Patlabor Ezy

	Released 15 May 2026 to March 2027
	Staff
	Series Director: Yutaka Izubuchi
	Original Story: Headgear
	Screenplay and Series Composition: Kazunori Ito
	Character Designer: Takamitsu Sato
	Mechanical Designers: Kanetake Ebikawa and Toshiaki Ihara
	Music: Kenji Kawai
	Production: J.C. Staff

Set in the years 2032 to 2033, this series follows on over 20 years from the original SV2 with a brand new set of members. Japan is facing a steadily declining workforce and significant automation driven by AI technology. Labors, once cutting-edge technology, have become an integral part of supporting social infrastructure. Standalone human-piloted Labors are increasingly replaced by autonomous robots and are on the verge of becoming obsolete. But even as the times change, the work of the SV2 remains the same; protecting people and the city. Over the course of the series, the SV2 have to deal with a wide range of tasks such as runaway Labors, working on film sets, rescuing people in rural areas and staving off boredom when they aren't called out for duty.

Originally announced by production company Genco at the International Animation Film Market (MIFA) during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France in June 2017, the long production time was due to several factors including two directors pulling out of the production early on and the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, the story changed several times. The project was only confirmed to still be going ahead in mid 2022 when Yutaka Izubuchi announced he was the project's director, and a pilot film was released to the public. The series was inspired by the negative reaction the other members of Headgear had to Mamoru Oshii's "The Next Generation - Patlabor -", and their positive reaction they had to "Mobile Police Patlabor Reboot", which made them realise they could make a new series in the same quality. The members of Headgear were so impressed by "Reboot", they included the character Kimika Saeki from the short film, and they offered it's director, Yasuhiro Yoshiura, the role of directing "Ezy", but he had to decline as he was already in pre-production for his next film, "Sing a Bit of Harmony". While it was assumed "Patlabor Ezy" would be released via streaming or broadcast on TV, it was announced in January 2026 that theatrical distributor Shochiku would be releasing the series compiled into three films between May 2026 and March 2027. Blu-rays of each part were sold at theaters on the opening day of each theatrical release.

Cast

Towa Kuga 22-year-old pilot of Ingram Unit 1. She is a Tokyo native who has a strong sense of justice and fighting spirit. Bold to the point of occasional recklessness, she never shies away from the possibility of close combat, confident of her hand-to-hand skills more than her shooting skills. She thrives and enjoys being in high stress situations, trusting her own instincts and experience. She was a normal police officer on a safe career path before being assigned to the SV2. She has an older brother who is higher in the police bureaucratic ranks. Her skills make her a perfect complement to her commander Kippei Atori. Towa is voiced by Sumire Uesaka who has previously played Lum in the 2024 remake of "Urusei Yatsura", Sanae Dekomori in "Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions" and Chisato Shirasagi in "BanG Dream!".

Kippei Atori 23-year-old commander of Ingram Unit 1. Hailing from Saitama, he is the one ultimately responsible for Towa's reckless antics, but supports her to the best of his ability. He often has a life hack for many situations, and dislikes things that defy common sense. He was initially undecided on whether to choose the Self-Defense Forces or the Metropolitan Police for a career, but decided on the police in the end. A mecha lover to the point of putting a distinct figure of Noa's original "Alphonse" AV-98 on his desk, his goal to join the service was to pilot a Labor. He maintains a positive attitude, and is trusting to a fault. He is a romantic who likes astrology and horoscopes. Kippei is played by Kikunosuke Toya who has previously voiced Denji in "Chainsaw Man", Choji Tomiyama in "Wind Breaker" and Donny in "Four Knights of the Apocalypse".

Saki Hirata 25-year-old commander of Ingram Unit 2, and a native of Aichi Prefecture. She paid her own way through college, and tried a corporate career track after she graduated, which she found to be a poor fit for her. She joined the force soon after. She is smart and collected, and skilled at IT tasks. She is a realist that doesn't like surprises, and is not fond of horoscopes. She can be inflexible at times, a weakness she herself acknowledges. In arguments, she corners people with her logic, but performs poorly in situations that defy logic. Saki is voiced by Ami Koshimizu who has previously played Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter in "Sailor Moon Crystal", Yui Uehara in "Detective Conan" and Kallen Stadtfeld in "Code Geass".

Akihiko Hazama 29-year-old pilot of Ingram Unit 2, and a Fukuoka native. Prior to his selection to SV2, he was a sergeant in his home region's police. He has an old-fashioned sense of pride and empathy, and often serves as SV2's conscience. He doesn't trust AI technology much, and therefore loads his Ingram with only the bare minimum of software assistance possible. He is a 4-dan in kendo, and once aimed to be a member of the Jutsuka Tokubetsu Kunren (Special Technical Training, "Tokuren" in short), a group within the Metropolitan Police that practices and disseminates technical martial arts training among the police. An injury from an unfortunate accident put an end to that dream. He often makes dad jokes from the Showa era. Akihiko is played by Chikahiro Kobayashi who has previously voiced Saichi Sugimoto in "Golden Kamuy", Regoshi in "Beastars" and Ranga in "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime".

Yuta Yanai 25-year-old carrier driver for the Ingram Unit 1, who hails from Kanagawa. He used to help out at his family's diner, but he turned to a police career when his family closed shop. Though not the tallest in the section, he boasts a strength gained from frequent workouts. He is efficient at household chores, and has an outlaw streak that belies an inner heroism. He sometimes exhibits a worldly wisdom beyond most people, but is nevertheless the type that becomes too considerate that he fails a task. Yuta is voiced by Setsuji Sato who has previously played Decky in "Dual Masters", Starscream in "Transformers" and Joseph Yaht in "Turn A Gundam".

Hachikuma Yuzuki 24-year-old carrier driver for Ingram Unit 2, who comes from Gifu Prefecture. After taking a gap year after college, Yuzuki signed up with the police force. Though one of the tallest in SV2, Yuzuki has a surprising lack of motor skills. Yuzuki's parents coined "Hachikuma" from the Hachikuma hawk, as a symbol of their wishes for a strong child after a premature birth. Yuzuki is the most ladylike person in SV2, and hopes to one day take care of a cat. Hachikuma is played by Yume Matsumura, a relative newcomer to voice acting with only one previous acting credit, playing the mother of Tim in the anime "The Shy Hero and the Assassin Princesses".

Kimika Saeki 34-year-old captain. She hails from Miyagi Prefecture. Respected and relied upon for her skills, she has a good grasp on the peculiarities of every officer under her command, and performs missions with a practiced calm, steadiness, and coolness under fire. She is tough enough to not get pressured by those around her, and instead often confounds others with remarks with hidden nuances or implications. She doesn't chase medals in the job, but prizes incidents where "nothing happens." Though she is often stumped by the eclectic crew of SV2, she thinks the section has room to grow. Kimika previously appeared as the then unnamed captain in the 2016 short film "Patlabor Reboot". Kimika is voiced by the legendary voice actress Megumi Hayashibara, who has played Rei Ayanami in "Evangelion", Lina Inverse in "Slayers", Faye Valentine in "Cowboy Bebop" and girl-type Ranma in "Ranma ½". Megumi is no stranger to the Patlabor franchise, voicing Kimika in "Patlabor Reboot", a TV weather girl in a cameo in "Patlabor the movie" and the reoccurring character, reporter Momoko Sakurayama, in the TV series and "New OVA" series.

Shigeo Shiba The only original member of the SV2 still working there, Shige now works part time as an advisor to the SV2 Team. He is a disciple of the first team leader and a walking encyclopaedia of SV2. Playful and cheerful, Shige lives freely in pursuit of his hobbies. He is of course voiced by the one and only Shigeru Chiba, who has now appeared in almost every single Patlabor adaptation including the live action series and full length film. Shigeru's best known voice roles include Megane from "Urusei Yatsura", Kazuma Kuwabara from "Yu Yu Hakusho", Garlic Jr. from "Dragon Ball Z" and Buggy the Clown from "One Piece"

Kurumi Terada A maintenance worker attached to the Second Platoon. An avid gamer. She has a cynical view of the world and often makes sarcastic remarks. Kurumi is the right-hand woman of maintenance team leader Saito. She is voiced by Mariya Ise who has previously played Reg in "Made in Abyss", Stocking in "Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt" and Levy McGarden in "Fairy Tail".

Yoichi Saito Yoichi is the head of the maintenance team. He has a kind and generous personality and is well-liked by the maintenance team members and the members of the Second Division. He respects advisor Shigeo Shiba, but also feels a sense of awe towards him. Saito is voiced by Hiroki Maeda who has been voice acting since 2012, however has mostly acted in bit roles and not for main characters. His most famous role was Phoenix Man in "One Punch Man".

Kanji Kunikida Leader of the first division. A meticulous police officer who carefully checks the work of his team members. He speaks politely and, according to himself, is fundamentally a kind person. He is voiced by Hochu Otsuka who has previously played Tokushiro Tsurumi in "Golden Kamuy", Chibodee Crocket in "G Gundam" and Akira Sendo in "Slam Dunk".

Kotaro Yasui Kotaro Yasui is the chief of Special Vehicles Division 2. He has a gentle demeanor and an elusive, kind old-man-like presence. When he has free time at work, he casts his fishing line from the pier near the Division 2 building. Kotaro is voiced by Kazuhiro Yamaji who works both as a stage and screen actor with many credits to his name, and as well as a voice actor. His anime anime voice credits include Henry Henderson in "Spy×Family", Silver Fang in "One Punch Man" and Jouji Saiga in "Psycho-Pass".

Staff
Every member of Headgear is credited in the production of "Patlabor Ezy". Yutaka Izubuchi as series director, Kazunori Ito returned to write the scripts, Akemi Takada worked on the costume design and Masami Yuki is credited with original character design, with Takamitsu Sato ("Selector infected WiXoss") basing the character designs for "Ezy" on Masami Yuki's manga designs. Yutaka Izubuchi did invite Mamoru Oshii to write one of the scripts for the series, however he declined as he did not want to work on a script for another director after having had a recent bad experience while working on another project. Instead Oshii is credited for allowing a parody of a trailer for one of his live action films. Kanetake Ebikawa ("Mobile Suit Gundam 00") and Toshiaki Ihara ("Full Metal Panic!") provided the mechanical designs. Shinji Higuchi (special effects director for the 1990s "Gamera" trilogy and director for "Shin Ultraman") did the storyboard for the episode "The Real Thing is Best".

The series has not been licensed anywhere in the world for English language streaming.

The series has not been licensed anywhere in the world for English language physical home video.

Streaming for the Japanese market has yet to be announced. It is likely an announcement will not be made until the series has concluded it's theatrical run in 2027.

This series is available on blu-ray in Japan from Bandai Namco. These blu-rays can only be purchased at cinemas who are screening "Patlabor Ezy" or online at A-on Store and Premium Bandai. The blu-rays will not be available at other retailers. The blu-rays do not come with English subtitles or an English dub. All Bandai Namco blu-ray discs are region free. Please see the Japanese Patlabor Ezy Releases Video List for a complete listing of all releases, formats and product specifications for this series.

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