Sorry Neon Genesis Evangelion, But 86 Is the Greatest Mecha Anime of All Time

For decades, Neon Genesis Evangelion has been hailed as the pinnacle of mecha storytelling, as a masterpiece of psychological tension and philosophical introspection. It redefined the genre by turning inward, using its giant robots and apocalyptic imagery to explore the human psyche. Yet, while Evangelion’s influence remains monumental, a newer series quietly surpasses it in emotional power, narrative coherence, and sheer impact, and that is 86 Eighty-Six.

Produced by A-1 Pictures and adapted from Asato Asato’s light novels, 86 Eighty-Six is not just another mech war story. It is a chilling, deeply human exploration of discrimination, trauma, and the cost of war, told through breathtaking animation and hauntingly real characters. Where Evangelion dissects internal suffering through metaphor, 86 Eighty-Six grounds it in political reality and the devastating machinery of prejudice. It is not just the best mech anime of the modern era, it might be the best of all time.

The Brutal Humanity of 86 Eighty-Six

At its core, 86 Eighty-Six tells the story of two worlds divided by bigotry and illusion. The Republic of San Magnolia claims to fight a war with autonomous drones, but the truth is far darker, because its so-called “unmanned” Juggernauts are piloted by a persecuted group known as the Eighty-Six, humans stripped of citizenship and forced to die anonymously on the battlefield. IT is an allegory that hits disturbingly close to home.

The anime’s protagonist duo, Shinei Nouzen (Shin) and Vladilena Milizé (Lena), represent opposite sides of this system. Lena, a privileged handler from within the Republic, begins the series as a voice of empathy in an empire of ignorance. Shin, the calm yet broken leader of the Eighty-Six squadron, embodies the burden of survival in a world that sees him as disposable. Their evolving connection becomes the emotional backbone of the series.

What elevates 86 Eighty-Six beyond most mech anime is its refusal to glorify war. Every battle, no matter how thrillingly animated, feels tragic and personal. The sound design and music, courtesy of composer Hiroyuki Sawano, turn even moments of victory into melancholic echoes. The mechs are not symbols of power; they are coffins on legs. This grim realism sets 86 Eighty-Six apart from traditional mecha heroism.

Even compared to the philosophical density of Evangelion, 86 Eighty-Six’s emotional clarity is striking. While Hideaki Anno’s work revels in abstraction, 86 Eighty-Six presents tangible injustice and asks viewers to confront it. It is not about unraveling human consciousness, it’s about understanding the systems that destroy it.

Evangelion Walked So 86 Eighty-Six Could Run

Neon Genesis Evangelion will always be the genre’s watershed moment, but its brilliance lies in its inward focus. Shinji Ikari’s journey is a metaphor for depression and self-hatred, wrapped in apocalyptic mecha warfare. However, for all its power, Evangelion’s story is deliberately fragmented and opaque. 86 Eighty-Six builds upon those same emotional foundations, but channels them into a cohesive, devastating narrative that’s accessible without losing depth.

Where Evangelion’s pilots battle existential dread, 86 Eighty-Six’s soldiers face a society that has already erased them. The difference is subtle yet profound. Evangelion isolates the individual psyche; 86 Eighty-Six indicts the collective cruelty of nations. Shin and his squad are not fighting angels from space, they are fighting the product of humanity’s worst instincts. That realism gives 86 Eighty-Six an enduring moral resonance.

The animation in 86 Eighty-Six also reflects a modern evolution of the mecha aesthetic. While Evangelion’s Evas are sleek and surreal instruments of horror, the Juggernauts in 86 Eighty-Six feel tactile and grounded, as the machines that break, rust, and bleed alongside their pilots. The fights are more than visual spectacle; they are desperate survival acts filmed with cinematic precision. Each scene reminds the viewer that these are not superheroes, they are human beings trapped in steel cages.

Even Gundam, the other pillar of the genre, rarely captures this balance of intimacy and scale. Where Gundam focuses on political intrigue and interstellar war, 86 condenses those grand ideas into a raw, personal tragedy. 86 Eighty-Six is like distilling the best parts of Gundam and Evangelion into a single, emotionally coherent story.

The Character Depth and Emotional Devastation of 86 Eighty-Six

What truly cements 86 Eighty-Six as the greatest mech anime of all time is its devotion to character. Shin is among the most compelling leads in anime history, as a soldier haunted by the ghosts of his fallen comrades, literally carrying their voices with him. His stoic demeanor hides unbearable grief, yet his quiet determination commands respect and empathy in equal measure.

Lena’s journey is equally powerful. Initially naive, she evolves into a morally complex figure who confronts her complicity in an unjust system. Her growth feels authentic and hard-earned. Rather than romanticizing her, the series shows her as a flawed human being struggling to do right in a world built on lies. Together, she and Shin redefine what it means to connect across impossible divides.

Even the supporting cast leaves an indelible mark. The members of Spearhead Squadron, with their distinct personalities and tragic fates, remind viewers that every “background soldier” has a story. Their camaraderie and humor make their losses cut deeper. By the time the credits roll, you don’t just mourn individuals—you mourn an entire generation erased by war.

The writing’s restraint is what makes 86 Eighty-Six so devastating. It does not rely on melodrama or exaggerated emotion. Instead, its quiet moments like the sound of static on a communication line and the image of a broken mech under moonlight, linger far longer than any explosive battle. In a genre often dominated by spectacle, 86 Eighty-Six proves that silence can be the loudest sound of all.

86 Eighty-Six is the New Gold Standard for Mecha Storytelling

In the decades since Evangelion redefined anime, countless series have tried to replicate its mix of mechs and psychology. Few have succeeded. But 86 Eighty-Six does not imitate, it innovates. It fuses social commentary, character-driven storytelling, and breathtaking production into something that feels timeless. Its themes of dehumanization, loss, and moral awakening transcend the genre entirely.

Where Evangelion left viewers questioning existence, 86 Eighty-Six leaves them questioning society. It is not just a story about machines or monsters, it is a story about how people choose to see each other, or refuse to. Its message resonates deeply in an era still wrestling with prejudice and division.

If Evangelion was the mecha anime that tore the genre apart, 86 Eighty-Six is the one that rebuilt it with empathy and purpose. It reminds fans that great sci-fi does not just explore the future, it exposes the present. Through its haunting beauty and unforgettable humanity, 86 Eighty-Six does not just stand alongside Evangelion and Gundam. It surpasses them.

Because in the end, the greatest mech anime of all time is not the one that breaks its heroes like Neon Genesis Evangelion, it is the one that gives them the courage to keep fighting. And 86 Eighty-Six delivers that message with devastating, unforgettable grace.

• Created by

  Hideaki Anno

  First Film

  Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth

  TV Show(s)

  Neon Genesis Evangelion

  Movie(s)

  Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth, End of Evangelion, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time

  Character(s)

  Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Toji Suzuhara, Kaworu Nagisa, Mari Illustrious Makinami, Gendo Ikari, Misato Katsuragi

  Video Game(s)

  Neon Genesis Evangelion

  
  

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  86: EIGHTY-SIX

  • Ikumi Hasegawa

    Vladilena Lena Milizé

  • Shoya Chiba

    Shinei Nouzen