Digital manga subscription service Azuki announced on June 23, 2023, that they have added Yoshino Koyoka’s manga adaptation of  sci-fi action anime Mecha-Ude, titled Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms, to their library.

The manga adaptation will be released outside Asian territories in English.

The first two chapters will be launched on July 2, 2023, on the same day as the Anime Expo 2023 premiere of the first episode of the Mecha-Ude anime.

Azuki describes the plot of the manga as:

Kitakagami City is a pretty normal town… except that some people have gotten their hands on Mecha-Ude: powerful, sentient mechanical beings attached to the limbs of their hosts. When middle school kid Hikaru accidentally activates Alma, a mysterious Mecha-Ude with no memory of his past, he forms an unlikely connection with the talking arm. But where did Alma come from? And why are shadowy secret organizations and corporate assassins with deadly Mecha-Ude of their own suddenly chasing Hikaru down, hell-bent on stealing Alma? Hikaru and Alma must learn to work together to uncover the truth behind Alma’s identity and prevent him from ending up in the wrong hands (or on the wrong arm)!

Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms is an anime project created by animator Okamoto and TriF Studio, who released an independently produced pilot film in 2019.

In September 2022, Pony Canyon announced the production of a new anime series directed by Okamoto with production by TriF, and also launched Koyoka’s manga adaptation in Japan.

“It’s been inspiring watching Okamoto and the team at TriF develop Mecha-Ude from an indie short to a full-fledged anime series. Azuki is proud to help spread their creation to more fans around the world,” said Azuki Licensing Director Evan Minto.

Moreover, Azuki also revealed that they will be present at Anime Expo 2023 in Los Angeles from July 1-4, 2023, along with Pony Canyon.

Attendees can visit Auzki at their Booth #3021, where they will find a variety of Mecha-Ude merchandise and giveaways.

In addition to this, there will be several special events featuring the Mecha-Ude anime, such as Mecha-Ude anime premiere and panel on July 2 at 2:30 PM, an Azuki panel featuring Mecha-Ude on July 2 at 5:30 PM, and an autograph session with staff from the anime in Kentia Hall on July 3 at 2:00 PM.

Azuki manga app features over 200 series, including international hits like Attack on Titan and acclaimed new series like Natsume & Natsume and My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files.

All titles are available worldwide in English, except Japan.

Kodansha USA was the first publisher that Azuki collaborated with, making the most popular titles of Japanese publisher’s available for on-demand viewing. This was followed by tie-ups with Glacier Bay Books and Star Fruit Books, which gave Azuki access to their selection of their critically acclaimed indie manga, and then an exclusive partnership with Los Angeles-based manga publisher, Kaiten Books.

However due to recent policy changes, they wont be simul-publishing titles owned by Kodansha.

 Azuki, created by KiraKira Media Inc., debuted on June 28, 2021, on iOS, Android, and web browsers.

Select chapters with advertisements are available to free users. Customers can also purchase a subscription for US$4.99 that allows them to read manga without advertising. Each chapter includes comment threads for registered user conversations.

Source: Press Release