Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor the Movie

The Babylon Project is a massive renovation of Tokyo's neighborhoods, including the creation of artificial islands in the Bay. Utilizing "Labors," or robots created for the express purpose of doing work, architects and construction crews are able to more efficiently progress development of the overhaul. When a key figure in the Project's conception is found dead after committing suicide under mysterious circumstances, Captain Kiichi Gotou's Patlabor police unit is tasked with getting to the bottom of the bizarre situation.

As several Labors begin to go haywire and a hacked AI program endangers the people of Tokyo, young pilot Noa Izumi and her Patlabor Alphonse work under Gotou's orders to save the city and the entire nation from a massive biblical conspiracy.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Gotou, Kiichi Main

Oobayashi, Ryuusuke Japanese

Izumi, Noa Main

Tominaga, Miina Japanese

Shinohara, Asuma Main

Furukawa, Toshio Japanese

Sakaki, Seitarou Main

Saka, Osamu Japanese

Shinshi, Mikiyasu Main

Futamata, Issei Japanese

Clancy, Kanuka ing

Inoue, You Japanese

Nagumo, Shinobu ing

Sakakibara, Yoshiko Japanese

Oota, Isao ing

Ikemizu, Michihiro Japanese

Yamazaki, Hiromi ing

Gouri, Daisuke Japanese

Shiba, Shigeo ing

Chiba, Shigeru Japanese

Ishikawa, Mitsuhisa Producer

Maki, Taro Producer

Unozawa, Shin Producer

Oshii, Mamoru Director, Storyboard

Reviews

Oct 28, 2024

theroboxer

Recommended

Patlabor: The Movie, is an absolute masterpiece of the mecha genre, wrapped in a surprisingly nuanced package that most wouldn’t expect from a flick about giant robots. We’re not talking about explosions every five minutes or mindless action – no, this movie dares to get cerebral. It tackles some seriously thought-provoking themes like the potential dangers of unchecked technology, the fine line between man and machine, and the social responsibility that comes with innovation. This is heavy stuff, especially when you consider it was made back in 1989 – damn near prophetic, I’d say.

What really hits is the pacing. Now, it's not a non-stop thrill ... ride; it’s slower and more deliberate, which could turn off the attention-deficit crowd. But if you stick with it, that build-up is intense and has you glued to every damn frame, like waiting for a pot to boil over in glorious chaos. Mamoru Oshii, the director, knew exactly what he was doing here. The tension, the mystery, the atmosphere – it all culminates in a way that makes you feel like you’ve just witnessed something way bigger than a cop-with-a-robot story.

Animation-wise? Gorgeous. The backgrounds, the detail on the mechas, the rain-soaked streets, that gritty Tokyo skyline – it’s like stepping into a world you wish was real but also scares the crap out of you. And the music. Kenji Kawai’s score? Eerie, minimalistic, and totally fits that looming sense of dread. The soundtrack does half the work in pulling you into this shadowy world where not everything is as shiny and heroic as it seems.

Now, yeah, there are a couple of hiccups – character development could’ve used a bit more oomph. Some of the characters don’t exactly get their time to shine, which feels like a bit of a cheat in a story with this much depth. And the pacing, like I said, isn’t for everyone. But if you’re in for a smart, atmospheric mecha thriller with style and substance? Patlabor’s an easy recommendation. It’s like a fine whiskey – not everyone’s taste, but damn, does it hit hard if you appreciate it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Sep 29, 2024

Caeruleus_CCXVI

Recommended

This movie was a treat to watch, I had a special edition DVD from 1989 I got as a kid, watched it once and thought it was like a 5/10, Sold the Movie on ebay and realized I should probably rewatch it again. This time around I realized how much I missed hand drawn Animation. And my god this movie was very well animated. The story was good enough, and the mechs were enjoyable to watch.

As a 30yo adult in 2024 I dont know a single other person who has watched the Patlabor series, but they are missing out and it forsure a must ... watch if you enjoy the golden age of animation and want some mecha in your life.

And can we talk about how this movie was set only about 10 years in the future from its release and the tech in the show is still probably 20-50 year out lol

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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May 21, 2024

curvedtree

Mixed Feelings

This film was created during the peak of the Japanese economic bubble, so a lot of resources were put in anime in general back then and you can tell by both the art and animation that this anime is great even by today and even future standards, however what this film excels in those two aspects, it lacks in story. The whole mystery going on here is so simple and uninteresting that reinforces how unappealing the story is, so watching this for the story is a bad choice, however it isn't all bad, as I previously said, the art and animation are superb, you might ... enjoy some of the action scenes, but that's it. It looks pretty, but it is just as boring.

As a side note, despite praising the art, I disliked how Kanuka was portrayed here.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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