Mecha 20559 226075127 2008-07-16T18:42:59Z Rror 6252166 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/81.158.227.134|81.158.227.134]] to last version by 96.20.5.141 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Otheruses4|the term (slightly improperly) used in science fiction, anime, and manga|other uses|Mecha (disambiguation)}} {| style="float:right; background:none;" | |- |[[Image:Bogatyr.JPG|thumb|A PAC T39 Bogatyr from [[Battlefield 2142]]]] |- |} '''Mecha''', also known as '''meka''' or '''mechs''', are walking [[vehicle]]s controlled by a pilot, often appearing in [[science fiction]] or other genres involving a fantastic or futuristic element. Mecha are generally, though not necessarily, [[bipedal]]. In most fiction in which they appear, mecha are war machines: essentially [[armored fighting vehicle]]s with legs instead of [[tread]]s or [[wheel]]s (there are some exceptions). Some stories, such as the [[manga]] [[Patlabor]] and American miniatures game [[Battletech]], also encompass mecha used for civilian purposes such as heavy construction work, [[police]] functions, or [[firefighting]]. Some sci-fi universes posit that mecha are the primary means of combat, with conflicts sometimes being decided through [[gladiator|gladiatorial matches]]. Others represent mecha as one component of an integrated [[military]] force, supported by and fighting alongside [[tank]]s, [[fighter aircraft]], and [[infantry]], functioning as a mechanical cavalry. The applications often highlight the theoretical usefulness of such a device, combining a tank's resilience and fire power with infantry's ability to cross unstable terrain. The distinction between true mecha and their smaller cousins (and likely progenitors), the [[powered armor]] suits, is blurred; according to one definition, a mecha is piloted while a powered armor is worn. Anything large enough to have a cockpit where the pilot is seated is generally considered a mecha. The first occurrence of mecha in fiction is thought to be the novel ''[[The War of the Worlds (novel)|The War of the Worlds]]'' by [[H. G. Wells]] where the [[Martians]] use [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|tripod]] walkers very similar to mecha, but this fails to take into account that, thirty years before, Jules Verne published the ''[[The Steam House|La Maison à vapeur (The Steam House)]]'', which featured a steam-powered, piloted, mechanical elephant. The first occurrence of mecha robots being piloted by a user from within a cockpit was later introduced in the [[manga]] and [[anime]] series ''[[Mazinger Z]]'' by [[Go Nagai]].<ref name=Gilson>Mark Gilson, "A Brief History of Japanese Robophilia", ''Leonardo'' '''31''' (5), p. 367–369 [368].</ref> Rarely, mecha has been used in a [[fantasy]] convention, most notably in the anime series ''[[Aura Battler Dunbine]]'', ''[[The Vision of Escaflowne]]'' and ''[[Maze (anime)|Maze]]''. In those cases, the mecha designs are usually based on some alternative or 'lost' science-fiction technology from ancient times. ==Word origin and usage== [[Image:Battletech cover legendofthejadephoenix.jpg|thumb|[[BattleMech]]s from the cover of the novel ''The Legend of the Jade Phoenix'' by [[Robert Thurston]] ]] The term "mecha" is derived from the [[Japanese (language)|Japanese]] abbreviation {{nihongo|'''meka'''|メカ}} for the English word "[[wikt:Mechanical|mechanical]]". In Japanese, "mecha" encompasses all mechanical objects, including [[automobile|cars]], [[firearm|guns]], [[computers]], and other devices. In this sense, it is extended to humanoid, human-sized robots and such things as the boomers from ''[[Bubblegum Crisis]]'', the similar [[replicant]]s of ''[[Blade Runner]]'', and [[cyborg]]s can be referred to as mecha, as well as mundane real-life objects such as industrial robots, cars and even toasters. The Japanese use the term {{nihongo|"robots"|ロボット|robotto}} or "giant robots" to distinguish limbed vehicles from other mechanical devices. The first widespread English language usage of the term was in the animated series ''[[Robotech]]'' which was an English dubbing and rewriting of three different anime and the terms usage since then has mostly associated in the west with either robotic (occasionally transforming) piloted vehicles or powered armored battlesuits which are worn akin to exoskeletons. There are exceptions; in the film ''[[A.I.: Artificial Intelligence]]'', the word is used to describe "mechanicals" ([[robot]]ic [[humanoid]]s), as opposed to "orga" for "organics" (humans). With respect to powered armor suits, mecha typically do not refer to form fitting garments such as the [[Iron Man]] armor. Armored suit mecha tend to be much larger and bulkier than the wearer and the wearer's limbs may or may not actually extend completely into the respective limbs. The [[Life Model Decoy]]s in the [[Marvel Comics]] miniseries ''[[Livewires (comic)|Livewires]]'' and [[Artificial Intelligence]] refer to themselves as mecha. The term "mech" is used to describe such vehicles considerably more often in Western entertainment than in Asian entertainment. "Mech" as a term originated from BattleTech (where it is often written as 'Mech, short for BattleMech or OmniMech), and is not used in Japan in other contexts except as an unintentional misspelling of "mecha." (One exception is the Japanese version of BattleTech, which attempts to retain the English word.) In Japanese, "robot" is the more frequent term (see 'Other meanings' below). In the Japanese stories themselves, they are seldom known as "mecha". ==Japanese mecha== Robot mecha are quite popular in [[Japan]]ese [[manga]], and by extension [[anime]]. In Western entertainment, they are occasionally seen in [[video game]]s, especially the action, strategy and simulation [[video game genres|genres]], but the most well-known Western context for mecha is ''[[BattleTech]]''. The original ''BattleTech''—a [[tabletop strategy game]]—has been the basis of numerous games and products in other media. The term "mech" is used to describe such vehicles considerably more often in Western entertainment than in Asian entertainment. "Mech" as a term originated from BattleTech (where it is often written as 'Mech, short for BattleMech or OmniMech), and is not used in Japan in other contexts except as an unintentional misspelling of "mecha". With few exceptions like the Japanese version of BattleTech, which attempts to retain the English word, or [[Tomino Yoshiyuki]] who use the term mecha in [[Combat Mecha Xabungle]] and [[Space Runaway Ideon]]. In Japanese, "robot" is the more frequent term. In the Japanese stories themselves, they are seldom known as "mecha". ==Mechas in fiction== ===In manga and anime=== {{see|Super Robot|Real Robot}} [[Image:War-of-the-worlds-tripod.jpg|180px|left|thumb|Illustration of a [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]] from the 1906 French edition of [[The War of the Worlds]]]] In Japan, "robot anime" (known as "mecha anime" outside Japan) is a genre that features the vehicles and their pilots as the central plot points. Here, the average robot mecha are usually twenty feet tall at the smallest, outfitted with a wide variety of weapons, and quite frequently have tie-ins with toy manufacturers. The ''[[Gundam]]'' franchise is a prominent example: Gundam toys and model kits (produced by the Japanese toymaker [[Bandai]]) are ubiquitous in [[Japan]]. The size of mechas can vary according to the story and concepts involved. Some of them may not be considerably taller than a tank (''[[Code Geass]]'', ''[[Eureka Seven]]''), some may be a few stories tall (''[[Gundam]]'', ''[[Escaflowne]]'') and others can be as tall as a [[skyscraper]] (''[[Space Runaway Ideon]]''). There are also mecha which are big enough to contain the population of an entire city (''[[Macross]]'' / ''[[Robotech]]''), some the size of a small moon (''[[Transformers]]'', ''[[Diebuster]]'') and some the size of a large galaxy (''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]''). The genre started with Mitsuteru Yokoyama's 1956 [[manga]] ''[[Gigantor|Tetsujin 28-go]]'' (which was later animated in 1963 and also released abroad as ''[[Gigantor]]''). Its inclusion is debatable however, as the robot was controlled by remote instead of a cockpit in the machine. Not long after that the genre was largely defined by author [[Go Nagai]], into something considerably more fantastical. ''[[Mazinger Z]]'', his most famous creation, was not only the first successful [[Super Robot]] anime series, but also the pioneer of the genre staples like robots being piloted by the hero from within a cockpit<ref name=Gilson/> and weapons that were activated by the hero calling out their names ("Rocket Punch!"). It was also a pioneer in [[die-cast]] metal toys such as the [[Chogokin]] series in Japan and the [[Shogun Warriors]] in the U.S., that were (and still are) very popular with children and collectors. Robot/mecha anime and manga differ vastly in storytelling and animation quality from title to title, and content ranges all the way from children's shows to ones intended for an older teen or adult audience. Some robot mecha are capable of transformation (''[[Macross]]'' / ''[[Robotech]]'', ''[[Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam|Zeta Gundam]]'', ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00|Gundam 00]]'') or combining to form even bigger ones (see ''[[Voltron]]'' and ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]''). [[Go Nagai]] is also often credited with inventing this in 1974 with the television series ''[[Getter Robo]]''. The ''mecha'' genre, one of the oldest genres in anime, is still alive and well in the new millennium, with revival OVAs like ''Getter Robo: the Last Day'' and ''[[Mazinkaiser]]'' from the [[Super Robot]] tradition, the recent ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]]'' and ''[[Code Geass]]'' from the [[Real Robot]] genre, and ''[[Reideen]]'', a recent remake of the 1975 hit series ''[[Brave Raideen]]''. Other recent anime series in the mecha genre include ''[[Heroic Age (anime)|Heroic Age]]'' and particularly ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'', a Super Robot anime with elements from the Real Robot genre. ===In film=== <!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Atst.jpg|thumb|right|An [[AT-ST]] from ''[[Star Wars]]''.]] --> Perhaps the most well-known example of mecha are the [[Walker (Star Wars)|Walker]]s such as the AT-AT and AT-ST from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' series of films. The [[Hollywood]] movie ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' featured a cargoloader as a civilian mecha (although this instance blurs the line between being a mecha or an [[powered armor|exoskeleton]]). More famously known for impacting American citizens{{Fact|date=April 2008}} is the film ''[[Robot Jox]]'', featuring two giant mech fight scenes. Arguably, the concept of piloted mecha goes back decades before Tetsujin-28. The [[tripod (The War of the Worlds)|tripods]] featured in ''[[The War of the Worlds (novel)|The War of the Worlds]]'', with advanced weaponry and dedicated piloting stations, are perhaps the forerunners of modern mecha. ===In games=== Mecha are often featured in computer and console games. Because of their size and power, and the resultant potential for massive [[property damage]] resulting from that size and power, mecha are quite popular subjects for games, both tabletop and electronic. One popular classic of mecha in games is the [[MechWarrior]] series of video games. Another game [[Heavy Gear|Heavy Gear 2]] offers a complex yet semi-realistic control system for its' mechas in both [[terrain]] and [[outer space]] warfare. [[Armored Core]] is one of the more popular Japanese franchises today, combining industrial customizable mech designs with fast-paced action. Rivaling Armored Core is [[Front Mission]], a Turn based tactics series of games by [[SquareEnix]]. It features japanese mech designs with more realistic physics, reserving the lightning speed common in the japanese mecha genre to special machines. ==Mechas in real life == Few prototypes are being made to build mecha-like vehicles in real life. Currently almost all of these are too slow or cumbersome to have any real application. * '''Landwalker''': A functioning prototype Japanese bipedal mecha being developed by Sakakibara Kikai.<ref>http://www.sakakibara-kikai.co.jp/ Sakakibara Kikai website (Japanese)</ref><ref>[http://youtube.com/watch?v=oVwbUljGs3g A video on YouTube demonstrating the Landwalker]</ref> * '''[[T-52 Enryu]]''': Translated name "Rescue Dragon", it is a 3.5 meter-tall hydraulically-operated robotic vehicle developed by [[Tmsuk]]. The vehicle has two hands, which copy the controller's movements. Its intended application is to open a path in the debris for the rescue team. Few companies and organizations are doing some research about it: * '''[[Timberjack]]''' ([[John Deere tractor|John Deere subsidiary]]): A known tractor seller company, built a practical [[Hexapod (robotics)|hexapod]] walking tractor to cut trees in forests.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2V8GFqk_Y A video on youtube about Timberjack's walking machine]</ref> * '''MPS''' (Mechanized Propulsion Systems Incorporated) allege they will build an "anime style" mecha within 25 years. They claim to be developing mecha for commercial, industrial, and eventually military use.<ref>[http://www.mechaps.com/about/ MPS Website]</ref> ==See also== *[[Specific mecha in media]] *[[Powered exoskeleton]] ==Notes and references== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.mmft.org Monthly Mecha Fighting Tournament] Community of fans that design mecha of all genres with a drawing competition as main attraction. *[http://www.gearsonline.net Gears Online] *[http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/customview.cgi?include=Mecha Brickshelf Lego mecha galleries] *[http://www.mahq.net/ Mecha Anime HQ]: Extensive coverage on Gundams and other mecha. * {{fr}} [http://www.hangar-mk.com hangar-mk, dedicate to mecha kit] ;Real projects: * http://www.basicrobotics.net/mech.html (a $1200 mech) * http://www.mechaps.com * http://www.sakakibara-kikai.co.jp (it walks, but very slowly) [[Category:Anime and manga terminology]] [[Category:Science fiction themes]] [[Category:Science fiction weapons]] [[Category:Mecha|*]] [[ar:ميكا (آلة)]] [[de:Mech]] [[es:Mecha (robot)]] [[fr:Mecha]] [[hr:Mecha]] [[it:Mecha]] [[he:מכה (אנימציה)]] [[nl:Mecha]] [[ja:メカ]] [[pl:Mecha]] [[pt:Mecha]] [[ru:Меха (аниме)]] [[sv:Mecha]]