The official website for Patlabor EZY announced today that the eight-episode new anime series will release in Japanese theaters with three chapters. "File 1" will release on May 15, 2026, "File 2" on August 14, 2026, and "File 3" in March 2027. Episodes 1 through 6, presented in "File 1" and "File 2," are standalone episodes in an anthology format. Episodes 7 and 8 in "File 3" will tell a continuous story. Patlabor EZY Teaser Trailer The site also posted a key visual featuring the old and new protagonists from the series—Noa Izumi from the original Mobile Police Patlabor and Towa Kuga from the upcoming Patlabor EZY . Patlabor series key visual The two lead voice actors have also been announced: Sumire Uesaka (Hayase Nagatoro in DON'T TOY WITH ME, MISS NAGATORO ) will voice Towa Kuga, pilot of Ingram 1, while Kikunosuke Toya (Denji in Chainsaw Man ) will voice Kippei Atori, commander of Ingram 1. Towa Kuga character visual Kippei Atori character visual RELATED: Patlabor EZY Anime Announced for 2026 Release As a new project from the Mobile Police Patlabor anime franchise, the production of Patlabor EZY was announced at Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2017. A pilot film was screened at an event in 2022, and in September 2024, it was announced that the project would commence in 2026. Based on original work by HEADGEAR, Yutaka Izubuchi directs Patlabor EZY at animation studio J.C. Staff. Kazunori Ito provides the scripts and series composition, Takamitsu Sato provides the character designs and chief animation direction, Yasutomo Moriizumi provides the CG direction, and Kenji Kawai provides the music. GAZEN produces the CG, while GENCO oversees general production. The synopsis reads (translated): In the late 1990s, alongside rapid technological advancement, the versatile humanoid work machines known as "Labor" advanced into every field. However, this also gave rise to a new social threat: Labor crimes. To counter the escalating Labor crimes, the Metropolitan Police Department established the Special Vehicle Section 2 within its Security Department. This marked the birth of the Special Vehicles Division 2 Patrol Labor Unit, commonly known as "Patlabor." And so, time passed… By the 2030s, Japan's workforce was in steady decline, with automation driven by AI technology advancing rapidly. "Labor," which was the once cutting-edge technology, had become firmly established as part of the social infrastructure. Standalone, piloted Labors were increasingly being replaced by autonomous robots, becoming obsolete. But no matter how times change, the work of Special Vehicle Section 2 remains the same: protecting people and the city. Division 2, alongside the AV-98Plus Ingram—a tuned-up version of the outdated Type AV 98 Ingram—faces new technological crimes with wisdom and courage. Source: Patlabor EZY official website / X (formerly Twitter)
