In most cases, mecha are depicted as fighting machines, whose appeal comes from the combination of potent weaponry with a more stylish combat technique than a mere vehicle. They are usually much larger than the wearer, like Iron Man's enemy the Iron Monger, or the mobile suits depicted in the Gundam franchise. While the distinction is often hazy, mecha typically does not refer to form-fitting powered armor such as Iron Man's suit. Mechas differ from robots in that they are piloted from a cockpit, typically located in the chest or head of the mech. Outside of this usage, it has become associated with large humanoid machines with limbs or other biological characteristics. In Japanese, mecha encompasses all mechanical objects, including cars, guns, computers, and other devices, and 'robot' or 'giant robot' is used to distinguish limbed vehicles from other mechanical devices. 'Mecha' is an abbreviation, first used in Japanese, of 'mechanical'. In Japanese, "mecha" may refer to mobile machinery or vehicles (including aircraft) in general, piloted or otherwise. Real-world piloted humanoid or non-humanoid robotic platforms, existing or planned, may also be called "mecha". The concept of Super Robot and Real Robot are two such examples found in Japanese anime and manga. Different subgenres exist, with varying connotations of realism. The term was first used in Japanese after shortening the English loanword 'mechanism' ( メカニズム, mekanizumu) or 'mechanical' ( メカニカル, mekanikaru), but the meaning in Japanese is more inclusive, and 'robot' ( ロボット, robotto) or 'giant robot' is the narrower term.įictional mecha vary greatly in size and shape, but are distinguished from vehicles by their humanoid or biomorphic appearance, although they are bigger, often much bigger, than human beings. In science fiction, mecha ( Japanese: メカ, Hepburn: meka) or mechs are giant robots or machines controlled by people, typically depicted as humanoid walking vehicles. Kuratas, a mecha made by Suidobashi Heavy Industry at the Maker Faire Tokyo (2012)
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