In science fiction, mecha, or mechs, are giant robots or machines, depicted as either piloted or sentient and typically built as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was shortened in Japanese from the English loanwords mechanism or mechanical, though its meaning in Japanese is broader, covering any mechanism in general, with robot or giant robot serving as the narrower term for the piloted or sentient machines themselves.
Facts
Place of OriginJapan, where the term mecha was first used as a shortening of the English loanword mechanism. 1 Notable ExampleMazinger Z, written by Go Nagai and introduced in 1972, established the convention of a giant robot piloted by a human protagonist. 1 Defining TraitMecha are piloted from a cockpit, typically located in the chest or head, and are distinguished from ordinary vehicles by their biomorphic appearance, often much larger than human beings. 1 FAQs
How is a mecha usually operated?
Usually piloted by a human crew from an internal cockpit.
In most mecha stories the giant robot is not autonomous but is piloted. Mecha fiction is generally described as centered on giant, piloted robots that are usually operated by a human crew from an internal cockpit.
Connections
In the Other Atlases
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Mecha (Wikipedia)tier 2
Sources
1. Mecha (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationCharacteristics section
Mecha differ from robots in that they are piloted from a cockpit, typically located in the chest or head.
History section
Mazinger Z, written by Go Nagai and introduced in 1972
Etymology section
The term was first used in Japanese after shortening the English loanword mechanism
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