Patlabor: The Movie

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For the main article, Patlabor saga; see Patlabor.
機動警察パトレイバー the Movie
Patlabor the Movie

Region 1 L.E. DVD Cover
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
Produced by Studio Deen
Tohoku Shinsha
Bandai
Written by Headgear
Kazunori Itoh
Starring Shigeru Chiba
Music by Kenji Kawai
Distributed by Image Entertainment US Beez Entertainment EU (North America and UK)
Release date(s) Japan 1989
Running time 83 minutes
Country Japan
Language Japanese
Followed by Patlabor 2 the Movie

Patlabor: The Movie (機動警察パトレイバー the Movie, Kidō keisatsu patoreibā the movie) is a 1989 anime film directed by Mamoru Oshii, with original story by Headgear.

Produced by Production I.G., Studio Deen, Bandai Visual Co. Ltd and Tohokushisha Film Corporation Limited

It is part of the Patlabor anime and manga series.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Tokyo is undergoing a huge re-development program: old suburbs are being demolished and man-made islands are being constructed in Tokyo Bay. Dominating the scene is the Ark, a huge man-made island of steel, from where the Babylon project is coordinated, and where labors are manufactured and tested.

One day, as dusk approaches, a programmer by the name of Eichi Hoba jumps off the Ark, a smirk on his lips, committing suicide.

Some time later there are several incidents where labors that were manufactured by Shinohara Industries malfunction, start operating of their own accord and go on the rampage even after they have been turned off. These include construction and military labors alike.

Investigations made by Gotoh and Asuma conclude that the rampaging labors have one thing in common: each were installed with H.O.S - Hyper Operating System, the latest software program to be installed in the labor computers. At first Asuma assumes that a bug is the cause but Gotoh believes that it was deliberately done by Eichi Hoba, the programmer who committed suicide.

The Hyper Operating System has been installed in all the labors in Tokyo including the Ingram 98 which is used by the police. This puts Noa and the Special Division police force in a worrying state because they fear the labors might go berserk while on duty and harm the public. However they are relieved when Shige comes back from New York and informs the team that he did not install the HOS due to his own doubts about it. Asuma however is furious to learn that Gotoh knew about this and didn't tell him.

Asuma and Shige follow-up the investigation and discover that wind speeds can trigger the H.O.S. into making a labor to go on the rampage via resonance caused by city buildings. Using a computer simulation they are horrified to discover that a combination of typhoon-speed wind acting on the Ark could trigger all the labors in Tokyo on to a massive rampage; let alone what effects may be seen worldwide if the vibrations could be carried on the Earth's crust. As if forseen by Hoba before he died, a typhoon is reported to be on its way towards Tokyo Bay and the Ark.

Meanwhile, at Gotoh's request, Detective Matsui investigates Hoba's background and finds that his work, thinking and convictions were somewhat related to references in the Bible. For example the Ark is similar to Noah's Ark, the Babylon Project is seen as the Tower of Babel, and he used the name Jehovah when he was in MIT. Why he decided to associate this with the biblical references remains a guess but Gotoh does come to the conclusion that Hoba planned this labor rampage for some time, and that he committed suicide in order to make his plan irreversible.

Time is not on the police officers' side as a typhoon is moving in towards Tokyo. Informed on Asuma and Shige’s findings, Gotoh pushes his superiors for clearance to destroy the Ark. Although the conclusions are greeted with scepticism, Gotoh surreptitiously convinces the police commissioner to OK his proposal, agreeing that whatever happens the blame will be put down to the typhoon.

As the storm approaches, Special Vehicle Division 2 makes preparations. Kanuka Clancy even returns from abroad in order to aid them in their mission. The team arrives on the Ark, which has been evacuated due to the approaching typhoon. After battling it out with some guard robots, Hiromi, Asuma and Shinshi break into the control room in order to set the sequence for the Ark's self destruction. Meanwhile Kanuka, Noa and Ohta cover their backs and battle the activated construction labors that are going on the rampage due to the typhoon.

Kanuka uses an AVXO-zero, one of the very latest labors, and which is equipped with the faulty HOS. At first she manages to keep it under control but then it turns against her colleagues.

As the ark is destroyed, the final battle between Ingram and Zero comes down with the Ingram suffering heavy damage. But with quick determination and wit, Noa manages to destroy the zero’s PRAM system using her shotgun. With that the threat of the labors rampaging across Tokyo eliminated at the cost of the Ark, Hoba's plan has been foiled.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Trivia

  • The first two Patlabor films have been released on DVD numerous times. The original release uses the same master as the Laserdisc release and offers stereo Japanese. The next release featured remastered non-anamorphic letterbox video. The third release, which the latest R1s from Bandai Visual use, feature remastered anamorphic letterbox video and 5.1 sound.
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