Patlabor...
Years ago, I picked up the VHS version of Patlabor...
Patlabor is a classic giant robot series, that follows the exploits of the Special Vehicles Section 2. In general, the Parlabor franchise is noted for high production values, great story-telling, humor, and action. The movies lean more heavily towards police drama and feature solid detective work. The TV series and the OVAs lean more towards comedy than drama and many episodes feature homages to other classic TV shows and movies. My personal preferences in the Patlabor franchise are the first two movies and the OVAs. I liked Patlabor enough that I repurchased it on DVD. Although not all of the Patlabor franchise sits at the same level, I gave the Patlabor franchise as a whole, a 5 out of 5.
The Patlabor 2 soundtrack CD has 13 tracks and I liked 7 tracks for a total of 53.8% which works out to a rating of 3 out of 4. When I ordered this item, it took a surprisingly long time to get the order fulfilled -- several months as I recall.
Movie 1
The year is 1999 and Tokyo's Mobile Police have a new weapon in the war on crime, advanced robots called Labors are used to combat criminals who would use the new technology for illegal means. The suicide of a mysterious man on the massive Babylon Project construction site sets off a cascade of events that may signal the destruction of Tokyo. What is the connection between the suicide, the new Mobile Police AV-XO Zero Labor, and a berserk prototype tank? When Patlabor cops Noah Izuma and Azuma Shinohara investigate an unexplained wave of rogue Labors' rampaging across of the city hanging in the balance and a typhoon poised to trigger the devastation, Noah, Azuma and their teammates must destroy the source of the virus, the giant Babylon Project tower in Tokyo Bay in a die hard battle to the finish.
Movie 2
The date is 2002, three years after the events of PATLABOR 1-Mobile Police. The destruction of a United Nations Labor team in South East Asia begins the build-up to a deadly terrorist plan that threatens to send shockwaves throughout Japan's military. With evidence of an impending military takeover, the scattered members of the original SVD (Special Vehicle Division) must gather to defend the city against danger. To make matters worse, the mastermind behind the operation is none other than Nagumo's former teacher and ex-lover Tsuge. Can Nagumo stay true to her oath to uphold the law in the face of Tsuge's destructive plan for revenge? The countdown to armed revolution and panic on the streets of Tokyo begins now...
Movie 3
Veteran police detective Kusumi and his young partner Hata search for the cause of several deadly labor accidents in and around Tokyo Bay. Each detective applies their own style of investigation and they soon uncover a labyrinth of deceit with connections to the Japanese and American militaries! As they continue their investigation, Kusumi begins to suspect Hata's new girlfriend, Saeko, a genetic research scientist may be involved... However, neither is prepared for their encounter with the ravenous biological weapon, WXIII: Wasted Thirteen. While the detectives are the only survivors of the encounter, the government covers up the incident, and they must work with the military to lure the monster into a brutal showdown with the Patlabors of Special Vehicle Unit 2!
OVAs
With the rapid development of robotics in the late 20th century came the Labor, a humanoid-type, multi-purpose construction machine, which was rapidly employed in all aspects of industry and heavy construction. However, these machines also created a new menace to society: Labor crimes. To combat this threat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department established the 'Special Vehicles, Section 2,' comprised of specially designed Patrol Labors, Patlabors. The Patlabor Squad is all that stands between the good law-abiding citizens of Tokyo and terrorist Labors, giant monsters and the Japanese Army.
Volume 1
The newly formed Special Vehicle Police Second Unit finds itself facing terrorist and... a sea monster in Tokyo Bay.
Volume 2
After an incident involving a revolver cannon, the Captain sends the SV2 back to training camp! But will their training pay off when Japan's Self-Defense Forces attack Tokyo?
Volume 3
The Captain mounts a counteroffensive against his former teacher, but can he stop him before he plays his nuclear trump card? And nothing is what is seems when the SV2 is asked to recover a stolen labor.
TV Series 1
Volume 1
As the 20th Century was nearing its end, a new Industrial Revolution brought forth unprecedented advances in robotics. The invention of the Labor, a humanoid-type, multi-purpose construction machine, emerged as the wave of the future. Making older industrial equipment virtually obsolete, the Labor, unfortunately, also made a pretty cool terrorist weapon. To combat the rise in Labor crimes, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department established the 'Special Vehicles, Section 2,' comprised of specially designed Patrol Labors, Patlabors.
Volume 2 Episode 6: The Tower: SOS
As fire breaks out in a gigantic high-rise, the SV2 must race into action before the skyscraper is engulfed in flames.
Episode 7: Model 97's New Replacement
The SRX-70 is unveiled as a new and improved labor model for Division 1. As jealousy rages between the two divisions, it soon becomes clear what the manufacturer had in mind...
Episode 8: A Green Phantom
Are there supernatural forces at work in the village of Onifuri? Hitomi, Asuma and Noa are sent to investigate a 'cursed' construction site!
Episode 9: Red Labor Landing
A terrorist is after a new military labor developed by the Russians, the SV2 is asked to help, but there are spies lurking around every corner!
Episode 10: Eve's Trap
Why are new labors wreaking havoc in the Tokyo communication system? When the SV2 is called in to investigate, they soon learn that they may be in over their heads!
Volume 3
A visiting prince from an oil-rich country wants to observe how a Patrol Labor team functions. The members of the SV2 would love to be rid of him -- and they may get their wish when the prince is targeted by mercenaries! Catch the fun as the members of the SV2 battle mysterious labors, rescue stranded whales and dodge pre-arranged marriages!
Volume 4
The Boys (and Girls) in Blue are Back! The team is forced to babysit a leading pop singer for an upcoming police-sponsored parade. She's cute. She's popular. She hasn't got a clue. When mercenaries decide to kidnap her in exchange for a police Labor, the team has to decide: Do they really want her back?
Volume 5
Kanuka's leaving! After a surprise farewell party, Kanuka leaves for the airport to catch a plane back to New York. As luck would have it, she winds up sitting next to a terrorist who's planning to hijack the plane and Kanuka checked her gun at the gate! Can she get a message to the rest of the team before the bomb blows the plane to smithereens?
Volume 6
Takeo Kumagami transfers into Division 2, and no one really knows what to make of her. She's polite, competent, a hard worker, and learns quickly - what is she doing in Division 2? Is she after Noa's job? You can bet Noa won't give up her precious 'Alphonse' without a fight!
Volume 7
At the Tokyo International Labor show, the SV2 gets a sneak peek at the newest Patlabor prototype- the economy version of the Ingram. Needless to say, they aren't thrilled. And when the show gets crashed by the powerful, outlaw Labor, the Griffin, will the new, low cost Ingram prove itself to be up to the job? Or will it prove to be totally worthless?
Volume 8
Noa is still reeling from her last encounter with the Griffin, so Division 2 decides to take it easy for a while. Yeah, right. During a 'relaxing' police retreat to polish up the SV2's training, Noa stumbles upon a really suspicious crime scene... and she can't resist getting involved!
Volume 9
An award-winning, dirt-digging reporter has chosen the subject of her new TV special: Noa! What's it like to be a female Labor pilot? How does she train? How do male coworkers treat her? And just how does a girl with such a job keep her hair in place and her makeup fresh? Find out here!
TV Series 2 - New Files
The second OVA series, set before the second movie and after the TV series. With the rapid development of robotics in the late 20th century came the Labor, a humanoid-type, multi-purpose construction machine, which was rapidly employed in all aspects of industry and heavy construction. However, these machines also created a new menace to society: Labor crimes. To combat this threat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department established the 'Special Vehicles, Section 2,' comprised of specially designed Patrol Labors, Patlabors. The Patlabor Squad is all that stands between the good law-abiding citizens of Tokyo and terrorist Labors, giant monsters and the Japanese Army.
Volume 1
Captain Nagumo's First Unit is called in to deal with a black Labor. The SV2's nemesis, 'The Griffon,' is back for a rematch. But the First Unit has a new weapon at its disposal, the Type-0 'Peacemaker' Labor. But is the new Labor any match for the Griffon, or will Noa discover the Griffon's Achille's Heel in time?
Volume 2
Faced with retirement, the star of a long-running children's show takes the cast hostage. But the show's producers love the ratings and will do anything to prolong the crisis! Later, the SV2 finds themselves in hot water when they track a terrorist to a public bath!
Volume 3
Asuma recalls the time when a civil war erupted within the SV2's maintenance squad. It all started when the maintenance chief banned all 'inappropriate' materials from the barracks! Later, Ohta awakens to find himself surrounded by the bloody bodies of his co-workers from the SV2, only he has no memory of who he is or what happened!
Volume 4
News of a pearl-like object being laid by an alligator in the zoo prompts the maintenance crew to journey into the sewers in hopes of striking it rich. But when they don't come back, the Second Unit mounts a rescue operation. But who's going to rescue them?
Volume 5
Noa stumbles across the super secret headquarters of an Earth defense organization. When alien invaders unleash a giant monster, will Noa be able to summon the power of... IngraMan!?! An ultra-hilarious spoof of a classic TV show!
Patlabor is a classic giant robot series, that follows the exploits of the Special Vehicles Section 2. In general, the Parlabor franchise is noted for high production values, great story-telling, humor, and action. The movies lean more heavily towards police drama and feature solid detective work. The TV series and the OVAs lean more towards comedy than drama and many episodes feature homages to other classic TV shows and movies. My personal preferences in the Patlabor franchise are the first two movies and the OVAs. I liked Patlabor enough that I repurchased it on DVD. Although not all of the Patlabor franchise sits at the same level, I gave the Patlabor franchise as a whole, a 5 out of 5.
The Patlabor 2 soundtrack CD has 13 tracks and I liked 7 tracks for a total of 53.8% which works out to a rating of 3 out of 4. When I ordered this item, it took a surprisingly long time to get the order fulfilled -- several months as I recall.
