" Mobile Police Patlabor EZY" is a new anime series based on the popular " Mobile Police Patlabor " franchise. While the original " Mobile Police Patlabor" was set in the near future of the late 1990s, the new series is set in the 2030s, a time of steadily declining working population. It depicts the daily lives and activities of the Special Vehicles Division 2 of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. The cast includes Sumire Uesaka as Towa Kuga, the pilot of Ingram Unit 1, and Kikunosuke Toya as Kippei Atori, the commander of the unit. Totani, who won the Best Leading Voice Actor award at the 20th Seiyu Awards in March and is currently one of the most talked-about young voice actors, shared his thoughts on "Mobile Police Patlabor EZY."
◇Yuma comes to mind
"Mobile Police Patlabor" is a multimedia project set in a world where general-purpose humanoid work machines called Labors have been put into practical use, depicting the activities of Special Vehicles Division 2 as they confront Labor-related crimes and the daily lives of their members. The project was created by "HEADGEAR," a unit formed by five creators: Masami Yuki, Yutaka Izubuchi, Kazunori Ito, Akemi Takada, and Mamoru Oshii. It began in 1988 with six OVAs (Original Video Animations) called "Early Days," and has since expanded into manga by Yuki, television anime, theatrical anime, novels, audio dramas, games, and more.
Approximately 38 years after its creation, the original, enthusiastic fans are now in their 40s or older. Mr. Totani is not part of the "Patlabor generation."
"I had heard of the series before, but I had never seen it until I watched it for the first time during the audition. I started with 'Early Days,' and the world it created was incredibly interesting. I know this might sound arrogant, but I thought, 'What is this?! The sense of style is amazing!' For example, at the beginning of 'Early Days,' there's a scene where they wait for Ingram to appear, but he just doesn't show up. I wondered why they were spending so much time on that (laughs). It might be easier to understand if they showed Ingram in action sooner, but he just doesn't appear. That's what drew me in. It's a mecha anime, but there are episodes where Ingram doesn't even appear, so it's very diverse."
"Patlabor," which once shocked the anime world, seems to have struck a chord with young creators of the Reiwa era as something fresh and new.
"The first theatrical film has battles typical of a robot anime, while the second is more serious... each is worth watching, and works like 'ON TELEVISION' and 'NEW OVA' are all interesting in their own way. I felt that these were forward-thinking works that even our generation can enjoy."
As an actor, he said he was overwhelmed by the performances of his predecessors, saying, "Everyone's acting is amazing." The role of Kippei, played by Totani, is similar to that of Shinohara Yuma, the backup (commander) of Ingram Unit 1, who was played by his "great senior,"Toshio Furukawa.
"I was naturally drawn to Yuma. Our positions are similar, and I think viewers of the new series will also be aware of him. The names 'Noa' and 'Towa' sound similar, and when I heard someone call out 'Towa!', Yuma came to mind. I even studied him during the audition."
◇The essence of Special Vehicles Division 2
"Mobile Police Patlabor EZY" is a legitimate new work brought to you by a solid team including director Izubuchi, who is highly trusted by longtime fans, and series composition and scriptwriter Ito. Totani sincerely embraced the pressure of throwing himself into a series with such a long history.
"When I got the role, I was nervous, wondering if I would be accepted as a newcomer. I was anxious at the screening as well, but it seemed to be well-received, which made me happy!"
Kippei, played by Totani, calmly supports the impulsive Towa. Beneath his surface, however, lies a romantic side, a deep affection for older model Labors.
"Basically, he has a strong sense of justice, but he's a little absent-minded. He's serious, but the fact that he's not quite able to pull it off is endearing. I tried to portray that naturally. The fact that he's a little laid-back is typical of Special Vehicles Division 2, so I was conscious of that. The direction also aimed to portray them as 'people you might actually meet in real life,' so that's partly why it turned out that way."
It has also been a topic of discussion that Megumi Hayashibara Hayashibara will be playing Kimika Saeki, the leader of the second platoon, a big sister figure who supports the unit sometimes gently and sometimes strictly. Hayashibara has experience appearing in Early Days and the theatrical film. Totani said that he was inspired by working with Hayashibara, saying, "I'm learning so much from her."
"He has a bit of Captain Goto's personality. He might be more reliable than Captain Goto, but he looks at his team members with a 'oh dear' expression, so he does have that captain-like quality. I also had the opportunity to talk with Hayashibara-san about 'Why do you think Kippei became a police officer?' and we were able to delve into the topic. It was a sobering experience."
She will be partners with Towa, played by Uesaka. There are moments in their interactions that feel very "Patlabor-like."
"Ms. Uesaka really goes all out with her performance, which makes it easier for me to interject, and I feel like a sense of camaraderie is developing. We also had great conversations during breaks, and it was fun to realize how great 'Patlabor' is!"
◇I'm studying every day now
Totani is a popular voice actor known for his roles such as Denji, the protagonist of "Chainsaw Man," and he received the prestigious Best Leading Voice Actor award at the 20th Seiyu Awards. Further success is expected from him in the future.
"I want to properly engage with each and every role. I find joy and pleasure in acting, thinking about the roles, and living in the world of each work. I want to continue doing that, and I also want to keep challenging myself. I'm a newcomer now, but I want to be given more and more opportunities to encounter new roles, and I want to work hard to be able to perform them properly. Even on the set of 'Patlabor,' there were many things I learned that were outside of my repertoire. I'm learning every day. As I get older, I aspire to play a character like Goto from 'Patlabor.' I would be happy if I had such an opportunity, and I want to keep acquiring skills so that I can do that."
"Mobile Police Patlabor EZY" consists of three chapters and eight episodes in total. "File 1 (Chapter 1)" has been showing in theaters since May 15th. "File 2 (Chapter 2)" will be released in theaters on August 14th, and "File 3 (Chapter 3)" will be released in March 2027.
"Just like how I found 'Early Days' interesting when I first saw it, each episode of 'EZY' is different, and it has a structure unlike anything I've seen before. There are parts of 'Patlabor' that feel like they could actually happen, and I think viewers will enjoy that aspect as well. The members of the Second Division each have their own clumsy sides, so viewers will likely feel a sense of familiarity with them. Even people who haven't seen 'Patlabor' before will enjoy it, and those who have seen the previous works will enjoy it even more. It's a dense eight-episode series. I personally enjoyed it a lot, and if there are any further developments, I would love to continue acting in it."
"Patlabor" is a project that "never ends." "Mobile Police Patlabor EZY" connects generations and brings in a fresh perspective. It is likely to captivate a new generation and expand even further. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
