Patlabor: The Movie

1989 1h 40m JA

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 197

ActionAnimationScience FictionMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A mysterious suicide and a series of unmanned robot run-aways sparks off a Police investigation into the suspicious software on-board thousands of industrial robots around Tokyo.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Mina Tominaga
Noa Izumi (voice)
Toshio Furukawa
Asuma Shinohara (voice)
Ryusuke Ohbayashi
Kiichi Goto (voice)
Yoshiko Sakakibara
Shinobu Nagumo (voice)
Yo Inoue
Kanuka Clancy (voice)
Issei Futamata
Mikiyasu Shinshi (voice)
Michihiro Ikemizu
Isao Ohta (voice)
Daisuke Gori
Hiromi Yamazaki (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mamoru Oshii
Writers: Kazunori Ito, Masami Yuki, Kazunori Ito
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Patlabor Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mamoru Oshii, shot by Mitsunobu Yoshida. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Kenji Kawai. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Kumi Hiishi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Mina Tominaga and Toshio Furukawa and Ryusuke Ohbayashi carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0100339 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mamoru Oshii directs. Mitsunobu Yoshida behind the camera. Kenji Kawai scores. Kumi Hiishi cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

137 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "Patlabor Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Mamoru Oshii, shot by Mitsunobu Yoshida. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Kenji Kawai. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Kumi Hiishi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Mina Tominaga and Toshio Furukawa and Ryusuke Ohbayashi carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0100339 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Released under 17 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Mitsunobu Yoshida
Original score: Kenji Kawai
Editing: Kumi Hiishi
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Patlabor: The Movie (1989)

Part of

Patlabor Collection

The story takes place in what was, at the time of release, the near future of 1998-2002. Robots called "Labors" are employed in heavy construction work. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police has its own fleet of Patlabor robotic police officers to combat crimes and deal with accidents involving Labors. The story arcs usually revolve around Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Vehicle Section 2, Division 2. Noa Izumi is the main protagonist of the series, but all of Division 2 play roles. The feature films follow separate continuities, referred to as the "movie timeline" and the "TV timeline." The different OVA series follow either the movie or TV timelines.

Also by

Mamoru Oshii

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Production companies

Who made it

Studio Deen
JP
TFC
JP
Bandai
JP

Key crew

Key AnimationKazuchika Kise
Key AnimationHidenori Matsubara
Key AnimationAtsuo Tobe
Key AnimationHiroyuki Okiura
Key AnimationAsashi Abe
Key AnimationSumio Watanabe
Key AnimationAtsushi Takeuchi
Key AnimationHiroyoshi Ohkawa
Key AnimationMatsuri Okuda
Key AnimationKeisuke Fukuda
Key AnimationTakahiro Kishida
Key AnimationKazuya Takeda
Key AnimationToshiharu Sato
Key AnimationTakayuki Goto
Key AnimationHidetoshi Yoshida
Key AnimationMari Okuda
Key AnimationYoshio Mizumura
Key AnimationMitsunori Murata
Key AnimationYasuhiro Oshima
Key AnimationEiji Suganuma
Key AnimationMasatsugu Arakawa
Key AnimationToshiharu Murata
Key AnimationKougi Okawa
Key AnimationChuichi Iguchi

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

police
mecha
robot
adult animation
anime
real robot

Release history · US

When it landed

Physical2000-07-25NR· DVD
Physical2018-11-06PG-13· part of Patlabor the Mobile Police: Ultimate Collection Blu-ray
Physical2006-04-25NR· DVD (regular and Limited Collector's Edition)
Physical2015-05-05PG-13· Blu-ray / DVD