For whatever reason, newer anime fans can often be somewhat trepidatious about mecha - the subgenre of anime that deals in giant robots. Perhaps it's because many of the classic mecha shows come from the '70s and '80s and are perceived as dated, perhaps it's because robots themselves are seen as quaint, or perhaps it's because they feel that without a personal interest in robots they'll struggle to enjoy the genre.
Be not afraid! Mecha is not as intimidating as it seems, and the subgenre is home to so many of anime's all-time classics that it's impossible to ignore entirely for any serious anime fan. Those without much of a stomach for robots need not worry either, these shows are classics for stories and characters first, and can therefore be enjoyed by anybody.
Patlabor: The Mobile Police
The sprawling Patlabor series is endearing at face value: it's an action-comedy cop show, but with giant robots. Another selling point is that the show was created and directed by Mamoru Oshii, the famous director of Ghost in the Shell. Patlabor sees its characters using robots to resolve traffic disputes and DUIs, as well as the occasional giant monster or government conspiracy.
Patlabor itself can be somewhat confusing to get into due to its numerous movies, OVAs, and TV shows, but the 1988 OVA series by the same name is generally agreed to be among the better places to start. It's a short and sweet introduction to what makes Patlabor what it is, and the viewer can always venture further into the franchise if they want more.
Super Dimension Fortress Macross
Without a doubt, one of anime's greatest space operas, 1982's SDF Macross is a story of love and loyalty, as well as robots (that turn into space planes!) and aliens. Starring an idealistic pilot named Hikaru, Macross centers around an alien spaceship reclaimed by humanity that finds itself trapped in the far reaches of outer space, and caught up in a destructive conflict against seemingly implacable alien enemies.
The series is called a space opera for good reason, too. The core of the story is one of love and loss, the fickle nature of the heart as well as that of war. Complimenting the excellent original series is 1984's Macross: Do You Remember Love, a cinematic retelling of the story that is undoubtedly one of the best-looking movies of the era, thanks to its outrageously high-quality animation and art.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
New fans are often somewhat intimidated by the name Gundam, and it's hard to blame them, really. The franchise has been going on for so long that there are seemingly dozens of different timelines and backstories, as well as the histories of about three different fictional wars that a viewer must be familiar with.
Thankfully, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is an entirely self-contained story set in a self-contained universe and therefore requires no background knowledge to enjoy. The story features an organization of shadowy means called Celestial Being, and their only goal is to stop warfare from being waged by way of overwhelming force. Concerned with questions like what is and is not permissible in armed conflict, and whether or not there's such a thing as a just war, Gundam 00 is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to get into the storied mecha franchise.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
1996's Neon Genesis Evangelion is considered an all-time classic in anime circles. The legendary show from director Hideaki Anno shattered the boundaries of what was considered acceptable, or even possible for TV anime at the time. By boldly engaging with bizarre aesthetics, complex themes, and experimental direction, Evangelion revolutionized anime forever.
Even ignoring its influence, Evangelion is an excellent show in its own right, combining well-realized and memorable characters with inventive fight scenes. Although its experimental presentation may be a turn-off for some, anyone with even a cursory interest in anime owes it to themselves to watch Evangelion.
Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion
"Come for the robots, but stay for the politics" might well describe the experience of most Geass fans out there. Although it does feature some pretty intense mecha combat, the primary things that Geass fans like to gush about are the anime's complex and constantly evolving political loyalties, and numerous shocking plot twists.
Fans of the later seasons of Attack on Titan are likely to feel right at home with this one, as will anyone with a taste for stories of intrigue, betrayal, and characters with shadowy intentions.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
08th MS Team is one of the many side story tie-ins to the primary Gundam timeline, focusing on a snapshot of the larger conflict at hand and dealing with entirely different characters. Fortunately, there isn't too much background required to enjoy this one, as it's mostly a diverting action show with some of the franchise's best mecha battles.
Beginners to the mecha subgenre often struggle with the perceived lack of realism of giant robots blasting each other with lasers. 08th MS Team will be a happy introduction for that sort of fan because it adopts a deliberately more grounded approach to robot combat than some of its counterparts. The machines here are unglamorous tools of war, and the "modern military" theme to the show helps to make it more approachable.
Eureka Seven
Eureka Seven is an ecologically themed love story about transforming robots that soar about on airborne surfboards, and it's a good introduction to mecha anime in general because while it deploys a wide range of tropes familiar to the genre, they're almost always implemented well and are occasionally subverted in interesting ways.
The full scope of E7's plot and world takes a while to reveal their true natures, which can make the anime feel like it takes a little while to get off the ground. This isn't a huge issue, though, because the excellent cast and thrilling animation make even the more episodic stories an engaging affair.
Aim For The Top! Gunbuster
The directorial debut of the legendary Hideaki Anno, Aim for the Top! Gunbuster is a 1988 OVA from studio Gainax about students learning to pilot giant robots in order to defend Earth from ravenous space bugs. The series is part '80s training montage and part war story nightmare, which is certainly reminiscent of Anno's cavalier attitude towards genre.
Gunbuster is loosely based on Osamu Dezaki's classic '70s tennis anime Aim for the Ace! and as such features similar themes of hard work overcoming all (but this time with less tennis and more robots). Gunbuster also has an excellent, albeit very different, sequel by the name of Diebuster for those who enjoy the original.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Gainax's Gurren Lagann has a reputation as being the very avatar of hype itself. The outrageous animation style of director Hiroyuki Imaishi perfectly complements the equally outrageous attitude of the show: this is an anime that wants to constantly push boundaries, and constantly up the stakes.
However, that reputation of pure hype sells the show short, somewhat. Although it certainly is hype, the story offers a deceptively mature take on the nature of dealing with loss, personal growth, and the cost of leadership. Don't be fooled, Gurren Lagann has thematic depth to chew on despite its upstart presentation - it just also helps that those themes are presented in one of the most insane robot shows ever created.
Mobile Suit Gundam
In 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam revolutionized mecha anime and the industry itself forever. Far from its cartoonish contemporaries about superhero-like robots beating up robot dinosaurs operated by evil wizards, Gundam opted to present its robots not as heroes but as simple weapons of war. And this time the antagonists, rather than mustache-twirling professors or malevolent aliens, would be other people.
In what is still one of anime's definitive war stories, Mobile Suit Gundam paints a complex portrait of the setting's political landscape, as well as the ripple effect that the conflict has on the characters caught up in it. As tragic as it is exciting, Gundam deserves every bit of its legendary reputation.