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Real Robot (リアルロボット, Riaru Robotto) is a term first seen in the Super Robot Wars series of video games, to describe robots or mecha that are treated as realistic tools/weapons rather than as heroic semi-characters, or Super Robots.

It can also refer to a genre of Japanese animation. Tomino Yoshiyuki's Gundam series is the quintessential example of the real robot genre and Mobile Suit Gundam is largely considered the first series to introduce the real robot genre. It established the concepts behind "real robots" that set it apart from previous robot anime, such as:

The robot is used as an industrial machine with arms/manipulators and is manufactured by military and commercial enterprises of various nations.
The concept of industrial production and commercial manufacturing processes appeared for the first time in the history of robot shows, introducing manufacturing language like "mass-production (MP)", "prototype" and "test-type".
While classic super robots typically use special attacks activated by voice commands, real robots more commonly make use of manually operated scaled-up/advanced versions of human weapons, such as lasers/particle beams, guns, shields, and swords.
Real robots use mostly ranged weapons that require ammunition.
Real robots require periodic maintenance and are often prone to malfunction and break down, like real machines.
Real robots do not have regenerating/limitless fuel or power supplies.

(Note: This last example is not true in the case of the machines belonging to the protagonists of Gundam 00. Their Gundams are considered 'real' robots, but possess a regenerating/limitless fuel source in the form of a specialized device called the GN Drive)

Other series, such as Patlabor, explore non-military uses for real robots, like law enforcement and construction.

Japanese examples include Macross, Genesis Climber Mospeada, Front Mission, Armored Trooper VOTOMS, Nadesico, Southern Cross, Full Metal Panic, the Patlabor movies and, of course, the aforementioned Gundam series. Western examples include games such as Heavy Gear and Battletech, and the novel Starship Troopers, which is more related to powered exoskeleton than giant robots but gave motif to the very first real robot show, Mobile Suit Gundam.

What Japanese speakers refer to as real robots are popularly referred to by English-speaking fans as mecha, a re-borrowing of a Japanese abbreviation for the English term "mechanical". In Japanese, "mecha" refers to all robotic and non-robotic mechanical objects, including real robots, super robots, and everyday objects such as cars and toasters.

Inevitably, there are some types of mecha that are difficult to classify as either a real robot or a super robot. Some of these include the Aura Battlers from Aura Battler Dunbine or the Evangelion units from Neon Genesis Evangelion, which follow the general motif of real robots, but their origin and abilities are more like the typical super robot. The Mortar Heads from Five Star Stories are unique artifacts, treated like individual works of art by the fictional society present in the story, and their power often borderlines on super robot. However, their intricate engineering and the motif of their weaponry is often scientifically explained by series creator Mamoru Nagano which makes them very real robot-esque in other ways.

As this mixing of both genres is becoming increasingly popular in anime, it is often difficult to classify mecha as either real or super, although they often tend to lean more in one direction than the other. Even Gundam shows this tendency; while the mecha designs are based in the real robot genre, the characters in the show typically have unique robots designed specifically for them, and the shows often feature characters with psychic powers or superhuman abilities; the latter are both common in super robot anime, though the degree to which Gundam leans to either side of the spectrum varies considerably between installments.

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+{{unreferenced|date=November 2007}}
-{{nihongo|'''Real Robot'''|リアルロボット|Riaru Robotto}} is a term first seen in the 4th [[Super Robot Wars]] game, which is used to describe robots or [[mecha]] that are treated as realistic tools/weapons rather than as heroic semi-characters, or [[Super Robot]]s. <ref>Super Robot Wars data file, Game station June 2000 2nd issue SRW alpha special.</ref>
+<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Ms gundam a.gif|right|thumb|The RX-78-2 Gundam, the original "real robot"]] -->
-It can also refer to a genre of [[anime|Japanese animation]].{{Fact|date=November 2008}} ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'' is largely considered the first series to introduce the real robot idea, though it would still contain many trails of super robot anime, along with [[Super Dimension Fortress Macross]], would form the basis of what later people call '''real robot''' anime.<ref>10 commandments of Real robot, Gundam Sentinel introduction, Gundam workshop, Format ACG</ref>  In an interview of [[Tomino Yoshiyuki]] and other production crew members in the [[Newtype (magazine)]] April, 1989 issue, about his views on the first [[Gundam]] anime that is not directed by him, he commented on realiism of the show, in which he sees the sponsors, [[Sunrise (company)]] as imaginary enemies of Gundam, since they do not accept certain level of realism.<ref>Newtype magazine, April, 1989</ref> They established the concepts behind "real robots" that set it apart from previous robot anime, such as:
+{{nihongo|'''Real Robot'''|リアルロボット|Riaru Robotto}} is a term first seen in the [[Super Robot Wars]] series of video games, to describe robots or [[mecha]] that are treated as realistic tools/weapons rather than as heroic semi-characters, or [[Super Robot]]s.
+It can also refer to a genre of [[anime|Japanese animation]]. [[Tomino Yoshiyuki]]'s ''[[Gundam]]'' series is the quintessential example of the real robot genre and ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'' is largely considered the first series to introduce the real robot genre. It established the concepts behind "real robots" that set it apart from previous robot anime, such as:
 * The robot is used as an industrial machine with arms/[[manipulator]]s and is manufactured by military and commercial enterprises of various nations.
@@ Line 8: / Line 11: @@
 * Real robots use mostly [[ranged weapon]]s that require ammunition.
 * Real robots require periodic maintenance and are often prone to malfunction and break down, like real machines.
+* Real robots do not have regenerating/limitless fuel or power supplies.
+(Note: This last example is not true in the case of the machines belonging to the protagonists of Gundam 00. Their Gundams are considered 'real' robots, but possess a regenerating/limitless fuel source in the form of a specialized device called the [[GN Drive]])
+Other series, such as ''[[Patlabor]]'', explore non-military uses for real robots, like law enforcement and construction.
-Gundam series now still refer to itself as a real robot series.<ref>Mobile Suit Gundam, the classical real robot anime influenced various other production.  Even in it, the realism of the large robot using as a military weapon scene ''Gundam rising'' created various impacts at the time. (リアルロボットアニメの古典ともいえる『機動戦士ガンダム』は後のさまざまな作品に影響を与えたといわれる。なかでも、第1話での巨大ロボットを実感をもって、兵器として扱う「ガンダム起動」の描写には、当時さまざまな反響があったそうだ。 ) [http://www.gundam.info/content/123 ガンダム国勢調査　第24回]</ref><ref>Using the '''real robot''' side of Gundam and making it more realistic by using the real world industrial methods as the new concept design for this product. (ガンダムが持つ『リアルロボット』という側面をより現実（リアル）世界の工業製品的観点から捉えた新コンセプトデザインの商品です。) [http://www.gundam.channel.or.jp/product/item/4543112366504000.html ガンダムADAPT]</ref>
+Japanese examples include ''[[Macross]]'', ''[[Genesis Climber Mospeada]]'', ''[[Front Mission]]'', ''[[Armored Trooper VOTOMS]]'', ''[[Nadesico]]'', ''[[Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross|Southern Cross]]'', ''[[Full Metal Panic]]'', the ''[[Patlabor]]'' movies and, of course, the aforementioned ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam|Gundam]]'' series.  Western examples include games such as ''[[Heavy Gear]]'' and ''[[Battletech]]'', and the novel ''[[Starship Troopers]]'', which is more related to [[powered exoskeleton]] than [[giant robots]] but gave motif to the very first real robot show, ''Mobile Suit Gundam''.
-In western terms, '''real robot''' could be compared to '''[[hard science fiction]]''', '''[[military sci-fi]]''' with robots.
+What Japanese speakers refer to as real robots are popularly referred to by English-speaking fans as [[mecha]], a re-borrowing of a Japanese abbreviation for the English term "[[wikt:mechanical|mechanical]]".  In Japanese, "mecha" refers to all robotic and non-robotic mechanical objects, including real robots, super robots, and everyday objects such as cars and toasters.
-Other series, such as ''[[Patlabor]]'', explore non-military uses for real robots, like law enforcement and construction, although military use robots also exist in the series.
+Inevitably, there are some types of mecha that are difficult to classify as either a real robot or a super robot.  Some of these include the Aura Battlers from ''[[Aura Battler Dunbine]]'' or the [[Evangelion (mecha)|Evangelion units]] from ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise|Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', which follow the general motif of real robots, but their origin and abilities are more like the typical super robot.  The Mortar Heads from ''[[Five Star Stories]]'' are unique artifacts, treated like individual works of art by the fictional society present in the story, and their power often borderlines on super robot.  However, their intricate engineering and the motif of their weaponry is often scientifically explained by series creator Mamoru Nagano which makes them very real robot-esque in other ways.
-Japanese examples include ''[[Macross]]'', ''[[Genesis Climber Mospeada]]'', ''[[Front Mission]]'', ''[[Armored Trooper VOTOMS]]'', ''[[Nadesico]]'', ''[[Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross|Southern Cross]]'', ''[[Full Metal Panic]]'', the ''[[Patlabor]]'' movies and, of course, the aforementioned ''[[Gundam]]'' series. <!-- Western examples include games such as ''[[Heavy Gear]]'' and ''[[Battletech]]'', and the novel ''[[Starship Troopers]]'', which is more related to [[powered exoskeleton]] than [[giant robots]] but gave motif to the very first real robot show, ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. (This is really controversial and original research, before source is provided, it will be hidden)-->
+As this mixing of both genres is becoming increasingly popular in [[anime]], it is often difficult to classify mecha as either real or super, although they often tend to lean more in one direction than the other.  Even Gundam shows this tendency; while the mecha designs are based in the real robot genre, the characters in the show typically have unique robots designed specifically for them, and the shows often feature characters with psychic powers or superhuman abilities; the latter are both common in super robot anime, though the degree to which Gundam leans to either side of the spectrum varies considerably between installments.
-What Japanese speakers refer to as real robots are popularly referred to by English-speaking fans as [[mecha]]{{Fact|date=November 2008}}<!--It seems to me that mecha in English still refers to both real and super robots, please provide a source saying it is real robot specific-->, a re-borrowing of a Japanese abbreviation for the English term "[[wikt:mechanical|mechanical]]".  In Japanese, "mecha" refers to all robotic and non-robotic mechanical objects, including real robots, super robots, and everyday objects such as cars and toasters.
-Inevitably, there are some types of mecha that are difficult to classify as either a real robot or a super robot.  Some of these include the Aura Battlers from ''[[Aura Battler Dunbine]]'' or the [[Evangelion (mecha)|Evangelion units]] from ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise|Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', which follow the general motif of real robots, but their origin and abilities are more like the typical super robot.  The Mortar Heads from ''[[Five Star Stories]]'' are unique artifacts, treated like individual works of art by the fictional society present in the story, and their power often borderlines on super robot.  However, their intricate engineering and the motif of their weaponry is often scientifically explained by series creator Mamoru Nagano which makes them very real robot-esque in other ways.{{Fact|date=November 2008}} <!--The FSS MH also contains mass production units, with none humanoid fatimas. MH are more like machines used for activities like [[Jousting]], where multiple knights joust in a combat-like situation, in real battles, they serve as units like knights instead of troopers.-->
-As this mixing of both genres is becoming increasingly popular in [[anime]], it is often difficult to classify mecha as either real or super, although they often tend to lean more in one direction than the other.  Even Gundam shows this tendency; while the mecha designs are based in the real robot genre, the characters in the show typically have unique robots designed specifically for them, and the shows often feature characters with psychic powers or superhuman abilities; the latter are both common in super robot anime, though the degree to which Gundam leans to either side of the spectrum varies considerably between installments.
 ==Shows==
+===1970s===
-* [[Gundam]] series
-** [[Mobile Suit Gundam]] (1979)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam]] (1979)
-** [[Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam]] (1985)
-** [[Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ]] (1986)
-** [[Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack]] (1988)
-** [[Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket]] (1989)
-** [[Mobile Suit Gundam F91]] (1991)
-** [[Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory]] (1992)
-** [[Mobile Suit Victory Gundam]] (1993)
-** [[Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team]] (1996)
-** [[G-Saviour]] (2000) Gundam live action movie
-** [[Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green Divers]] (2001)
-** [[Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO]]
-*** The Hidden One Year War(2004)
-*** Apocalypse 0079 (2006)
-* [[Macross]] series
-** [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross]] (1982)
-*** [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?]] (1984)
-*** [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012]] OVA (1987)
-** [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again]] OVA (1992)
-** [[Macross Plus]] (1994)
-*** [[Macross Plus: Movie Edition]] (1995)
-** [[Macross Frontier]] (2008)
-* [[Armored Trooper VOTOMS]] (1983)
-** [[Armor Hunter Mellowlink]] (1988) Armored Trooper Votoms Spinoff.
-* [[Patlabor]] series
-** [[Mobile Police Patlabor]] OVA (1988)
-** [[Patlabor: The Movie]] (1989)
-** [[Patlabor: The TV Series]] (1989)
-** [[Mobile Police Patlabor]] OVA 2 (1990)
-** [[Patlabor: The Movie 2]]  (1993)
-** [[WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3]]  (2001)
-<!--This list could be very controversial, each of them need a source saying they are of the real robot genre(if a source showing real robot is indeed a genre could be given)  It will stay hidden until sources are given independently.  Gundam(only the universal century is sourced) and Macross source is given in the beginning since they form the basis of real robot. Armoured trooper votoms and Patlabour is also listed above since a source could be found in Dengeki Hobby magazine.  I know some are really obvious, but I am sure those could be sourced as well.
+===1980s===
 * [[Fang of the Sun Dougram]] (1981)
+* [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross]] (1982)
 * [[Combat Mecha Xabungle]] (1982)
+* [[Armored Trooper VOTOMS]] (1983)
 * [[Galactic Drifter Vifam]] (1983)
 * [[Genesis Climber Mospeada]] (1983)
@@ Line 74: / Line 43: @@
 * [[The Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross]] (1984)
 * [[Panzer World Galient]] (1984)
+* [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?]] (1984)
 * [[Robotech (TV series)]] (1985)
+* [[Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam]] (1985)
 * [[Megazone 23]] (1985, 1987, 1989)
 * [[Genesis Climber Mospeada OVA: Love Live Alive]] (1985)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ]] (1986)
 * [[Blue Comet SPT Layzner]] (1986)
 * [[Robotech: The Movie]] (1986)
+* [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012]] OVA (1987)
 * [[MADOX-01]] (1987)
 * [[Bubblegum Crisis]] (1987)
 * [[Robotech II: The Sentinels]] (1987)
 * [[Metal Armor Dragonar]] (1987)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack]] (1988)
+* [[Mobile Police Patlabor]] OVA (1988)
 * [[Appleseed (OVA)]] (1988)
+* [[Armor Hunter Mellowlink]] (1988) Armored Trooper Votoms Spinoff.
 * [[Aura Battler Dunbine: The Tale of Neo Byston Well]] OVA (1988)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket]] (1989)
 * [[A.D. Police]] (1989)
 * [[Guyver (OVA)]] (1989)
+* [[Patlabor: The Movie]] (1989)
+* [[Patlabor: The TV Series]] (1989)
 ===1990s===
+* [[Mobile Police Patlabor]] OVA 2 (1990)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam F91]] (1991)
 * [[Bubblegum Crash]] (1991)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory]] (1992)
+* [[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again]] OVA (1992)
+* [[Mobile Suit Victory Gundam]] (1993)
+* [[Patlabor: The Movie 2]]  (1993)
 * [[Kishin Corps: Alien Defender Geo-Armor]] (1993)
 * [[Mobile Fighter G Gundam]] (1994)
+* [[Macross Plus]] (1994)
 * [[Macross 7]] (1994)
+* [[Macross Plus: Movie Edition]] (1995)
 * [[Battle Skipper]] (1995)
 * [[Macross 7 the Movie: The Galaxy Is Calling Me!]] (1995)
@@ Line 99: / Line 85: @@
 * [[Neon Genesis Evangelion]] (1995)
 * [[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing]] (1995)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team]] (1996)
 * [[After War Gundam X]] (1996)
 * [[Macross 7 (special episode)]] (1996)
 * [[Power DoLLS: Detachment of Limited Line Service]] OVA (1996, 1998)
 * [[Martian Successor Nadesico]] (1996)
-* [[Escaflowne]] (1996) <--highly super robot type style, don't know why it is here.
+* [[Escaflowne]] (1996)
 * [[New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz]] (1997)
 * [[Macross Dynamite 7]] (1997)
@@ Line 125: / Line 112: @@
 * [[Escaflowne (Film)]] (2000)
 * [[Sakura Taisen: The Television Series]] (2000)
+* [[G-Saviour]] (2000) Gundam live action movie
+* [[Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green Divers]] (2001)
+* [[WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3]]  (2001)
 * [[Geneshaft]] (2001)
 * [[Zoids: New Century Zero]] (2001)
@@ Line 144: / Line 134: @@
 * [[Sakura Taisen: Ecole de Paris]] (2003)
 * [[Sakura Taisen: Le Nouveau Paris]] (2003)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO]]: The Hidden One Year War(2004)
 * [[Appleseed (film)]] (2004)
 * [[Fafner of the Azure]] (2004)
@@ Line 153: / Line 144: @@
 * [[Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation]] (2005)
 * [[Heavy Metal L-Gaim OVA]] (2005)
+* [[Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO]]: Apocalypse 0079 (2006)
 * [[Innocent Venus]] (2006)
 * [[Flag (anime)]] (2006)
@@ Line 166: / Line 158: @@
 * [[Sakura Taisen: Sakura Taisen New York NY]] (2007)
 * [[Rebuild of Evangelion]] (2007–2008)
+* [[Macross Frontier]] (2008)
 * [[Code Geass R2]] (2008)
@@ Line 182: / Line 175: @@
 *[[Xenosaga]]
 *[[Zone of the Enders]]
--->
-==References==
-{{reflist}}
 [[Category:Anime and manga terminology]]

Revision as of 01:20, 16 November 2008

Shows

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Games