| Mobile Police Patlabor | |
 Manga volume 1 cover, featuring Noa Izumi | |
| 機動警察パトレイバー (Kidō Keisatsu Patoreibā) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action,police comedy,[1]science fiction[2] |
| Created by | Headgear |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Masami Yuki |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Shōnen Sunday Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Sunday |
| Original run | March 23, 1988 –May 11, 1994 |
| Volumes | 22 |
| Original video animation | |
| The Early Days | |
| Directed by | Mamoru Oshii |
| Written by | Kazunori Ito |
| Music by | Kenji Kawai |
| Studio | Studio Deen |
| Licensed by | |
| Released | April 25, 1988 – June 25, 1989 |
| Episodes | 7(List of episodes) |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Michiko Yokote |
| Published by | Fujimi Shobō |
| Imprint | Fujimi Fantasia Bunko |
| Original run | October 1990 –October 1993 |
| Volumes | 5 |
| Light novel | |
| Tokyo War | |
| Written by | Mamoru Oshii |
| Published by | Fujimi Shobō |
| Imprint | Fujimi Fantasia Bunko |
| Original run | April 1994 –May 1994 |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Original video animation | |
| MiniPato | |
| Directed by | Kenji Kamiyama |
| Written by | Mamoru Oshii |
| Music by | Kenji Kawai |
| Studio | Production I.G |
| Licensed by | |
| Released | March 30, 2002 |
| Runtime |
|
| Original net animation | |
| Reboot | |
| Directed by | Yasuhiro Yoshiura |
| Written by | Yasuhiro YoshiuraKazunori Ito |
| Music by | Kenji Kawai |
| Studio |
|
| Released | October 15, 2016 |
| Runtime | 7 minutes |
| Movie timeline | |
| |
| TV timeline | |
| |
Mobile Police Patlabor (Japanese:機動警察パトレイバー,Hepburn:Kidō Keisatsu Patoreibā), also known asPatlabor (aportmanteau of "patrol" and "labor"),[3] is a Japanesescience fictionmedia franchise created by Headgear, a group consisting of manga artistMasami Yūki, directorMamoru Oshii, screenwriterKazunori Itō, mecha designerYutaka Izubuchi, and character designerAkemi Takada.
The popular franchise includes a manga, a TV series, twoOVA series, three feature-length movies, twolight novel series, and a short film compilation, namedMinipato (ミニパト) because of itssuper deformed (chibi) drawing style.[4] The series has been adapted into video games and licensed products fromOST to toys.Patlabor is known for usingmecha – designed byYutaka Izubuchi – not just for police or military purposes, but also for industrial and municipal jobs.[5]
The story takes place in what was, at the time of release, the near future of 1998–2002.Mecha called "labors" are used in heavy construction work. TheTokyo Metropolitan Police has its own fleet of patrol Labors ("patlabors"; as opposed to patrol cars) to combat crimes or terrorism and deal with accidents involving labors. Thestory arcs usually revolve around Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Vehicle Section 2, Division 2. Labor pilot Noa Izumi is the protagonist of the series, but all of Division 2 play roles. Detectives Hata and Kusumi are the main protagonists of the thirdPatlabor film.[6]
Due to being released simultaneously, the manga, TV series, and feature films all take place in separate continuities. The movie timeline includes theEarly Days OVA and the three animatedPatlabor films. The TV timeline includes the original TV series as well as theNew Files OVA. Masami Yuki's manga is separate from both, although some TV episodes and the third film draw their plots from it.[7]
The Next Generation series and film take place in 2013, with an entirely new cast (except for Shige and Buchiyama in maintenance), but the new members of SV2 have similar names and personalities to the old ones. Although some of its episodes reference the TV series, the final episode and movie are a direct sequel toPatlabor 2.[8]
The upcomingPatlabor EZY series will be set in the TV timeline.[7] Now set in the near future of 2036, Labors have become largely automated, and Division 2 must continue to work as a Labor police force without becoming obsolete.
Released by Shogakukan throughShonen Sunday magazine from 1988 to 1994, the 22-volume series takes place in a separate timeline.[9]
Original release:
Bunkoban release:
Viz released first two volumes of the manga as individual comics in 1997 and 1998, then released them as volumes. However, due to a lack of sales, Viz dropped the series and the remaining 20 volumes have not been officially translated:[10]
As part ofZoids's 40th anniversary celebrations, a crossover manga betweenZoids andPatlabor calledCode Name B.U.D.D.Y began releasing in 2025. The manga is written by Kazunori Ito and drawn by Naoto Tsushima. The story follows the Zoid (a type of animalistic mecha) Hunter Wolf working with Special Vehicles Division 2 to protect Tokyo.[11]
Originally known in Japan asMobile Police Patlabor. Details the origins of the Tokyo MPD's 2nd Special Vehicles Section, otherwise known as SV2.
A series of random labor incidents across theGreater Tokyo Area puts the SV2 on the case. The incidents turn out to be part of a dead programmer's diabolical plot to create a much bigger rampage.
A secret group of terrorists engineer a crisis in Tokyo in the winter of 2001–2002. The members of SV2's Section 2, who have been reassigned to other duties since the events ofWXIII, reunite one more time to stop the threat.
Taking place a year afterPatlabor: The Movie, the film features two MPD detectives who investigate the case of missing scientists working on agenetic engineering project that runs amok in Tokyo Bay. SV2's Section 2 is later called in to help rein in the danger.
A three-part series of short films known asMobile Police Patlabor Minimum (MiniPato) were shown before screenings ofWXIII.MiniPato uses paper puppets, CGI, and claymation to explain the rationale behind the whole concept of the series, especially how the Labors functioned in a realistichard science fiction setting.
Taking place in a different continuity, the series features more adventures of SV2 Section 2, which includes an arc involving their efforts to combat an advanced Schaft Enterprises Labor called the Type J9 Griffon.
Also referred to asPatlabor 2, the series contains episodes that took place at several points between certain episodes in the TV series and after the latter's final episode. The OVA also features the conclusion of the Griffon story arc.
Kidō Keisatsu Patlabor REBOOT is a short animated film released on October 15, 2016, as part ofJapan Animator Expo, featuring a modernised version ofPatlabor with new characters and utilising CG for the Labors,[12] animated byStudio Khara and Studio Rikka.[13]
After the debut ofPatlabor REBOOT, producer Taro Maki announced in November 2016 that a newPatlabor project was starting.[14]Patlabor EZY was formally announced atAnnecy International Animated Film Festival in June 2017.[15]
A two-minute pilot forEZY was debuted in 2022 at specialPatlabor screenings and exhibitions, and was played before the 35th-anniversary screenings ofPatlabor the Movie in theaters in Japan.[16][17]
As part ofEZY's promotional events, the robotics company MOVeLOT developed a full-scale Ingram 98 Plus, which opened to the public in 2024 (although the model is only from the torso up—it has no legs).The model Ingram is large enough to allow a pilot to sit in the cockpit, and its arms and hands can be manipulated via gloves with attached Wi-Fi sensors.[18][19]
Patlabor EZY will consist of eight episodes, each an hour long and with a standalone plot, and begin airing in 2026. Three theatrical releases are planned: the first on May 15, 2026, the second on August 14, 2026, and the last in March 2027.[20] StudioJ.C.Staff is creating the anime, with Yukuta Izubuchi as director, Kazunori Itō as scriptwriter, Masami Yuuki as character designer, Takamitsu Satou as animation director, Akemi Takada as costume designer, and Kenji Kawaii as composer.[21][22]
The Next Generation: Patlabor is a live-action series and film created by Mamoru Oshii, starringErina Mano as pilot Akira Izumino, Seiji Fukushi as Yūma Shiobara, Rina Oota as Ekaterina Krachevna Kankaeva ("Kasha"),Shigeru Chiba reprising his anime role as chief mechanic Shigeo Shiba and Toshio Kakei as Captain Keiji Gotōda.[23]
The drama series was divided into 14 "short story" episodes, which were aired on BS Digital and Star Channel from 2014 and 2015 and in 7 limited advance theatrical screenings of two episodes each, alongside blu-ray and DVD releases. The movieTHE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Shuto Kessen ("Showdown in the Capital City") (THE NEXT GENERATION パトレイバー 首都決戦) released in theaters on May 1, 2015, and a director's cut version of the movie was released on October 10, 2015.[24]
The Next Generation takes place in 2013 Tokyo. The completion of the Babylon Project has led to disuse of Labors, and Japan is in the midst of a recession. Labors falling into disuse also means there is also no place for the patrol labor squads, which have been shrunk to only one division.[24] The TV series, which consists of largely unconnected episodes, follows the new members of SV2 as they solve cases and get into trouble like their predecessors did. The film is a direct sequel toPatlabor 2, in which followers ofYukihito Tsuge carry out terrorist attacks on Tokyo, re-enacting Tsuge's coup, and SV2 has to stop them.
"Deck-up" events, where the full-scale, 9-meter tall AV-98 Ingrams used for filming are lifted from their carrier and into a standing position, were used for promoting The Next Generation at events around Japan (such as the Tokyo Motorcycle Show).[25] Even after the end of the series, the deck-up events continue to prove popular, and the Ingram often makes an appearance at festivals around Japan.[26][27]
Novels taking place in the same universe as theEarly Days OVA and first movie.[28]
Novelization of the second movie:[29]
A hardcover edition combining the two older volumes.
Novels taking place in the world ofThe Next Generation.
The fourth novel by Yamamura is not numbered.
Novelization of the live action movieShuto Kessen, which is also a sequel to theTOKYO WAR novels.
A sequel to Patlabor taking place in the present day with a new generation of SV2 members, later used as inspiration forThe Next Generation.
Not a novel but short story included in the anthologyTag: Watashi no Aibou (2015) taking place in thePatlabor world.
AllPatlabor video games were released exclusively in Japan.[30]
All of the mainPatlabor anime productions have been released overseas in some form. All the movies have been translated into English and are available in Region 1, 2 & 4 DVD format. Most of the manga is not available in North America in English, and the video games, novels and live action series have also not been released outside of Japan.
The TV series and OVAs were released in the U.S. byCentral Park Media. The first two movies were released byManga Entertainment, but later remastered and re-released in 2006 byBandai Visual. The third movie (along with "Mini-Pato") was released byGeneon Entertainment (formerly Pioneer). Twelve sections of themanga have been translated and published byViz Communications as single issues and in two trade paperbacks, but later dropped the manga before completing it.
Mini-Pato is available on DVD in regions 1, 2, and 4 in the Limited EditionPatlabor WXIII DVD packages.
In 2006,Bandai Visual'sHonneamise label re-released the first two movies on DVD in North America with extensive bonus features and an alternate English track, andBeez Entertainment handled distribution in the UK.
Madman has the distribution rights for the movies in Australia and New Zealand in association withManga Entertainment UK &TFC, but they have been refused the rights to the Bandai Visual dubs of the films. In 2011, Madman received the rights to the OVA and TV series from TFC, and began releasing them in 2014.[33][34]MVM Films has the licenses for the OVA & TV series for distribution in the UK and released them on DVD in 2013.[35]
In 2013,Maiden Japan (in conjunction withSection23 Films) acquired the licence to thePatlabor OAV series, and released it onBlu-ray and DVD on April 30, 2013.[36] They subsequently licensed and released the TV series on July 16, 2013;[37] the second OVA series on February 17, 2015;[38] and all of the films, with the first film released on May 5, 2015.[39]
Headgear (ヘッドギア,Heddogia) is a group consisting of five main writers and artists who work in the Japaneseanime/manga field. The group was set up so that all the creators could retain full copyright to their work, achieve greater publicity for their work and sell their manga to anime sponsors for film production. The members areMasami Yuki,Yutaka Izubuchi,Kazunori Itō,Akemi Takada, andMamoru Oshii. Together they worked on the anime seriesPatlabor and the two episodeOVATwilight Q.[40]
Other staff involved with Headgear includeKenji Kawai, Naoyuki Yoshinaga, Takayama Fumihiko,Kenji Kamiyama, andMiki Tori.[41]
Writing aboutPatlabor the Movie's 35th anniversary, Matt Schley ofThe Japan Times called the film surprisingly prescient, and that the movie "keeps the fun and irreverence of the small-screen series while adding a more contemplative touch".[42] Tim Maughan ofReactor Magazine describedPatlabor 2 as one of the most important anime films for anyone to watch, an "unmissable, if challenging, work...due to its uncompromising approach to its political themes and its breathless, stark cinematic beauty".[43] Stephen Holden ofThe New York Times praisedWXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 for its noir-like ambience and score, calling it a "visually absorbing futuristic fantasy" but said that its subplots were too murky to follow.[44] A report commissioned by Japan'sAgency for Cultural Affairs creditsPatlabor: The Early Days with revitalizing the OVA format for mecha anime and establishing the standard six-episode OVA format.[45]
The manga received the 36thShogakukan Manga Award forshōnen in 1991.[46] In 2018, the Japan Anniversary Association recognized August 10 as "Patlabor Day".[2]
Patlabor's realistic mecha design has influenced several other robots both in fiction and in reality. When Japan'sNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) were developing humanoid robots, they invited Yukuta Izubuchi to create the exterior design and look of the robot because of his work on Patlabor.[47]Guillermo del Toro has cited the series as an influence forPacific Rim.[48]
Maiden Japan today announced its acquisition of the classic police action-comedyPatlabor.
