[[quoteright:330:[[Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/voe_cape_mech_02_8123.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:330:A majestic mecha mantle.]]

HumongousMecha are inherently [[RuleOfCool cool]]. Surely there's no way to make them cooler, right? Well actually, the mere addition of a BadassCape can indeed make the coolest thing on Earth even cooler.

On a human, a cape is commonly worn simply to look good; this is particularly true if [[RequisiteRoyalRegalia one is Royalty]]. {{Superhero}}es [[SuperheroesWearCapes often wear them]] to take advantage of the DramaticWind and simply appear [[TheCape visually impressive]] (though [[Franchise/{{Batman}} some]] turn them to more practical effects). And, of course, a cape can be useful to wrap around oneself if the weather turns suddenly cold or wet.

On a robot, however, these factors are far and away cancelled out by the simple fact that, implausible though mecha already are, a cape would simply get in the way and not be very practical at all. But when you look this [[RuleOfCool awesome]], who cares?

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!!Examples:

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[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* The final battle of the second arc of ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' features the Dai-Gurren sporting a scaled-up version of Kamina's red Gurren-Dan cloak.
** In ''[[TheMovie Lagann-hen]]'', [[spoiler:Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann sports Kamina's cape made out of red Spiral flames, complete with the Gurren Brigade's symbol.]]
*** [[spoiler: That's a BadassCape approximately the size of the Universe]]
* Great General of Darkness from ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and ''Anime/GreatMazinger'' wore a flowing, red-and-indigo cloak reinforced his badass image.
* The Nine Great Demon Generals in ''Manga/TransformersZone''. Transformers only sometimes have these in general; either because they're hard to animate, or because they'd typically get torn up in transformation.
** And the Demon Generals are, for the most part, giant or combined Decepticons from previous series. You ''really'' wouldn't think ''Predaking'' could make the caped look work, but it's not so bad on him, really...
** And in ''Anime/BeastWarsNeo'', Great Convoy, high member of the Counsel of Convoys, ''IS'' a cape. With Optimus's head, [[MundaneMadeAwesome but with ridiculously long aerials on the sides]].
* The Gloucesters used by Cornelia and her royal guard in ''Anime/CodeGeass''. The Galahad from the second season was designed with a cape, but this never appeared in the animation.
* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'', surprisingly, has quite a few.
** The Rose Gundam in ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' had a (segmented metal) cape draping over its shoulders at some points. However, ''G Gundam'' is quite well known for its impractical designs.
** Sandrock and the Maganac Corps in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' often wear cloaks. This ''does'' arguably have a justification, as it could be used to protect the machine's joints from blowing sand as well as adding a small amout of camouflage. Officially, it's also an ABC Mantle (see below).
** After the TimeSkip in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'', Exia conceals its missing arm using a sort of half-poncho.
** ''Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam'': The majority of weapons used at this point in the Universal Century timeline are beam weaponry, against which the best defense is a beam shield - and while this is effective, most of the fighting is in space, where a bright beam shield is highly visible. However, the cloaks used by the Crossbone Vanguard (and the X series Gundams in particular) are ABC[[note]]Anti-Beam Coating[[/note]] Mantles that act as ablative armor vs. beam weapons - and on top of that, they're black, which gives some degree of stealth and/or distraction in space.
** ''[[Manga/MobileSuitGundamSEEDAstray Delta Astray]]''[='s=] Gundam Astray Out Frame has the Shooting Cloak, which covers its whole body and acts as active camouflage; however, since Out Frame is geared towards [[MundaneUtility photography and journalism]], the main function of the cloak is to keep Out Frame out of battles.
** A few MS have metal parts (often taking the form of wings) that can wrap around the body like an armored cloak. This list includes [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Master Gundam]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Deathscythe Hell (both versions)]], [[Manga/MobileSuitGundamSEEDAstray Astray Blue Frame 4th]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Dynames]].
** In ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Iron Blooded Orphans]]'', Gjallarhorn officers put a red cape onto their Grazes whenever they want to arrange a formal duel. Crank Zent has the cape put on the shield, which he throws away to signify a duel's beginning. Carta Issue has the cape put on her Graze Ritter's right shoulder, which [[spoiler: fell off when Mikazuki Augus [[NoHoldsBarredBeatDown slammed her unprepared]].]]
** The Gyancelot in ''[[Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry Gundam Build Fighters Try Island War]]'' has a ''beam cape'', which can [[AttackDeflector deflect beams]] and [[CapeSwish cut things with a sweep]].
* Escaflowne, Scherazade, and pretty much every other customized or named Guymelef in ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne''.
** The bad guys had capes that functioned as [[InvisibilityCloak cloaks of invisibility]] as well.
** It does make some sense on the Escaflowne since it becomes the wing's membrane while in [[TransformingMecha dragon form]].
* ''Manga/GetterRobo'' - specifically, Getter 1 uses it to ''fly''.
** In the Armageddon OVA, the cape is used in a whip-like fashion to wrap around a Mass Produced Getter Dragon's head [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxcH86CPqck before Ryoma punches it clean off.]]
* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', when Asuka is introduced, her EVA is covered by a tarp. She wraps the tarp around her robot for a cape-like effect when she makes her battle debut. [[RuleOfCool And it is awesome.]]
* Ramrod from ''Anime/SaberRiderAndTheStarSheriffs''. It even has a nice hat.
* Found amongst the HumongousMecha-[[MechaMooks Mooks]] summoned by [[BigBad Precia]] to protect her OminousFloatingCastle at the end of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'''s first season. She was going for a knight theme from the looks of them.
* Volume four of the ''Manga/{{Appleseed}}'' manga takes this to the logical conclusion. At one point, several police Landmates show up wearing ''clothes'': A jumpsuit with gloves. The ''Appleseed Databook'' specifically states that this is to protect them from dust.
* When Dan crashes the Bigfoot Basketball game in the first episode of ''Anime/{{Basquash}}'', his Bigfoot mecha is wearing a tarp as a makeshift, but still cool, cape.
* ''Anime/GunBuster'':
** The Buster Shield, which also works as a shield. (Seeing a pattern?)
** Its sequel, ''Anime/DieBuster'', has the semi-autonomous mecha Dix-Neuf wearing a [[strike:cape]] [[BadassLongcoat duster jacket]] which is apparently rigid unless the pilot is in control. It also serves as a covering when the mecha is in rocket mode.
* In ''Anime/{{Godannar}}'', Ken's Blade Gainer wears a cape, or rather what's left of it to emphasize his mysterious badass attitude. And maybe to protect against sand.
* When Scavenger first shows up in ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' he wears a large, body-covering cloak in the manner that a human might wear one to hide his identity. It actually looks pretty silly.
** And Megatron's [[LotusEaterMachine dream world]] shows him wearing a sash fastened with a Decepticon-sigal brooch.
* In ''Manga/BrokenBlade'', a group of mecha in the desert is seen briefly wearing cloaks. They're not really capes, and are probably actually more for camouflage than to look cool, but they're still giant robots wearing huge pieces of cloth over their shoulders.
** Borcuse's golem along with the golems in his [[PraetorianGuard retinue]] all have full size cloaks, in order to conceal all the various extra weapons added to the golems frames.Delphine has one with the same function.
* Metal Robotnik in ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie''.
* While technically not mecha, many Mega-level Franchise/{{Digimon}}, most famously several Royal Knights, are mecha like in size and appearance. Obviously, they wear enormous capes. Probably the most recognizable is Omnimon, whose size can be seen in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1HxosvKu2Y&fmt=18 this clip]] (for those of you who are impatient, skip to 2:04).
* ''Anime/GiganticFormula'' has the [[http://www.gigantic-f.com/mecha02.html Jupiter-II]] (no, not [[Series/LostInSpace that one]]).
* ''Anime/GunXSword'' has Bolkain, who has a shredded wraith-like cape that can neutralise laser weapons and absorb them.
* The impracticality of mecha clothes is {{Lampshaded}} in ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross''. A pilot dresses his HumongousMecha in a giant alien's uniform to infiltrate an enemy ship. The mecha almost immediately begins overheating as the uniform clogs its vents and the fabric gets tangled in the joints.
* The mecha seen in the first episode of ''Anime/{{ICE|2007}}'' wear long cloaks.
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[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/PrimalWarriorDracoAzul'': It's revealed in the "Legacy of Valor" short story that Draco Azul was originally adorned with a regal red cape, though all that remains by the present day is the mech's ScarfOfAsskicking.
* ''ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW'':
** ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'': Chief Justice Tyrest wears a green cape. One of Twelve later sports a red one. James Roberts explained that pre-war capes were a sign of class, fabric was uncommon and therefore expensive. During the war fabric was plundered from planets the Decepticons invaded.
** ''ComicBook/TheTransformersCombinerWars'': The Mistress of Flame has an orange cape to go with her fire-inspired color scheme
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[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Fanfic/UndocumentedFeatures'', Corwin Ravenhair pilots a [[Manga/GetterRobo heavily modified]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Zaku]] in a ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' exhibition fight. This Zaku has a flex-metal cape that produces an AntiGravity field, allowing its maneuvering thrusters to let it fly even on Earth.
* In ''Fanfic/AnEntryWithABang!'', when the battle of Port Krin seems to be going quite wrong, Tony Dansel has his team equip their Mechs with improvised capes.
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[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie'' put [[TheStarscream Starscream]] in one for his coronation... and a CoolCrown, too. They've since become an iconic part of the character's look, and it's possible to get them as aftermarket accessories for the action figure, as well as PVC figures, statuettes, and even an official ([[NoExportForYou from TakaraTomy, anyway]]) Masterpiece toy of Coronation Starscream. Which is not to say that Starscream has the gravitas to make this look ''work''.
** WordOfGod is that he didn't just have these on for his coronation, but had actually had his body modified to allow him to transform into a new alternate mode, complete with all those bulky gubbins still on him. Meaning that he was vain enough to expect to have a cape on ''full-time''.It's anyone's guess where it was supposed to go when he transformed, given that he was still supposedly some kind of aircraft.
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[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Sentinel Prime from ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''; his back kibble is designed to look like a cape. And Megatron's new design for the film has him wearing a cloak.
* Los Dark's [[EvilKnockoff Fake Gokai-Oh]] from the Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger movie.
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[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Pteraiden-Oh from ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'' gains a cape and OneWayVisor as part of an EvilCostumeSwitch when it's wielded by Dogold; once its proper partner Kyoryu Gold [[SealedGoodInACan breaks free]], the cape is gone for good (and the visor slides up to reveal a more normal Sentai robot face).
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[[folder:Pinballs]]
* The backglass for ''Pinball/{{Robot}}'' shows a [[HumongousMecha Humongous]] {{Killer Robot}} wearing a giant red cape while clutching a woman in its hand.
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[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
** At least one Tau commander has decided to mount a loincloth on his battlesuit.
** Also Necron Lords.
* A mech commander in ''TabletopGame/{{Dragonmech}}'' commissions a velvet cape for his 120 foot tall mech. It gets lit on fire two weeks later, with predictable results.
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[[folder:Toys]]
* Vezon from ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' wears a black tattered cape, possibly to hide his lack of a spine.
** [[VoluntaryShapeshifting The set version of Karzahni]] wears a black cape (it's the same cloth piece used for Vezon) as well.
* Furno XL from Toys/HeroFactory wears a black cape.
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[[folder:Video Games]]
* Aussenseiter in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' - [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in that it uses the cape to hinder the enemy sight as it blasts the enemy.
** Which doesn't explain why it has a brand new cape every time it uses that attack...cape dispenser?
** Also, the Vysaga, which can also deflect enemy fire with it.
** SRWJ's Granteed grows one out of pure energy with certain attacks.
* The Ardjet in ''VideoGame/ZoneOfTheEnders: the 2nd Runner'' has a functional cape which can rearrange into a coffin or separate into an AttackDrone swarm.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' has two robotic humanoid minibosses. Both have capes.
* Billy Lee Black in ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' had a cape for his [[AMechByAnyOtherName Gear]], Renmazuo. It looked odd on [=PS1=] graphics, when everything else was kind of blocky.
** The Gears piloted by the Ethos organization (which is based on the Catholic church) wear hoods and robes resembling those worn by real-life ''penitentes'' during Holy Week in Spain.
* The final boss mech of ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' has a large green cape made of energy.
* ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork:'' A case of "Caped AI". WordOfGod (the illustrator) says that originally, the "Net Navigators" like [=MegaMan.EXE=] and others were designed without any kind of cloth in order to emphasize their nature as virtual beings that reside in the net. Bass.EXE, however, was the first exception with his brown robe, purely due to RuleOfCool. The second comes much later in Colonel.EXE, as his inspiration (Colonel from ''VideoGame/MegaManX4'' ) has a similar design (though he ''didn't'' have a cape unlike his ''Battle Network'' counterpart).
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[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'', Roofus takes to wearing a large sash after he becomes a member of Princess Voluptua's royal court.
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[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''Literature/TheMechTouch'', Ves is forced to find a way to add a cape onto his design for the "Marc Antony" after his second customer, a spoiled noble, forcefully requests him to.
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[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Not exactly a cape per se, but Lockdown from ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' briefly wears a rather fashionable poncho for a few seconds in one episode, before throwing it aside to attack Prowl. Given that the episode was called [[Film/AFistfulOfDollars A Fistful Of Energon]], this was probably a ShoutOut. Red Alert of the same series, however, has her 'clothing' thicker, made of metal, and apparently forming a decent portion of her vehicle mode.
** Alpha Trion of ''Animated'' also bears a cape, though a quick glance at his design doesn't seem to support any sort of transformation, possibly a ShoutOut to G1.
* Alpha Trion, Optimus Prime's "father" in ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'', wears a cape, but he doesn't have to worry about it getting caught up in the works when he transforms because he's ''so'' old that he doesn't turn into anything: he was created ''before Cybertronians could transform.'' At least, the original series' version was. In how this relates to [[TheMultiverse other]] [[ContinuitySnarl series]] that have him but make transformation something all Cybertronians have always had is unknown.
* ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines''' Megatron has a segmented metal one to go with his "interface harness". It's mostly there to wrap around him to hide the features of his Beast Mode and tends to spread out like wings whenever he transforms into or out of it.
* ''WesternAnimation/FrankensteinJr'' wore a cape, which seems to be a fabric one rather than a metal one as is typical for this trope. He also pre-dates most of the other examples of this trope by a good two decades.
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