Why Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms Is an Original Anime Worth Watching

How often have many of us overlooked an anime because no one’s talking about it on social media or a big-name studio isn’t behind it? It’s a good thing you have me then! I make it my mission to spotlight hidden gems every anime season, and this time, the gem is Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms . This one’s special to me because I watched the pilot episode back in 2019 (don’t ask me how I came across it — my age is definitely showing via memory loss). Seeing Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms achieve its full potential today fills me with so much joy, especially when the creator and director is a woman. As an original anime (no source material), Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms has a lot of charm and a good amount of sakuga. It’s a story about a teenage boy, Hikaru Amatsuga, who just so happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. A sentient mechanical arm named Alma bonds to his hoodie, forcing Hikaru into a dangerous situation where two groups, ARMS and Kagami Group, are after Alma’s power. If that synopsis didn’t convince you, keep on reading because I’m going to delve further into what makes Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms your next watch. NOTE : Spoilers for the first six episodes of Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms Kickstarter Origins So, rewind: Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms was originally a pilot episode released on YouTube in 2019 after having been successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2016. That’s three years of development, and then another five years for a full production. The creator and director, Sae Okamoto, doesn’t have an extensive list of projects under her belt, but that’s what makes her achievement with Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms so incredible. While the pilot episode is no longer on YouTube, you can check out the PV below: The studio behind the pilot episode, TriF, initially focused on indie films that use CG and VFX. It later turned into TriF Studio, consisting of freelancers who focused on music videos and commercials. Okamoto joined as a part-time coloring animation staff member , which is when she created Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms and helped the studio shift gears to anime production. The positive reception to the pilot episode attracted more animators and other staff members to join, ultimately leading to the full-fledged show that we have right now. We love an underdog story! Also, fun fact! If you’re a fan of Eve, he wrote and sang the opening theme for the pilot episode, which you can listen to below: Fresh Characters, Animation and Designs If you’ve seen what Hikaru looks like, you’ll agree with me that he’s not the most unique-looking character. He portrays the average high schooler who doesn’t stand out but suddenly gets thrown into a situation beyond him, which is on par for shonen anime (even though Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms isn’t categorized as such). What I do like about him, as well as a majority of the characters, is that they’re struggling with how they perceive themselves versus how others perceive them. Some try to play the hero, some the villain, but at the end of the day, they’re kids yearning for acceptance for who they are (and can become) from their friends and family. RELATED: 10 Supernatural Anime That Highlight How Unique the Genre Is One aspect of the pilot episode that I think factored into its positive reception is the sakuga. Okamoto is so talented for not only directing but also animating action sequences so well. The animation is also familiar but still experimental in that the animators blend 2D and 3D to create a dynamic scene. The Mecha-Ude have unique designs, with all of them having eyes. Their designs reflect their personalities (and to some extent, their users), such as Aki’s Mecha Ude having a dark color palette and looking angry all the time (also describes Aki when she’s in a bad mood). I think my favorite duo though is Wanner who looks like a vampire and his Mecha-Ude who acts and speaks like a samurai. It’s the best of both worlds! Comedic Timing Is Everything Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms has the right balance of subtle and outrageous humor. When I say subtle, I’m talking about a character’s line delivery, and when I say outrageous, I’m referring to the good ‘ole out-of-context moments. Aki, in particular, is quite hilarious despite exuding a tough aura, and I think that’s why she’s a comedic relief. The girl loves food but she also doesn’t understand personal boundaries when it comes to protecting Hikaru from their enemies. I also want to give a shoutout to Meru Shirayama, Hikaru’s crush, because she’s a total shipper of Hikaru and Aki. She makes the funniest expressions after catching the two of them in her perceived lovey-dovey act. These moments remind us that the characters are only teenagers and have a life outside of Mecha-Ude and opposing forces. The humor is also where the show’s charm comes from. Not only are the humans full of life but so are the Mecha-Ude. We all know that the moral of the story is that the Mecha-Ude aren’t weapons and they have depth to them despite being an extension of their users. In some ways, the Mecha-Ude are a reflection of their user, like how Hikaru wants to stand out and be a hero, and Alma is the definition of a heroic personality. Alma being so upstanding is funny because sometimes it’s misplaced despite his good intentions. All that to say, the humor is one part of a while that makes Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms and its characters so fun to watch. The Power of Friendship and Heroes You’re never going to escape the power of friendship in anime — just accept it, like I have. In Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms ’ case, I’m quite fond of how it incorporates the trope. Hikaru and Aki are the central characters with opposite personalities, and while it makes for entertainment, their differences help them become closer friends (regardless of Shirayama’s fangirling). When Hikaru fades into the background, Aki is there to bring him forward. Breaking through his bedroom window every morning to make sure he gets out of bed is the most direct example of how Aki accomplishes this. RELATED: SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary Has a Rather Unordinary Twist Then you have Hikaru who wants to be a hero but doesn’t have the special qualities — until he bonds with Alma. Even then, his desire to save his friends when they’re in trouble is the definition of a hero. When Aki tries to sacrifice herself in Hikaru’s place because she doesn’t want outsiders involved in her family issues, Hikaru stops her and instead reaches his hand out as she was consumed by darkness (figuratively). Hikaru’s name literally means “light” or “radiance,” so it’s clear as day when he saves Aki that he starts glowing. We dunk on the power of friendship trope because it can come across as overdone or corny, but in Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms these are versions they want to become. It’s nothing complex, but you can bet that I’m a sucker for friends having your back better than your family (iykyk). Another Certified Hiroyuki Sawano Soundtrack Hiroyuki Sawano has become such a household name in the music industry for anime soundtracks that seeing his name credited for the music in Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms made me excited. Not to overshadow the other composers, Kohta Yamamoto and Daiki, but Sawano composed the opening and ending songs, which are bangers. It’s a pleasant surprise because you normally see Sawano working on larger projects but for him to be the composer for an anime that started out as a Kickstarter project? Wild. RELATED: Hiroyuki Sawano on Creating the Epic Music Behind Promare, Gundam Unicorn and More I can tell when it’s Sawano behind the music during certain scenes because the epic, in-your-ear type of songs play during the action sequences. He’s a master at creating an atmosphere that’s full of energy, and when you pair it with sakuga, it makes for a memorable fight. Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms has worked its magic to gather staff members with impressive portfolios, and to see how much love and care it’s getting makes me hopeful for more projects from the studio and Okamoto in the future.

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