Materia

Materia (マテリア) is one of the earliest and most iconic characters in the Frame Arms Girl (フレームアームズ・ガール) series by Kotobukiya. Unlike other Frame Arms Girls who are based on specific combat-themed mecha designs, Materia is a more generalized “base body” unit—a minimalist, humanoid platform designed to serve as a foundation for customization and evolution. Her name, derived from the word “material,” reflects this concept: she is the raw element from which other functions and personalities may be developed.

Materia comes in two personality variants: Materia White (マテリア ホワイト) and Materia Black (マテリア ブラック). Materia White is typically portrayed as kind, soft-spoken, and innocent, while Materia Black has a more mischievous, teasing, and slightly sadistic streak. Despite their differences, both share the same core frame and base design, reinforcing the idea that Materia units are fundamentally adaptable and neutral until purpose is given to them.

As characters, the Materia sisters represent the blank-slate concept of artificial life—forms created without a predetermined function or identity, capable of learning, evolving, and forming relationships. They often serve as emotional counterpoints to more specialized Frame Arms Girls, showing curiosity, vulnerability, or surprising insight. Their minimalist appearance—smooth armor, bare limbs, and a lack of heavy weapons—emphasizes their purity and openness to transformation, both literally in the model kits and symbolically in narrative potential.

In the world of Frame Arms Girl, Materia is not a frontline warrior but a canvas—someone who can become anything, whether through upgrades, experience, or emotional development. This makes her not only a fan favorite but also a philosophical anchor in the series: a reflection of potential, identity, and growth.