The year is 2167 and mankind has populated Mars. Somewhere on the Red Planet in a hidden lab the Martians are developing a new weapon known as "Idolo", which incorporates the mysterious mineral Metatron -- a combination that causes Idolo to become frighteningly powerful and gain a mind of its own. Lieutenant Radium Lavans is assigned as its test pilot, but the Metatron's power slowly consumes him and he begins to walk the path of destruction and madness. Will he be able to break free from its stronghold, or will it end in a bloodbath that consumes both the Earth and Mars?
When a group of children discover a strange cave at the beach, their lives are forever changed. Inside they find a hide out filled with computers and a man named Kokopelli who gives them a curious offer: to participate in a special game in which they save Earth from fifteen giant monsters. To defeat the invaders, he will give them a powerful mecha of black armor. The children eagerly sign the contract, name their new weapon Zearth, and must now take turns to pilot it; but the 'game' is in fact all too real and the consequences of battle become the stuff of nightmares. With no option to cancel the contract, is there any way to stop the game before it is too late for all of them?
Darkly toned and tragic mecha combat series that explore the psychology of interacting with a giant unstoppable war machine on a day-to-day basis. Idolo, due to its shorter time frame, is of necessity more heavy handed. Additionally they share an aspect of cosmic horror/perversity, though in Idolo it's only ever implied, whereas in Bokurano it's an undercurrent throughout.
It is the year 2029, and as many rush to embrace the changes that cybernetic technology bring to mankind, the seedier side of humanity is even quicker to take advantage of it. This series follows Public Peace Section 9, a government organization that plays behind the scenes to stop the worst of these criminals. Join Major Motoko Kusanagi and her team as they take you through an incredibly vivid world filled with plots of such depth and intrigue as is seldom seen.
Dark themed science fiction that explores certain aspects of the advancement of technology and our interaction with it. Idolo is specifically centred on military applications, whereas Ghost in the Shell stands to make a point about human existance as a whole.
After years apart, childhood friends Isamu Dyson and Guld Bowman reunite as rival pilots, each showcasing an experimental plane for the military. But their mutual love for longtime friend Myung threatens to spin their already tense feelings out of control! Now, each battles to secure Myung's affections, but even more dangerous than their own dark secrets is a clandestine plot involving superstar singer Sharon Apple that threatens all of humanity!
In the future, a devastating event known as Second Impact has destroyed Tokyo as we know it, giving rise to Tokyo III - a city under siege by mysterious lifeforms known only as Angels. Mankind's only line of defense are the Evangelions, a set man-made machines piloted by a trio of fourteen year-old teenagers, Rei, Shinji, and Asuka. The fate of Japan and the entire world now lie with these three children, though they might not have the power to save the most important thing of all: each other.
Mecha combat series that explore the psychology of interacting with a giant unstoppable war machine on a day-to-day basis. Idolo, due to its shorter time frame, is of necessity more heavy handed; Evangelion has eight whole hours to gradually let the angst sink in.
In the not-so-distant future, mankind is at war with itself. The lives of Chise and Shuu are torn apart when Chise is chosen to become the ultimate weapon to fight for Japan against their enemies. Death, sadness, and the hardships of love accompany Sai Kano in its grim look at war and its consequences.
Military/mecha series that deal with the psychology of warfare and loss. Saikano has a much larger romantic aspect, as well as primarily showing the viewpoint of the outsider. Idolo has a range of viewpoints that are shown but not explored fully due to time constraints.