The 5 Worst-Written Mecha Anime of All Time, Ranked

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Anime is a hugely popular and often surprisingly well-crafted genre. It frequently explores complex themes like politics and war, and some of the most intelligent science fiction in animation can be found within it. However, not every anime series is a success, and some, particularly those featuring giant robots, are simply poorly made and forgettable.

The most disappointing mecha anime often suffer from weak writing, and this is largely because the genre is so focused on technical details. When these details aren’t explained well, or the plot doesn’t make sense, the anime can become confusing and feel unfinished, or even just plain bad. Even some of the most popular mecha series have fallen into this trap, with certain installments being widely considered a low point for the franchise.

Gundam SEED’s Sequel Might Be One of the Worst Gundam Ever

The anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED launched the Cosmic Era storyline, essentially updating classic Gundam themes for a new audience. While it wasn’t perfect, it was a huge hit and helped revitalize the franchise after a relatively quiet period in the 1990s. This led to a manga spinoff and a sequel anime, establishing the Cosmic Era as a fan favorite alongside the original Universal Century timeline. Unfortunately, the sequel suffered from even more issues than the first SEED series.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny rushes through its plot, feeling unplanned and chaotic. Many viewers disliked the new main character, Shinn Asuka, and his introduction felt awkward. The characters didn’t develop in a believable way, especially considering their past appearances, and the story included pointless deaths that were later reversed. Combined with a fast pace and recycled ideas from the original Gundam SEED, these issues ultimately made Gundam SEED Destiny a disappointing sequel.

Aquarion Is Still the Worst Evangelion Wannabe

The popularity of Evangelion heavily influenced many subsequent mecha anime, with several shows clearly imitating its style. Genesis of Aquarion launched its own franchise years later, even after most of these Evangelioninspired series had already appeared. However, Aquarion* ended up as a strange combination of underdeveloped concepts, which the series itself didn’t seem committed to exploring, as hinted at by its New Age themes. Many plot threads are introduced but never resolved, with the final episodes feeling particularly rushed and incomplete.

Aquarion is unintentionally funny because it takes itself so seriously, making it hard to consider a genuine drama. The storytelling is inconsistent, and the characters aren’t well-developed, which is a significant weakness. The anime also suffers from repetitive plot points and a recycled musical score, making it feel like it’s going nowhere. While it can be enjoyably bad, it clearly aims for more substance. Ultimately, it’s the strongest installment in the Aquarion series, a franchise that seems to decline with each new addition.

Aldnoah.Zero Remains One of the Most Despised Mecha Anime

Originally aired from 2014 to 2015, Aldnoah.Zero is often discussed for how well—or poorly—its story was written. The initial idea came from Gen Urobuchi, known for popular anime like the magical girl series Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the cyberpunk thriller Psycho-Pass. Considering his previous successes, Aldnoah.Zero had a promising start, and the first few episodes were quite good. However, when Urobuchi left the project and other writers took over, the quality significantly declined.

Aldnoah.Zero suffers from a weak main character, Inaho Kaizuka, who is either emotionless or constantly succeeds without effort. The series also neglects other characters who could have offered more compelling stories. The plot isn’t very engaging, and its episodic structure made it feel repetitive and dull. While the second season attempted to improve things with higher stakes, inconsistent writing and uninteresting characters turned these efforts into shallow surprises.

Darling in the Franxx Was Actually Fairly Popular

Despite initially being well-received, the mecha anime Darling in the Franxx is now often criticized. A key problem was its heavy use of sexual themes, with viewers debating whether it was creative or just unnecessary fanservice. This, combined with prioritizing exciting action over consistent logic, resulted in characters that weren’t fully developed, especially as the story progressed. Looking back, the anime’s writing feels rushed, and both the ending and the overall world it created are underdeveloped.

The ending of Darling in the Franxx felt rushed and introduced aliens in a confusing way. The show also struggled with its pacing, jumping between important plot points and lighthearted, unrelated episodes. This constant shift in tone didn’t work well, especially because the anime heavily borrowed from stronger mecha series like Neon Genesis Evangelion. Initially, Darling in the Franxx seemed like a thoughtful and unique show, but ultimately, its flaws were masked by attempts at depth and a focus on sexuality.

Mars of Destruction Is the Worst — and Shortest — Mecha Anime Ever Is Still Painfully Long

The Mars of Destruction anime is widely considered one of the worst in the industry. This brief, 20-minute OVA feels more like a long music video or a game trailer. While similar short videos can work well as extra content for a game – particularly if they expand on the story – Mars of Destruction was clearly intended as a standalone piece, which makes its poor quality especially noticeable compared to other mecha anime.

Even though Mars of Destruction is short, it feels like it’s trying to tell a complete story. This leads to a confusing and rushed ending that hints at bigger ideas but quickly wraps things up. The finale lacked context and didn’t quite make sense. While the anime does have twists and turns, they don’t land well because the story tries to cover too much ground. Ultimately, the biggest problem is the unlikeable characters, which make even the short runtime feel painfully long.

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2025-11-08 04:43