Is 3D Maneuver Gear Possible?
The Physics of Attack on Titan
Doesn’t that look fun! You’re watching 3D maneuver gear in action. Equal parts jetpack and grappling gun, this fictional device grants its user the ability to zip, swing, and soar with all six degrees of freedom. Obviously, moving around like this would be insanely dangerous. One wrong move and…you know. Not to mention that in Attack on Titan this equipment was specifically designed to fight incredibly deadly giants called Titans. Honestly though, as terrifying as the fights in this anime get — and they do get gruesome — I’ve always envied the characters’ ability to fly through the air like a steampunk Spider-Man.
3D maneuver gear — also known as omni-directional mobility gear — is a breathtaking fictional invention that has allowed for some of the most inventive animated battles I’ve ever seen. As a result, I can’t not write an article about it. How does it work? Could a person really survive using it? In short: is 3D maneuver gear possible? Let’s find out in this two-part assessment of Attack on Titan. Spoilers ahead for the anime.
Now right off the bat, we need to temper our expectations for real-life ODM gear. As incredible as sequences like this are…
