'totem' mechs going full-stop with the animal theme. The best known is probably the [[http://www.sarna.net/wiki/images/f/f4/CCG_Mercenaries_Mandrill.jpg Mandrill]] being some robo-monkey ''thing''. Because the series is known for its RealRobot {{Walking Tank}}s, designs like the Mandrill are not very popular - in-universe or in the fandom.
106	** [[MiniMecha [=ProtoMechs=]]] have been somewhat (in)famous for their explicit resemblance to the creatures of myth they're named after since their introduction. A more recent development are four-legged "quad" [=ProtoMechs=] (following the precedent of the setting's occasional {{Spider Tank}}s and similar [[PoweredArmor battle armor]] models), which are if anything modelled even ''more'' after animals and legendary beasts. Quads even explicitly require the pilots to be drugged into a more animalistic mindset for training purposes. Once they know how to handle their machines, the drug is technically no longer required in combat...but it's also highly addictive.
107	* TabletopGame/YuGiOh: The Super Quantum Beasts, since they're homages to Super Sentai.
108	** [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Quantum_Mecha_Beast_Magnaliger Magnaliger]] is in the shape of a liger
109	** [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Quantum_Mecha_Beast_Granpulse Granpulse]] is two mechanical dolphin attached together.
110	** [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Quantum_Mecha_Beast_Aeroboros Aeroboros]] resembles a wyvern.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Video Games]]
114	* One of the enemies in ''VideoGame/{{Conduit 2}}'' is a robotic puma/leopard/tiger/large cat.
115	* Ausf A Gestell from ''VideoGame/{{Einhander}}'' is a crazed mecha ape. Interestingly enough, it's one of the enemies that ''isn't'' [[AnimalThemeNaming named after an animal]] in German.
116	* Zoanoid type mecha in ''VideoGame/GearHead'' are modeled after various animals, such as tigers and T-rexes. They aren't as good with ranged weapons as other mecha, but they're better at dodging incoming fire and are quite capable in melee.
117	* ''VideoGame/GunNac'' features MoonRabbit mecha as enemies in the first stage.
118	* ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'': All the machines are based on animal species, including extinct megafauna like the T-rex. Striders startle like horses, Grazers gallop away like deer and use their rotor-blades to charge, and so on. Moreover, these animals work together in their own ecosystem, which coexists with the ecosystem of organic life: grazing robots convert plant matter into efficient biofuel, which is transported by armored robots to their factories for redistribution, and scrapping robots pick up the remains of destroyed robots so their resources can be recycled. Near the end of the game, we get an explanation for why the animal shapes are so prevalent: [[spoiler:GAIA, the artificial intelligence in charge of re-terraforming the Earth, mourned the loss of many ancient animal species, so she designed her machines to emulate them]].
119	* ''VideoGame/HungrySharkEvolution'' has this in the Robo Shark, which is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin... plus jet engines for fins.
120	* ''VideoGame/HungrySharkWorld'' brings back the Robo Shark, no longer the size of a Great White, but of a Megalodon. This version loses the jet engines. There is also Chip, a much smaller pet Robo Shark with EyeBeams.
121	* The final level of ''VideoGame/JamesPond 3'', "Bovine Aerial Assault," has the BigBad piloting a cow mecha.
122	* In ''VideoGame/RabioLepus'', you play in the flying rabbit mecha Usagi.
123	* The post-facelift Caldari Scorpion starship in ''VideoGame/EVEOnline'' evokes the design of a scorpion, with large "claws" containing weapons and a large tail section. The pre-facelift version looked like a [[FashionableAsymmetry scorpion with only one claw]].
124	* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' features the Divine Beasts, a set of four giant {{Magitek}} elemental mecha designed to aid the hero in fighting Ganon. They are Vah Ruta (elephant, power over water); Vah Rudania (lizard, power over fire); Vah Medoh (bird, power over wind); and Vah Naboris (camel, power over lightning). Unfortunately, the last time they were used, Ganon's evil took control of them and turned them against Hyrule. Link has to find a way to regain control over them so they can be used properly this time around. The "Champion's Ballad" DLC features a fifth one that Link can get at the very end; the [[CoolBike Master Cycle Zero]], which has a horse motif that's made with the same tech as the main four.
125	* ''VideoGame/MegaManX'': Fully sentient, anthropomorphic variations appear as bosses.
126	* ''VideoGame/{{Darius}}'': The bosses of the series are all gigantic mechanical sea creatures. Though they mimic the movements of living creatures extremely well, the lore states that they are in fact just machines piloted by other creatures.
127	* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas: Old World Blues'' has Dr. Mobius and his fearsome Robo-Scorpions! The biggest is the [[spoiler:X-42 giant robo-scorpion, which is so big that it can't leave the facility where it was built. It couldn't even hold a charge even if it did.]]
128	* ''VideoGame/{{Wasteland}}'' has the Scorpitron, a massive scorpion tank with a cannon in it's stinger that deals 9d6 points of damage (that is 9-54) and a ton of armor to protect it. Any unprepared team will be torn apart in a few turns. ''Old World Blues'' robo-scorpions are one big ShoutOut to this boss.
129	* Zoanoid and Ornithoid mecha in ''VideoGame/{{GearHead}}'' are designed to resemble animals such as tigers, spiders, or T-rexs.
130	* One of ''Simcity 4'''s disasters is the "Tyrannosaurus Wrecks". It's a big dinosaur robot made out of cars from your city.
131	* ''VideoGame/WintermoorTacticsClub'': The Equestrian Club lost the funding for its horses sometime before the game started. This is their workaround: a rocket-powered, fully combat-capable MechanicalHorse, officially named Sleipnir by the head of the Equestrian Club (and called Buttercup by another member, who liked that name better.) It charges forth and spreads fire behind itself in huge lines, making the battle with the Equestrian Club an almost literal firefight. [[spoiler:Sleipnir/Buttercup makes one last appearance in the Gatekeeper boss fight, damaging the boss so it can be harmed.]]
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Webcomics]]
135	* Molly's [[https://bobadventures.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/1146487 robot lion]] in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob''
136	* ''Webcomic/BeachesAndBasilisks'' has featured mecha based on birds, various arthropods, and a bear.
137	* The British [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20171227 subhunter serpents]] from ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''.
138	[[/folder]]
139
140	[[folder:Western Animation]]
141	* ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR'' parodies the concept, as well as paying homage.
142	* The Reptar robot from ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}''.
143	* ''WesternAnimation/GlitchTechs'': Fives gets one in the form of Alpha, a cycloptic robot with a gorilla build to it.
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Real Life]]
147	* Behold: [[http://www.robosaurus.com Robosaurus!]] Yeah, this is real.
148	[[/folder]]
149
150	[[folder:Other]]
151	* The Pachydermobile from an article in ''The Journal of Irreproducible Results'': a four-wheel-drive vehicle intended for observing elephants in their native habitat, designed to look like an elephant as much as possible (and smell like one, too).
152	[[/folder]]
153
154	!! Some examples of the second type:
155	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
156	* Depending on the continuity, ''Franchise/{{Zoids}}''. Again, the name is derived from the Greek prefix zo- (as in "zoology") meaning "animal-like," just as "android" means "man-like."
157	* ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'''s lion, Galeon.
158	** The last couple episodes of the PostScriptSeason, ''[=GaoGaiGar=] FINAL'', introduced the original Gao-Machines from the Green Planet: two mole-like {{Drill Tank}}s, [[IfItSwimsItFlies a flying]] shark and dolphin, and a condor-jet, on which the Earth-built Gao-Machines were based. The sentience of these Genesic Machines was never made clear, however, as they combined with [=GaiGar=] immediately after their release.
159	*** And all together, they evoke the image of a manticore.
160	[[/folder]]
161
162	[[folder:Films]]
163	* Mecha Godzilla in ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzillaII'' and Mechani-Kong from ''Film/KingKongEscapes''.
164	* [[KrakenAndLeviathan The Leviathan]] from Disney's ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', which resembles a giant mechanical lobster.
165	[[/folder]]
166
167	[[folder:Literature]]
168	* Strutters (mechanical dinosaurs) from ''Literature/{{Dinotopia}}'' straddle the line between the two variations. On one hand, they are essentially vehicles and need drivers to pilot them. However, there is one case of a strutter (rediscovered after a [[RagnarokProofing good ten thousand years]]) seems to have developed a mind of its own, running around mischievously without a driver.
169	[[/folder]]
170
171	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
172	* A recurring element in ''Franchise/SuperSentai'', though it tends to be toned down somewhat in its ForeignRemake ''Franchise/PowerRangers'':
173	** The Guardian Beasts from ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'', sentient mecha based on prehistoric creatures, who combine into Dai Zyujin (aka '''{{God}}'''). Later the series introduces [[NotZilla Dragon Caesar]] and King Brachion, which Dai Zyujin explains as aspects of himself that became separated from him in an ancient battle against [[{{Satan}} Dai Satan]]. Their counterparts in ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' were never treated as fully sentient.
174	** ''Series/SeijuuSentaiGingaman'' has the Starbeasts ("Galactabeasts" in ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy''), which notably ''start'' as flesh-and-blood {{Kaiju}}, but can transform into mechanical forms through the rangers' powers. Later in the series a set of "Steel Starbeasts" are introduced which [[WeCanRebuildHim suffered crippling injuries and were rebuilt as cyborgs]] - each Steel Starbeast resembles a vehicle-based CombiningMecha, but can manifest an AnimalBattleAura of its original form.
175	** In ''Series/HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger'' and ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'', the 100 [=Power Animals/Wildzords=] are {{Nature Spirit}}s living on a hidden SkyIsland, who gave the human rangers their powers in order to protect the world from demons formed from pollution. Most resemble smart animals in intelligence, with the exception of their CombiningMecha leader [[PhysicalGod GaoGod/Animus]].
176	** ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'' and ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'' have mecha based on fantasy creatures, which means more are animals than not. However, the rangers actually ''transform'' into these with a spell. There's also [[BlackKnight Wolzard/Koragg's]] black horse, which shares this transformation ability and can [[CombiningMecha combine with]] its master's [[MakeMyMonsterGrow enlarged form]] in either centaur or knight configurations (TheMovie adds [[PaletteSwap a unicorn with similar powers]]).
177	** ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger'' has the Bakuryuu, descendants of the dinosaurs from an alternate Earth, all of whom are sentient, capable of speech, and treated as characters in their own right. Their [[Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder American counterparts]] are cybernetic animals.
178	* Takara Tomy's {{tokusatsu}} show ''Series/TomicaHeroRescueFire'' has [=GaiaLeon=], a sentinel and prideful giant robotic lion who helps out with the team and will only listen to whom he acknowledges.
179	[[/folder]]
180
181	[[folder:Multiple Media]]
182	* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' has had them since their start: Dinobots, Predacons, Insecticons, and many of Soundwave and Blaster's cassettes in ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'', among others. They generally transform from an animal form, referred to as "beast mode", to a humanoid robot, but some have animal-shaped robot modes instead of humanoid ones (such as Trypticon and Sky Lynx). Grimlock, leader of the Dinobots, is currently pictured above.
183	** It should be noted that "beast mode" pretty much refers to any mode that resembles another creature, so cases such as the Terrorcons and the Monsterbots still enter this category.
184	** The Maximal and Predacon factions from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' and ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines''. They started off as MechanicalLifeforms wearing animal skins to shield them from fatal levels of energon, but the robot/animal divide started blurring with the Transmetal upgrades. By ''Beast Machines'', the Maximals are all completely techno-organic: they still have a "beast mode" and a more humanoid one, but Optimus points out that the animal/mecha line no longer applies to them.
185	---> '''Cheetor:''' So, what are we? Robots or animals?\
186	'''Optimus Primal:''' Both and neither.
187	** Each continuity tends to have a few characters with animal alt-modes somewhere.
188	*** ''Anime/TransformersRobotsInDisguise'' (''Car Robots'' [[DubNameChange in Japan]]) has its own Predacons. They transform into more alienesque cyborg animals than the animal mecha of years past. Though aside from Megatron, whose design was all-new, these Predacons were recolors of ''Beast Wars'' Transmetal 2 toys (specifically toy-only characters [[NoExportForYou not previously released in Japan by Takara]]).
189	*** When it comes to the Anime/UnicronTrilogy, ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' has only Laserbeak, but ''[[Anime/TransformersEnergon Energon]]'' has a different take: The only animal-based bots are the Terrorcons, just sentient enough to take orders. There are ''hordes'' of them in each variety, and they are able to eat raw energon and form Energon Stars, this show's version of usable, processed energon. And then there's giant-even-by-Transformer-standard Scorponok, technically a Terrorcon but quite smarter. ''[[Anime/TransformersCybertron Cybertron]]'''s got a planet full of them, the Cybertronian colony Jungle Planet's inhabitants are all beast-bots.
190	*** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' has two types - there's a difference between a normal Cybertronian who happens to walk on four legs instead of two and a techno-organic, which is similar to ''Beast Wars'' - these bots have actual organic matter as part of their construction. They're not as physically strong as the all-metal bots, but like ''Beast Machines,'' there's power they have that others don't. In ''this'' universe at least, it's why you can blow Waspinator apart ''and'' why that won't stop him, and where Blackarachnia gets her webbing and venom. The ''bad'' news is they suffer from FantasticRacism; Blackarachnia would do ''anything'' to be [[spoiler: Elita-1]] again, even though she got Wasp(inator) to participate in her experiments by listing the reasons her new form is objectively better than her old. On the other hand, the Dinobots are robots who are shaped like dinosaurs, and the same presumably goes for the animal-form citizens we see among Cybertron's civilians in season three.
191	*** In the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' there's no difference between a robot shaped like a dude and a robot shaped like a razor-sharp feline CyberCyclops, and ''don't'' think the only variation we see is two legs versus four. The many non-standard designs seen in ''[[Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen Revenge of the Fallen]]'' especially brings the ''alien'' part of "alien robot" to the forefront like no other TF property before or since.
192	*** The Franchise/TransformersAlignedUniverse stablished that all beast mode Cybertronians are descended from Onyx Prime, one of the first Thirteen Primes. The consistency of this within its universe is... Loose at best: ''VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron'' had Shockwave experiment with what would be the setting's versions of the original Insecticons and the Dinobots, which affected them mentally. ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' makes Cybertron more of a MulticulturalAlienPlanet: Insecticons are a different race from the humanoid bots, and Predacons are yet another, long extinct but clones made from remains by Shockwave. It's hard to know where Airachnid fits in, but it seems she's similar to the beast-bots of G1, the movies, and Animated, her spider mode doesn't make her different from her fellow 'cons. In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRescueBots'', the main cast simply scanned dinosaur animatronics to get dinosaur beast modes, and become more savage as a result until they learn to control themselves. And then many of the Decepticon criminals in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise'' (the 2015 sequel to ''Prime'', not the aforementioned ''Car Robots'' dub) have either animal-based robot modes (humanoid or otherwise), beast alt-modes, or both, explained to be various different sub-species of Cybertronians, and of course, there's a Grimlock in the main cast, who's still a Dinobot in this show, but is a separate individual from the ''Fall of Cybertron'' Grimlock. Confused yet?
193	*** While the original ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW Transformers]]'' continuity from Creator/IDWPublishing had characters such as the Dinobots and the Insecticons vary in origin, it also adopted ''Cybertron'''s idea of a colonized planet of animal-based Cybertronians, renaming it Eukaris, and inhabited by a lot of the original ''Beast Wars'' cast. The Maximals exist separately as a group of mostly savage and ostracized Cybertronians led by Onyx Prime [[spoiler:and are descended from Liege Maximo]], also made up of various ''Beast Wars'' characters.
194	*** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersCyberverse'' also features beast mode Cybertronians as a seemingly common sight, nobody questioning about Cheetor or Sky-Bite's beast modes.
195	*** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersEarthSpark'', like ''Cyberverse'' above, portrays characters with beast modes as just regular Cybertronians who happen to have chosen those instead of vehicles without much distiction. To Tarantulas, the choice of alternate or beast mode is not meant to complete someone, but to serve as an expression of themselves.
196	[[/folder]]
197
198	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
199	* Clockwork Horrors from ''TabletopGame/{{Spelljammer}}'' are sentient clockwork giant spiders.
200	* Most Chaos Daemon Engines in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' are animal-shaped, in contrast to the normal tanks and humanoid mechas used by other factions. Since they are "piloted" by wild [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Daemons]], they ''act'' like animals as well: they may have to be chained and herded into battle, and certain Chaos Lords [[https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/c/c7/LordDiscordant.jpg ''ride'']] them.
201	[[/folder]]
202
203	[[folder:Video Games]]
204	* The Miniclip action game ''[[VideoGame/Commando2 Commando 3]]'' has an elephant mecha as its first boss, which will repeatedly use its tusks to ram the heroes.
205	* The FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/DemonFront'' is a giant [[HairRaisingHare rabbit]] mecha who spams missiles and explosive bubbles all over the place, as well as having the ability to breath poison on the players.
206	* In ''VideoGame/HextechMayhem'', [[spoiler:[[HeroAntagonist Heimerdinger]] eventually upgrades his HumongousMecha into a giant talking robot t-rex called the T-Hex for use in the FinalBoss fight]].
207	* In ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', one of the boss monsters unlocked in "hard mode" is the Destroyer, a giant mechanical worm based on the normal, fleshy giant worm boss, the Eater of Worlds. Unlike its biological counterpart, it doesn't split into smaller versions of itself when damaged enough and instead spams lasers and releases floating drones.
208	* Hippopressor in ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'' is basically a tank shaped like a hippopotamus.
209	* The elephant turrets in ''Videogame/DonkeyKongJungleBeat'', including multiple boss varieties that {{turn\|s red}} red, so to speak.
210	* ''VideoGame/{{Prismata}}'' has many bionic animals with sci-fi weaponry somehow strapped to their bodies. Rhinos, monkeys, bulls, tigers, wolves, and bears all make an appearance.
211	* ''VideoGame/Mother3'' had mechanical chimeras, they were certain animals combined with machinery and are pretty aggressive.
212	* In ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'', Stukov can field an Apocalisk in Co-op missions. The Apocalisk is a Zerg Ultralisk fused with the hull of [[HumongousMecha a Terran Thor]], which is used as armor, while also carrying flamethrowers on its scythes and missile pods on its head.
213	* ''VideoGame/SteelAssault'' have several of it's bosses being mechanical animals, large enough to take up a huge chunk of the screen. Including Balthazar's SandWorm mecha, the Theta Hydron robotic hydra, the Mastodon Crusher, and a giant gryphon and kirin mecha sent by Major Harris during his boss fight.
214	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / AnimalMecha