|
Toon Zone
The opinions expressed here do not reflect those of Toon Zone, although if they agree with some of them, that's cool too.
Contact The Webmaster
|
|
|
By no means am I an expert on mecha, and I will never claim to be one. Heck, the closest thing I've come to creating a mecha series myself isCentauri comic. However, I have seen enough of them to discover what makes some shows popular and what doesn't. There are some good mecha shows out there while there are others that need a little more "umph" to them. The masters of mecha have made a name out of themselves and has entertained millions and millions of viewers over the decades. Some people haven't figured out that formula. I think I have, but I could be mistaken.
Here is the list of what every mecha series needs to have to be successful:
#1: Big Fricken Robots
That's an obvious, of course. You can't have a mecha series without robots. However, what differentiates mecha series from regular robot series like Transformers, Astro Boy, or Mega Man (I'll explain why those type of robot shows aren't mecha in a future article) is that many of these huge mecha has a humanoid soul behind the controls. It also helps that these big fricken robots look good doing what they have to do. Whether it's fighting off aliens or other mechs, it's their job to protect their planet, their colonies, and in rare cases, their universe.
#2: An Force With Egomaniacal Ambitions
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that you have to have conflict in a mecha series. In some occasions, it usually IS a rocket scientist or a general or a secretive bureaucrat or world leader or a mysterious masked man. Regardless, they have strong ambitions to take over the world and make the lives of others (particularly the heroes) a living hell every chance they get. In most cases, they do it with such finesse that people usually find themselves cheering for them.
#3: A Brooding Protagonist
You rarely see a super-happy hero on a mecha series. In most cases, the protagonists are brooders, taking on personal demons. Some of these demons make them constantly doubt themselves, as is the case of Shinji Ikari. Some of these demons make them suicidal when they fight, as Heero Yuy has shown us. Some demons cause people to fear failure. While they learn to conquer those demons, those emotions still take a hold on these heroes from time to time during the run of the series. Of course, in most cases, these protagonists get some alleviation courtesy of . . .
#4: The Happy, Whiny, Virginal Heroine
I could hear her cry from miles away. "HEEEEEEROOOOOOO!" It reverberates through my head, but you can't imagine a series without someone as full of life, innocence, or questions. Whether it's someone like Lynn Minmei or somebody like Relena Dorlan, every mecha series has to have somebody like that. On the flipside . . .
#5: The Proud, Ultraconfident Femmes
One-girl revolutions, independant, strong, fierce, powerful, not willing to play victim and rarely showing a soft side. These are the women that get the attention of the male protagonists (and, in some cases, the antagonists) in these mecha shows, and are usually considered some of the most popular characters of the series. Gosh knows how many Asuka Langley fans are out there.
#6: The Pale, Quiet Ones
Quiet, reserved, a bit nerdy, and in desperate need of skin pigment, there are often characters in mecha series that have become major fixtures. In some instances, they're the moral center of the series while in others, they're a source of mystery and intrigue for not only the protagonists, but also the viewers. Quattre, Rei, and Ruri are perfect examples of these pale, quiet characters.
#7: Marketability
Okay, the final part of the formula doesn't necessary have to do with the actual show but rather how the show is marketed. That's how you can get a large fanbase.
The big difference between a show like Gundam Wing and a show like Pilot Candidate is quite obvious from a visual perspective. However, if Pilot Candidate was marketed as flawlessly as Gundam Wing was, perhaps there would be more fans of that series. It's true that presentation is the key to success, but having a good marketing plan doesn't hurt either.
Remember Heavy Gear?
Probably not. It was a series that aired in limited markets in the US that was based on a popular game series. If you liked Zoids/0 or Toonami's IGPX mini-series, you probably would have enjoyed this series. From the animators that brought you Beast Wars, ReBoot, and Shadow Raiders, and the company that brought you Max Steel, Roughnecks, and Men in Black, Heavy Gear could have been the biggest thing to hit American screens in a long time. From all indications, Heavy Gear should have been bigger than it was in this country. Afterall, you had excellent computer animation, decent stories, great vocal talents. However, Sony, Mainframe, and Pod 6 (creators of the property) never did anything beyond the series to promote it. Sure, the games were out there, but they didn't directly tie-in to the series. I'm not saying that marketing the series could have saved the series. I'm saying that it couldn't have hurt bring visability to the series. It's kind of like the unwritten rule that you have to have products ready for distribution before you bring a franchise to the masses otherwise the people won't respond so quickly.
When you combine most of these elements, you have the perfect mecha series. Simple plan, and for all instances, the formula works.
Of course, like all experiments, it could have just been an accident. Right now, one of the best mecha shows on television is Megas XLR, which has little of the elements of a "perfect" mecha series, but you know what? It works! This is just one of many series to experiment with the formula. It's okay to keep on experimenting. Experimentation is a good thing. Heck, if we didn't have experiments, we'd still be watching television on huge 13" black and white sets. What may be the template for the perfect mecha series may be a relic by the end of the decade.
|
The X Bridge, TXB, Bridgecenter, original content, and all related indicia:
TM and © 1998 - 2007 Jeff Harris
dba Nami49 Productions. All Rights Reserved.
No infringement is intended on copyrights held by other production companies/persons
with the legal copyright to the shows and characters contained herein.
|
|
