Where did the mecha genre originate from in Japan?


I was wondering where mecha genre in Japan originated. It doesn't seem the
same as something like the idea of a doll having a soul, which is from
Japanese folk beliefs, but it could be.

Is there some historical basis for giant fighting robots (or similar things)
in Japan? If not, where did they originate from, and what was the first series
that showed them?




There is no deep origin of the super robot trope in Japanese folklore, at
least as it pertains to anime and manga. While some Japanese legends and
history (such as the _samurai_ ) may have influence the design and
characteristics of the mechas, there is little direct inspirational influence.

The first anime adaptation of the [_Tetsujin
28-go_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsujin_28-go) manga, in 1963, is widely
credited as the origin of the mecha genre with an early design of a "[super
robot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Robot)". This series, in conjunction
with the manga [_Giant Robo_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Robo), were
the first to feature these designs. [Mitsuteru
Yokoyama](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuteru_Yokoyama)*, as the creator of
both these manga, is considered the father of the genre.

Yokoyama was largely influenced by the wartime of his days; the [bombing of
Kobe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Kobe_in_World_War_II) is one
such case. He was also influenced by the monster concept from _Frankenstein_.
[_Astro Boy_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Boy), a 1952 manga series,
has also had great influence over the design of the robots seen in the mecha
genre[[1]](http://theyokocritic.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/the-evolution-of-
mecha-design/).

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ooyjmm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ooyjm.jpg)
[ ![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/s4wTFm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/s4wTF.jpg)  
(Left: _Tetsujin 28-go_ manga cover; Right: _Giant Robo_ manga cover)

A bit more history: Notable mecha series that followed Yokoyama's creations
were [_Mazinger_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazinger) (one of the first to
feature piloting) and [the _Gundam_
series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Gundam). In the 90s, [_Neon
Genesis Evangelion_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion)
moved forward from the clunky, overly mechanized (and often blocky) mechas
from the prior series, and introduced sleeker, faster
designs[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neon_Genesis_Evangelion&oldid=549838327#Legacy).
Later series, such as [_Gurren
Lagann_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurren_Lagann) and
[_RahXephon_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RahXephon) mimicked this design,
while few shows like
[_GaoGaiGar_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Braves_GaoGaiGar) did
not.

* - Yokoyama also made significant other contributions to Japanese comic culture; these can be found in the linked WIkipedia article.




There is no deep origin of the super robot trope in Japanese folklore, at
least as it pertains to anime and manga. While some Japanese legends and
history (such as the _samurai_ ) may have influence the design and
characteristics of the mechas, there is little direct inspirational influence.

The first anime adaptation of the [_Tetsujin
28-go_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsujin_28-go) manga, in 1963, is widely
credited as the origin of the mecha genre with an early design of a "[super
robot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Robot)". This series, in conjunction
with the manga [_Giant Robo_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Robo), were
the first to feature these designs. [Mitsuteru
Yokoyama](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuteru_Yokoyama)*, as the creator of
both these manga, is considered the father of the genre.

Yokoyama was largely influenced by the wartime of his days; the [bombing of
Kobe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Kobe_in_World_War_II) is one
such case. He was also influenced by the monster concept from _Frankenstein_.
[_Astro Boy_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Boy), a 1952 manga series,
has also had great influence over the design of the robots seen in the mecha
genre[[1]](http://theyokocritic.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/the-evolution-of-
mecha-design/).

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ooyjmm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Ooyjm.jpg)
[ ![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/s4wTFm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/s4wTF.jpg)  
(Left: _Tetsujin 28-go_ manga cover; Right: _Giant Robo_ manga cover)

A bit more history: Notable mecha series that followed Yokoyama's creations
were [_Mazinger_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazinger) (one of the first to
feature piloting) and [the _Gundam_
series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Gundam). In the 90s, [_Neon
Genesis Evangelion_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion)
moved forward from the clunky, overly mechanized (and often blocky) mechas
from the prior series, and introduced sleeker, faster
designs[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neon_Genesis_Evangelion&oldid=549838327#Legacy).
Later series, such as [_Gurren
Lagann_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurren_Lagann) and
[_RahXephon_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RahXephon) mimicked this design,
while few shows like
[_GaoGaiGar_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Braves_GaoGaiGar) did
not.

* - Yokoyama also made significant other contributions to Japanese comic culture; these can be found in the linked WIkipedia article.

