Anime Armor Hunter Mellowlink

[Ikagura]

Want a neat mecha anime that is not too long (only 12 episodes long) and different from the usual? Try watching that Votoms spin-off involving a young soldier seeking revenge over the death of his platoon.

I also enjoy how it's more methodical/tactical than just having the most powerful robot or special esotheric powers (hey newtypes!) or even deep psycological introspection (sup Shinji!).

Check that review but it spoils a bit of the story (namely the first half).

The first episode is a bit slow in several aspects but I think Episode 4 is when it starts getting really interesting.

 

[Bonkers225]

What a name Alerdy(?) Mellowlink is.

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

It’s a spin off series of Armored Trooper Votoms, unlike the main series which has 50 episodes this OVA series consists only of 12 episodes. (Japanese title: Leechers Army Merowlink). Hunt it down ‘coz it’s a kickass anime.

 

[Oni]

Back in the day when anime in America was a niche thing unlike now where you can throw a rock and hit something anime my Japanese friend gave me a VHS tape with 3 episodes (non sub) on it. I loved it. Didn't even know it was a spin off. It stuck in my head till almost 10 years later when I was able to see it completely with subs.

 

[Clippy]

Oh yeah, this series is awesome, they just don't make them like this anymore.

 

[sadgrrly]

As stated previously, Mellowlink is super great. I've always been more of a VOTOMS sort of girl than gundam, and this little series is as good an entry point as just watching the actual show.

 

[Ikagura]

Oh yeah, this series is awesome, they just don't make them like this anymore.

It's simple:

• Money (since the burst of the bubble there are less assets to take risks and taking time for a quality product)
• The switch from traditional celluloid to computer-generated digital animation changed how anime was made (and notice how the colours as well as the keyframes are feeling different)
• It's no longer the 80's (aside from nostalgia throwback you won't see 80's music or aesthetic)
• The Mecha genre had an identity crisis and making one without a guy in a mecha wouldn't sell as much as Gundam N°38 and we won't ever see something like Evangelion ever again (sorry Darling in the Franxx).

As stated previously, Mellowlink is super great. I've always been more of a VOTOMS sort of girl than gundam, and this little series is as good an entry point as just watching the actual show.

Votoms armour are more realistic to me than giant bipedal robots because of gravity and equilibrium.

Votoms are more like tanks which makes more sense than big mechas.

 

[Ikagura]

Mellowlink a good classic anime.

Some other classic to watch are
Space Runaway Ideon
Aura Battler Dunbine
Armored Trooper Votoms
Patlabor

Forgot to ad a personal favorite
The Five Star Stories

I should give PatLabor another chance.


If you have other military themed animes that aren't about piloting a mecha I'll take it.