Manga Sub-Genre Ahoy!: Mecha Musume

"Mecha Musume" is a term used by Western anime fans to describe anthropomorphic combinations of anime pin-ups and vehicles, although the term itself is actually a brand name used by artist Shimada Humikane to describe his collection of designs, including the animated series "Strike Witches" and his World War II set of designs, in which girls are combined with weapons like M4 Sherman tanks and ME-109 aircraft.

Pre-dating the mecha musume designs are the "Gundam Girls," fan art designs which combined the giant robot Gundam designs with pin-ups into hybrid mechanized suits that are completely out of scale with the original designs. (Although you'd be hard pressed to discern that unless you were familiar with the Gundam series.)

"MC Axis" magazine was launched last year in Japan specifically to cater to the needs of the mecha musume and "moe military" community.

Gundam Girls gallery [AnimeCubed.com]
MC Axis Site [Ikaros.co.jp]
Mecha Musume [Wikipedia]

[#1 posted by xadrian , September 18, 2007 8:44 AM]

This is as weird as Furries.

[#2 posted by Gilbert Wham , September 18, 2007 10:18 AM]

NOTHING is as weird as furries. Not even the Japanese.

[#3 posted by Anonymous , September 18, 2007 2:43 PM]

Wikipedia link is incorrect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecha_Musume

[#4 posted by Anonymous , September 18, 2007 10:43 PM]

Xadrian: At least mechagirls are still girls.

gb2/yiff/

[#5 posted by Anonymous , August 9, 2008 9:28 PM]

I think its fine. As long as they have ahuman face its all good. Though in strike witches they are just normal girls with magic cat ears that put on robo leggings...this way is best thinks i