... and suddenly, the fight with Sandalphon from Neon Genesis (and Exodus, IIRC) Evangelion springs to mind. The Eva pilots as Action Scientists?

“They planned their campaigns just as you might make a splendid piece of harness. It looks very well; and answers very well; until it gets broken; and then you are done for. Now I made my campaigns of ropes. If anything went wrong, I tied a knot; and went on.”
-- Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington