The highly anticipated Anime NYC 2024 event unveiled a series of announcements, with the premiere of Mecha-Ude taking center stage. This new anime, produced by TriF Studio, has drawn significant attention for its unique blend of action and humor, evoking comparisons to the cult classic Kill la Kill.
Mecha-Ude introduces a world where sentient robot arms, known as “Mecha-Ude,” attach themselves to human hosts, providing them with enhanced strength. The central character, Alma, unexpectedly becomes a sentient accessory, merging with the jacket of the protagonist, Hikaru, rather than his body. The female lead, Aki, bears a striking resemblance to Kill la Kill’s Ryuko, with her dual Mecha-Ude’s eyes reminiscent of Senketsu.
Adding to the connection with Kill la Kill, Mecha-Ude features music by Hiroyuki Sawano, one of three composers on the project, alongside DAIKI and Kohta Yamamoto. The anime’s “Trigger Arm” concept also subtly nods to Studio Trigger, further fueling comparisons between the two series.
The first two episodes of Mecha-Ude, showcased at Anime NYC, are set before the 2019 pilot that propelled the show to success on Kickstarter. Producer Tetsuya Kinoshita revealed that the pilot’s storyline will be incorporated into Episode 3, though it may differ visually and stylistically from the original.
Visually, Mecha-Ude stands out for its seamless integration of CGI with 2D animation, particularly in the design of Alma. Despite his simplistic appearance, with just a single eye on his hand-body, Alma emerges as the most expressive and endearing character in the series. The dynamic action scenes, characterized by fluid sakuga moments, are visually striking, while the more restrained animation still delivers solid comedic timing.
However, some viewers might find Mecha-Ude lacking in the eccentricity that defined its predecessors like Kill la Kill and FLCL. While the Anime NYC audience responded with scattered chuckles and a few big laughs, the series’ humor and energy might not reach the manic heights of its inspirations. Instead, it offers a more standard shonen action experience with a touch of Gainax/TRIGGER flair.
Mecha-Ude appears well-suited for a younger shonen audience, especially those who might be new to the style of its apparent influences. Azuki’s partnership with Scholastic’s Graphix imprint for the full-color print release of the manga suggests that the series is poised to capture this demographic. It’s worth noting that the anime and manga follow different storylines, encouraging fans to explore both to fully immerse themselves in the Mecha-Ude universe.
As Anime NYC 2024 continues, Mecha-Ude has already made a lasting impression, promising to be a standout series for the next generation of anime fans.