MOVeLOT, a robotics company, unveiled an exciting project this past Saturday. They are set to breathe life into a piloted Ingram labor robot mecha from the beloved Mobile Police Patlabor series. The venture is a jubilant celebration of the new Patlabor EZY anime and promises a grand public unveiling in the summer of 2024.
MOVeLOT intends to keep enthusiasts in the loop with frequent updates on both Twitter and Instagram. These updates will feature a captivating array of photos and videos showcasing the entire creation process.
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In 2017, GENCO first introduced the Patlabor EZY anime project to the world. It made its debut with an eye-catching booth at the MIFA film market during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The pilot episode for this project saw the light of day in August 2022, skillfully directed by Yutaka Izubuchi, renowned as the mechanical designer for Patlabor.
Taro Maki, the representative director of GENCO, whose impressive portfolio includes titles like Patlabor the Mobile Police, Nodame Cantabile, and Millennium Actress, took on the role of producer for the Patlabor EZY anime series.
The iconic Patlabor franchise, conceived with the ingenious idea of police officers piloting robotic mecha known as “Patlabors,” was the brainchild of the HEADGEAR group. Comprising director Mamoru Oshii (known for Ghost in the Shell and Sky Crawlers), scriptwriter Kazunori Itō (.hack and Dirty Pair), mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi (famous for Eureka Seven and the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise), character designer Akemi Takada (noted for Kimagure Orange Road, Urusei Yatsura, and Fancy Lala), and manga creator Masami Yuuki (acclaimed for Birdy the Mighty), this franchise birthed two original video anime, a television anime series, and three anime films. The most recent of these films, Patlabor WXIII, graced Japanese theaters in 2002.
It’s worth noting that the Japan Anniversary Association has officially designated August 10 as Patlabor Day, honoring the franchise’s enduring legacy.
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Finally, fans can rejoice as Maiden Japan has secured the rights to license several Patlabor titles, including the Patlabor OVA series, Patlabor the Mobile Police: The New Files OVA, Patlabor: The Movie, Patlabor 2: The Movie, and Patlabor WXIII.
Sources | MOVeLOT’s Twitter account, Mainichi Shimbun’s Mantan Web
