Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor: New OVA

So, what to know about Patlabor is that it is a very atypical show. It is labeled as a mecha show but you won't get much action, it's rather a comedic "slice-of-life" thing, more of a chronicle of a bunch of cops. It's episodes go into diverse genres but the main interest is still to see how it's cast of "wacky" characters functions. But you won't get ultra complex or "deep" character development, or any troubled past. The show focuses on the very humain dimension of it's characters, and each episode is a new occasion to discover a new side of them. What it lost ... from Oshii's cerebral long and time-consuming monologues, it gains in subtlety and humanity, and it is reinforced by the animation. If it is compared to the first "Early Days" OAV series or the movie as being inferior, it would be unfair to ignore that a lot of care is put on the character expressions : they are not as exagerated as the previous OAVs, it went for something more low-key.

This second OAV series is an extension of the 47 episodes TV series, and should be watched after it. In the TV series, a lot more focus were put into the mecha, there were (a few) more action scenes ; more plotline about the development of new models of Labors, and about the SV2's missions with their Labors. All these plot elements were concluded in the last episode, without anything spectacular but still satisfying. Of course if you expect Patlabor to be a heavy political/action show, you will be disappointed. From the begining, the Patalabor animated series was about policemen being blocked in the godforesaken hole of Tokyo, wainting for some mission that ended up to be "arresting drunk guy that seized a Labor to do something stupid". The TV series already exploited that to the end, so here you'll get Patlabor mostly without mechas. The more this OVA series progresses, the less there is mecha action. The writers just wrapped up quickly the action arc known as "Griffon arc", still leaving some unresolved elements (a way to say that, even after the end of the series, the SV2 will continue their job and there will still have criminals to arrest) to go for the core of Patlabor : the bunch of various young misfits that compose the Special Vehicules Unit 2. It will go from completely comedic episodes (I found them hilarious), then, when you expect it the least, BANG! A serious episode about some members of the squad that gets awesomely intimist. Yeah, because Patlabor gets very intimistic when it wants, getting really into the character's life and all. But even in simple comedic episodes, there is still a way to show the character's personnallity, they always stays appealing despite their flaws. Those guys are average guys, which is rare in japanesse animation! They don't suddenly have specific abilities, what they can do comes from past experiences. If one is good with computer, it's because he was in informatics beforehand, for example, and never any of their character traits feels exagerated or forced, even when it is used for comedy. This is what makes them seem more humain.

This was the writers last show before the end, so they ensured to have fun, but they never forgot to let their characters shine. Some of them doesn't feel like they were exploited enough and that's a shame, but they still had at least one moment during the whole series, whether it would be during the TV part or this part. It has it's flaws of course, but I can't put the finger on it, beside the fact that I felt a lot more could have being done. But at one point, it has to end. After that, the Patabor franchise would "end" on Patlabor 2, which didn't gave enough time to show a glipse of the charactes some years laters... Well, in an another continuity (the third movie being a spin-off, and even taking place before the second movie, can't count as an "end"). This extension of the TV series is a goodbye, to those idiots working more efficiently than they seem, sometimes immature, sometimes desctructive, but full of wisdom and courage. Personnally, I'll miss them.

Whether it's stories about getting drunk, saving kittens, ghosts, bath house brawls, running from giant crocodiles, fighting terrorists in devastatingly powerful robots, or reading porn, it doesn't matter. Patlabor OVA 2 re-affirms what Patlabor TV and the original OVA established, Patlabor can do anything and it will work. And no, I wasn't kidding, you will find all of that and more here despite the short episode count.

As with previous Patlabor works, the strength of this OVA is mainly in how the characters are so enjoyable, the bizarre and often surreal direction of Mamoru Oshii, and the wonderful OST by Kenji Kawai. If you have seen ... and enjoyed anything Patlabor related, it is likely you will enjoy this. However, it should be noted that this OVA is particularly ridiculous even for Patlabor standards. Aside from the first half that deals with more Schaft attacks, this is mostly pure comedy and weirdness. The series has never really sold itself on loads of mecha action, but for better or for worse, there is almost none here. The OVA is still rather enjoyable regardless though, and makes for a solid view after completing the TV series.

Oshii's very deliberate and slow direction is in full effect. The comedy is reminiscent of his 1989 comedy OVA Gosenzosama Banbanzai, but perhaps not quite that level of full blown surrealism and absurdity. As previously mentioned, much of the enjoyment can come from how well developed the cast is. So it isn't a very good idea to watch this unless you are already rather familiar with Patlabor through the previous works. That isn't to say you can't enjoy this if you are not, but you will get more out of it if you already know the characters and have become attached to them. Much of the humor is derived from the awkward situations they are placed in and must deal with, and that will be lost if the viewer is not familiar with their personalities and the tone of the series. I would go as far to say that this was pretty much made to be a direct extension of the TV series, and it does in fact deal with specific events from it that will require prior knowledge to understand.

Production values aren't as high as they are with Early Days and the movies, but they are right up to par with the TV series. Kawai's music is as awesome and fitting as ever. I love how much he utilizes bass and that shines through here left and right. It's not his best work ever, but it's still great. The artwork isn't as impressive as it is in Early Days and the movies, but it's right up there with the TV series. So, sadly there doesn't seem to have been a budget increase despite it being an OVA, but it still looks great for the most part. The mechs always look incredible, but you don't see them much here.

Overall, definitely worth a watch if you are into Patlabor. Not the strongest entry of the series, but it delivers, especially if you are into weird Oshii works. The bulk of the episodes rely on off the wall humor and out there stuff, so if that sounds like your cup of tea you should enjoy it. Once the Schaft episodes are over it is pretty much a free for all of bizarre occurrences the Division 2 team members are forced to deal with, most of them ranging from fantastical to eerie or impossible. I would have liked to see something more in line with the movies and with more Labor action, but I can't say I was really displeased either, and I would watch it again. It gets bonus points for the Red Spectacles reference.

As a continuation of the TV series and as done with the original OVA, Patlabor is about a mech police force in Division 2 going about their daily lives.

The first four episodes serve as a conclusion to the TV series in a final bout with the black labor. This reason alone, if having seen the TV series, will be enough to justify watching New Files. However, the rest of the OVA series is random episodes in true Patlabor fashion as it follows the division 2 team on various adventures, work related or not. That is what makes up Patlabor The New Files.

Director Oshi (previous Patlabor) ... creates a slow paced environment and well developed characters to invent any situation imaginable ranging from getting lost in the sewer system, fighting in a bath house, or even to getting hammered (drunk) on vacation.

When it came to the animation, nothing is new here. Unlike the TV series and the original OVA, New Files does not do anything to impress. It is still good, but the music is lacking along with almost zero action. This really is just another OVA series to give the viewer more of the team and their hijinks they get into. After those four initial episodes, the series falls flat in wanting more Patlabor action.

Patlabor New Files is a fun watch if having already watched the previous iterations, and just want more. Otherwise, this is the weakest of the anime series, but still remains pretty enjoyable at the same time.