Sci Fi Giant Robots and Mecha
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Giant Robots In Sci Fi
Read on to see a great run down of Giant Sci Robots, with video clips, brief descriptions, pictures, figures and DVD's. Many of the coolest stomping heros & menaces brought together in one place! This list is, of course, not exhaustive, so new robots are being added regularly! keep watching to see, and use the feedback box below if I have missed your favourites!
One of the great recurring themes in Science Fiction, and one I am a great fan of, is scenes with robots as big as houses (or larger). These are often wonderfully imagined, and often in the "robot as menace" guise.
Not all are technically robots, with some being large mecha - robot like vehicles with human, or otherwise, pilots. Some are remote controlled. Some are smaller hardsuits and exoskeleton suits. Many are pictured rampaging over cities, or occasionally defending them from another menace. They are more often villains, especially if they are fully autonomous intelligent robots, although there is the occasional giant robot superhero too.
This genre was potentially started by HG Wells with his War of The Worlds, more on that later, and then contributed to by many others. It has been seen in some great Sci Fi movies and TV shows, as well as books, computer games, role-playing games, toys and collectable figures.
Here is a run down of some the greatest of these robots as big of houses, with most, if not all of the well known ones, and a few lesser known ones covered. On this page is footage from many of them, places to get hold of them, and plenty of detail on the giant robots and mecha to get your teeth stuck into.
One of the great recurring themes in Science Fiction, and one I am a great fan of, is scenes with robots as big as houses (or larger). These are often wonderfully imagined, and often in the "robot as menace" guise.
Not all are technically robots, with some being large mecha - robot like vehicles with human, or otherwise, pilots. Some are remote controlled. Some are smaller hardsuits and exoskeleton suits. Many are pictured rampaging over cities, or occasionally defending them from another menace. They are more often villains, especially if they are fully autonomous intelligent robots, although there is the occasional giant robot superhero too.
This genre was potentially started by HG Wells with his War of The Worlds, more on that later, and then contributed to by many others. It has been seen in some great Sci Fi movies and TV shows, as well as books, computer games, role-playing games, toys and collectable figures.
Here is a run down of some the greatest of these robots as big of houses, with most, if not all of the well known ones, and a few lesser known ones covered. On this page is footage from many of them, places to get hold of them, and plenty of detail on the giant robots and mecha to get your teeth stuck into.
Fresh Sci Fi Robots
What cool robots, mecha and Gundam have i been looking at this time?
Perhaps not all of them are sci fi!
Perhaps not all of them are sci fi!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byHG Wells, The War Of The Worlds
When talking about giant, stomping, city smashing robots, few were able to cause such fear and terror as the monsters created by HG Wells in The War Of The Worlds.
This story, published in 1898, starts with Martians landing in capsules, building war machines once on earth, and leading an invasion with terrible consequences. It is perhaps genre defining, and among the first mentions of giant robots in literature. The giant robots here are piloted by these Martians, and they are resistant to everything humans can throw at them.
The war machines have 3 legs, a heat ray which is basically a huge laser gun, and big bulbous green eyes. Some of them had grabbing arms to put people in cages.
The story has been retold, refilmed and revisited many times. One classic radio version told by Orson Welles on Halloween 1938 terrified a nation. Another musical rendition by Jeff Waynes used to thrill me and scare to the point of my skin creeping.
Many of the renditions alter the character and period and setting slightly, but the overall plot remains largely the same.
This story, published in 1898, starts with Martians landing in capsules, building war machines once on earth, and leading an invasion with terrible consequences. It is perhaps genre defining, and among the first mentions of giant robots in literature. The giant robots here are piloted by these Martians, and they are resistant to everything humans can throw at them.
The war machines have 3 legs, a heat ray which is basically a huge laser gun, and big bulbous green eyes. Some of them had grabbing arms to put people in cages.
The story has been retold, refilmed and revisited many times. One classic radio version told by Orson Welles on Halloween 1938 terrified a nation. Another musical rendition by Jeff Waynes used to thrill me and scare to the point of my skin creeping.
Many of the renditions alter the character and period and setting slightly, but the overall plot remains largely the same.
The War of the Worlds (AD Classic)
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 02/15/2012)
The original and best telling of The War Of The Worlds is the written literature. As giant robots go, this is a great account. It is terrifying, harrowing, romantic and desolating.
It is also somewhat a social commentary - which if you have read much of HG Wells is entirely his style.
Being described in the late 19th century by a writer who could never have seen anything like this, or have much inspiration to draw on, it is an amazingly imaginative work.
War Of The Worlds, 2005
This film, starring Tom Cruise, captured much of the tension and terror of earlier renditions. The tripods were well designed, and the film has some intriguing moments amidst the action, for example the alien and the bicycle wheel.
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Other FIlm and TV Renditions
Other films were made, although none were quite as spectacular as the 2005 film. Perhaps the most well known was the 153 film, where instead of tripods, hovering ships were used. While they were still quite terrifying, something was lost in using floating ships over walking tripods.
The storyline was almost the same, but I strongly suspect that it was also easier or cheaper to make them float instead of walk for that film.
A paramount TV series aired in the late 80's and early 90's, but had little mention of giant robots sadly. It picks up where the 1953 film left off, and writes a new story entirely where the aliens are now able to take over human hosts and infiltrate society.
The storyline was almost the same, but I strongly suspect that it was also easier or cheaper to make them float instead of walk for that film.
A paramount TV series aired in the late 80's and early 90's, but had little mention of giant robots sadly. It picks up where the 1953 film left off, and writes a new story entirely where the aliens are now able to take over human hosts and infiltrate society.
War Of The Worlds In Music
War Of The Worlds was also rendered in multiple audio versions. There are a number audio book tellings, however, two of the most memorable renditions, even against the movies are Jeff Wayne's Musical War Of Worlds, and Orson Welles radio broadcast.
1953 Movie versus the 2005 Film
Of the two film versions, which is your favourite.
If you are truly a fan of giant stomping robots, and consider that more true to the original HG Wells vision, as well as liking the great CG and the Spielberg magic, then the 2005 film is for you.
If you like the floaty ones, and the CG or stompy stuff is not important, but you like that classic movie magic, then you will prefer the 1953 edition.
Which of the movie versions do you prefer?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byThe 2005 edition with stomping robots
anticloud says:
I am a pretty visual person and so I am going to have to go with the newer version.
Posted August 06, 2011
dannystaple says:
While the 1953 is a classic, I love the stompy flexible legged Tripods seen in the 2005 film. They are both fascinating and terrifying. Both versions (floating and stomping) are quite intimidating, but the stomping ones do it more for me. The 2005 film pays homage to the 1953 film with the eye on tentacles scene.
Posted February 02, 2010
Stephen Staple says:
Usually I am against remakes of movies - for instance, the Day The Earth Stood Still was so good, who ever needed a remake, and as for the Italian Job, well - can't modern film directors come up with anything NEW? In this case, however, The Tripods get my vote - and the Jeff Lynn version.
Posted February 01, 2010
The 1953 edition with floating ships
Science-Fiction-Fan says:
Even though I love the robots, the 53 was the better vintage
Posted November 13, 2010
TheWhistler says:
I love old movies. Movies nowadays rely too much on Special Effects.
Posted February 05, 2010
More War Of The Worlds
The Tripods
When mentioning the War Of The Worlds, one series on TV which captured animated moving Tripod war machines was The Tripods.
The trilogy written by John Christopher could be based on an alternate ending to the War Of The Worlds.
The invasion was a success, humanity is now enslaved to their alien masters, who roam among a subdued people as gods.
The people are made to wear cranial implants known as Caps as they reach adulthood, which constrain their thinking and keep them from becoming troublesome to the Tripods. The protagonist and his group have avoided capping and made their way to a band of rebels, where they then hatch plots to bring down the metal empire.
The trilogy written by John Christopher could be based on an alternate ending to the War Of The Worlds.
The invasion was a success, humanity is now enslaved to their alien masters, who roam among a subdued people as gods.
The people are made to wear cranial implants known as Caps as they reach adulthood, which constrain their thinking and keep them from becoming troublesome to the Tripods. The protagonist and his group have avoided capping and made their way to a band of rebels, where they then hatch plots to bring down the metal empire.
Watch a little of the Tripods
This trailer brings together some of the key moments, and the terror of the Tripods TV series.
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Tony Stark as The Iron Man
In Sci Fi, there are two Iron Man references - one is Tony Stark.Tony Starks rather awesome robot suit is not giant, so stretching the definition here, but it is so amazing it is most definitely work a mention.
Controlled with the help of Jarvis, his computer, the suit is capable of flight, and with the repulsor jets, also can cause plenty of destruction.
Tony uses it as a hero, but a troubled hero he is, and most of his time is spent trying to deal with the monsters he has created when others get hold of his technology - his suit, or his weapons company.
Enjoy Iron Man!
Can the Iron Man Suit be Built?
Another lensmaster investigates how likely it is an Iron Man suit can be built with current technology. The conclusion is that we nearly could, not quite but it is very close, perhaps not with the level of integration and miniaturisation that the suit has yet though.
The Iron Giant (also Iron Man)
This children's classic, published in 1968, has a giant robot that is found by a boy, and is very naive - child like in its understanding. It becomes a bit of a menace, leaving a trail of destruction behind it, to the extent that it is confronted by the local army.
The Iron Man is mostly just lonely and ignorant of the destruction it is causing and bears no malice whatsoever, being capable of being very gentle and loving. The robot later becomes a hero, when it saves the city from a marauding dragon.
The Iron Man is mostly just lonely and ignorant of the destruction it is causing and bears no malice whatsoever, being capable of being very gentle and loving. The robot later becomes a hero, when it saves the city from a marauding dragon.
Iron Man (Faber Childrens Classics)
Amazon Price: $4.66 (as of 02/15/2012)
The Iron Giant - Movie rendition of the Iron Man
The Iron Man has been turned into TV programs, and a film which is actually quite moving. Being under a different title, it diverges a fair amount from the story upon which it is based, but is still every bit a great film.
It is hard not to love this gentle and much misunderstood giant robot. It has a sad ending with a twist.
It is hard not to love this gentle and much misunderstood giant robot. It has a sad ending with a twist.
The Iron Giant
Amazon Price: $29.87 (as of 02/15/2012)
Robot kits for Kids
If your kid (or big kid) is a robot enthusiast, then a great idea for Christmas or their birthdays is a robot building kit. especially if they have plans to build the megarobot suits of the future... They need start somewhere, and Lego along with the OWI robot arms are probably as good a beginning as you can get.
Other Iron Giant Gear
More stuff from the Iron Giant story.
Sky Captain and The World Of Tomorrow
This film starts off from the outset with giant robots landing in a major city and stomping through destructively. It has Jude Law as the leading hero, also staring Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The robots are superbly rendered and animated. The film is very much a special effects film, with an interesting filming style/effect applied throughout that makes it look almost comic book like.
The robots are superbly rendered and animated. The film is very much a special effects film, with an interesting filming style/effect applied throughout that makes it look almost comic book like.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $2.02 (as of 02/15/2012)
Sky Captain Trailer
This quick teaser shows you what you can expect - stomping robots, ace flying, and interesting special effects.
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Panic Attack - Ataque de Panico!
This awesome film was made on a tiny budget by Federico Alvarez, a film student, and is a sequence with giant robots attacking a city. It is well set to the music (John Murphy, In The House In A Heartbeat) and the robots look great.
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Enjoy that John Murphy Soundtrack?
that track, originally used in 28 Days Later, and to accompany the giant robots of "Ataque de Panico" is awesome. If you would love to hear it on your iPod, then this is definitely for you!
The Transformers
No Giant Robots list is complete without the Transformers, who definitely deserve a page all of their own.
The Transformers were a race of robots that could alter their shape, transform, into everyday objects to hide their presence or disguise themselves.
They came from the planet Cybertron, and have a number of factions. The most prominent are the Autobots and the Decepticons.
The Decepticons, lead by Megatron - a robot that transforms into a gun, (and sometimes Galvatron) are a ruthless faction bent on domination, power and gaining what they need without regard for the humans on whose planet they find themselves. The leadership is constantly challenged by a powerful and maniacal robot Starscream, who can transform into a Jet Plane. There is often bickering and infighting.
The Autobots are mostly lead by Optimus Prime (and later Rotimus), who transforms into a cab for an articulate lorry, with a centre of operations for the trailer. The Autobots try to protect the humans, and themselves, from the selfish actions of the Decepticons.
Notable Autobots:
Notable Decepticons:
Other notable transformers:
The Transformers were a race of robots that could alter their shape, transform, into everyday objects to hide their presence or disguise themselves.
They came from the planet Cybertron, and have a number of factions. The most prominent are the Autobots and the Decepticons.
The Decepticons, lead by Megatron - a robot that transforms into a gun, (and sometimes Galvatron) are a ruthless faction bent on domination, power and gaining what they need without regard for the humans on whose planet they find themselves. The leadership is constantly challenged by a powerful and maniacal robot Starscream, who can transform into a Jet Plane. There is often bickering and infighting.
The Autobots are mostly lead by Optimus Prime (and later Rotimus), who transforms into a cab for an articulate lorry, with a centre of operations for the trailer. The Autobots try to protect the humans, and themselves, from the selfish actions of the Decepticons.
Notable Autobots:
- Optimus Prime - a blue truck cab - an optimistic, charismatic and fearless leader.
- Bumblebee - A neat little yellow VW Beetle, seen as a bit of a junior in the bunch and the first to make contact with humans.
Notable Decepticons:
- Megatron - paranoid, dictatorial leader. Transforms into a gun.
- Starscream - Possessed by his drive to gain leadeship, he is bordering insanity and is the most vindictive of all the decepticons. Transforms into a Jet Plane.
- Soundwave - A large but slow and slightly dimwitted robot. He transforms into a tapedeck, and has an endearing melodic voice.
Other notable transformers:
- Unicron - This supersized transformer is the size of a planet and is a world eating robot.
The Transformers 1986 Movie
This film, made in the style of the classic animation, details the transformers making their way back to their home planet of Cybertron to find it under siege from Unicron. Stars, among others, Eric Idol.
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Transformers 2007 Movie
The 2007 Transformers film combines live action with beautifully rendered CG. It takes itself a whole lot more seriously than the 1986 film, perhaps reflecting that one part of the target audience, growing up in the 80's, have grown up and expect more than a cartoon.
The film is therefore a lot darker/grittier than a cartoon rendering would be, although still nothing outside of the Disney comfort zone in terms of fright. This is a film worth seeing on a huge screen - home cinema or in the theatres if it is shown again.
The film is therefore a lot darker/grittier than a cartoon rendering would be, although still nothing outside of the Disney comfort zone in terms of fright. This is a film worth seeing on a huge screen - home cinema or in the theatres if it is shown again.
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The Day The Earth Stood Still
This was a 1951 Science Fiction, remade in 2008 with Keanu Reaves. Klaatu, an alien being, has landed and is looking to protect the Earth and its other inhabitants from human destruction, and comes with a protector, Gort, which in the 2008 rendition is a robot towering above its surroundings.
Gort is a stomping giant robot of terrifying proportions, capable of rendering most human machines inactive, shooting a laser beam from its sweeping Cyclopean eye, and later turning into an almost unstoppable cloud of nano bots consuming everything in their path.
The 1951 movie is still fantastic, even if the robot has more modest human like proportions. The robot is still extremely dangerous in both.
Gort is a stomping giant robot of terrifying proportions, capable of rendering most human machines inactive, shooting a laser beam from its sweeping Cyclopean eye, and later turning into an almost unstoppable cloud of nano bots consuming everything in their path.
The 1951 movie is still fantastic, even if the robot has more modest human like proportions. The robot is still extremely dangerous in both.
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The Day The Earth Stood Still 1951 Theme
It you love the original theme tune for this, these should indulge you.
If you want to hear the two mixed further, try A Podcast elsewhere Episode 2 - Mixed by DJ Elsewhere.
If you want to hear the two mixed further, try A Podcast elsewhere Episode 2 - Mixed by DJ Elsewhere.
Watching The Day The Earth Stood Still
If you are tempted to watch either the 2008 version with the Giant Stomping Robot (which we all love here!), you can get the awesome Blu-Ray special edition.
Of course, the 1951 version is here for posterity, as well as Timo Maas' album Destroy All Humans, which uses the theme to great effect in the track "Help Me" featuring vocals by Kellis.
Of course, the 1951 version is here for posterity, as well as Timo Maas' album Destroy All Humans, which uses the theme to great effect in the track "Help Me" featuring vocals by Kellis.
Dr Who, The Cyber King
In the Christmas Special for Dr Who 2008, the Cybermen, already human sized mostly unstoppable robot monsters, manage to create the Cyber King - which in my opinion is the ultimate Steampunk gargantuan robot.
It is also apparently a dreadnought class warp-ship too. It is also piloted by the beautiful and terrible Miss Hartigan. Watch to see the robot rise from the Themes and stomp its way through Victorian London!
It is also apparently a dreadnought class warp-ship too. It is also piloted by the beautiful and terrible Miss Hartigan. Watch to see the robot rise from the Themes and stomp its way through Victorian London!
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Buy this Dr Who Episode On DVD!
You could buy the complete Christmas Special, or indulge yourself with the whole collection of specials, including this years fantastic "The End Of Time". Hours of edge-of-seat David Tennant action!
Fancy Building your own giant Sci Fi Robots?
If you love this stuff, why not build it with Lego? There are many fans building these things, and some of them look truly awesome.
Gundam Figures and Video
Mechagodzilla
Mecha Godzilla was a cybernetic copy of Godzilla - a huge overgrown iguana with city stomping proportions. Mechagodzilla existed in a number of films, typically set up vs Godzilla, his fleshy counterpart.
In some renditions, Mechagodzilla is a menace piloted by marouding invaders, with Godzilla seeing him off. In the trailer below, Godzilla is the menace, and Mechagodzilla is piloted by humans to defend their cities from Godzilla.
Either way, how can it get better than Giant Robots battling Giant Prehistoric Monsters rampaging in a city! It is all fairly low budget, played by men in suits, no computer graphics here. But this was always half of the fun - never to take Sci Fi too seriously.
Godzilla's nemesis was also recreated as Mecha King Ghidora - a 3 headed mechanical monstrosity. Another robotic monster in the Toho Studios monster films was Gigan - a violent cybernetic creation who takes on Godzilla.
Oh - and who could forget that dubbing!
In some renditions, Mechagodzilla is a menace piloted by marouding invaders, with Godzilla seeing him off. In the trailer below, Godzilla is the menace, and Mechagodzilla is piloted by humans to defend their cities from Godzilla.
Either way, how can it get better than Giant Robots battling Giant Prehistoric Monsters rampaging in a city! It is all fairly low budget, played by men in suits, no computer graphics here. But this was always half of the fun - never to take Sci Fi too seriously.
Godzilla's nemesis was also recreated as Mecha King Ghidora - a 3 headed mechanical monstrosity. Another robotic monster in the Toho Studios monster films was Gigan - a violent cybernetic creation who takes on Godzilla.
Oh - and who could forget that dubbing!
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The Giant Robots Of Star Wars
Star Wars had its fair share of huge robots, generally piloted by imperial commanders. The obvious ones from the classic film set are the AT-AT, a large four legged walking tank and transport- the All Terrain Armoured Transport, one of which is brought down in a classic scene on the ice moon Hoth by Luke Skywalker as it attempts to assault a rebel base there.
The AT-AT is a bit slow and ungainly despite its awesome armour and weaponry, and is brought down with a classic tripping up gambit.
Another classic large robot in the Star Wars series is the AT-ST, the All Terrain Scout Transport, a two legged walker which is still fairly well armoured and pretty hard to bring down. These are seen in some of the final battles on the forest moon of Endor.
The AT-AT is a bit slow and ungainly despite its awesome armour and weaponry, and is brought down with a classic tripping up gambit.
Another classic large robot in the Star Wars series is the AT-ST, the All Terrain Scout Transport, a two legged walker which is still fairly well armoured and pretty hard to bring down. These are seen in some of the final battles on the forest moon of Endor.
1945A - Nazi Super Mecha
Its 1945, the war has almost been won. The Nazis then play a trump card on the Allies with a supersized mecha sporting an awesome array of weapons. This independent video sequence was made on a tight budget, under £1500, by Ryan Nagata.
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Gear Krieg
If the alternative war weapons fiction is your thing, then Gear Krieg is great to get stuck into. Allies and Axis are both sending in huge walking tanks,
The Gear Kreig Site at Dream Pod 9 - the authors of this system.
The Gear Kreig Site at Dream Pod 9 - the authors of this system.
Gear Krieg: The Roleplaying Game
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 02/15/2012)
This role playing game covers fighting major Allied vs Axis battles with Steampunk mecha's. Much like the above film, think of WWII tank technology mounted on much larger walking frames.
Robot costumes for Halloween
It 's nearly Halloween, and if you love these big stomping robots, then you could consider being one for Halloween. Even better if you can make such a costume yourself!
Lego Exoforce
Exoforce is a Lego theme involving a humans vs robots scenario, with both sides taking up large Mecha, Jet planes and tanks to battle for control over precious resources. The models were great, and also fairly cheap too. They looked good, and had only one thing I disliked which is Stickers over multiple bricks (a bit of a Lego sin IMHO).
This introduced wacky Anime character hair to the Lego range too.
This introduced wacky Anime character hair to the Lego range too.
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Your Favourite Giant Robots
Have I missed or misrepresented your favourite stomping hero/monster?
Perhaps you just want to leave a note, or a link to your own giant robot fan site. Links and comments are welcome.
They are moderated, but I will accept any relevant links. Basic HTML is allowed.
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anticloud Aug 6, 2011 @ 8:21 am | delete
- This was a great idea. There were a couple that I didn't know about. Good work!
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Science-Fiction-Fan
Nov 13, 2010 @ 3:41 am | delete
- The Day the Earth Stood Still is burned into my brain - 1951 of course
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TheWhistler
Feb 5, 2010 @ 9:08 am | delete
- Great lens, good for you. Thanks.
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About Me
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This is a work I made based on two morguefile free photos. You are allowed to copy, distribute, transmit the work and to adapt the work. Attribution is not required. You are prohibited from using this work in a stand alone manner. <a href="http://morguefile.com/archive/display/645792">Robot</a>, <a href="http://morguefile.com/archive/display/157072">City</a>.
Quick, Run, Duck Hide - The Giant Robots Are Coming!
05/02/10 8:26 am
One of my favourite topics in Sci Fi is giant robots. Huge things, bigger than houses. I have been rounding them up and corralling these monstrous metallic creations into one nice big article. I will still be adding bots and Mecha to it for the next few days...
by dannystaple
dannystaple
I have two children - a girl and a baby boy, and we live in West London, Uk. I program computers for my day job. In my spare time I build stuff, grow stuff,... more »
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