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Early anime ( Japanese animation) was always famous for its portrayal of superheroic characters, and also for its use of robots and high technology for science fiction anime. It was very early on (perhaps even pre- 70s) that these two schools of thought were merged into one, producing series based around magical mechanical engines of battle, with hilarious, brightly coloured designs - accompanying thin stories usually tailored towards children.

As time went on, animators and directors at independent anime companies started to realise that a complex and involving story could be created, using exciting, larger-than-life mecha robot battles in order to keep the plot flowing. This essentially is the essence of "Real Robot" anime.

Real Robot also distinguishes a particular classification for mecha robots, where the mecha in question are pieces of military hardware rather than mysterious, all powerful machines with god like powers. In the Super Robot Wars series, Real Robots are typified by weak armor, low HP but very high evasion and generally fight using 'conventional' weaponry which usually includes rifles of one sort or another. The Gundam series are the arch-example of the Real Robot genre and classification with the possible exception to G-Gundam.

Some good examples include Full Metal Panic, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and the Patlabor movies.