| 1 | [[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/super_robot.jpg]]]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:350: [-From left to right: Anime/CombattlerV, Manga/GetterRobo, Anime/MazingerZ, Anime/GreatMazinger, Anime/{{Daimos}}, and Anime/VoltesV. [[Anime/{{Gaiking}} Daiku-Maryu]] pictured at the background. All designed to defend the Earth 24 hours a day. Just like any other weapon.-] ]] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ->''"So much for the laws of physics!"'' |
| 5 | -->-- ''Manga/GetterRobo Armageddon'' |
| 6 | |
| 7 | The counterpoint to the RealRobotGenre (or rather, Real Robot is the counterpoint to ''this''), the Super Robot Genre is a genre of science fiction -- mostly {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}, but found in other mediums as well -- focusing on a fantastic, {{Superhero}}ic form of HumongousMecha. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | In contrast to Real Robots, Super Robots are often (but not always) the creations of eccentric {{Mad Scientist}}s who work alone in their secluded laboratories; exactly where they get the parts, funding, and equipment, manage to even ''build'' the thing without help,[[note]]For comparison, the closest thing in size and complexity to a GiantMecha in real life is probably a modern aircraft carrier -- which, very roughly, takes 150,000 people and 7 years to build. Even allowing for a lot of these people not working on the carrier for the entire course of its construction, you're still looking at a build time many times greater than the average human lifespan if only one person was doing everything.[[/note]] or how they manage to keep anyone else (except the select few needed to drive the plot) from finding out about their activities is usually left as an exercise for the viewer. The pilot tends to be an average-across-the-board AudienceSurrogate, sometimes even an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent, who [[FallingIntoTheCockpit falls into the cockpit]] and discovers they have a natural aptitude for piloting a giant robot. Instead of using an elaborate system of controls like those found in an airplane cockpit, the pilot controls a Super Robot using a mere handful of buttons (and maybe a joystick), [[MotionCaptureMecha motion capture]] or even a mind-reading system, and the motion of the mecha itself is often [[ImpossiblyGracefulGiant implausibly humanlike]]. Overall, the science behind a Super Robot is usually soft science fiction, with the RuleOfCool and the [[HotBlooded burning passion]] of TheHero and [[ThePowerOfFriendship his friends]] [[ThePowerOfLove and lovers]] having more effect on the machine's capabilities than [[SchematizedProp a list of well-defined specifications]]. In contrast to a Real Robot, where the mecha is just one more piece of equipment in the overall arsenal (even if it is the cornerstone), a Super Robot is an enabling device for its pilot to pull off badass heroics. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | Super Robot shows are typically personified by "Love/Courage/Compassion/Friendship/Righteous-Anger/Insert-Positive-Emotion-Here Conquers All", and almost always have at least one character that is HotBlooded, though there are certain notable exceptions... mostly those directed by [[Creator/YoshiyukiTomino Yoshiyuki "Kill 'em All" Tomino]], to whom {{anyone can die}} is less a possibility than a life philosophy (...or at least [[Anime/OvermanKingGainer it used to be]]). They also typically follow the MonsterOfTheWeek format, especially in older shows, though as always there are exceptions. Super Robots tend towards idealism on the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism and romanticism on the RomanticismVersusEnlightenment scale. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | [[folder:Checklist]] |
| 14 | A handy checklist to see if a mecha is a Super Robot as opposed to a Real Robot: |
| 15 | |
| 16 | * The robot performs the function of a SuperHero. |
| 17 | * The robot is easily capable of [[WeirdScience breaking the laws of physics]]. |
| 18 | ** The robot has highly improbable or outright impossible {{Transformation Sequence}}s. |
| 19 | ** The robot can [[TelescopingRobot grow in size and creates and dismisses weapons]] more or less at will. |
| 20 | * The robot is [[EmpathicWeapon sentient.]] (Example: Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine, Franchise/{{Transformers}}) |
| 21 | ** The pilot regularly addresses or refers to the robot by [[ICallItVera name]] as if it were a person, even if it is ''not'' (obviously) sentient. |
| 22 | *** The robot has never been successfully activated until its pilot [[EmpathicWeapon begs/orders]] it to. |
| 23 | ** If it can be operated remotely, the robot responds to voice commands rather than, say, radio transmissions. |
| 24 | *** The robot is capable of acting independently to attack enemies or protect its pilot, ''especially'' if it should not be capable of doing so (eg. no on-board AI, or one which wasn't programmed to act that way). |
| 25 | * The theme song is almost exclusively a BraggingThemeTune; if not, it will exhort the robot and its pilot to fight for 'us/justice/good/the Earth'. Either way, the theme will treat the robot as the show's real hero. Heck, the show being named for the robot means you're halfway there. |
| 26 | * The robot is directly compared to a {{god}} [[YinYangBomb and]]/or a [[{{Satan}} devil]]. Double points if "God" or "Devil" is part of its actual name. |
| 27 | * The robot [[PsychoactivePowers grows stronger in the presence of strong emotions or willpower]], usually but not always from its pilot. Double points if this is its only power source. |
| 28 | ** [[ThePowerOfFriendship Adding additional pilots to the robot increases its performance, regardless of whether this makes sense]] (eg. the mecha is piloted by {{motion capture|Mecha}}, thus requiring five pilots to perform the same movements). (Example: Anime/{{Dancougar}}, Anime/{{Gravion}}) In some cases the additional pilots can evoke this effect ''without doing any actual piloting''. |
| 29 | * The robot uses two or more of the following weapons. Bonus points if a weapon is used only for a FinishingMove, especially if such a restriction can't be explained by limited power reserves (eg. a sword). |
| 30 | ** RocketPunch |
| 31 | ** EyeBeams |
| 32 | ** ChestBlaster |
| 33 | ** A normal melee weapon (such as a sword) scaled for the robot, particularly one capable of a CleanCut. Most {{Laser Blade}}s are less Super than physical swords, partly because the former are associated with Franchise/{{Gundam}}, partly because they make the robot look less like a [[KnightInShiningArmor knight]]/{{samurai}} and partly because KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter. Of course, if it's not Super enough you can just [[{{BFS}} make it bigger...]] |
| 34 | ** A Bow |
| 35 | ** A [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang Boomerang]] |
| 36 | ** A [[ThisIsADrill Drill]] (Example: Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann, [[Manga/GetterRobo Getter 2]]) |
| 37 | ** A [[ImprobableWeaponUser weaponized tool of some sort]], beyond the common drill: Screwdrivers, wrenches, hammer and nail (Example: Anime/{{Gaogaigar}}), pliers, [[ImprovisedWeapon anything that you can find at a hardware store]]. |
| 38 | ** [[RammingAlwaysWorks Ramming into an opponent]] while [[TransformingMecha transformed]] and/or surrounded by a BattleAura. |
| 39 | ** Double points if the weapon is disguised as/transforms from a part of the robot (such as a detachable pair of wings[[note]][[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Or]] [[CoolShades sunglasses]].[[/note]] which can be thrown as a boomerang) or another robot transforms into the weapon. |
| 40 | * Three or more separately piloted vehicles [[CombiningMecha combine]] to form the robot. |
| 41 | ** Especially if there's no particular reason they should ever un-combine except to allow for the next episode's transformation sequence. e.g. Anime/{{Voltron}}, [[Franchise/PowerRangers Megazord]]... |
| 42 | ** Two robots in the series have the ability to [[CombiningMecha combine]], despite the robots' creators being enemies or unaware of each other (eg. many {{Sixth Ranger}}s' zords in Franchise/PowerRangers). |
| 43 | * The pilot is HotBlooded. Bonus points if he directly affects the robot by being so. Triple points if he also sports GoNagaiSideburns. |
| 44 | ** The pilot ''always'' screams [[CallingYourAttacks the name of the attacks]]. |
| 45 | ** [[HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic The pilot never wears a helmet]] while operating the robot, unless a helmet is part of his normal attire. |
| 46 | *** If he does wear a helmet, it includes a clear visor and does not cover his mouth (unless it's used to [[MaskPower conceal his identity]]). [[Franchise/SuperSentai Super Sentai]] gets a pass on this one for obvious reasons. It will usually be a CoolHelmet in any case. |
| 47 | ** The pilot's "pilot suit" is [[ImpossiblyCoolClothes implausible]] or even {{Stripperific}}. (Example: Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion, Anime/CrossAnge) |
| 48 | ** The pilot is a martial artist; the older his school the better. (Example: Anime/MobileFighterGGundam) |
| 49 | * The robot's power source/energy exhaust are green-cyan (e.g. [[Manga/GetterRobo Getter Rays]], [[Anime/{{Gaogaigar}} G-Stone Energy]], [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Spiral Power]] etc) |
| 50 | * The robot is summoned by its pilot (usually with shouting involved) rather than the pilot heading to a hangar. |
| 51 | ** The robot appears from an implausible location when summoned, such as a hollow skyscraper or the inside of a volcano. Bonus points if it has to break its way out, especially when this should logically cause the location to eventually be destroyed or left permanently opened to the outside. |
| 52 | * The robot is one-of-a-kind and/or is the only line of defense between the earth (or other place to be defended) and the invading hordes. |
| 53 | ** If someone tries to copy the design of the unique robot, no matter how hard they try to improve on it, it will suck. |
| 54 | * The robot (or part of the robot) can only be piloted by [[TheKidWithTheRemoteControl one specific person]], due either to a "[[LoyalPhlebotinum brain-scan security system]]", a "unique and special power", or "[[BecauseDestinySaysSo destiny]]". |
| 55 | * The robot was designed and built by a scientist or lab independent of the government and military. |
| 56 | ** The robot was created by the [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion pilot's father]], [[Anime/MazingerZ grandfather]], or uncle. |
| 57 | * The robot was built using technology far in advance of what is available to the general public or military. |
| 58 | ** The robot was [[LostTechnology created by an ancient civilization]] to battle the series's antagonists. |
| 59 | ** The robot uses a newly-discovered type of energy [[ReedRichardsIsUseless which will be used in few places, if any, apart from the robot]]. |
| 60 | ** The robot is powered by [[FunctionalMagic magic]]. |
| 61 | * The robot's (or the show's) name begins with or features the letter G, and/or ends with "-er". |
| 62 | ** The name of the robot incorporates a [[ThemeInitials badass letter/initial]]. [[strike: Weird]] "Futuristic"-sounding consonants are the norm, like Z, V, X, and of course, G. (The VideoGame/SuperRobotWars franchise had Z, V, X in their game's name) |
| 63 | ** A robot - typically an [[NextTierPowerUp upgraded version]] - has the word "Great" in its name. Great Mazinger, Gaiking the Great, so on. |
| 64 | ** At least one robot in the series has a noble title as part of its name, such as "[[GratuitousGerman Kaiser]]" (Mazinkaiser), [[GratuitousEnglish "King", "Emperor"]], or "Oh" (Japanese for lord/king). |
| 65 | * The robot features one or more of the following design elements: |
| 66 | ** [[PrimaryColorChampion Red and blue colour scheme]], with white upper limbs and gold details. |
| 67 | ** {{Power Crystal}}s. |
| 68 | ** Improbable size, being either so large that it should [[SquareCubeLaw collapse under its own weight]] (Example: Anime/{{Gunbuster}}), or so small that [[HyperspaceArsenal it could not possibly hold and/or power its weapons]]. Extreme examples include PoweredArmor capable of destroying cities and humanoid mecha with enough interior space to transport entire civilisations. |
| 69 | ** Winglike protrusions from the sides of its helmet. |
| 70 | ** A chestplate in the shape of an inverted triangle or an animal's head, possibly also with winglike protrusions to the side. |
| 71 | ** A retractable [[MaskPower mask]] which covers its mouth, and/or a removable helmet (usually deployed as part of forming a CombiningMecha or entering a SuperMode). |
| 72 | ** A [[CapedMecha cape]], especially if it is [[BadassCape badass]]. |
| 73 | *** Anything which [[DramaticDangling hangs loose from the mecha]], including [[ScarfOfAsskicking scarves]] and hair. |
| 74 | ** All of the robots in the show, whether or not they're mass-manufactured, are unique designs based on some common theme (usually different kinds of animals). |
| 75 | ** The robot's face is [[ExpressiveMask flexible]] and capable of things such as opening and closing its mouth. |
| 76 | *** For that matter, having a face (nose and mouth etc...) ''period'' is probably a good indicator in itself. |
| 77 | ** The joints are covered by what seems to be solid metal, yet are still capable of the full range of human mobility. |
| 78 | * The show's title has ''"Muteki"'' ("Invincible") in it somewhere. (Example: [[Anime/Zambot3 "Invincible" Superman Zambot 3]] and [[Anime/Daitarn3 "Unchallengeable" Steel Man Daitarn 3]]) |
| 79 | * You (or maybe your parents) recognize the robot from a ''Shogun Warrior'' toy. |
| 80 | * Ichirou Mizuki or Music/JAMProject (particularly Masaaki Endoh) does the theme song. MEGA extra points if it's done by BOTH. |
| 81 | [[/folder]] |
| 82 | |
| 83 | The chances of the series being a Super Robot series rises exponentially with each item present. This, of course, doesn't apply to total parody or gag series, such as ''SD Gundam''. |
| 84 | |
| 85 | Note that in general the longer a RealRobot series runs, the higher the chance that the protagonist's mecha will start to display Super Robot traits. If this is the GrandFinale the odds are doubled. |
| 86 | |
| 87 | ---- |
| 88 | !!Examples: |
| 89 | |
| 90 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 91 | |
| 92 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 93 | * ''Anime/{{Albegas}}'' is about three teenagers who make their own robot prototypes, only for a brilliant scientist to fuse them all into one, the titular robot. It has a wide range of powers and protects the Earth against the invading Dellingers. However, it's also a parody of this genre and contains many {{Shout Out}}s to other mecha series. |
| 94 | * ''Anime/{{Astroganger}}'': Kantaro and Ganger save the Earth with ThePowerOfFriendship (and somehow ignoring the complex intricacies of a human fusing with a robot). The robot is also sentient and breaks the laws of physics on a regular basis. And yes, the theme song is sang by Creator/IchiroMizuki. |
| 95 | * Misuteru Yokoyama's ''Anime/{{Gigantor}}'' (Tetsujin 28) is the effective TropeMaker. The robot was not piloted (that would be covered by Anime/MazingerZ below), instead being [[TheKidWithTheRemoteControl controlled from outside]] by the protagonist, Shotaro Kaneda. |
| 96 | * On the other hand, Creator/GoNagai's ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and its sequels (''Anime/GreatMazinger'' and ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer'') and reimaginations (''Anime/GodMazinger'', ''Manga/NewMazinger'', ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'', ''Manga/MazingerAngels'', ''Anime/ShinMazinger'') was the one who ''[[TropeCodifier defined]]'' the trope as we know it. |
| 97 | ** The actual term [[TropeNamer originates]] from the ''Anime/MazingerZ'' theme song, which states, in English, "Super robot... Mazinger Z!!!" |
| 98 | ** While ''Gigantor/Tetsujin 28'' had the first [[HumongousMecha giant robot]], ''Mazinger Z'' was the first one where the mecha had ''human pilots''. Prior to Mazinger Z, the robots were operated by TheKidWithTheRemoteControl. |
| 99 | *** This genre fact is actually a plot point in ''Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys'', which has a ''very'' Real (as in, AwesomeButImpractical) Robot in it. |
| 100 | * ''Manga/GetterRobo'' The first [[CombiningMecha combining]] Super Robot. |
| 101 | * The ''Anime/RobotRomanceTrilogy'' -''Anime/CombattlerV'', ''Anime/VoltesV'' and ''Anime/{{Daimos}}''- developed the Super Robot Genre further, incorporating new tropes -like the FiveManBand or the MotionCaptureMecha- and themes, and showing more "realistic" combinations and transformations than ''Getter Robo''. |
| 102 | * ''Anime/{{Raideen}}'' (which later inspired ''Anime/RahXephon''). The first half was directed by the aforementioned Creator/YoshiyukiTomino; the latter half was directed by Tadao Nagahama, better known for the Robot Romance Trilogy. |
| 103 | * ''Anime/{{Zambot 3}}'', first {{Deconstruction}} of the genre. |
| 104 | * ''Anime/{{Daitarn 3}}''. |
| 105 | * ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' is based on the mecha being like this [[{{Troperiffic}} in as many ways as possible]]: Let's see... Sentient: check. TransformationSequence: check. Creates weapons at will: check. [[CallingYourAttacks High-volume attack screaming]]: check. [[ExpressiveMask Flexible face]]: check. CombiningMecha: check. One-of-a-kind: Kinda check; Lagann is one-of-a-kind, but Gurren is just a Ganmen that Kamina jacked during a battle. Powered by [[HotBlooded Hot Blood]]: Check. Drills: Oh, so very checked. [[spoiler:Becoming large enough to literally throw galaxies as projectiles: not in the list, but it ''should be'', and absolutely check.]] |
| 106 | ** Don't forget the shades are a [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang Precision Guided]] ''splitting'' [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang Boomerang]], the (stolen) helmet and the red paint job. |
| 107 | ** The show subverts one of the main Super Robot traits when it ''acknowledges'' that it [[TelescopingRobot creates matter from nothing and breaks the Conservation of Mass Law]], and that [[spoiler:it will lead to the end of the universe if overused]]. |
| 108 | ** Many of the other robots are Super to some degree as well. The King Kittan is the only star-shaped Gunman we see and gets fancier weapons when it combines with another couple of mecha, and both the King Kittan and the Dayakkaiser meet the "nobility" naming rule. Obviously, the same goes for Space King Kittan, which is just a Space Gunmen for use by King Kittan. |
| 109 | *** Just in case you didn't catch that, that's a Super Robot [[MetaMecha being piloted by]] ''another'' Super Robot in a giant cockpit. And by the end of the series there's a Super Robot piloting a Super Robot, [[SerialEscalation piloting ANOTHER Super Robot, PILOTING YET ANOTHER SUPER ROBOT.]] |
| 110 | *** [[spoiler:...PILOTING A [[EnergyBeing GOD]], if you watch the CompilationMovie.]] |
| 111 | * The B'ts from ''[[Anime/BtX B't X]]'' fit quite well: Sentient? check. Weird power-source? check. Link with their pilot? check... They are, however, '''[[MiniMecha very]]''' [[MiniMecha small]] in size compared to the standard Super Robot. |
| 112 | * ''Manga/GiantRobo'' |
| 113 | * ''Anime/GunBuster'' was [[Creator/StudioGainax Hideaki Anno's]] directorial debut. |
| 114 | * ''ForceFive'' was a weekly TV series consisting of americanized versions of the anime that the Shogun Warriors toys were based on, and the Robots there in were all Super. |
| 115 | * ''Anime/{{Gaiking}}'' |
| 116 | ** Its InNameOnly retelling, ''Anime/GaikingLegendOfDaikuMaryu'' |
| 117 | * ''Anime/KotetsuJeeg'' |
| 118 | * The entire ''Anime/BraveSeries'' from Sunrise animation, most famously ''King of Braves Anime/GaoGaiGar''. (Oddly, though placed in the same [[TheVerse continuity]] as [=GaoGaiGar=], the robots of ''Betterman'' are rather un-Super.) |
| 119 | ** ''[=GaoGaiGar=]'' is notable in that there's absolutely ''no'' weirdness in any of the transformations for the main characters - every single part and motion is accounted for, so all toys made for the franchise would be perfect (the toys and character models were made together). The villains (who didn't have many toy) on the other hand, routinely distort, shapeshift, dissolve and reform, etc. [=GaoGaiGar=] itself seems to obey at least SOME of the laws of physics, [[spoiler:when during the fight with Spine Primeval, [=GaoGaiGar=] attempts to fly into space, but can't due to the fact that [=StealthGao=]'s jet engines have run out of air at such a high altitude. This limitation is, of course, fixed in the next episode.]] And despite [[BraggingThemeTune the theme song billing the titular mecha as invincible]], it gets pretty badly beat up on a regular basis, even sustaining damage from combination or using its own weaponry. In [=GaoGaiGar=] FINAL, [[spoiler:a copy of the original [=GaoGaiGar=] is destroyed by [=GaoFighGar=], which is later in the series destroyed by Palparepa]]. |
| 120 | *** The fact that [=GaoGaiGar=] has no part appearing from out of nowhere is enough to confuse some viewers into thinking that it's a Real Robot, rather than a Super Robot. The fact that it is designed by Creator/KunioOkawara, which can be seen in the design, doesn't make it any more obvious that it's supposed to be a Super Robot. |
| 121 | * In an amusing reversal, ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'', the first Gundam series not in the Universal Century timeline, is a notable super robot show (with designs that get really, ''really'' weird), despite ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' essentially launching the real robot genre. |
| 122 | ** There's usually a trend for antagonist suits to gain a technological edge on the titular Gundams sometime in the other series, which may or may not warrant a mid-season upgrade. The original [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam RX-78-2]] was considered almost obsolete by the time the One Year War ended, had it not been for Amuro's incredible abilities. |
| 123 | *** The same holds true for the {{Super Prototype}}s present in both ''Anime/CodeGeass'' and ''Anime/EurekaSeven'', which are clearly many leaps and bounds ahead of the other, "normal" mechs they share the spotlight with. |
| 124 | ** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' in second season uses a few super robot elements : |
| 125 | *** Allelujah Haptism [[spoiler:regains his alternate personality, Hallelujah, through contact with concentrated [[AppliedPhlebotinum GN]] [[GreenRocks Particles]].]] |
| 126 | *** Tieria Erde starts calling his attacks all over the place and firing what basically amounts to a GN Particle Bowling Bomb from his {{BFG}}. |
| 127 | *** Last, but certainly not least, Setsuna F. Seiei [[spoiler:gains the ability to teleport himself ''and his Gundam'' through sheer hot-bloodedness and determination.]] |
| 128 | ** The Anime/TurnAGundam [[spoiler:has the ability to [[ButterflyOfDeathandRebirth destroy technology]]]]. Despite the fact that it even exhibits more power than most other titular mecha in the franchise, it is said to use [[SuperpowerLottery less than 10%]] of its abilities over the course of the series. |
| 129 | ** The Universal Century doesn't fit comfortably into either genre. While it's the TropeMaker for the RealRobotGenre, and the various series are almost universally war stories, [[PsychicPowers Newtypes]] simply don't play by the same rules as everyone else. While MinovskyPhysics is fully in force for non-Newtype mobile suits, Newtype powers and NT-capable mobile suits ''don't'' always obey them; in particular, PsychoactivePowers are an explicit ability of psycommu technology starting with the [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'s bio-sensor. |
| 130 | *** Worth noting is that FanWank (endorsed officially in Gundam Officials) has explanation of the special powers of Newtypes is only the ability to attract MinovskyParticle and sense the disturbance in the particles. The psycommu(Psycho communication) systems amplifies the wave for long range communication for remote control of weapons, sensing other Newtypes, and create almost magical abilities when enough of Minovsky particles are attracted, like forming an I-Field barrier to block attacks and maybe even bounce off falling asteroids(just like the Minovsky craft effect), so Newtypes are more of reproducing feats machines are already performing, instead of pulling out tricks only Psychics can do. |
| 131 | *** On the other hand, late Universal Century does give us "Psychikers", and Newtypes struggle against. |
| 132 | ** The Gundam Build anime in general lean far more into the Super Robot genre than other Gundam shows with the biggest offenders being ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'' and ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise''. As the series contains numerous homages to G Gundam, it's no surprise it's got Super Robot DNA. This is most exemplified by three gunpla: The Try Buring Gundam, the Denial Gundam and the Tryon 3. The Try Burning and Denial are both strong references to the God Gundam in their aesthetics and abilities. The Try Burning is also an empathic weapon whose pilot suffers its wounds and that has several Super Robot finishers from clones to a burining phoenix to a version of the God Gundam's finisher. The most well know though is the [[http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/%E6%9C%80%E5%BC%B7%E6%A9%9F%E5%8B%95_Gundam_Tryon_3 Gundam Tryon 3,]] an unambiguous Super Robot existing in a Real Robot universe... albeit said robots are actually model kits animated by special particles. Its core design is the Double Zeta Gundam, which is the closest the overall Gundam meta-series got to a Super Robot while keeping the Real Robot trappings. It's Super Robot In A Real Robot World is hilariously lampshaded in its introduction where people are bemused by the idea of it, and not that physics demands the combination and general ludicrousness of it means there's no point to forming it as it must ultimately be quite structurally weak. It proceeds to annihilate an opposing team single handedly. |
| 133 | ** Build Divers Re:Rise, a series where Gunpla battles occur on the web in a MMO, brings in numerous Super Robot elements such as empathetic weapons, attack names etc. It also features the OTHER unambiguous super robot, the Re Rising Gundam. A combination of the four BUILD DiVERS mechs, it's not only much larger than it's component parts (about the same size of an Eldora Daugthress which was able to hold the Juptive Gundam in one hand) it's massively more powerful. It's ultimate attack causes the Re Rising to turn gold, create a massive glyph and fire a beam powerful enough to lay waste to a moon sized super weapon. |
| 134 | * ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', although arguments over whether they should be counted as Super or {{Real Robot}}s [[http://www.dra-mata.com/manga/4koma/old/alpha30.jpg is debated even by characters themselves]] in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars''. Eva units fit the Super Robot description almost point-for-point - [[spoiler:sentient]], check; each unit is one of a kind, check; Earth's only defense, check; production overseen by main character's bastard dad, check; each unit usually accepts only one pilot, check. Note that the series is infamously a GenreDeconstruction, and that the titular mecha [[spoiler:are actually a dark and twisted parody of the Super Robot concept: they're actually giant cloned {{Humanoid Abomination}}s that [[SoulJar contain the souls of the pilots' mothers]]]]. |
| 135 | ** ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'' has Mari gleefully adding to the "super" aspect, talking to Unit-05 and [[spoiler:Unit-02]] and [[CallingYourAttacks shouting out]], "point-blank attack!" as she charges Zeruel with two {{BFG}}s. Seeing as the Evas rely on the pilot's brain waves and physical movement rather than voice commands--with the exception of the password "The Beast!"--this one isn't really necessary. However, [[CloudcuckooLander Mari]]'s level of sanity is somewhat questionable at this point. |
| 136 | * The various ''Franchise/{{Zoids}}'' series feature giant animal-shaped robots that can only be piloted by those they "choose", and are powered up by Small Annoying Robots manufactured by an ancient, lost civilization. Outside of the main character, though, most Zoids are treated more like {{Real Robot}}s. Depending on which fluff you're reading they may be Real robots and fighting a war and treated as such or the mechs themselves are fighting a war à la Transformers. OR you can have tons of CombiningMecha, ancient weapons and sentient zoids that choice their masters. Its all vaguely justified by treating them as {{Weaponized Animal}}s with unknown and seemingly varying levels of intelligence. |
| 137 | * The Mach 5 from ''Anime/SpeedRacer'' definitely counts, as it's more of a [[CoolCar car-shaped]] Super Robot. |
| 138 | * The Ideon from, well, ''Anime/SpaceRunawayIdeon'' fits the bill pretty well, at least when it feels like it. Since the mech is inhabited by the God-like energy known as the Ide, when the Ide doesn't feel like helping all it can do is punch, kick, and shoot lots of missiles. But when it ''does'' help out, you get scenes like the Ideon emitting blades of light and carving a planet in half with them. |
| 139 | ** Fairly unusually for this sort of show (but not for Tomino's work), Ideon's displays of planet-destroying power are often portrayed as something frightening and dangerous, rather than just awe-inspiringly cool. |
| 140 | * In ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'', the mechs used by Mithril and Gauron are Super Robots, in that their technology and power is far beyond that of mechs that others use, including superpower nations. Also, the special equipment created from Black Technology that's on Sousuke's and Gauron's Arm Slaves relies greatly on the pilot's creativity and emotional state. |
| 141 | ** They are real robots unless they are equipped with the Lambda Driver, and even then it's only when using it. Sousuke's robot seems to have a personality, but it's an AI that mostly exists to aid him (and tell the audience what they'd normally need to be able to read instruments to know). |
| 142 | *** Which doesn't stop [[TheComicallySerious Sousuke]] from playing the straight man ''[[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments to his own robot]]'' in the final episode of ''The Second Raid''. |
| 143 | ** InUniverse, they are all real robots. Except there is black technology, an [[TechnologyLevels incredibly advanced technology]], which is used in some highly advanced prototypes such as the Arbalest and the Tuatha de Danann. As we know all [[ClarkesThirdLaw highly advanced technology is magic]]. |
| 144 | * The El Dorado team from ''Anime/GunXSword'' includes most of the tropes, other than the fact that the pilots are all in their ''80s''. They even stole some sound effects from ''Anime/GaoGaiGar''. |
| 145 | ** The similarities are parodied in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsK'': El Dorado V's moveset is almost entirely based on ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'''s - even having a move called "Infierno y Cielo" - Spanish for "Hell and Heaven". |
| 146 | ** The Original Seven mechas are also non-combining Super Robot, considering their unorthodox method of piloting and that they really don't give a crap about normal technological contraptions, mostly being powered by the pilot's will. For instance, the protagonist Van rides the Dann of Thursday, a robot that wields one or two sword, turns into a giant sword, and powered with either [[ThePowerOfLove his love for his dead wife]] and [[{{Revenge}} gigantic desire to take vengeance against those responsible for said death.]] It's as ridiculous as it sounds and it works (and while Van is cynical as heck, sometimes his heart leers to positivity when surrounded with many positive people.) |
| 147 | * The titular ''Anime/RahXephon''. Of course, it ''is'' God. |
| 148 | ** Of course, the rest of the mecha are also Super Robots (in the Evangelion sense of Super Robot). |
| 149 | * ''Anime/{{Dancougar}}'' uniquely tries to combine Super Robots with the more gritty war setting usually found in RealRobotGenre, but somehow still manages to make it work, albeit that the pilots needed to get over their personal baggages to actually combine effectively which only happened halfway through the series. In contrast, the 'successor' ''Anime/DancougarNova'' is a more traditional SuperRobot show taking after ''Anime/{{Gravion}}'' but with elements and designs based on ''Dancougar'' and having pseudo-war themes. |
| 150 | * ''Anime/PlanetRoboDanguardAce'', the only robot anime Creator/LeijiMatsumoto ever did. |
| 151 | * The Megadeuses of ''Anime/TheBigO'' are all technically Super Robots, as they're one-of-a-kind, possibly sentient (or at least [[HauntedTechnology possibly haunted]]) and treated as god-like, but they're also a bit of a subversion of the concept. Notably, not only were the Megadeuses [[spoiler:mass-produced and used in a war in the past, and have land, air and sea variants]], but also they're much slower and bulkier than most Super Robots. When a more traditional Super Robot shows up in one episode, [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments it's defeated in less time than it took to transform]]. There's also the fact that their treatment as godlike in-universe is because the world is {{After the End}}. Well, maybe. {{Mind Screw}} and all... |
| 152 | * All three entries in the [[{{Eldoran}} Eldran]] series qualify, with [[Anime/NekketsuSaikyoGosaurer the last series]] probably being the only show to ever exist where the mecha was literally ''made out of a school building''. |
| 153 | * ''Anime/{{Gekiganger 3}}'', a ShowWithinAShow from ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'', is an AffectionateParody of such Super Robot shows as ''Anime/MazingerZ'', ''Anime/CombattlerV'' and ''Manga/GetterRobo''. |
| 154 | * The titular CombiningMecha in ''Anime/GenesisOfAquarion'' and its sequel ''Anime/AquarionEvol''. |
| 155 | * The Knightmare Frames in ''Anime/CodeGeass'' start out as 100% [[RealRobot Real Robots]] but, depending on who you ask, the [[LensmanArmsRace rate of technological progression]] makes the main models creep closer and closer to what some fans consider Super Robot territory by the later half of the second season, though others are content to simply label these machines overpowered {{Super Prototype}}s. |
| 156 | * ''Anime/HeroicAge'' certainly fits the category in spirit, at least. The HumongousMecha used by the humans are generally more in the Real Robot class, being mass-produced vehicles with few, if any, extraordinary abilities, but the overall mood of the show is much more like the positive, optimistic outlook of Super Robot series than the cynical view of the [[RealRobotGenre Real Robot]], with lots of credit to the PowerOfLove. The only thing barring the Nodos from classification as Super Robots is that they're...well, not robots. Though they do tend to have a distinctly mechanical vibe to their appearance, especially outside of BerserkMode. |
| 157 | * ''[[Anime/{{Godmars}} Six God Combination Godmars]]''. As the title suggests, the titular robot is formed when six humanoid robots combine, ready to dispense mostly [[BattleOfTheStillFrames camera-cut battles like the robot doesn't even need animations to deliver]] CurbStompBattle. Indeed; the plot is mostly the Zuul Empire trying to do psychological damage towards [[TheHero Takeru]] (while also bullying him with mecha of the week) because Godmars had a bomb that triggers if he dies, and it [[EarthShatteringKaboom would destroy Earth]]. When Takeru thinks there's no other way, he summons and pilots Godmars, who proceeds to stomp the enemy flat in no time, unless it's someone particularly tough. |
| 158 | * ''Anime/BrigadoonMarinAndMelan'' has the three Gun-Swordsmen; Melan Blue, Pyon Silver, and Erin Garnet. They're partly organic, though, and none of them have pilots, though Melan regularly carries his human companion Marin with him into battle. |
| 159 | * ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}'': Zearth and the other dimensional robots of its kind. Although since it's a series by Creator/MohiroKitoh, its cynicism is worth the idealism of any three idealistic Super Robot series at least. |
| 160 | * ''Manga/HadesProjectZeorymer'': Zeorymer of the Heavens itself is one of the few robots who could get away with the "Invincible" title being taken literally, if it used it. In the OVA, the only time it even so much as took damage was when it was missing its main power supply, and even that took a YinYangBomb CombinationAttack from two other robots to so much as damage it. And said damage regenerated in no time at all. Of course, it wasn't exactly created to save the world. (At least in the OVA.) |
| 161 | * ''Anime/StarDriver'': The robots belong to a lost civilization, are [[ThemeNaming named]] after Phoenician alphabets, and can only be operated by [[TheChosenOne chosen drivers with special marks on their bodies]]. Completed with CallingYourAttacks and ColorCodedForYourConvenience. |
| 162 | * ''Anime/CaptainEarth'', ''Anime/StarDriver'''s {{Spiritual Successor}}, featured [[RayGun guns]]/[[spoiler:[[EmpathicWeapon extra-dimensional aliens]]]] called Livlasters, which allowed the heroic Midsummer's Knights to harness their own [[HotBlooded near-limitless Orgone energy]] to power up their mecha to almost Deus ex Machina levels, like most other super robots. |
| 163 | ** Also, another thing regarding ''Captain Earth'', the Impactor mecha have two different forms, including their Ordinary forms, which have the size and traits of a RealRobot and are mostly used for surface combat; and their larger, stronger Impactor forms, which [[CombiningMecha combine from three larger, stronger modules]] for space combat. |
| 164 | * ''Anime/RegaliaTheThreeSacredStars'': While strange and even trippy, its adherence to RuleOfCool places it here rather than RealRobot. |
| 165 | * ''Anime/GargantiaOnTheVerdurousPlanet'': Interestingly, Chamber manages to combine this with RealRobot due to differing tech levels. In space, Chamber and his pilot were both mass-produced results of a huge war machine, mostly fighting by numbers and tactics--in fact, the series starts with them ''losing'' a battle and only surviving by sheer luck. On Earth, Chamber is at least centuries beyond everyone else; none of their tools can so much as scratch him, and he destroys an entire pirate fleet with a horrifying level of casual ease. And this was while conserving power. |
| 166 | * ''Anime/UFOWarriorDaiApolon'': Played straight for the most part. Teen orphan Takeshi discovers he's actually an alien prince who must control a [[HumongousMecha Humongous]] CombiningMecha against the evil general who killed his father. Instead of a cockpit, however, Takeshi uses his energy powers to grow and merge with the mecha, "wearing" it like armor. |
| 167 | * ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'': Despite being mainly billed as a MagicalGirlWarrior meets HeroicFantasy, when it comes to the robots, they follow the trends set by the Super Robot genre. The Rune Gods are sentient, the requirement of piloting it boils down to "You must prove your heart worthy on donning us, O [[TheChosenOne chosen ones!]]", they are piloted by willpower and close enough to be a MotionCaptureMecha, at least two of the pilots are HotBlooded (Hikaru and Umi, the former one is the ''main character''), they run more on magic than science, and there's only three of them, all being exclusive to whoever is proven worthy. Their purpose is the salvation of Cephiro... [[spoiler:by killing the Pillar of Cephiro when she went astray and ended up indirectly destroying Cephiro. But once that's done, they can be summoned as normal if Cephiro needed a normal type of defense from outside invaders.]] |
| 168 | %%* ''Anime/ShinkansenHenkeiRoboShinkalion'' |
| 169 | * The Core Robots used in ''Anime/DualParallelTroubleAdventure'' by the Earth Defense Force and the Rara Army are from alien artifacts that were excavated in Tokyo in the parallel Earth where the two have an EnforcedColdWar. The EDF's [=CRs=] are based on Zinv while the RA's [=CRs=] are based on the HIMC. |
| 170 | * ''Manga/DaimidalerTheSoundRobot'' has a mech known as the Daimidaler. To make it work, it requires a huge amount of DeusSexMachina between the male and female pilots. |
| 171 | * ''Anime/RumbleGaranndoll'' has the Garrandoll, except they're a super robot since they're powered by battery girls. But the pilot's power is based on own geekiness in popular culture. The Shinkoku Nippon military has stated that the Garrandolls were based on their Garrans. |
| 172 | [[/folder]] |
| 173 | |
| 174 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 175 | * In the Franchise/DCUniverse: |
| 176 | ** Red Tornado, who is an android superhero made by T.O. Morrow. |
| 177 | ** Amazo, who either has or can copy the superpowers of the Justice League. |
| 178 | ** Tomorrow Woman, a one-shot character who invokes the EvolutionaryLevels trope by having SuperIntelligence and psychic powers. |
| 179 | *** For the most part, super robots in the DCU, including the above three, are the stock and trade of MadScientist T.O. Morrow. |
| 180 | ** The ComicBook/MetalMen fit here too with their super-shapeshifting abilities. |
| 181 | ** ComicBook/GreenLantern Stel comes from a race of sentient robots. Though he isn't all that super without his Green Lantern Ring. |
| 182 | ** The Manhunters, a race of robots created by the Guardians of the Universe and served as their botched first attempt at a Franchise/GreenLantern Corps. They had powers similar to the Green Lanterns. |
| 183 | * In the Marvel Universe: |
| 184 | ** The ''ComicBook/ShogunWarriors'' were Raydeen, Combatra, and Dangard Ace, adapted from the eponymous toy line. Their final adventures actually had two of Comicbook/TheFantasticFour filling in as Combatra pilots. |
| 185 | ** ''ComicBook/IronMan'' is arguably a Super Robot (despite being PoweredArmor rather than a HumongousMecha), though the version in ''ComicBook/HouseOfM'' is more of a Real Robot. |
| 186 | *** In Season 2 of [[WesternAnimation/IronManTheAnimatedSeries the 90s cartoon]] he could sprout a drill from his arm! |
| 187 | ** The original ComicBook/HumanTorch1939 was a very humanlike android (complete with artificial, but working body parts) who fought criminals and later, the Axis as part of ''ComicBook/{{The Invaders|MarvelComics}}'' during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. |
| 188 | ** Vision, who has density control and can fly through no visible means, as well as looking like a traditional superhero. |
| 189 | ** Ultron, although this is inverted as he's a villain. |
| 190 | ** Red Ronin, originally created for the Godzilla comic, was Marvel's attempt to make their own Super Robot in the vein of Mazinger Z or Getter Robot. |
| 191 | ** In Earth-50810, most of the heroes operate super robot-type mechs of their own known as a [=MegaMorph=]. |
| 192 | %%* ComicBook/MechCadetYu |
| 193 | [[/folder]] |
| 194 | |
| 195 | [[folder:Eastern Animation]] |
| 196 | %%* Beast 9. |
| 197 | * The ''Animation/{{Robot Taekwon V}}'' film series, one of the first Korean science fiction franchises that featured an "indigenous" super robot. |
| 198 | * The various ''Animation/{{Tobot}}'' animated shows feature super robots that are meant to be marketed to young children. They were marketed as response to surveys in South Korea, where older children tend to purchase Transformers or Power Rangers-based merchandise/shows. |
| 199 | %%* Gold Wing 123. |
| 200 | %%* Lazenca: Revival of a Myth. |
| 201 | %%* The New Machine Wooroemae series. |
| 202 | %%* Elysium. |
| 203 | %%* There's Super Gundam V, which is presented as a Super Robot-type show instead of a Real Robot show. |
| 204 | %%* Super Mazinger 7 aka Protectors of the Universe in North America. |
| 205 | %%* [Un]hero. |
| 206 | [[/folder]] |
| 207 | |
| 208 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 209 | * ''Roleplay/SuperRobotQuest'' is a quest firmly set in this genre, in a world where the [[OneWorldOrder Earth Union]] is under attack by monstrous {{Kaiju}}, Westphalian Separatist terrorists, and the robotic alien Kausen, and the only effective defenses are the Super Robots Mercury V and Valiant. It follows the duties of Major Johnathan Devin as he leads the Defense Force Research Institute to create Super Robots of their own. |
| 210 | [[/folder]] |
| 211 | |
| 212 | [[folder:Films -- Animated]] |
| 213 | * ''WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedMechsVsMutants'' has Batman and Green Arrow use the Bat/Green Arrow mechs in response to kaiju versions of Bane, Clayface, Killer Croc, and Chemo after they were turned by Mr. Freeze and Penguin. They were made by Kirk Langstrom on behalf on a Wayne Enterprises and Queen Industries-backed contracts. |
| 214 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheIronGiant'' has the eponymous robot land in 1950s Maine. |
| 215 | [[/folder]] |
| 216 | |
| 217 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 218 | * ''Film/GodzillaVsMegalon'': "[[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S02E12GodzillaVsMegalon He jock it made of steel. Eat sushi from a pail. Jet Jaguar? Jet Jaguar! He mother never really love him.]]" |
| 219 | * ''Film/GodzillaTokyoSOS'': Kiryu (AKA The [[WeCanRebuildHim cyborg version]] of [[Film/{{Gojira}} the 1954]] Franchise/{{Godzilla}}) was the only version of Mechagodzilla to defeat his flesh-n-blood counterpart. That, and he was intelligent enough to be able to communicate with humans. |
| 220 | -->'''Kiryu:''' [[TearJerker "Goodbye, Yoshido."]] |
| 221 | * ''Film/RobotJox'': A 1980s B-movie trying to cash in on the 80s giant robot fad. Often considered SoBadItsGood. |
| 222 | * ''Film/PacificRim'' draws inspiration both from this and the RealRobotGenre. The Jaegers are Real Robots in that they're explicitly built by a military-industrial complex and time is given to the extreme amount of resources, logistics and support required to drive and maintain them. On the other hand, individual Jaegers are treated like Super Robots, what with their colourful and individual names and designs, being humanity's 'only hope', and fight using common Super Robot tropes like rocket punches, wrestling moves, unique fighting styles between each robot, the 'drift' and [[spoiler:the AbsurdlySharpBlade of Gipsy Danger being its ultimate weapon.]] |
| 223 | [[/folder]] |
| 224 | |
| 225 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 226 | * The ''Literature/RickyRicottasMightyRobot'' series consists of an unnamed super robot who Ricky befriends after Dr. Stinky [=McNasty=] orders him to lay waste to Earth. |
| 227 | * ''Literature/IronWidow'' has chrysalises, giant organic and malleable machines based on Chinese folklore that can transform into more humanoid states, piloted by men by sacrificing their female co-pilots, [[spoiler:[[GovernmentConspiracy which might not be as necessary as the strategists want people to believe]]]]. The pilots and their mechs are treated as [[CelebritySuperhero celebrity superheroes]]. |
| 228 | [[/folder]] |
| 229 | |
| 230 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 231 | * ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' (and its western adaptation ''Franchise/PowerRangers''): The various mecha cover most of these aspects all of the time, and a few specific ones depending on the exact season. |
| 232 | ** ''Series/DenshiSentaiDenziman'''s Daidenjin was probably one of the more outstanding examples. Not only did it have all the moves of a Super Robot, it acted extremely sentient at times, often showing up when the Denjimen are in danger without being summoned. Plus, the backstory of the Daidenjin is quite long-winding. It's a combination of LostTechnology and Space tech from the Denji aliens. |
| 233 | *** The inclusion of these into the franchise was inspired by the [[Series/SpiderManJapan Japanese live-action version]] of ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'', which had its own Super Robot called Leopardon. |
| 234 | ** Subverted in that most Megazords/gattai robos lose to any main cast villain, and, unless combining two Megazords together, beating any significant villain is nigh-impossible. |
| 235 | * ''Series/KyojuuTokusouJuspion'' is the only ''Series/MetalHeroes'' show to be one[[note]]Although ''Series/SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya'' also gave its hero a HumongousMecha midway through, it was sparingly used[[/note]], with a protagonist who pilots a giant robot to battle kaiju. |
| 236 | * The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin titular]] ''Series/SuperRobotRedBaron'' is one of the earlier examples, in {{Toku}}. |
| 237 | * ''Series/MechX4'' is an American take on the genre with the titular mech controlled via technopathy, the ability to control machines from the mind. |
| 238 | * If [[Anime/SpeedRacer the Mach Five]] is a car-shaped Super Robot, then so is the [[MadeOfIndestructium indestructible]] K.I.T.T. from ''Series/KnightRider''. |
| 239 | * ''Series/SpiderManJapan'' was an early {{Tokusatsu}} (1978) which gave Spiderman his own SuperRobot, the Mighty Leopardon. It was incorporated into the ComicBook/{{Spiderman}} Comics in 2014 as part of the Spider-Verse. |
| 240 | * ''Series/Stargirl2020'' has Pat Dugan create a robot from mostly old and tossed automotive parts called S.T.R.I.P.E. after he left the Justice Society of America. It's equipped with a chainsaw on the left arm, flamethrower on the right arm with both able to use rocket punch-based attacks. He and his son, Mike, were able to use it as times of crisis. |
| 241 | * ''Series/VoltesVLegacy'' is the live-action version of Voltes V. As such, the tropes that apply to the anime also apply here. |
| 242 | [[/folder]] |
| 243 | |
| 244 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 245 | * Mercilessly spoofed by "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hMOwX1jYdQ Giambel V]]" from Italian parody rock band [=GemBoy=], with a lot of SelfDeprecation since the titular robot is made in Italy. It is a [[CoolButInefficient stylish piece of junk]] with food-themed superweapons, that never manages to defeat any aliens because of bureaucracy, lack of funding, the pilot's stupidity and the laziness and carelessness of the command center. |
| 246 | [[/folder]] |
| 247 | |
| 248 | [[folder:Roleplay]] |
| 249 | * In Roleplay/WeAreOurAvatars, The [[VideoGame/EarthBound1994 Phase Distorter]] was created from an odd mishmash of both Super and Real, incorporating technology from several different mecha from different universes. Given the generally soft setting, though, the end result falls into the former category. Its head looked like a Mister Saturn, for cryin' out loud. |
| 250 | ** Anime/MazingerZ, Anime/GreatMazinger, Grendizer and Daltanias have showed up in the Incarnates arc. Anime/KotetsuJeeg is in the second AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent arc. |
| 251 | ** Dragonzord and Zenith Ultrazord, to say the least. |
| 252 | [[/folder]] |
| 253 | |
| 254 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 255 | * The Near Future chapter of ''VideoGame/LiveALive'' has the [[LawyerFriendlyCameo Most-definitely-not]] Anime/{{Gigantor}} Buriki Daioh (Great Tin King, or Steel Titan in the remake), which is powered by Psychic energy. |
| 256 | * The ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' series ([[NonIndicativeName despite the name]]) mixes both Super and RealRobot series freely, with ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and ''Manga/GetterRobo'' being the perennial favorites of the former. However, it also contain their own original supers, such as the TransformingMecha "Grungust", the {{BFS}}-wielding "Dygenguard", and the CombiningMecha "SRX", composed of three reals. |
| 257 | ** Sometimes, this trope can get out of hand with the originals: the "Alt Eisen" from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact2'' is a real, but performs on par with a super, if not, ''better than one''. Meanwhile, the "Valhawk" from ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW'' is another real which combines with a battleship "Valstork" creating the super "Valguard". By the end of the game, the latter can combine with another real and another battleship to form the more powerful super (and GameBreaker) "Valzacard". |
| 258 | *** Played with regarding the Valsion and Fairlions: though they look like Super Robots, all are built almost entirely with technology used by other real robots in the setting. |
| 259 | ** As far the terminology of supers go, the series is oddly realistic about it, and most associated tropes tend to come from the originals hanging around the likes of [[Anime/MazingerZ Kouji Kabuto]] and [[Manga/GetterRobo Ryoma Nagare]]. In fact, in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'', the most "super" robot of the cast is the Compatible Kaiser, filled with implausible weaponry that has little to no scientific explanation involved. Even the machines from the [[BeneathTheEarth subterranean world]] of "[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsGaiden La Gias]]" blessed by gods/spirits have a logical explanation to them! |
| 260 | *** Additionally, ''Original Generation'' tends to refer to supers as "special units" designed specifically to fight single-handedly against many opponents (by contrast, reals can excel in multiple situations, but can't do it alone unless they're in a group). Essentially, this setting deems supers as "real robots built using feasible technology, yet have technical explanations to state ''why'' they are supers". |
| 261 | * ''VideoGame/AnotherCenturysEpisode'' does the same thing with the Super Robot War series as well, but with the control used in the Armored Core games. |
| 262 | * In one of ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness's'' OnTheNext segments, Etna claims that the Prinnies are capable of combining into the Super Robot "Pringer X", which actually appears in the AnimatedAdaptation. Also, when [[spoiler:Jennifer is kidnapped]], a vague hint causes several characters to imagine her being transformed into a [[HumongousMecha Humongous Mecha]]. |
| 263 | ** Pringer ''Z'' actually shows up in other games by the same team, most notably in ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'' as the ultimate secret {{Superboss}}. He's normally Prinny-sized, but uses Super Robot weapons (including a towering column of flame that reaches [[AC:SPACE]]). However, in this series, a towering column of flame that reaches [[AC: SPACE]] isn't all that impressive. |
| 264 | ** Another Creator/NipponIchi game, ''VideoGame/MakaiKingdom'', has the Prinnies making a Robosuit in the bonus content, which is a [[ShoutOut shout out]] to the best armor in Disgaea and a stereotypical Super Robot. Arguably on the same page, there's also the [[AC:Space Battleship ''Yoshitsuna'']], which is another shoutout to Disgaea -- being the ultimate sword in that series, and the ultimate vehicle and hardest boss in this one. [[spoiler:For extra {{Superboss}} points, it's piloted by one Prinny Baal.]] |
| 265 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'', the ES units are clearly super robots, whereas standard AWMS units are closer to the real robot scale. The AWGS units in Xenosaga ep 1 would actually be Real Robots if not for the fact that they can materialize out of thin air using the UMN. |
| 266 | ** Then you have [[GameBreaker Erde Kaiser]]. |
| 267 | ** Likewise, the Omnigears of ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' are definitely super robots, along with several other Gears that fight on an Omnigear level (such as Weltall, Crescens, Seibzehn and the titular Xenogears). Many of the regular [[MechaMooks mook Gears]] are real robots, but anything a PC uses will be an AceCustom at the least. |
| 268 | * The Playstation 2 game ''VideoGame/RobotAlchemicDrive'' is built around this trope, putting the player in command of robots that can perform rocket punches, flying kicks, throw giant boomerangs, transform into various vehicles, and even teleport in an instant. |
| 269 | ** They're also 'old school' robots, operated from the outside by you as TheKidWithTheRemoteControl. Try not to get stepped on. |
| 270 | * ''VideoGame/GanbareGoemon'' has quite possibly the weirdest example by far, in the form of Goemon Impact. It's a giant clockwork robot that resembles Goemon himself, built by the Wise Man ([[MultipleChoicePast or hailing from a planet inhabited by people resembling it]]), that must be summoned using a conch shell, can fire beams out of its mouth ''and '''nose''''', and happens to be entirely sentient. |
| 271 | * The eponymous character ''Franchise/MegaMan'' is a super-powered android made to combat the MadScientist Dr. Wily and his army of robots. Only difference is that Mega Man isn't a HumongousMecha, although ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' did give him a super move that transforms him into a homage of Mazinger Z. |
| 272 | * Asura of ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' fame becomes this in his [[spoiler:Asura the Destructor form]]. |
| 273 | * ''VideoGame/ZoneOfTheEnders'' features two different types of mecha, including its own Super Robots called [[AMechByAnyOtherName Orbital Frames]], such as [[SuperPrototype Jehuty]], the protagonist mecha of the series, and [[RealRobotGenre Laborious Extra-Orbital Vehicles]], or [=LEVs=] for short. Orbital Frames inherit their Super Robot powers through [[AppliedPhlebotinum Metatron]], compared to [=LEVs=] using more realistic, utilitarian power sources. |
| 274 | * In ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'', the Divine Knights are the super robots compared to the [[RealRobot Panzer Soldats]] as the Divine Knights are a OneManArmy. |
| 275 | * Like the Gundam franchise, the various ''VideoGame/SDGundamGGeneration'' games have original mobile suits that operate as super robots. |
| 276 | * ''VideoGame/TechRomancer'' is a homage and parody of all known Super Robot series and put in a fighting game back when it was first released in 1998. It has influences from Getter Robo, Gundam, Macross and Mazinger. |
| 277 | * ''VideoGame/MarvelAvengersAcademy'' has Peter Parker aka Spider-Man create Leopardon while in the Avengers Academy. The game mentions that he was inspired to make it after he watched a lot of Japanese tokusatsu shows. |
| 278 | [[/folder]] |
| 279 | |
| 280 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 281 | * ''VisualNovel/HeavenWillBeMine'' centers on three women fighting in three different factions in an interstellar conflict using "ship-selves." Saturn pilots the (stolen) ship-self Interloper Prototype String of Pearls, Pluto pilots the ark-self Creation Star Type Krun Macula, and Luna-Terra pilots the ship-self Original Archetype Mare Crisium. Battles in such machines are thrilling, flashy spectacles of strange weapons and flaring passions in which the pilots themselves never get hurt, their ship-selves serving as vehicles for ideological arguments and extensions of their own personalities more than weapons. [[spoiler:The "toy warfare" of ship-selves is contrasted against the AttackDrones favored by Earth, which ''are'' weapons: [[BoringButPractical boring, practical]] and ''lethal''.]] |
| 282 | * The Deus Machina from the ''VisualNovel/{{Demonbane}}'' franchise, which are notable in particular for being ''{{Magitek}}'' super robots. The strongest form of the titular mech is also the largest super robot in the genre, dwarfing even the much more famous ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' ''by an order of magnitude.'' It gets so big it ''pops the universe it's in.'' |
| 283 | [[/folder]] |
| 284 | |
| 285 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 286 | * ''Webcomic/AchillesShieldmaidens'' blurs the line a bit via heavy use of {{technobabble}} to explain the Achilles and their [[AlienInvasion Ur]] counterparts, plus the Achilles were created by [[TheAlliance a multinational defense alliance]] against the AlienInvasion that apparently they but nobody else knew was coming. Overall though, it's very much more about sci-fi action and spectacle. |
| 287 | * {{Adrastus}} is an alien robot hidden by the main character's family. It has rocket punches, beams, and an amazing mohawk. |
| 288 | * ''Webcomic/{{Titanzer}}'' is equal parts parody and homage. Example: Johnny doesn't trust any robot's really dead unless it [[MadeOfExplodium explodes]]. [[http://titanzer.com/2011/01p24/ Linky]] |
| 289 | * L.E.G.E.N.D. from ''Webcomic/{{Energize}}'' and ''[[Webcomic/HeroesUnite Heroes Alliance]]'' is a super robot built by the Heroes Unite Initiative to help take down Energize when he went rogue in the Energize: Hunted arc. [[spoiler:L.E.G.E.N.D. barely slowed Energize down for a moment.]] |
| 290 | * The Kiwibot in ''Webcomic/KiwiBlitz'', created by Heinrich Frohlich, given to his daughter Steffi as a means of fighting crime as a vigilante. |
| 291 | [[/folder]] |
| 292 | |
| 293 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 294 | * ''WebAnimation/GenLock'' has the Holon, prototype mechs made for the Vanguard by Dr. Rufus Weller under the Vanguard's Experimental Science Unit. These consist of pilots who have been deemed compatible with [=gen:Lock=] technology in order to control them. They work by having their consciousness uploaded to their Holons prior to battle under specific time limits or it would be harder for them to get their minds placed back to their bodies over time. The Union has a captured Holon mech that contained some aspects of the actual Julian Chase captured by Union troops during an early ESU op. It's been upgraded by Union tech many times (alongside cloning) that the mech's AI is driven mad due to being used way too many times and being able to tear through Vanguard forces with ease. Not to mention that Julian wasn't able to get back to his body. Weller has insisted to Colonel Marin that being forced to push the Holons ahead of their scheduled rollout is forcing them to work with what he can to help the Vanguard ensure combat readiness without any certaintly if a platoon of Holons can be ready in time. |
| 295 | * The eponymous ''Literature/IlivaisX'' and its fellow prototypes definitely fall in here. The GEKICOM units have implausible ElementalPowers, the STRUQ units are a massive CombiningMecha pastiche, and the Phonos Weapons are as a whole incredibly powerful and dangerous. X itself is more of a {{Deconstruction}} though. It's sentient and has its own agenda of sorts, has an unlimited source of energy that by it's very nature is just ''off'', there's all sorts of parallels between it and Lucifer, and so on. |
| 296 | [[/folder]] |
| 297 | |
| 298 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 299 | * WesternAnimation/FrankensteinJr is a very early (1966) example, played straight as an arrow. |
| 300 | * The [[ScrewedByTheNetwork short-lived]] ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan''. According to Creator/GenndyTartakovsky, he wanted to include as many Super Robot tropes as possible. |
| 301 | * Parody: ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR''. Not only is it controlled through the use of ''90's videogame controllers'', it also has an endless supply of aptly named doomsday buttons, is set with a victory pose that mimics that of its driver, can only be driven by [[IKnowMortalKombat a fat, lazy, slow-headed video game geek and gearhead]], and contains almost every WaveMotionGun in anime history (Including, [[Anime/UchuuSenkanYamato THE Wave Motion Gun]], along with half of the ship). Did we mention it only cost its owner two bucks, which he never paid? |
| 302 | * ''[[WesternAnimation/MightyOrbots The Mighty Orbots]]'' from 1980's Saturday morning TV. |
| 303 | * ''Anime/{{Voltron}}'', and its source shows ''Anime/GoLion'' and ''Anime/DairuggerXV''. This includes sequel series ''WesternAnimation/VoltronTheThirdDimension'' and ''WesternAnimation/VoltronForce'', as well as the continuity reboot ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender''. |
| 304 | * ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' is usually closer to this than RealRobot, but contains its own twists; for example, the robots are [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots sentient and have their own will]], and [[MechanicalLifeforms weren't created by humanity in the first place]], nor do they really need humans -- they've just ended up on our planet by chance. Many of the [[CompletelyDifferentTitle/{{Japanese}} Japanese titles]] for [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} the various series]] do feature the phrase "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Super Robot]] [[MechanicalLifeform Lifeform]]". |
| 305 | ** The various Transformers anime tend to bring them much closer to a typical Super Robot show, with Transformers [[HumansAreSpecial gaining incredible powers by merging with humans]], using ''{{magic}}''(!), or just gaining a lot more {{Wave Motion Gun}}s, depending on the continuity. Though the first instance of humans as powerups were in the three-part GrandFinale of the American series. (The Marvel comic book ''really'' ran with it, and explored what it would mean to be thusly dependant on a partner, for the human/Nebulan and the Transformer.) |
| 306 | *** Most Super Robot quirks tend to be edited out in the English dubs - what was originally a BattleAura summoned by HeroicResolve becomes "I'm being surrounded by a forcefield! Is the [[MacGuffin Omega Lock]] doing this?" Fans generally refer to instances like this as "[[Anime/TransformersRobotsInDisguise BURNING JUSTICE!]]" |
| 307 | ** "[[Anime/TransformersCybertron Optimus Prime, Super Mode!"]] |
| 308 | ** [[Anime/TransformersEnergon "Optimus Prime, Super Mode! Powerlink!]] [[TransformationSequence Fire One, combine! Copter Two, combine! Digger Three, combine! Submarine Four!]] [[note]]For whatever reason, he almost never says "combine!" with Submarine Four.[[/note]] [[TransformationNameAnnouncement Optimus Prime Super Mode, Powerlink complete!"]] |
| 309 | *** The {{Transformation Sequence}}s in Energon and Cybertron even have the Autobot or Decepticon symbol in the background with a final pose, much like so many robot series (and a few {{Tokusatsu}}.) |
| 310 | ** Speaking of weapons, weapons as part of the 'bot are almost standard. Sometimes they remain attached, sometimes they detach to become handheld weapons. Some have guns that don't store on them, and seem to come from hammerspace as needed. (The Japanese series, however, explicitly show them being summoned in a flash of light, based on the three instances of such in the Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 series.) |
| 311 | ** Most Transformers series fit with the Super Robot genre to various degrees, including the Western series and the Live-Action movie. However, Japan-made Transformers are full-fledged Super Robots. |
| 312 | ** Optimus Prime especially fits. He has a faceplate that slides into place in almost all incarnations, and some of his {{Super Mode}}s have head-wings. |
| 313 | *** Then throw in [[CombiningMecha combination]]. in ''Anime/TransformersEnergon,'' the drone vehicles he has and can combine with, and some of the attacks done with them (such as having them fly around him in a circle and amplify his attack to make a serious BeamSpam finisher - so awesome he naturally does it ''only once ever.'') ''really'' scream "title robot of a Super Robot anime." |
| 314 | ** While no pilots, the [=TFs=] themselves [[CallingYourAttacks call their attacks]] in the Japan-original series. Attack calls were even added in the Japanese dub of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated.'' |
| 315 | ** That isn't to say American incarnations of Optimus Prime are much better. |
| 316 | *** In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' and the general aligned continuity, Optimus is more of a [[MessianicArchetype Savior-like]] figure wielding an ancient holy sword against a warlord empowered by the blood of ''the'' GodOfEvil, and the mysticism of the series is heavily played up. |
| 317 | *** In comparison, ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' takes Optimus along the lines of a honest-to-goodness Superhero, with the classic "Brick" powerset of SuperStrength and NighInvulnerability combined with the mentality of TheCape. |
| 318 | * An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{ReBoot}}'' used a Super Robot. It was pretty much explicitly a parody of ''Franchise/PowerRangers''/''Franchise/SuperSentai''. |
| 319 | * ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo'' should be [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin self-explanatory]]. It's literally even ''called'' "The Super Robot". |
| 320 | * Dexter has a few of his own in ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory''. He later joins up with his family to form their own super robot, created by combining vehicles together similar to the Super Sentai series. |
| 321 | [[/folder]] |
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