M3: The Dark Metal (M3〜ソノ黒キ鋼〜, Emu Surī: Sono Kuroki Hagane, lit. “M3: That Black Steel”) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Satelight. It aired from April 21, 2014 to October 1, 2014. It is directed by Junichi Sato, written by Mari Okada and has mecha designs by Shōji Kawamori. A manga adaptation with art by Kazuomi Minatogawa was serialized in Mag Garden‘s shōnen manga magazine Monthly Comic Blade from April 30, 2014 to September 10, 2015.

Plot

The story focuses on a group of 4 boys and 4 girls (later on 5) who met, when they were younger, in a realm full of darkness. A mysterious substance called Necrometal devours or infects anything that comes within a certain distance of a place called the Lightless Realm. To counteract this threat, large combat robots called the Vess are produced. It starts at an ordinary school in a city of close proximity to the Lightless Realm and focuses on Akashi for the most part. Akashi is number 1 in the school when using training versions of Vess to defeat schoolmates and is first seen fighting his best friend and defeating him. A man approaches him with an invitation to join a special force that is tasked with defeating the Corpses and uncovering the secrets of the Lightless Realm. Fast forward some time and a Corpse appears which has the power to “kill” people who hear its song. It sings a lovely melody and like a countdown, over the next few months it is discovered that Emiru has become infected by the Necrometal that has plagued the Lightless Realm for so long. It is now up to Akashi to use the device known as the Reaper or MA-Vess in order to defeat the Corpse and save everyone.

Development

Music

The first opening theme is “Re:REMEMBER” by May’n while the second opening theme is “Replica” by Maaya Sakamoto. The first ending theme is “ego-izm” by la la larks. The second ending theme is “Sable” by nano.

Release

The series was acquired by Daisuki for online simulcast streaming with English, Traditional Chinese and Spanish subtitles worldwide except in Japan and China.