Aquarion

Before recorded history even began, an ancient race called the Shadow Angels nearly wiped out humanity by harvesting human life force like cattle. Somehow, miraculously, they went dormant — and humanity got a second chance. That second chance just ran out. Now, eleven years after a catastrophe reshaped the world, the Shadow Angels are awake again, and the only thing standing between them and a full harvest is a giant mecha called Aquarion that needs three pilots to operate — not just physically, but emotionally. Their hearts, bodies, and souls have to actually sync up, which is a problem when the pilots are a rough feral kid named Apollo, a proud noblewoman named Silvia, and a cast of other complicated people who don't always get along. Apollo himself might be the reincarnation of an ancient hero, though he's about as far from heroic as you can get on first impression. The reincarnation and destiny angle runs deep here, giving the romance and character drama real weight beyond just 'teens pilot robots.' Yoko Kanno did the soundtrack, so expect music that genuinely elevates the emotional beats. If you liked Neon Genesis Evangelion's focus on pilot psychology over pure action, or RahXephon's blend of mythology and mecha, Aquarion scratches a similar itch with a warmer, more romantic tone. It's a 26-episode TV series from 2005 that feels genuinely ambitious — earnest without being naive.