Sai Mecha 2012 – Round 2, Earth Side

The second round of the Earth Side bracket continues tonight in the Sai Mecha arena. The contestants are primed and ready for combat this evening, and here to bring you the matchups is Ghostlightning’s ever-informative writeup. Voting takes place below, and polls will be open until 23:59 EST on 8 June (Friday.) Take it away, Ghosty!

Battle 1: Gurren Lagann vs. The Big O

We’re familiar between these two robots from their respective introductions in the first round. The key question in this matchup: Is the Big O’s purported coolness (well actually, it’s pilot’s borrowed from Batman) more valuable to robot fans than Gurren Lagann’s abilities and feats. After all, Gurren Lagann’s style is based on absurdity, and the design and animation is consistent with this — as opposed to the Art Deco-esque stylings of The Big O anime itself. If this were simply a question of who between the two would win in a fight, we wouldn’t have to vote.

Battle 2: Ingram vs. Zeta Gundam

The key question here: Is the novelty of a civilian, peacekeeping robot working in urban settings more valuable to fans than a fantastic, transforming Gundam designed by a civilian kid pressed into military service. In terms of what each robot is capable of doing, the features and designs of a transforming mobile suit that sees action in multiple environments seem overwhelming. But, the Ingram’s popularity runs on both novelty and charm — something the Z Gundam struggles with — its novelty is borrowed from Macross, and it doesn’t exist in the same galaxy as charm does.

Battle 3: Shin Getter Robo vs. Nirvash Type 0

The key question here is whether the purportedly best version of the original transforming and combining robot exceeds the value presented by the novelty of a sky surfing Evangelion unit. Shin Getter Robo represents the oldest school treated with newer production values. The Nirvash represents everything that’s new — though it can trace its developmental tradition way back to Getter Robo. The Nirvash is more Macross/Turn A Gundam/Evangelion… while Shin Getter Robo doesn’t directly influence robots after the turn of the millennium, though shows like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann went out of its way to pay tribute to it.

Battle 4: VF-25 Messiah vs. Mazinkaiser SKL

The Key question here is which modern update on the design created more value. The Variable Fighter design is largely influenced by real combat jet fighters. By the 1990s, the fighter designs in modern air forces fell in love with passive stealth and never looked back — the designs in Macross 7 reflected this. However, Macross being a space opera figured out that there is no passive stealth IN SPACE, which then led to a break between the flattened, geometric look of modern fighters and a return to the more romantic, rounded fuselages. In terms of the Battloid mode, the design was made for a faster space infantry unit that serves more like special forces than it does army infantry. Mazinkaiser, on the other hand is actually a newer design, already an upgrade of the original Mazinger Z design from the ’70s. SKL allows for a dual pilot scenario where the second pilot uses an entirely different fighting style. One uses a big sword, the other uses pistols that are also daggers. The difference in this fighting style is more dramatic compared to how the VF-25 is different from its predecessors. The other thing is whether all this gun-kata and swords carnage will be valued more than the fast-paced space dogfights VFs routinely find themselves in.

 

Voting

 

Bonus round