It's Robot Voting Time
By Turambar 30 Comments
The nomination phase for the second annual Sai Mecha has started once again. This is a time for bloody battle, vitriol filled hate, and the drinking of the tears of anyone who thinks Shin Getter Robo has a chance of being nominated. Head over to the the main site for all the information on how the brackets will break down, but I'll leave the rules for submissions here.
1. Choose up to 10 mecha, and email them to executiveotaku@gmail.com. One entry per person. Please put the series the mecha is from after each.
2. The 32 mecha with the most nominations will be put into a randomized bracket and split into the Earth Side and Colonies Side.
3. The following 4 mecha cannot be nominated as they are the final four of the previous year and are already seeded: Zaku II, Eva Unit 01, VF-1 Valkyrie, YF-19 Excalibur
For all of you guys going "Fuck you and your animu robots. I'd rather nominate something out of Mechwarrior", go watch Flag, and then nominate the HAVWC. That's about as real world practical but remain sci-fi fancy as you can get.
Here are my own submissions in no particular order. The VF-1 is my first love and YF-19 my true love, so it's a good thing I don't need wax emotionally about those two and have two more slots in my list. I have a general lean towards reals over supers, so anyone wondering why Gurren Lagann is not on there, there you go. (Also I'm trying to have as few renomination as possible and Gurren Lagann made the list last year.)
1. YF-29 Durandal (Wings of Goodbye). It's the latest variable fighter entry in the Macross franchise and oh god what a beauty this thing is. While the VF-25's Tornado pack might let it roll like no tomorrow, the Durandal has a slimmer, far snazzier frame while still inheriting the VF-25's ridiculously good looking battleroid mode.
2. GP-03 Dendrobium Orchis (Stardust Memories). Probably my favorite design out of the Gundam franchise, it is a giant mobile armor weapons platform carried on the back of a Gundam. It fits its flower derived name as it is one giant flower of death for entire fleets with its array of beam rifles, bazookas, chain mines, and cluster missile packs. All this firepower takes up space, and it's nice to see one of the few mecha designs in general that does not streamline it all into the frame, and instead gives it a proper amount of bulk. Also a fantastic enough of a design that Marvel Comics ripped it off wholesale.
3. Genesic GaoGaiGar (GaoGaiGar Final). It is a robot that runs on courage. If you dislike it, you are a horrible person who does not deserve to see the light of day. Unless that light is caused by GaoGaiGar swinging down the full might of the planet sized Goldion Crusher.
4. Big O (The Big O). When the class of your super robot is called a Megadeus, you envision something that exudes gigantic strength. Something that is thick, lumbering, seemingly indestructible. That sums up the design philosophy behind the Big O. When it punches with its arms, you can feel the raw power behind those strikes. It also helps that it is piloted by the mother fucking batman as well as a far more awesome Robin, and serviced by an Alfred that knows how to use grenade launchers.
5. Knight of Gold (Five Star Stories). While the lead Mortar Head of Five Star Stores, it is not my favorite design in that universe. (That vote goes to either the AUGE or the Blazing Empress). However, it is the only one that was animated and is still one hell of a sight to behold. It tugs at my heart strings for mecha of a very regal design along with a beautiful golden color scheme, just as the name suggests.
6. Escaflowne (Vision of Escaflowne). Speaking of mecha with regal ass designs, you really can't go wrong with this one. The show (much like FFS) has it's armored beings serve not just as usual pieces of military hardware. They are the swords and steeds of knights, and look and act as such. As a sword, Escaflowne is clad in white armor. It needs no fancy schmancy weapon platform system, satisfied with the sword in its hand that allows for duels. As a steed, it turns into a mother fucking dragon.
7. VF-25F Messiah (Macross Frontier). Another variable fighter coming out of Macross Frontier, the Messiah is probably the first one of its kind with a battleroid mode that I'd consider pretty. Also that pitch. That yaw. That mother fucking roll. (Can anyone tell that I'm a giant fan of Kawamori's designs yet?)
8. Delphine (Broken Blade). The trope of putting an inexperienced pilot in a relatively overpowered suite is not a new one. But the way Rygart's fights with the Delphine plays out most definitely is not the norm. Swords, kunais, nunchucks, spiked bulldozers with a sword in it, and a giant ninja star yoyo of death. It's final fight was one of my favorite moments of last year, and I still stand by that.
9. Mazinger Z (Shin Mazinger Z). The original Mazinger series was way beyond my time, so I am quite happy with the ability to watch it yet again. I've always liked the design of the Black Castle of Steel: simple with a great color scheme. It's modernized version still boasts many of its iconic moves including the rocket punch and breast fire. But it also has a few more tricks up it's sleeves. Such as turning into a giant rocket punch, or summoning a legion of rocket punches that turn into one giant rocket punch. For the super robot that originated that attack, it definitely makes the most of the incredible legacy.
10. Hyaku Shikki (Z Gundam). Here are the reasons: 1. It is piloted by the most awesome version of Char (the one that wins because he's a good guy for once lol). 2. It looks pretty as all hell. 3. It's designed by Kawamori. I really wish Gundam Unicorn's Delta Plus kept that gold paint job. I'd nominate that instead if it did due to its transformation that looks better than almost every other new variable mobile suit Z Gundam vomited out on a per episode basis.