So, I have a few friends who are quite into the whole anime bit, but I have to say, I don't quite understand why.  Admittedly, I've never really sat down and watched much of it.

Very interesting.  That may explain why I thought they suck

Isn't gundam a big robotic body extension?  I learned that from the Matrix 3

Very interesting.  I remember seeing a company selling a functional gundam about months ago or so that had airsoft guns that shot the foam pellets.  Pretty neat stuff. 

Mech warrior brings back memories of such a happier time

I'll give it a shot.  Thanks!

so.. that means you actually watched with proper attention the anime stuff he was watching... or you just couldn't stand him being immersed in the activity (and not into you)... i mention this because a friend of mine got a kick in the butt with that excuse... anyway, anime is just a tag for a collection of japanese animated productions... there's good, marvelous and really crappy stuff in that universe, just like in any form of culture/art...
i think that the animation -not only japanese, but also french, brithish, brazilian or from the US- gives the artist some resources that he may lack doing "live action" productions... and i don't think that special effects are always the answer to overcome reality limitations; the use of animation may sometimes be a huge boost to any story (e.g. the animated sequence on Kill Bill I)
hope you give anime and comics a chance 

I watched that once and man was I lost.  Same thing with pokemon.