Television series
Grendizer U
A 2024 anime continuation of the classic 1970s giant-robot series, *Grendizer U* restarts the story of an alien refugee piloting a transforming spaceship-weapon against an empire bent on Earth's conquest. It's bright, kinetic, and unapologetically fun—a show that trusts you'll enjoy watching impossibly large machines punch things. Made for anyone who loves spectacle without apology, and for longtime fans returning to a beloved franchise.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you grew up on or still crave big-robot anime, where an earnest hero, a loyal crew and a towering machine are the whole point, and you want that sincerity delivered without irony.
Skip it if you want modern serialized storytelling with slow-burn character arcs, since at thirteen half-hour episodes this is a brisk, action-first adventure that favors spectacle over depth.
What it asks of you: Thirteen half-hour episodes make it a short commitment, roughly a weekend's worth of viewing, with action as the main event and a fairly straightforward tone.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Neon Genesis Evangelion1995
The template for modern giant-robot anime: psychologically complex pilots, existential stakes, and the weight of the world literally on young shoulders. If you want depth beneath the spectacle, this is essential.
But It's deliberately oblique and ends in genuine confusion. The pacing collapses in the final episodes. Expect discomfort more than catharsis.
Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann2007
Pure joy translated into animation. Absurdly escalating stakes, characters who grow before your eyes, and a philosophy of human potential that actually means something. Optimistic science fiction that earns its optimism.
But The first episode is weaker than the rest—stick past it. The tone shifts so dramatically between acts that some viewers bounce off the tonal whiplash.
Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch2006
A brilliant protagonist with a God-like power uses it to orchestrate revolution against an occupying empire. Strategically thrilling, morally murky, with enough plot twists to keep you theorizing between episodes.
But The second season loses focus and relies too heavily on shocking moments for shock value. Some character decisions feel contrived when the plot demands them.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Grendizer U
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners2022
Both are updated continuations of beloved franchises using 2024-level animation. Both feature protagonists with alien/inhuman advantages fighting larger forces. Both trust the audience to enjoy watching something beautiful happen on screen.
An anime original set in the world of a video game, about a street kid gaining cybernetic enhancements to survive in a dystopian city. Visually explosive, narratively tight (10 episodes), and emotionally devastating in ways giant-robot shows usually aren't.
But It's relentlessly dark and ends in genuine tragedy. If you want catharsis or the good guys winning, look elsewhere. The pacing is so fast you might need a second watch to process what happened.
More like this (6)
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury2022
The most stylish giant-robot anime in years. A sharp, gorgeous series that treats its premise with genuine intelligence while never losing sight of why giant robots are thrilling to watch.
But It's ongoing and hasn't concluded yet. If you need closure, you'll be waiting. Some arcs feel slightly undercooked because of production constraints.
Kill la Kill2013
Studio Trigger (who work on Grendizer U) in their popcorn-entertainment mode: maximalist animation, jaw-dropping action sequences, and a plot that somehow makes sense despite being completely unhinged.
But The fan service is relentless and sometimes crosses into uncomfortable. The visual style isn't for everyone—it's deliberately jagged and aggressive.
Carole & Tuesday2019
Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) directing a 50-episode series about two musicians trying to make it on Mars. Visually sumptuous, emotionally generous, and genuinely moving.
But It's extremely long with an uneven middle section. If you're not invested in the characters as people, you'll lose interest in the broader plot.
Eureka Seven2005
A teenage boy discovers aliens living in the sky and falls in love with a mysterious girl. Gorgeous hand-drawn animation, sincere emotions, and a climax that actually delivers on its promises.
But The middle arc drags noticeably. Later revelations about the world's nature feel conceptually messy even when emotionally effective.
Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story2020
Both feature young protagonists thrust into impossible conflicts they didn't choose. Both use spectacle and color to contrast with moral weight. Both are reminders that 'anime' contains multitudes—giant robots and existential philosophy aren't separate categories.
A magical-girl show that deconstructs the entire genre by asking: what if superpowers had a cost? What if the villain was right? Six episodes before it pivots into profound darkness. Visually inventive, philosophically uncompromising.
But It looks cute and cheerful for two episodes, then becomes increasingly bleak. If you watch expecting magical-girl fun, the tonal shift feels like betrayal—which is partly the point, but still painful to experience.
Michiko e Hatchin2008
Both are TV anime from the last two decades that understand anime can be about anything. Both feature protagonists separated from their origins learning to belong. Both use visual beauty as a form of emotional language rather than just spectacle.
A woman escapes prison and kidnaps a child, and they travel across Brazil together as fugitives. An unconventional road-trip anime with hand-drawn gorgeousness, genuine humor, and a profound meditation on family and choice.
But It's a complete tonal shift from giant-robot action—small, intimate, slow. Nothing explodes. If you need constant forward momentum, you'll find it tedious. Some episodes meander intentionally.
People
Cast
Recommended by
Aeon Flux, Black Snake Moan, Get Jiro, The Ultraman, Darkstalkers