MechaFest: There's a new anime festival coming to Melbourne in May
Robots will take over ACMI this May when MechaFest: An Anime Celebration arrives with a packed program of screenings, events and performances.
MechaFest: An Anime Celebration explores the enduring influence of robots and mecha in Japanese animation across five days at Melbourne’s premier screen culture destination. The festival will showcase landmark anime films alongside special events celebrating the cultural impact of the genre.
MechaFest: An Anime Celebration
When: Thursday 8 May – Monday 12 May 2025
Where: ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne
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Celebrating 30 years of Neon Genesis Evangelion
A highlight of the festival is the 30th anniversary celebration of Neon Genesis Evangelion, the groundbreaking series that redefined the mecha genre in the 1990s. Fans can attend a special panel discussion unpacking the show’s iconic moments, followed by screenings of the complete Rebuild of Evangelion film series, including Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone, Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance, Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo, and Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon A Time.
The programming features several influential anime classics, including Mamoru Oshii’s cyberpunk thriller Ghost in the Shell, which explores themes of artificial intelligence and consciousness. Satoshi Kon’s surrealist masterpiece Paprika examines the fluid boundary between dreams and reality, while Rintaro’s Metropolis offers a visually stunning adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s manga.
Studio Trigger’s vibrant and kinetic Promare rounds out the film program, bringing contemporary mecha aesthetics to the festival.
Beyond screenings, MechaFest: An Anime Celebration offers several interactive components. The Anime Cosplay Runway invites participants to showcase their detailed mecha-inspired costumes, while the Anime Trivia night challenges fans’ knowledge of the genre’s deep history.
Podcast fans can attend a live recording of Gateway to Anime, where hosts will discuss the significance of robot narratives in Japanese animation with special guests.
From Gigantor to Ghost in the Shell
The festival recognises anime’s pioneering role in exploring our relationship with technology. From early robot-focused series like Tetsujin 28-go (Gigantor) and Astro Boy that helped define the genre in the 1960s, to contemporary works that grapple with increasingly complex questions about artificial intelligence, MechaFest celebrates this rich tradition.
ACMI’s program notes that while a future intermingled with robots seems closer than ever, anime has been thoughtfully examining these relationships for over six decades, establishing unique concepts like the distinctly Japanese interpretation of giant piloted robots known as mecha.
Festival-goers can purchase individual tickets or opt for program passes. The 3-session pass ($39-$48) and 6-session pass ($72-$90) offer flexibility to mix and match screenings and events. The ACMI Shop will also feature a selection of anime merchandise, including volumes of Ghost in the Shell and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
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