Uchikoma

A Uchikoma (ウチコマ) is a green 1-man tank (walker/roller) briefly used by members of Section 9 in the TV Anime Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society

At the end of the TV series Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG the Tachikomas sacrifice their AI's in order to prevent a nuclear detonation. They are replaced by Fuchikoma/Tachikoma hybrids, referred to as Uchikomas, similar to the Fuchikoma think-tanks used in the original Ghost In The Shell manga.

"Uchikoma" is the correct pronunciation, as clearly indicated in Japanese literature dealing with the subject, where they are referred to as Uchikoma. The subtitles on volume 7 of the Region 1 DVDs, released by Bandai Entertainment, unmistakably call the new think-tanks "Fuchikoma", which is incorrect. The packaging art for the model kit, however, clearly labels the units "Uchikoma".

Description

They possess a simple artificial intelligence and can act independently to support their user in combat. When not in use, they exhibit a childlike personality and provide much of the humor in the series, while also being used to elaborate on Shirow's philosophy and ideas. Their AI does not include typical safeguards as they are military hardware, and they have less 'personality' than the Tachikomas, they, too, are closely monitored for signs of instability. From within Section 9 they are synchronized nightly or after missions to share their experiences and allow the entire group to learn from them.

In design terms, they represent a fusion of the design features of the Tachikoma as seen in the series and those of the Fuchikoma. Their "faces" and "abdomens" are similar to both Fuchikoma and Tachikoma, but with legs and front arms identical (but green) to those on a Tachikoma and rear 'pod' a bit like the Fuchikoma, but mostly a new design. Together with the setting, intended to recall the opening scene of the manga, and new costume design for the human characters reminiscent of armour seen in the 1995 film, the closing scene of 2nd gig strives to blend all the Strands of the Ghost In The Shell stories.

Mechanically, they have four legs and two simple hands with three fingers on extensible arms which double as machine guns. The "face" consists of a large main lens and two smaller sensors with a "mouth" below, which is commonly a grenade launcher but sometimes a heavier machine gun. The pilot sits in a hunched position inside a large posterior pod with interface cables leading to the standard ports in the user's neck for direct control, but the Uchikoma can also be given orders to act without a pilot.

In the video short Uchikoma Days from Solid State Society, a Uchikoma is seen hatching along with several other Tachikomas and is seen as an 'ugly duckling, later forming a singing group with other similar looking 'Uchikomas', though clearly called Tachikomas in the English translation.

They can handle many different types of terrain, and are able to walk up walls, rappel, walk, or extend wheels from their feet to drive. They are also submersible.

Solid State Society

During the early portion of the film, the Uchikomas are seen being used by Section 9 in a way similar to the way the un-evolved Tachikomas had been used. In fact, they were so unevolved that one used incorrect tactics during a mission with Batou, gets heavily damaged and is sent back to the lab where its training program had to be redone. After a scene with the damaged Uchikoma in the lab, they're no longer seen in the movie. Tachikomas are brought back in.

Further Reading

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ja:多脚戦車#フチコマ