Mobile Police Patlabor Returns After 10 Years With Brand New Anime “Patlabor EZY” Set in 2030, Premiering in May 2026

It has been officially announced that Mobile Police Patlabor EZY will receive a theatrical release beginning May 15, 2026, presented as a total of eight episodes across three chapters. Chapter One will open on May 15, Chapter Two on August 14, and Chapter Three is scheduled for release in March 2027. This marks the first entirely new Patlabor animation since Mobile Police Patlabor REBOOT, which premiered in 2016.

Alongside the announcement, a key visual, teaser video, story outline, character and mechanical details, and cast information were revealed.

Mobile Police Patlabor EZY depicts the greatest crisis yet to face a newly formed Second Unit. The project was first announced in 2017, with a pilot film screened at events in 2022. In September 2024, the franchise officially launched its “2026 Project,” leading to this new animated work. Episodes one through six follow a self contained omnibus format, while episodes seven and eight form a continuous storyline.

In the late 1990s, rapid technological development led to the widespread adoption of general purpose humanoid work machines known as Labors across all industries. However, this progress also gave rise to a new form of crime called Labor related crime. In response, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police established the Special Vehicles Section Two within its Security Bureau, commonly known as the Patlabor Unit, to combat these threats.

The new installment is set in Japan of the 2030s, a society facing a steadily declining workforce. Automation powered by AI has become widespread, and Labors, once cutting edge technology, have become part of the nation’s infrastructure. Standalone manned Labors are increasingly replaced by autonomous robots and are now considered outdated. Even so, the mission of Special Vehicles Section Two remains unchanged: protecting people and the city.

The Second Unit continues to fight modern technology driven crimes using ingenuity and courage, piloting the upgraded AV 98Plus Ingram, a tuned version of the legacy Type 98 AV Ingram.

New Generation of the Second Unit

The protagonist, Towa Kuga, is a 22 year old pilot of Ingram Unit One. Filled with a strong sense of justice and fighting spirit, she remains fearless even in close combat. The role is voiced by Sumire Uesaka, who commented:

“I am honored to play Towa Kuga in Patlabor EZY. Becoming a member of Special Vehicles Section Two and piloting an Ingram as a forward unit is like a dream come true. I joined the recording sessions with an overwhelming sense of excitement that made my blood race. Please look forward to this new generation of Patlabor and the Second Unit.”

The commander of Ingram Unit One, Kippei Atori, is a 23 year old officer voiced by Kikunosuke Toya. He shared his enthusiasm:

“I am Kikunosuke Toya, and I play Kippei Atori, the commander of Unit One in the Second Unit. I am truly happy to be involved in the world of Patlabor, which has been loved by so many people for such a long time. Even though times and people change, the atmosphere of the Second Unit remains the same. I hope viewers can laugh, feel inspired, and enjoy the anime alongside Towa, Kippei, and the rest of the team. Please look forward to the screenings.”

Director Yutaka Idebuchi also offered insight into the project:

“I did not originally plan to serve as director, but I have been enjoying the process immensely. I wondered how Patlabor would be received in the modern era, and for this work, we returned to the franchise’s roots by adopting a one episode per story format. Rather than a straightforward narrative, we aimed to create a collection of side story like episodes. I believe this approach captures the true charm of Patlabor and meets the expectations of long time fans.”

Legacy of Mobile Police Patlabor

Mobile Police Patlabor was first produced as an original video animation in April 1988. Set in Tokyo at the end of the 20th century, the series portrays a world where police robots bearing the iconic cherry blossom crest patrol the city. Members of Special Vehicles Section Two pilot robots known as Ingrams to confront criminals.

The franchise achieved success across OVAs, theatrical films, manga, and television anime, and continues to be beloved by fans even after the real world timeline surpassed that of the series. The work was also adapted into live action films directed and written by Mamoru Oshii.

Teaser Trailer

Staff

■Staff Information
Director: Yutaka Idebuchi
Script and Series Composition: Kazunori Ito
Original Character Design: Masami Yuuki
Costume Design Cooperation: Akemi Takada
Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Takamitsu Sato
Direction: Kozo Kaihou
Mechanical Design: Kanetake Ebikawa, Toshiaki Ihara
Display Design: Yoshinori Sayama
Art: Masanori Kikuchi, Yuta Akiyama
Color Design: Yukiko Ito
Director of Photography: Yoshio Okouchi
Editing: Maki Sendo (REAL T)
CG Director: Yoshinori Moriizumi
CG Production: GAZEN, J.C.STAFF CG Division
Sound Director: Kazuhiro Wakabayashi
Sound Effects: Kaori Yamada
Sound Production: Magic Capsule
Music: Kenji Kawai
Executive Producer: Taro Maki
Producer: Yuya Machida
Animation Producer: Yuji Matsukura (J.C.STAFF)
Animation Production: J.C.STAFF
Production: GENCO
Distribution: Shochiku ODS Division, Bandai Namco Filmworks
Production Committee: Mobile Police Patlabor EZY Production Committee

■Cast Information
Towa Kuga: Sumire Uesaka
Kippei Atori: Kikunosuke Toya

Episode Structure of Mobile Police Patlabor EZY

Chapter One (Releases May 15, 2026):
トレンドは＃第二小隊, Trend ha Daini Shotai (lit: “The Trend Is #Second Unit”)
閑中妄あり, Kanchu Mou ari (lit: “Idle Minds Wander”)
ホンモノが一番, Honmono ga Ichiban (lit: “The Real Thing Is Best”)

Chapter Two (Releases August 14, 2026):
ワインと銃弾, Wine to Judan (lit: “Wine and Bullets”)
あさき夢みし、Asaki Yumemishi
恋のサバイバル、Koi no Survival (lit: “Love Survival”)

Chapter Three (Releases March 2027):
おもちゃの国・前編, Omocha no KUni Zenpen (lit: “Toy Kingdom Part One”)
おもちゃの国・前編,, Omocha no Kuni Kouhen(lit: “Toy Kingdom Part Two”)

Source : ORICON NEWS