Patlabor EZY File 3 Opens March 5, 2027 With New Cast and Mech
The announcement confirms the anime's final two episodes will conclude the series in theaters, with the new Sentinel mech and its pilot-commander duo introduced as the last major additions to the cast.
Key Facts
- Patlabor EZY File 3 opens in Japanese theaters on March 5, 2027.
- Kaori Nazuka voices Kaoru Mitarai and Taku Yashiro voices Takuya Niiro in File 3.
- The new AV-17 Sentinel mech has been in service with the First Special Vehicles Division since 2017.
- The Blu-ray Disc for File 3 ships on March 12.
- File 3 contains the seventh and eighth episodes of the eight-episode anime, telling a two-part story.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, Magmix.
The Patlabor EZY anime project announced on August 10, 2026, that its third compilation film, "File 3," will open in Japanese theaters on March 5, 2027. The announcement came with a teaser trailer, a new visual, and details on two new cast members and a new mecha. Kaori Nazuka voices Kaoru Mitarai, the pilot of the new AV-17 Sentinel unit, and Taku Yashiro voices Takuya Niiro, the unit's commander. The AV-17 Sentinel has been in service with the First Special Vehicles Division since 2017 and features rear entry for pilot boarding, high mobility, and a riot shield compatible with the Ingram. The Blu-ray Disc for "File 3" will ship on March 12. The film contains the seventh and eighth episodes of the eight-episode anime, telling a two-part story. "File 1" opened on May 15, and "File 2" opens on August 14. The story is set in the 2030s, where AI-driven autonomous robots are replacing piloted Labors, and SV-2 continues its crime-prevention duties with upgraded AV-98Plus Ingram units. Yutaka Izubuchi directs at J.C. Staff, with Kazunori Ito writing the script.
- Kaoru Mitarai is a serious, justice-driven pilot whose confidence in her own skill makes her rush ahead on missions, drawing frequent warnings from Niiro.
- Takuya Niiro keeps a laid-back manner, but his calm commands are built on trust in Mitarai's piloting, and the pair's dynamic is the focus of the new visual.
- The AV-17 Sentinel's rear-entry boarding is a design choice to preserve its front armor, and it shares the riot shield as common equipment with the Ingram.
- Movie tickets for File 3 go on sale August 14, priced at 1700 yen, with a clear file featuring the key visual as a limited bonus; the card design shows the two new characters with the Sentinel behind them.
- File 3's story follows the "Araragi Project," a successor to the Babylon Project that shifts from Tokyo Bay to underground infrastructure work, where compact AI-driven robots outperform piloted Labors.
- The plot sees the project, named for peace, spawn new chaos as incidents spread from underground into digital space, with both SV-2 squads cooperating to respond.
- Good Smile Company's commercial also revealed that the Patlabor the Case Files 3D action game launches September 17 for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam.
- Shigeru Chiba reprises Shigeo Shiba, a role he has played since the original anime debuted nearly 40 years ago.
- Mori Calliope performs the opening theme "Reimei Compass," and Mariko Nagai sings the ending theme "Baton."
- The AV-98Plus Ingram is a refit of the original frame, which officers sometimes call an "old piece of junk"; its pilot helmet adds augmented reality projection to the cockpit's heads-up display.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.