Set in a dystopian future, the 2023 Netflix animated series “Mech Cadets” follows an underdog teen who beats the odds and becomes part of an elite team of pilots that fly robots to save their planet from alien attacks. The animated show is based on the comic book series called “Mech Cadet Yu” by Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa.
As someone who hasn’t read the comics, I cannot compare the animated adaptation to the source, but it instantly reminds viewers of Transformers and Japanese mecha anime series like Gundam. However, the animation in “Mech Cadets” was a little glitchy for a 2023 title, with many scenes unfolding at a rate that makes it look like there’s a lag. And once you notice that the frames per second seem a bit off, it’s hard to truly enjoy the series, especially since the story isn’t very novel either. The color palette was also too bright and shiny, although some viewers might find it engaging.
Stanford Yu, the protagonist, is the son of the janitor at the military facility responsible for their planet’s defence. Voiced by Brandon Soo Hoo, Yu is a spirited young man who’s always dreamed of piloting a robot and fighting Shargs, alien invaders who often attack his planet. While younger viewers will probably not think much of it, Yu is a self-centered character, who becomes a pilot by sheer luck, unlike other cadets who earn the honor through years of training and hard work. Yu doesn’t pass the tests for final selection, and the writers slip in a motivational little speech about how one must seize an opportunity when it comes their way. Fair enough. Although, since “Mech Cadets” looks more like an animated show for pre-teen kids, an emphasis on merit would’ve been better. R
egardless, “Mech Cadets” does emphasize the importance of team building, hard work, friendships, and family. The other pilots who train alongside Stanford Yu are Frank, who has a prosthetic leg, the competitive Maya who lost her family in a natural disaster, and the golden-spoon child Olivia, who’s at the top of the class. With all four cadets from distinct backgrounds, the series has a lot of diversity. Fierce-faced Captain Tanaka, who trains the new pilots, was an interesting mentor like character, who is a badass fighter, but also sees the best in people. The antagonists in the story – the alien Shargs – are uninspiring ugly creatures, but the episodes do feature some exciting robot vs. Shargs battles throughout the runtime.
Overall, “Mech Cadets” might prove to be a fun, colorful series for kids. However, older viewers hoping for a Transformers-like exciting plot will be left disappointed.
Rating – 6/10. Stream the series on Netflix.
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