Labor: a robot specifically designed for construction work. Labors allow dramatic advances in construction, but also in crime. To combat these new Labor crimes, the police created a special unit: The Patrol Labor. And thus, the birth of the Patlabor.
What’s Patlabor?
It’s a multi-media franchise consisting of anime, manga, and games in the late 80s and early 90s. By far, the anime is the most visible and popular facet of it, spanning a couple of movies, OVAs, and a 47-episode TV series. It was conceived by a core group of creators called Headgear, composed of people like Mamoru Oshii and Yutaka Izubuchi.
It’s about the misadventures of a police Labor unit called the SV2 (Special Vehicle Section 2, Division 2). They tend to be surprisingly competent at their job, except for the odd city block they have to wreck to get it done. Depending on the show you’re watching, it’s a comedy, action, mystery, or a combination of all three. There’s a lot to love, and we’ll get to that.
Continue reading →