Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms of Extreme Power
Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms was published in October of 2024 by Studio TriF. It was adapted from the manga of the same name created by Sae Okamoto. The story follows a young boy by the name of Hikaru Amatsuga who has recently encountered an interdimensional being known as a Mecha-Ude. These interdimensional creatures seek a compound known as Arbitrium. A life force-like energy they feed from. By fusing with humans these creatures feed from them while providing great physical boosts to their hosts.
The plot revolves around Hikaru and his symbiotic relationship with a Mecha-Ude called Alma. Together they seek to work together while protecting themselves against the evil Mega Corp which wishes to use Mecha-Ude as a tool stripping them of their free will.
Coming from the great mind of Sae Okamoto herself Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms is one of the newest and hottest pieces of fiction to drop over the last month. This project which had been in the Kickstarter works for a while now originally promised a pilot episode for 2019 has finally reached its series stage! That’s right, this show has been eight years in the making. To see a show that has taken so long to make its way to the big screen finally make its splashing debut is always a thrilling experience. Especially when it looks as gorgeous as it does!
Okamoto has been working on this story for years now and I have to applaud her for her work! She stood true to her guns to create a series of unmatched potential and boy did she deliver! Rarely do we talk about the original creators behind shows like these, but we have to commend her! She has done something truly special with some amazing fight scenes and special effects. I am thoroughly blown away by the sheer and utter epic action that this show has created.
I have always been a big fan of special power go boom against bad evil guys as much as the next guy, so you should understand when I say it’s hard to get excited about shows these days when everything is just copy-paste. Enter Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms! This show oozes personality and spunk with just how extra the scenes are. Within the first three episodes, I’ve lost count of the fight scenes and I’m just in awe of the world that has been created for this.
Watching a main protagonist stumble upon a great power isn’t a new trope. What’s refreshing is when the main character is called out to by said power. He’s not a chosen one or some great talent, he’s entirely average and just happened to be at the right place at the right time. He simply stumbled upon this power after heeding its call. And Alma, the Mecha-Ude, sees him as just an ordinary kid. But because of their circumstances, they need to work together to get through the situation they got themselves into.
Now the show isn’t all sunshine and rainbows everything is great and epic. There are a few drawbacks and titbits that I need to bring up. Firstly, I don’t enjoy it when an anime hides important information past the credit scene. It’s deceptive and cheap and often leaves people very confused. If you want to add extra bits make it optional to watch. Makes me feel like I missed a whole episode between some of them.
Secondly, overusing cheap humor. Yes, it looks like one of the characters is confessing their love to Hiraku. It’s all well and good but, please don’t use it more than once. It happened three times in the same episode. It’s a cliché for a reason and you look silly overusing it. Thirdly, some of the fight scenes are showing an insane amount of nothing. I like watching things transform, but when I can’t understand what is transforming into what its just ruined. Not only that sometimes the camera is so close to the action it’s hard to understand what’s happening.
Again, these are very small gripes to an otherwise perfect show. No anime will ever be perfect. And I hope if it gets a season two, they will take the criticism to heart. Some things won’t change, that I understand. But I’m excited for the future to come. I always enjoy some amazing shows that come onto the scene with a bang and Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms has done that in absolute spades! I highly recommend this for any anime fan who adores some epic shonen fight amine. That’s all for now ladies and Gents have a smashing day!