Patlabor: The Mobile Police--The Original Series, Vol. 1 Movie Review 1988

Developments in robotics lead to a piloted, humanoid, multipurpose machine known as the labor. When criminals start using these machines, the Special Vehicles Section of the Tokyo Police is formed. The first episode "Second Unit, Move Out!" finds new recruits arriving at headquarters. All the characters are introduced: rich boy Asuma, eager labor pilot Noa, trigger-happy Ohta, the gentle Hiromi, and newly married Shinshi. Next, Kanuka Clancy arrives from the NYPD just in time to help track down a time bomb in "Longshot" Finally, the SV2 goes on its strangest mission when something creeps out of Tokyo Bay in "The 450 Million Year Old Trap." This excellent introduction to the three-volume series takes the viewer along on three missions, but the interaction between characters and the innovative way in which they solve problems are just as interesting. In addition to this OAV series, the Patlabor story has inspired a sequel OAV series, two movies and a TV show.

Distribution

Central Park Media/U.S. Manga Corps, 250 W. 57th St., Ste. 317, New York, NY 10107, Phone: (212)977-7456, Toll-free: 800-833-7456, Fax: (212)977-8709, Email: info@teamcpm.com, URL: http://www.centralparkmedia.com

Available on VHS
Running time 90 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Anime, Animation & Cartoons