Transforming Mecha / Anime & Manga

• The variable fighters of the Macross franchise, which are transforming fighter jets, with each series's main protagonist always piloting one. The titular Macross class of vessels are some of the largest transforming mecha ever shown on television. The original SDF Macross was over one kilometer tall. The Battle sections of the later New Macross class vessels, when transformed into humanoid form, are almost a mile tall. Macross Frontier also has the VB-6 König Monster variable bomber, which can transform into a walking heavy artillery platform.
  • Additionally, there is a reasonable explanation for the use of these mechas (well, at least the fighter-jet-sized ones), something not all Real or Super Robot shows care to give to the viewers, mind it. In the first few episodes of the original series, Roy Focker states that the Valkyries were designed to be able to fight "on even grounds" with the Zentradi. While most Giant Robot shows have mechs almost entirely for Rule of Cool, a quick flash of Fridge Brilliance makes one realize that "on even grounds" doesn't mean tech-wise, but the fact that using Variable Fighters (VF-1's) is the only way to engage in true infantry-based-warfare with the Zentradi, while their jet-based primary form is to provide fast, long-distance travel that would normally be provided by transport planes/choppers, and the Gerwalk transitional form exists (as stated in the show itself) as a VTOL form for difficult terrain when taking off in the Valkyrie form and landing in the Battroid form. There is a certain degree of Mundane Utility to the Gerwalk mode as well, as some supplementary materials state that this is the mode that they use to transport Valkyries around the hanger for maintenance outside of combat; it's also often used to pull off maneuvers that wouldn't be possible with a regular jet, like using the leg boosters to quickly reverse direction and get behind an opponent.
  • The original Macross transformed into a humanoid configuration due to losing a lot of its power conduits during the space fold disaster: the human shape was them taking advantage of the modular nature of the ship to connect the remaining conduits to fire the Macross Cannon. That it looked human-shaped when this happened was apparently coincidental. Later Macross and New Macross class vessels keep the transformation because... uh, well, they never really say. Rule of Cool, perhaps. Or because it's the only way to pull off the Macross Attack that was pioneered originally as the Daedalus Attack as a desperate move in the original series. It does work.
  • While not the Ur-Example of this trope, Macross may be responsible for popularizing it (especially the "realistic vehicle transforms into robot" version) , not just because it was brought over to the west as part of Robotech, but also because the success of Takatoku's Macross toy line led to Takara releasing their Diaclone line which became the basis for Transformers. In fact, the Autobot Jetfire was made from the same mold as the VF-1 Valkyrie from Macross.
• Daimos: The titular Humongous Mecha was one of the first ones. He could transform into a truck-like land vehicle.
• Getter Robo in all its incarnations was both a Combining Mecha and a Transforming Mecha, with three different forms (usually a flying strong form, an ultrafast but land-bound form, and a water-capable tank form, though there have been exceptions) depending on the order the Get Machines combine in. The Getter Rays's status as a Sentient Cosmic Force sometimes takes the transforming gimmick too far, though: some of Getter Robo's more esoteric models have been known to forgo form-switching altogether and just sprout parts from the other modes on top of the current one, reality be damned.
• Getter's gimmick was later reused by the Aquarion franchise, whose main mechs have the same "three jet, three different forms depending on combination order" signature ability. One core difference, however, was that the transformations actually worked with no telescoping needed, thanks to Macross creator Shoji Kawamori's technical know-how.
• Many of the LFO mechs in Eureka Seven can transform into land vehicles.
• Zoids were mostly monoform, but Liger Zero from Zoids: New Century has a modular swap-out system. The Murasame Liger from Zoids Genesis took it a step further, being a piece of Lost Technology whose "Evolt System" uses nanomachines to outright rebuild the machine into other forms on the fly.
• In Sonic X, Tails's plane Tornado II transforms from a plane into a really fast plane. Later, he adds a bipedal mecha transformation. These come from directly from the games: Sonic Adventure features Tails's Tornado transforming from one plane into another (with no actual effect, really), while Tails runs around in the bipedal mecha in Sonic Adventure 2.
• Many robots in the Brave Series (such as King of Braves GaoGaiGar) could transform. And then they started combining with each other and bolting extra bits on.
• Another very early example was Pook (from the slavic (or was it Celtic?) word Pooka, a type of animal spirit) from Astroboy, a robot kid who could turn into a variety of animals before his transformation system was destroyed by trying to change into too many things too fast. In the GBA game he also becomes a Combining Mecha, gaining the ability to change into the "heart" of the planet destroying alien robot Garon. Transformers show up a few other times in Astroboy, including Odette, a robot ballet dancer who turns into a swan who was created for a fairytale theme park attraction based on Swan Lake.
• The Super Robot Raideen, who debuted around the same time as Getter Robo, was probably the first straight-up example of a giant robot who became a vehicle, turning into a bird-themed aircraft.
• Gundam: In "rough" order.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The original (titular) RX-78-2 Gundam straddles this trope and Combining Mecha thanks to its core-fighter and G-Fighter components. Unlike many, it's a single suit with one mode.
  • Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam:
    • The titular Zeta Gundam is this series' primary example and one of the first traditional Transforming Mecha in the franchise, transforming into a Waverider Mode for greater speed and athmospheric reentry capabilites.
    • Other mecha in Zeta that can transform include the Methuss, Gaplant, Asshimar, Hambrabi and the Messala. The Hyaku Shiki was designed as a transforming mecha but it didn't quite work. The Advance of Zeta side-stories add even more. There's also the Psycho Gundam, which first appears as a massive Mobile Armor before transforming into a 40-meter tall Mobile Suit, dwarfing what are already Humongous Mecha.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ: The ZZ Gundam's G-Fortress mode. The Gaza series (the Gaza-C debuted in Zeta, but the series gets mass-deployed with the improved Gaza-D and the Ga-Zowmn here) also counts. The Bawoo has a split module transformation like the original Gundam above.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack has the ReGZ, which transforms by attaching it's shield as the plane nosecone.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn: continues the trend with the Loto (MS to Tank), Delta Plus (upgraded version of the Hyaku Shiki from Zeta with restored transformation) , ReZEL (a development of the ReGZ, itself a development from the Zeta) and Anksha (MS to Flight Form - a development of the abovementioned Asshimar); the latter two can carry friendly MS into battle while transformed. The titular Unicorn also transforms, from an ordinary mobile suit with a Unicorn horn to a red-glowing Gundam of death.
  • Mobile Suit Victory Gundam: Victory 1 & 2 Gundams which transform and combine. Some Zanscare mobile suits, such as the Zolo line (top and bottom module similar to the Bawoo) and the Tomliat (attack helicopter to Mobile Suit) also transform.
  • Mobile Fighter G Gundam: The Nether Gundam, which can turn into a windmill (yes, really). The Heaven's Sword Gundam, which has a bird-like flight mode and a fighter mode. And then there's the Devil Gundam, which keeps coming up with more and more new forms as the series goes on.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: The titular Gundam (known in series as "Unit 1") can go from Bird mode to Mobile Suit mode and back, and Wing Zero^note The prototype for all the gundams, making it a double Super Prototype could transform as well. Epyon transformed into a dragon-shaped mecha. Gundam Wing Endless Waltz changed the designs, however, and Wing Zero lost its transformation for a while, until Gunpla kits gave it a new one.
    • The Taurus as both mobile suit and mobile doll had a "fighter" mode capable of atmospheric flight and higher speeds. The Aries also transforms into a flight mode which essectially ammounts to flipping the feet around and deploying a pair of wings.
  • After War Gundam X: Both of Witz Su's Airmaster Gundams have plane-shaped flight modes, as the name would imply. Olba Frost's Gundam Ashtaron also has a mobile armor mode that evokes the many aquatic mobile armors of the original series.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: A large number of them, to the point that most of them transform. The Strike Gundam (the one operated by the protagonist) uses Mecha Expansion Packs. Orb's military force mainly consist of Murasames, mass-produced transforming mobile suits, in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. There are other examples in ZAFT and the Earth Alliance as well, namely the Impulse Gundam and BABI for ZAFT, and the Destroy Gundam and Wild Dagger for the Alliance.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam 00: The Flags (and their European counterpart the Enact) have robot mode and a vaguely airplane like mode, as do the Kyrios and Arios Gundams. The final episode of Gundam 00 contains what has to be the best, albeit likely unintentional lampshading of this trope ever, when Big Bad Ribbons' Mobile suit transforms from a Mobile Suit into . . . a slightly different Mobile Suit.
    • The Flags and Enacts are odd examples because rather than transforming mid-battle like pretty much every other example on this page, they have to be "converted" between forms while at an airbase, because an attempt mid flight would put a lot of stress on both the suit's joints and the pilot's body. Graham Aker is the first pilot to attempt a mid-air transformation, and by the time of The Movie, the Braves (successors to the Flags) are all capable of doing so.
  • SD Gundam Force: Captain Gundam has a Gunvehicle mode.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: The Gundam AGE 1 has two Mecha Expansion Pack that actually replace the arms and legs. The AGE 2 fits the more traditional transformation meaning by transforming into a plane mode, in addition to using removable parts like the AGE 1. By the time the AGE 2 is constructed, it appears that the Red Shirt mecha for the Earth faction can use similar designs to the AGE 1. The Red Shirt mecha that accompany AGE 3 are the traditional plane/mech model. The Unknown Enemy also known as Vagan has several mecha which can transform into dragons.
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans: The Gundam Kimaris Trooper, piloted by Gaelio Bauduin, can transform into a centaur-like hover mode. The Gundam Flauros (aka the "Ryusei-Go IV") can transform into a four-legged version meant to provide extra stability when it fires its gigantic back-mounted rail gun, turning the Gundam into a fixed-position artillery unit.
  • Gundam Build Fighters: Ricardo's Wing Fenice... does not transform, contrary to the kit it was based on. This is partly because of its Fashionable Asymmetry putting both of its wings on one side, and partly because it has no shield, which would be required to transform it anyway. The later Fenice Rinascita does have a transformation though.
  • Gundam Build Fighters Try: Yuuma's Lightning Gundam, based on the Re-GZ from Char's Counterattack and given several upgrades, features a similar transformation. Fumina also has one in the Star Winning Gundam, an SD that turns into a more normal Mobile Suit.
  • Gundam Build Divers: Ayame's RX-Zeromaru has three forms, a normal SD form, a Mobile Suit form, and a Bird-like "Armed Armor Hattori" form. The two Co-Dragons of Avalon also use two variants of the Impulse Gundam which they can swap parts with, and their boss Kyoya's AGE-2 Magnum is based on the AGE-2.
  • Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE features many variations on suits that already transform, but also has its own fair share: Hiroto's Core Gundam II can turn into a plane by combining with its shield, and both versions of Core Gundam can combine with different "Planet Units" to change into specialized units. Kazami's Aegis Knight retains the transformation of the original Aegis Gundam. The obligatory SD kit, the Valkylander, also has a slight twist on the idea, as it goes from SD form to Dragon form.
• A mild example, Sonic Divers from Sky Girls can transform between Glider Mode (read: jet mode) and Armor Mode (read: mobile suit mode). These transformations are more for functionality than visual, because of their aerial exoskeleton armor structure, Sonic Divers can't perform a flashy transformation without grinding their pilots into meatbag.
• The QT Arms in The Girl Who Leapt Through Space. They start off as a spaceship with a circular set of rocket boosters on the back, but can transform into a sort of centaurian humanoid form utilizing the boosters as a set of legs.
• In Viper's Creed, the mechs can transform into a motorcycle-like form for added speed, but the catch is that they can't be too high from the roadway or they can't gain their energy through wireless power. Enemy mecha mooks, on the other hand, don't have this limitation.
• The vehicles form RideBack can switch between a Segway-like standing mode where they have wheels instead of feet for better agility; and a bike like form equivalent to a human doing the splits-which has higher speed.
• Phoron of Polyphonica has a bike that can transform into some sort of piano-based music center. Since Magic Music is fundamental in the world of Polyphonica, this is definitely a good thing.
• Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne has the Vox units, which transform from a plane into a mecha.
• In Code Geass, Gino's Tristan can turn into a jet and back.
  • Lelouch/Zero's Shinkirou could also transform into a Jet/Submarine "Fortress Mode". The MR-1 frames seem to be a mass-produced civilian variation of this, going from truck to mecha.
• In Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, The Arc-Gurren and Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren are multi-kilometric spaceships that double as Meta Mechas (the latter, apart of being a Meta Mecha of the former, can ALSO become the Moon.
  • Most of the Four Generals seem to have multi-mode mecha. Adiane's Sayrune mecha can go from a Winged Humanoid shape with a talking vagina to a hulking scorpion monster. Guame's Gember can switch between a hulking ape-like mode and some kind of woodlouse thing, and Cytomander's Shuzack changes from a Winged Humanoid to a disembodied skull with wings and scythe-arms.
  • The Kiyalunga combines this with Mecha Expansion Pack in that it can transform into a lance and shield that can then be wielded by the King Kittan to form the King Kittan Deluxe.
• Team Rocket in Pokémon: The Series has made several of these, including a recent one that goes from digger to piloted mech. They're not as durable as most examples of the trope.
• Argento Soma: The SARG robots can switch between being a plane and a robot.
• Nekketsu Saikyo Gosaurer has a bunch of mechs that go from being an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL to a bunch of robot dinosaurs.
• The titular characters from Karas can change into jets or tank-racecar hybrids. Their actual transformations are a bit cheaty, as they go through a portal and come out changed on the other side. In the end, though, it doesn't really matter due to Rule of Cool.
• Genesis Climber MOSPEADA features two types: the MOSPEADA, motorcycles that can turn into powered armor, and the Legioss, which are similar to the Valkyrie fighters from Macross. This was one of Kenichi Sonada's first jobs in animation, and he liked the concept enough to reuse it for...
• The Motoslaves that the Knight Sabers ride from Bubblegum Crisis. Transformed, they can either act as independent combat robots or as extended power suits to provide their riders with additional firepower and some aerial mobility.
• Mazinger Z gets in on the action in Shin Mazinger by having the titular mech turn into a giant fist.
• The title mecha of Ninja Senshi Tobikage.
• Fairy Tail: Jose Porla can transform his entire castle in a giant mecha.
• Panzer World Galient: The titular Humongous Mecha is capable of transforming into a red-and-white jet fighter.
• The☆Ultraman has a powerful mechanical juggernaut monster called Dragodos, who assumes the form of a flying saucer for travelling around, but transforms into a serpentine form (bristling with weapons, including two Power Pincers and a buzzsaw tail) in order to battle Ultraman Joneus.
• Beethes, aka Beethoven (yes, that Beethoven) from Classicaloid creates these from large, mostly mechanical objects with Magic Music. This goes from Rule of Cool to Rule of Funny when he gets turned into a fish temporarily and makes a crab mecha out of an oven and kitchen equipment.
• In ID-0 the former racer Rick Ayer has a custom I-Machine that is able to transform into a fast and manoeuvrable jet-like vehicle
• 1990s anime fandubbing house Seishun Shitemasu (guilty of, among other films, the Parody Fandub Ranma 1/3: Notes from the Closet) included the phrase "It even turns into a giant robot!" as an inside joke catchphrase, a reference to its first project, the Gunbuster fandub Robotech III: Not Necessarily the Sentinels.
• Thanks to his magic, Henry from Black Clover can transform the Black Bulls' hideout into a humanoid bull to fight or a four-legged bull for transportation.
• Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons: Para-mails and Ragna-mails can switch between two forms, the flying motorcycle-/plane-like 'Flight Mode' and humanoid 'Assault' or 'Destroyer Mode.'