What is the plot?

Roy hires destitute martial artist Marie to pose as a robot maid for Arthur, the misanthropic illegitimate heir to Zetes Corporation who hates humans due to constant assassination attempts by his stepbrother Maynard.

Marie arrives at the mansion and begins serving Arthur while maintaining a stoic, robotic demeanor to hide her human identity.

Maynard sends assassins after Arthur; Marie defeats them using her martial arts skills, protecting him without revealing herself.

Arthur grows fond of Marie, treating her as his only trusted companion, and shares emotionally needy moments with her behind closed doors.

Marie struggles internally with developing feelings for Arthur while feeling guilty about her deception.

Arthur suddenly kisses Marie's forehead, causing her to flee in embarrassment.

Arthur becomes suspicious of Marie not being a fully robotic entity.

Roy decides to replace Marie with a real robot named Marie 2 to maintain the ruse.

Marie becomes unexpectedly emotional about leaving Arthur.

Arthur rushes after Marie, insisting that she is the only robot he wants by his side.

Marie 2 detects Marie's high combat abilities and deems her a threat to Arthur, so Marie 2 attacks Marie.

Marie fights back against Marie 2; with a fierce kick, Marie shatters Marie 2 cleanly in half, causing the robot to collapse.

Arthur rushes to Marie, voicing concern and revealing he knows "everything," but he actually believes Marie malfunctioned and Roy prepared Marie 2 as a replacement.

Arthur insists he can pay for Marie's maintenance to keep her.

Marie quickly reassures Arthur that she has already been fixed and there is no need for repairs.

Roy announces that the robot has been repaired and updated.

Roy explains that he wants both Maries to work together to protect Arthur.

Marie politely expresses agreement to the arrangement.

The next day, Marie is kidnapped by the Robot Lovers club who plan to dismantle her, believing her to be a real robot.

Arthur rescues Marie from the club.

Marie feels guilty for Arthur protecting her this time.

With her bra exposed during the ordeal, Marie panics and claims her memory was deleted.

Arthur attempts to restore Marie's memory by recreating their past behaviors, including hugging, hand holding, and giving her a lap pillow.

What is the ending?

In the ending, Marie realizes her love for Arthur as he protects her, solidifying their bond despite the deception.

Now, picture this climax unfolding in the shadowed depths of Arthur's vast estate, where tension hangs thick like fog rolling off a midnight sea. Noah, the cunning antagonist driven by his own twisted ambitions, corners Marie in the oppressive darkness of a hidden chamber, his voice a venomous whisper as he proposes she join him as an assassin, binding their fates together in bloodshed and shadows. Marie stands firm, her stoic fighter's resolve unyielding, and refuses him outright, her mechanical facade cracking just enough to reveal the human fire beneath. As Noah's rage boils over, in the pitch black she deftly swaps places with Marie 2, her robotic duplicate, a seamless maneuver born of her combat-honed instincts, slipping away to seek out Arthur who lies vulnerable nearby. Marie 2 confronts Noah alone, gears whirring faintly in the gloom, but Noah unleashes his fury, smashing her frame with brutal precision, sparks flying and metal crumpling as her systems shatter irreparably--Marie 2's fate sealed in destruction, reduced to lifeless scrap amid the debris. Victorious in his wrath, Noah turns his piercing gaze toward the real Marie's hiding spot, his words cutting like a blade: he declares she has no future with Arthur, prophesying that Arthur will despise her the instant he learns she is fully human, not the flawless machine he cherishes. In that charged moment, Arthur stirs from his semi-conscious haze on the cold floor, his body weak but his will unbroken; he reaches out instinctively, positioning himself as a shield between the threat and Marie, his arms enveloping her protectively even in his delirium. Marie, witnessing this raw act of devotion, feels a surge within--her heart pounding with the undeniable truth of her love for him, eyes widening as emotion floods her stoic features. Noah retreats into the shadows, defeated for now, leaving Marie and Arthur entwined in the dim light, their connection forged stronger amid the ruins. Marie's fate resolves in this awakening love, committed to Arthur beyond her robotic pretense; Arthur's fate anchors in his protective instinct, drawing him closer to her true self; Noah slinks away, his schemes thwarted but his malice lingering; Marie 2 lies destroyed, her role as decoy fulfilled in sacrifice. The chamber falls silent, their shared gaze promising a path forward through the lies.

Is there a post-credit scene?

No, there is no post-credits scene in Mechanical Marie, season 0 "Specials", episode 1 "Mini Anime #00".

The episode concludes directly with the ending theme sequence, "Cross heart~Itsuwari no Nai Kimochi" performed by Marie (CV: Nao Toyama), featuring typical anime ending animation with recurring imagery similar to the opening, such as slow-panning shots evoking a heartwarming, cutesy shojo romcom atmosphere. Reactors note the ending as standard without mention of additional content beyond the song and visuals, transitioning seamlessly without teaser or post-credits material. Official creditless ending videos and episode playlists confirm this structure for early releases, aligning with the short mini-anime format under 5 minutes total runtime.

Is this family friendly?

No, Mechanical Marie, season 0 "Specials", episode 1 "Mini Anime #00" is not entirely family friendly, as the main series carries a PG-13 rating due to mature themes suitable for teens 13 or older.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include: - References to assassination attempts and life-threatening danger. - Themes of societal prejudice and execution for revealing one's identity ("one slip-up and she's dead"). - Tense situations involving deception, hidden identities, and high-stakes protection duties.