Can a mecha be considered a character?

[NotaNuffian]

Can a mecha be considered a character?

I get that transformers such as Optimus Prime are characters of their own.

I also get that Freedom Gundam is an item to Jesus Yamato and Athrun's are consumables because he is just burning them through via allahu akbar jutsu.

Google's AI just gives a vague yes.

Spoiler: Google's answer

Yes, a mecha can be considered a character, especially in stories where it's not just a vehicle but a central part of the narrative with its own personality, history, or even sentience. While many mecha are primarily tools for the pilot, others become integral to the story, acting as a partner, a source of strength, or even a symbol of the pilot's journey.

Here's why:

• Personality and History:
  Some mecha are designed with distinct personalities, traits, and backstories, making them feel more like living beings than machines.
  
  
• Sentience and Agency:
  In some stories, mecha are given the ability to think, reason, and even act independently of the pilot, further solidifying their character-like qualities.
  
  
• Symbolism and Emotional Connection:
  Mecha can become deeply symbolic of the pilot's identity, their values, or their journey, creating a strong emotional connection between the pilot and their machine.
  
  
• Central Role in the Story:
  In many narratives, mecha are not just tools but are essential to the plot, driving the action, and influencing the characters' fates.
  
  
• Examples:
  Consider the Gundam series, where the mecha themselves are often more than just vehicles, with their unique designs, histories, and personalities often mirroring the pilots they belong to. Similarly, in Neon Genesis Evangelion, the Evangelion units become extensions of the pilots, reflecting their struggles and inner turmoil.

 

[Golden_Hyde]

yes, and no.

If you're following JP style Mecha, then no. But if you're trying to put BT-7274 Mecha concept with integrated AGI, then yes.

 

[RepresentingAnti-Representings]

If it has 'personality' then I would say yes.

Edit: It doesn't even need to be an AI personality. It could be just a humanizing trait you give yo it. Like its pilot talking to it (even though the Mecha is just a machine) and giving him personality of its own. Idk how to explain it lol

 

[Tempokai]

Everything can be turned into a character if you anthropomorphize enough. Add human-like traits to things, and they'll become characters.

 

[RepresentingAnti-Representings]

A good example would be Wilson, the volleyball ball from the movie Cast Away

 

[Alski]

If the mecha talks to me it's a character.

 

[NotaNuffian]

If it has 'personality' then I would say yes.

Edit: It doesn't even need to be an AI personality. It could be just a humanizing trait you give yo it. Like its pilot talking to it (even though the Mecha is just a machine) and giving him personality of its own. Idk how to explain it lol

All I can think of is Gundam Exia, Gundam Wing and Gundam Barbatos.

Because their pilots are all nutters.

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

Does the mecha can move by itself without human guidance ?

Does the mecha capable of living ?

Does the mecha capable of giving opinion ?

Does the car in Initial D and Wangan Midnidght can be considered character ?

We can joke ebout them being a "character", but we're not here to joke around.

Theyre more of a tool and device of the character.

Does your smartphone, computer, and weapons have character ?

In my opinion, to talk about the truth,

Theyre totally not a characters at all, until they can talk like terminator style AI robot.

But we have to "pretend" that they're character, a mascot of sort, or the society of readers are going to be mad about us and became loud complainers.

 

[Arkus86]

If the mecha talks to me it's a character.

If the mecha talks to you, you had enough catnip. But it is a character.

 

[Corty]

Absolutely.

Just look at Titanfall 2 or Suisei no Gargantia

Anybody saying no is wrong.

 

[Racosharko]

Freedom Gundam

Don't know, but that soundtrack is... it often knows how to make an entrance

 

[Forcalor]

Eh, can we define what a character is, first? I was always under assumption that it means having things like agency and personality -- that is, a character is someone who is recognized in-story as a person or anything adjacent to that. I feel like not all mechas are equal in this regard

 

[laccoff_mawning]

Does the mecha can move by itself without human guidance ?

Does the mecha capable of living ?

Does the mecha capable of giving opinion ?

If yes to all three, does that make the mecha a character?

I have mixed feelings about making robots/ai/mechas into characters. it can be done, but should it be done? Is it good practice?

 

[Alski]

Does the mecha can

Does the mecha capable

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

If the mecha talks to you, you had enough catnip. But it is a character.

If yes to all three, does that make the mecha a character?

I have mixed feelings about making robots/ai/mechas into characters. it can be done, but should it be done? Is it good practice?

Nowadays we can just put ChatGPT client into the computer inside the mecha, and it will "talk" to you.

Robot AI characters are a damn good fantasy practice we have done for DECADES.

 

[Alski]

Absolutely.

Just look at Titanfall 2 or Suisei no Gargantia

Anybody saying no is wrong.

Arbalast from FMP says hi too

 

[Racosharko]

 

[miyoga]

I was just thinking of Eureka 7's mecha, because it absolutely is a character with some level of sentience and independent communication with the pilot(s).
An even better example might be that of Big O. Yes, it's the title of the anime, but the mecha is absolutely a character in that there'd be no show without it. If you take something like Gundam and remove the mechas, there's still a way to tell the story, but not with this.
So, my thoughts are that if the mech (or Wilson) is essential to the story in that there's no way it could be told without said mecha (or Wilson, because he was absolutely needed when he was introduced), then it is a character regardless of any anthropomorphizing that may or may not take place.

Think about the reverse if that also helps, can a person NOT be a character, because I do not consider "Nameless Henchman #1" to be one.

 

[ArcadiaBlade]

Everything is considered a character, even non-existent entities can become a Main character. Once YOU believe that they exist, it will become part of a story. You only need to build it a story and everything can fall into place. A black hole wouldn't be considered a character....until Honkai Star rail explained some Aeon to be a black hole.

 

[Madmcgee]

*laughs in having my AI characters considering humans they control as 'mechas'*