History Main / MiniMecha

* The obscure OVA ''Anime/DragonsHeaven'' features an odd example with [[SpellMyNameWithAnS SHEIAN/CHEYENNE]], a robot that is both self-aware and capable of moving on his own, but also contains a cockpit for a human pilot. Exactly how "mini" he is [[YourSizeMayVary also varies]]; in some scenes, he's big enough to go toe-to-toe with HumongousMecha while in others he's small enough to sit at a table with other humans.

** While franchise overwhelming focuses on ~20 meter tall military mobile suits, several of the universes have smaller machines that are typically used for civilian (construction, building contests, races) or paramilitary use (police, riot control). Sometimes they're used against full-sized mobile suits, but this never ends well. Which is [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome kind of what you'd expect]] when you try to use construction equipment against actual military hardware. Every time it's been attempted has been out of sheer desperation. Examples include the Petite Mobile Suit in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ'' and the Draken-E in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket''.
** ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamSEEDAstray'' has the [[http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/frameastrays/guti.htm Powered Suit Guti.]] As the name suggests it's halfway in between a standard Mobile Suit and PoweredArmor, with the pilot fitting entirely inside the torso.

* In ''TabletopGame/VorTheMaelstrom'' refers to them as walkers and both human factions, the Union and the Neo-Soviets have these. The Union's Ares is lightly armored and has a built-in light autocannon. It can also add a OneHitKill drill and add highly advanced heavy weapons (but no tank cannons) such as a [[MagneticWeapon railgun]] or PlasmaCannon.The Neo-Soviet Ursa is 50% bigger than an Ares and almost as heavily armoured as some tanks, plus it has a built-in heavy autocannon and a chem sprayer. In most one on one fights between these two usually favors the Ursa as it's far tougher and it usually has more firepower as it typically adds a cannon that's normally found on Neo-Soviet tanks. However the Ursa also has an unstable fusion core which mqy xplode if the walker takes damage.

* As of 2014, this also applies to the Invasion From Below series of ''Toys/{{Hero Factory}}'', where the previously standard size models are minimechs, with minifigure-sized characters functioning as pilots.

Mini-Mecha are machines too big or complex to be considered a PowerHarness or PoweredArmor, but not quite ''humongous'' enough to fit in the other category. A telltale sign you have a Mini-Mecha instead of PoweredArmor is the presence of a physical cockpit, typically small and exposed. PoweredArmor is "worn", meaning that all or most limbs of it cover and move with the wearer's limbs. If the user has to use commands or controls to control the limbs or movement, they can be described as a "pilot" or "driver", and then you have a Mini-Mecha on your hands.

Mini-Mecha are machines too big or complex to be considered PoweredArmor or a PowerHarness, but not quite ''humongous'' enough to fit in the other category. A telltale sign you have a Mini-Mecha instead of PoweredArmor is the presence of a physical cockpit, typically small and exposed. PoweredArmor is "worn", meaning that all or most limbs of it cover and move with the wearer's limbs. If the user has to use commands or controls to control the limbs or movement, they can be described as a "pilot" or "driver", and then you have a Mini-Mecha on your hands.

Mini-Mecha are machines too big or complex to be considered PoweredArmor but not quite ''humongous'' enough to fit in the other category. A telltale sign you have a Mini-Mecha instead of PoweredArmor is the presence of a physical cockpit, typically small and exposed. PoweredArmor is "worn", meaning that all or most limbs of it cover and move with the wearer's limbs. If the user has to use commands or controls to control the limbs or movement, they can be described as a "pilot" or "driver", and then you have a Mini-Mecha on your hands.

* ''VideoGame/SpeedPowerGunbike'' is an obscure Japanese [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation PS1]] title featuring transforming motorcycles in the vein of the ''Anime/Megazone23'' example above.

* The rank-and-file Armours used in UsefulNotes/WW1-esque ''Operator'' straddle the Mini-Mecha[=/=]PoweredArmor line in much the same way as the Iron Monger -- the pilot's head sticks out the top in a helmet structure, while the rest of their body sits in a cramped cockpit that takes up most of the [fairly bulky] torso.

* In VideoGame/{{Intrusion 2}} enemies as well as the player can ride in three kinds of mech suits, some with rifles and homing missile launchers, others with machine guns and giant knives, and ones with a harpoon arm allowing them to grab enemies or objects and throw them as weapons.

* ''VideoGame/KidIcarus'' Uprising features a few different models, called "Cherubots".
** [[spoiler:The Great Sacred Treasure is a [[TransformingMecha transforming]] variant of this]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/BattleTech'', the Inner Sphere develops "battle armors" to counter the Clan's Elemental suits. However, the two battle armors they develop, Infiltrator and Sloth, end up closer to this trope than to PoweredArmor.

* In ''TabletopGame/VorTheMaelstrom'' both human factions, the Union and the Neo-Soviets had these. The Union's Ares is lightly armored and has a built-in light autocannon. It can also add a OneHitKill drill and add highly advanced heavy weapons (but no tank cannons) such as a [[MagneticWeapon railgun]] or PlasmaCannon.The Neo-Soviet Ursa is 50% bigger than an Ares and almost as heavily armoured as some tanks, plus it has a built-in heavy autocannon and a chem sprayer. In most one on one fights between these two usually favors the Ursa as it's far tougher and it usually has more firepower as it typically adds a cannon that's normally found on Neo-Soviet tanks.

** Nonhuman races have their own too. The [[MageSpecies sorcerous]] and [[HigherTechSpecies hyper-advanced Pharon]] have the Scarab Walker while the [[PowerCrystal crystalline Shard]] with their [[PureEnergy energy manipulation]] have the Eradicators.

** However, the Middle Eastern League's [[http://codegeass.wikia.com/wiki/Bamides Bamides,]] which are shown to be all but immune to ''tank rounds'', are much more akin to Humongous Mecha, standing at over 11 meters. That said, they also ignore most of the human element, being more akin to giant tanks with vaguely leg-like hover systems.

** Nonhuman races have their own too. The [[WitchRace sorcerous]] and [[HigherTechSpecies hyper-advanced Pharon]] have the Scarab Walker while the [[PowerCrystal crystalline Shard]] with their [[PureEnergy energy manipulation]] have the Eradicators.

** Nonhuman races have their own too. The hyper-advanced Pharon have the Scarab Walker while the crystalline Shard have the Eradicators.

** The Penitent Engine also leaves its pilot horribly exposed, but this is an ''intended'' design choice.