Patlabor EZY Anime Confirmed to Run for Eight Parts
New details about the upcoming Patlabor EZY anime project were revealed during a talk session at the Mobile Police Patlabor: Early Days screening event held at the Aichi Nagoya International Film Festival. Staff members confirmed that the new anime will consist of eight parts.
According to the production team, voice recording is currently underway, and the project has entered full-scale production. While the anime shares continuity with the broader Patlabor universe, its character designs and production staff differ from those used in the earlier pilot film.
The staff also revealed that Makoto Asanuma, president of Bandai Namco Filmworks, is involved in the project in an undisclosed role. Asanuma was present at the event and is known for his work on projects such as Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway and Short Peace.
Creative Direction and Story Approach
Special guest Yutaka Izubuchi shared that although he did not originally plan to direct the project, he ultimately found the experience enjoyable and rewarding. He described Patlabor EZY as being stylistically similar to the franchise’s original OVA series, with the new anime continuing the overall storyline through side stories rather than a full reboot.
Staff and Production Team
- Director: Yutaka Izubuchi (J.C. Staff)
- Series Composition / Scripts: Kazunori Itō
- Original Character Design: Masami Yuuki
- Chief Animation Director & Character Design: Takamitsu Satou
- Music: Kenji Kawai
- Producer: Tarō Maki (GENCO)
- CG Production: GAZEN
- Original Story: HEADGEAR
Additional staff members include:
- Costume Design Collaboration: Akemi Takada
- Mechanical Design: Kanetake Ebikawa, Toshiaki Ihara
- Art: Masanori Kikuchi, Yūta Akiyama
- CG Director: Yoshinori Moriizumi
Project History
GENCO first unveiled the Patlabor EZY project at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2017. A pilot video debuted in August 2022 and was later screened during a one-week theatrical revival of Patlabor: The Movie in September 2024, marking the franchise’s 35th anniversary. Izubuchi also directed the pilot.
About the Patlabor Franchise
The Patlabor series was originally conceived by the creative collective HEADGEAR, featuring notable creators such as Mamoru Oshii, Kazunori Itō, Yutaka Izubuchi, Akemi Takada, and Masami Yuuki. The franchise is known for its grounded approach to mecha storytelling, centering on police officers who pilot robotic units known as “Patlabors.”
Since its debut, Patlabor has expanded into multiple OVAs, a TV series, several anime films, a short reboot project in 2016, and a live-action series titled The Next Generation -Patlabor- in 2014. The most recent animated feature film, Patlabor WXIII, premiered in 2002.
Several Patlabor anime titles are officially licensed in English by Maiden Japan.
Source: Comic Natalie