Someone should really make a live action Mecha series.

[Red Infinity Ranger]

For those who are a fan of mecha, why hasn't their been a live action Mech tv series. Why is it restricted to anime, and the stuff in America is usually consists of mechs that are more like walking tanks. So I have thought of an idea that is one part Robotech, one part Battlestar Galactica, one part Zone of the Enders(if you haven't played it, it is a great game) put it all into a blender and create an awesome live action Mecha show. And here is what it will be about:

1) Earth is in a war with a much more advanced alien race of shapeshifting lizard-bugs. Just as Earth is about to test out the first mechs with energy weapons, the villans ambush them and destroy the Earth. There are survivors of the genocide and have to make it to their closest allies, who are light-years away, while evading the enemy.

2) The main mech is a living machine. It appears out of nowhere, owns the villians, then vanishes as quick as it came. It is extremely powerful, but only can remain in space for six Earth hours, then it must return to a coccon-like crystal to regenerate or it will die.

3) Each episode will be in the point of view of the five pilots of the prototype mechs. Each of them has reasons for joining the army and each has a secret that will shape the fate of their race.

4) The Earth Fleet is very low tech in science fiction terms. Their ships can only travel twice the speed of light, they don't have many energy weapons or shields, and they use guns with bullets and nukes.

So, who wants me to sumit this idea to the Syfy channel?

 

[Dark Kabuto]

Live action Transformers movie wasn't good enough for you?

 

[Red Infinity Ranger]

Live action Transformers movie wasn't good enough for you?

No. Its not.

 

[Tom Constantine]

Budget.

 

[Dark Kabuto]

No. Its not.

Like it or not, it's still live action mecha though.

 

[Silver Wolf]

Have you never heard of Hypernauts before? It's perhaps not completely mecha-centric but it sort of fits that label.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ylNteZEgc"]Hypernauts Intro[/ame]

There was also the live-action "Gundam" film G-Saviour, which was made in North America. It wasn't well recieved, however.

But as stated before, the budget is the main reason you don't see these very often, if at all. Either the CGI is difficult to assemble (consider that, unlike spaceships, mechas often have a variety of animations [due to varying settings] and shifting parts to deal with rather than a mere shape moving in a void), or other methods (such as conventional animatronics, set pieces, costumes, etc.) often tend to look "cheesy" to the audience without the proper tone, backdrop, or overall handling of the concept to make one "not care about it".

The best you'll get is CGI mechs, used very sparingly, or "Super-Sentai/Power Rangers" use of guys in suits, with the occasional chance of things like Gerry Anderson's various "Marionation" styles, in terms of Live-action. Rarely do these methods pull large audiences without the right set-up (Mecha fans might complain there isn't enough "mech-footage," mainstream audiences might just laugh at the effects, and so on), which makes it a risky endeavour for producers or production studios in general. This is why it's only majorly used in animation, where special effects budgets and physical limitations aren't an issue.

 

[Adventknight]

For those who are a fan of mecha, why hasn't their been a live action Mech tv series. Why is it restricted to anime, and the stuff in America is usually consists of mechs that are more like walking tanks. So I have thought of an idea that is one part Robotech, one part Battlestar Galactica, one part Zone of the Enders(if you haven't played it, it is a great game) put it all into a blender and create an awesome live action Mecha show. And here is what it will be about:

1) Earth is in a war with a much more advanced alien race of shapeshifting lizard-bugs. Just as Earth is about to test out the first mechs with energy weapons, the villans ambush them and destroy the Earth. There are survivors of the genocide and have to make it to their closest allies, who are light-years away, while evading the enemy.

2) The main mech is a living machine. It appears out of nowhere, owns the villians, then vanishes as quick as it came. It is extremely powerful, but only can remain in space for six Earth hours, then it must return to a coccon-like crystal to regenerate or it will die.

3) Each episode will be in the point of view of the five pilots of the prototype mechs. Each of them has reasons for joining the army and each has a secret that will shape the fate of their race.

4) The Earth Fleet is very low tech in science fiction terms. Their ships can only travel twice the speed of light, they don't have many energy weapons or shields, and they use guns with bullets and nukes.

So, who wants me to sumit this idea to the Syfy channel?

That would almost be like Super Robot Wars Original Generation with Shapeshifting lizards. I like it though.

 

[Red Infinity Ranger]

That would almost be like Super Robot Wars Original Generation with Shapeshifting lizards. I like it though.

I've actually never played any Super Robot Wars games.

 

[ForeverRed]

For those who are a fan of mecha, why hasn't their been a live action Mech tv series. Why is it restricted to anime, and the stuff in America is usually consists of mechs that are more like walking tanks. So I have thought of an idea that is one part Robotech, one part Battlestar Galactica, one part Zone of the Enders(if you haven't played it, it is a great game) put it all into a blender and create an awesome live action Mecha show. And here is what it will be about:

1) Earth is in a war with a much more advanced alien race of shapeshifting lizard-bugs. Just as Earth is about to test out the first mechs with energy weapons, the villans ambush them and destroy the Earth. There are survivors of the genocide and have to make it to their closest allies, who are light-years away, while evading the enemy.

2) The main mech is a living machine. It appears out of nowhere, owns the villians, then vanishes as quick as it came. It is extremely powerful, but only can remain in space for six Earth hours, then it must return to a coccon-like crystal to regenerate or it will die.

3) Each episode will be in the point of view of the five pilots of the prototype mechs. Each of them has reasons for joining the army and each has a secret that will shape the fate of their race.

4) The Earth Fleet is very low tech in science fiction terms. Their ships can only travel twice the speed of light, they don't have many energy weapons or shields, and they use guns with bullets and nukes.

So, who wants me to sumit this idea to the Syfy channel?

Never heard of Transmorphers?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBroRSkfeMg"]YouTube - TransMorphers[/ame]