Metal Cardbot

This must be one of the most obscure shows on MAL, and yet, from what I've seen, it's fairly well known among fans of the super robot genre. If you enjoy Transformers and the Brave series, this show is for you! The lack of subs probably served as a barrier to entry for many, but subs are out there now if you search for them.

Metal Cardbot understands what's most important for any good super robot show: The robots NEED to be lovable. Although the Cardbots are introduced in quick succession and we don't get to receive a lot of time with them one-on-one, they each ... manage to have distinct and adorable personalities. Gotta say, I'm a big fan of Wild Guardy's obsession with Blue Cop. That's good stuff. I love how Wild Guardy and his human buddy, Crest, mirror the relationship between Blue Cop and Jun, the protagonist.

Speaking of the humans, I know that human characters can often be hit or miss when it comes to these types of shows. I've seen some super robot shows where the humans take up most of the screentime and end up overshadowing the robots to the detriment of the show. That's not the case here. Although Jun and his friends are ever-present, the Cardbots occupy equal screentime. I can't say that Jun is the most outstanding protagonist, but he has good energy and delivered some very emotional moments in the last episode.

Since each episode is only 11 minutes, it's easy to blast through this show, but I recommend taking it slowly so you can savor and absorb it. Each episode is PACKED with action. I've heard that the creator used to make fan animations of Transformers in his free time, and you can tell. This show was definitely made by people who were passionate about making the robots look as cool as possible. Some people might see the 3D character art and think the show will look bad, but you'd be WRONG. The animation and camerawork is always fantastic, especially in the battles.

I also really love the designs of the robots. The super-saturated colors might hurt your eyes after a while, but you can't deny that it makes these robots stand out. Blue Cop, the main Cardbot, has a flawless design. I love the pink visor. So cute.

I would say that the overall story is less important than the time we get to spend with the Cardbots. In a way, this feels like a "cute robots doing cute things" show, which is good if you ask me. lol If you're looking for a super robot show packed with personality, I can't recommend this one enough.