The Patlabor EZY anime is set to screen in Japanese theaters with three parts, dubbed as “Files.” File 1 will deploy on May 15, followed by File 2 on August 14 and File 3 sometime in March 2027.
A 60-second teaser video and a Patlabor series key visual were released with the news. Additionally, the new Patlabor show’s cast has been revealed to include Sumire Uesaka as Towa Kuga, a 22-year-old Ingram pilot, and Kikunosuke Toya as Kippei Atori, the person in charge of backing up Towa’s Ingram.
Patlabor EZY‘s production was announced in 2017, with a pilot film following in 2022. The show takes place in 2030s Japan, where the move towards AI automation is causing the Labor mechs to become relics of the past. Despite the changing times, Special Vehicle Section 2 continues its role as guardians, now with the new AV-98Plus Ingram to assist them against crimes involving new technology.
© HEADGEAR / 機動警察パトレイバー EZY製作委員会
Patlabor was created by the creative unit HEADGEAR, which includes Yutaka Izubuchi, Kazunori Ito, Masami Yuki, Akemi Takada, and Mamoru Oshii. It began in the 80s with the Patlabor The Mobile Police: The Early Days OVA series and a manga. More anime, including a TV series, three movies, and a new OVA series, followed. 2016 saw the release of the Mobile Police Patlabor Reboot short.
Patlabor novels were also released. The official website describes the franchise as a pioneer of the media-mix approach.
Crunchyroll describes the Patlabor Special Edition Blu-ray, which includes the TV series, OVAs, and movies, as such:
Building the city of the future is a tough job, but the development of Labors… giant robots specifically designed for construction and other heavy duty tasks… is transforming the world. Unfortunately, when someone puts that much power in a machine, the one thing that’s certain is that someone somewhere will find a way to use it to commit crimes. That’s why Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has its massive Ingram Patrol Labors and the brave men and women of Special Vehicle Section 2, Division 2… including the teams most recent recruit, the mecha obsessed Noa Azumi. Get ready for some of the wildest, most incredible adventures ever as Noa and her new comrades in arms hit the street in the ultimate collection of one of anime’s most legendary creations – Mobile Police Patlabor!
Staff
• Director: Yutaka Izubuchi (Patlabor mechanical designer, RahXephon director, Metallic Rouge chief supervisor)
• Series composer and screenwriter: Kazunori Ito (.hack//SIGN, Patlabor The Mobile Police: The Early Days screenwriter)
• Character designer and chief animation director: Takamitsu Sato (Lostorage incited WIXOSS)
• Character draft designer: Masami Yuki (Patlabor The Mobile Police: The Early Days character draft designer)
• Costume design assistance: Akemi Takada (Patlabor The Mobile Police: The Early Days and Kimagure Orange Road character designer)
• Unit director: Kozo Kaiho
• Mechanical designer: Kanetake Ebikawa (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch of Mercury co-mechanical designer)
• Mechanical designer: Toshiaki Ihara (Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time co-mechanical designer)
• CG director: Yoshinori Moriizumi (“Chocolat Cadabra” anime music video)
• CG production: GAZEN
• Executive producer (previously credited as producer): Taro Maki (Patlabor The Mobile Police: The Early Days co-producer)
• Animation production: J.C.STAFF
Source: @patlabor0810
