In this exclusive interview, Okamoto, creator and director of Mecha-Ude, shares insights into the series’ creation, blending organic and mechanical elements. He discusses the project’s inspiration, collaboration with composers on the soundtrack.
Could you please just introduce yourselves?
Okamoto: I am Okamoto, the original creator and character designer of Mecha-Ude, as well as the director.
What was the initial inspiration behind the idea of Mecha-Ude? Were there any works or concepts that particularly influenced you in developing the story and universe?
Okamoto: The idea for Mecha-Ude actually began from a desire to draw machines. Humans are soft and organic, so I wanted to create something that would contrast with that. This contrast is symbolically represented through the bond between humans and mysterious life forms in the story.
What was your reaction to the public reception when the pilot version was released?
Okamoto: My initial reaction was a strong sense that people were genuinely enjoying it, which made me feel we absolutely had to continue creating more.
Did the development of the anime encounter any major obstacles, whether in terms of technology, design or storytelling? How did you overcome them?
Okamoto: The pilot version was produced with a small team, but when it came to making the TV series, a small team just wasn’t enough. So, we started by gathering a larger team of on-site staff. It took quite a lot of time to hire inexperienced staff and train them to be able to create anime.
What was your favorite or most memorable moment during the production of Mecha-Ude?
Okamoto: It was when I watched the completed footage of Episode 1. Seeing the visuals with colors, combined with the voice actors’ performances, sound effects, and music, I became convinced that this work would surely be accepted by the audience.
The fight scenes were particularly dynamic and demanding in 2D/3D. What challenges did you face in animating these scenes?
Okamoto: It was challenging to come up with new techniques every episode to avoid repetitive direction. As the story progressed, we wanted to increase the scale of the battles, so we incorporated image boards and Mecha-Ude designs to match that.
How did you work with the composer to create a soundtrack that complements the action and atmosphere of Mecha-Ude?
Okamoto: The soundtrack for Mecha-Ude was composed by Hiroyuki SAWANO, KOHTA YAMAMOTO, and DAIKI(AWSM.). Each of them took on different roles in creating the music. Since Mecha-Ude features a wide range of characters and scenes, they composed a very diverse soundtrack to enhance the lively and varied atmosphere of the story’s scenes.
The anime is just around the corner, in October to be precise. What can anime fans expect and look forward to from this series?
Okamoto: Almost every episode features new characters and Mecha-Ude, so I hope everyone looks forward to that!
CAST:
Hikaru: Toshiyuki Toyonaga
Alma: Tomokazu Sugita
Aki: Yu Shimamura
Sinis & Dex: Kaito Ishikawa
Kagami: Romi Park
Tohdoh: Amatsuki
Aljis: Hiroki Touchi
Fist: Yuichi Nakamura
Fubuki: Aoi Yuki
Amaryllis: Yoko Hikasa
Yakumo: Kappei Yamaguchi
Tsukihito: ???(Will be revealed in the episodes)
STAFF:
Original Concept/Director: Okamoto
Series Composition: Yasuhiro Nakanishi / TriF
Character Design: Terumi Nishii / Yoko Uchida
Mecha-Ude Design & Concept Art: Nurikabe
3DCG Director: Shota Kawamura
Sound Director: Takeshi Takadera
Music: Hiroyuki Sawano/KOHTA YAMAMOTO/DAIKI(AWSM.)
General Supervision: Hiroshi Matsuyama (CyberConnect2)
Animation Production: TriF Studio
Mecha-Ude is an original anime series directed and conceived by the animation artist Okamoto, produced by the up-and-coming animation studio “TriF Studio” based in Fukuoka. The story revolves around Hikaru, an ordinary junior high school boy, and Alma, a “Mecha-Ude” – a mechanical life form that can combine with humans, as they embark on adventures and battles.
©TriF/ “Mecha-Ude” Production Committee
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