The first chapter of the eight-episode Patlabor EZY series, File 1, opened in Japanese theaters on May 15, 2026, and its Blu-ray releases on May 22, 2026. File 2 is scheduled for August 14, 2026, and File 3 for March 2027.
Patlabor EZY, the first new Patlabor animation from the original HEADGEAR team in roughly a decade, began its theatrical rollout in Japan on May 15, 2026. The project consists of eight episodes split into three theatrical films. File 1, which contains the first two episodes in an omnibus format, opened on May 15. File 2 follows on August 14 with episodes four through six, and File 3 arrives in March 2027 with the final two episodes as a two-part story. Episodes 1 through 6 are standalone anthology entries, while episodes 7 and 8 form a continuous story.
The series is set in the 2030s, where Labors have become commonplace and are increasingly replaced by autonomous robots. The Special Vehicles Division 2 still uses a tuned-up version of the SV-98 Ingram. Yutaka Izubuchi directs at J.C. Staff, with Kazunori Ito writing the script and Kenji Kawai returning as composer. The cast includes Sumire Uesaka as Towa Kuga, Kikunosuke Toya as Kippei Atori, Ami Koshimizu as Saki Hirata, Chikahiro Kobayashi as Akihiko Hazama, Setsuji Sato as Yuta Yanai, Yume Matsumura as Hachikuma Yuzuki, and Megumi Hayashibara as Kimika Saeki. Shigeru Chiba reprises his role as Shigeo Shiba. The opening theme is performed by Mori Calliope, and the ending theme by Mariko Nagai.
The project has brought back fan-favorite character Isao Ota, voiced by Chikao Ohtsuka, who made a surprise appearance at a stage greeting on May 16. Director Izubuchi explained he wanted to bring the character out "in a delicious way." A new one-shot manga by original creator Masami Yuki, titled "Patlabor 2026," was published in Weekly Spirits on May 18, marking the first new manga in the franchise in 32 years. The project has also received recommendation comments from 14 figures including Hideaki Anno, Sumito Owara, and Kenji Kawai. The Blu-ray for File 1 launches on May 22, 2026, exclusively through A-on STORE and Premium Bandai, including the ending theme CD by Mariko Nagai, video extras, and a double-sided jacket with art by Masami Yuuki and Akemi Takada.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
The Patlabor EZY 'File 1' film opened at #8 in the Japanese box office, while the live-action Shōjiki Fudōsan film debuted at #4. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie returned to #1 in its fourth weekend, and Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi held at #3 in its sixth weekend.
Bandai Namco Filmworks releases the Blu-ray for the first chapter of the new Patlabor series on May 22, 2026, exclusively through A-on STORE and Premium Bandai. The limited-quantity disc includes the ending theme CD by Mariko Nagai, video extras, and a double-sided jacket with art by Masami Yuuki and Akemi Takada.
Bandai Namco Filmworks released a new video for the Patlabor EZY anime project on Thursday, introducing the main characters of the Special Vehicles Division 2. The project consists of eight episodes released as three theatrical films. The first film, File 1, debuted on May 15, 2026, and contains the first two episodes in an omnibus format. File 2 follows on August 14, 2026, with episodes four through six, and File 3 arrives in March 2027 with the final two episodes as a two-part story. The story is set in the 2030s, where Labors have become commonplace and are increasingly replaced by autonomous robots. SV2 still uses a tuned-up version of the SV-98 Ingram. The cast includes Sumire Uesaka as Towa Kuga, Kikunosuke Toya as Kippei Atori, Ami Koshimizu as Saki Hirata, Chikahiro Kobayashi as Akihiko Hazama, Setsuji Sato as Yuta Yanai, Yume Matsumura as Hachikuma Yuzuki, and Megumi Hayashibara as Kimika Saeki. Shigeru Chiba reprises his role as Shigeo Shiba. Yutaka Izubuchi directs at J.C. Staff, with Kazunori Ito writing the script. Mori Calliope performs the opening theme, and Mariko Nagai performs the ending theme.
The new anime project "Mobile Police Patlabor EZY" has brought back the popular character Isao Ota, voiced by Chikao Ohtsuka, who made a surprise appearance at a stage greeting in Tokyo on May 16. Director Yutaka Izubuchi explained the decision, saying he wanted to bring the character out "in a delicious way." Ota is a veteran member of the former Special Vehicles Section 2 from the original OVA series. The stage greeting also featured cast members Sumire Uesaka, Kikunosuke Toya, and Chikahiro Kobayashi. Separately, a new one-shot manga by original creator Masami Yuki, titled "Patlabor 2026," was published in Weekly Spirits on May 18, marking the first new manga in the franchise in 32 years. The anime project consists of eight episodes split into three theatrical chapters. "File 1" opened on May 15, "File 2" is scheduled for August 14, and "File 3" for March 2027. The project has also received recommendation comments from 14 figures including Hideaki Anno, Sumito Owara, and Kenji Kawai.
At the opening day stage greeting for "Patlabor EZY" File 1 in Tokyo on May 15, director Yutaka Izubuchi, writer Kazunori Ito, character designer Masami Yuuki, and singer Mariko Nagai discussed the new series' origins, character choices, and the return of the franchise after years of development.
The long-delayed Patlabor sequel, Patlabor EZY, begins its theatrical rollout in Japan on Friday, May 15. First announced in 2017, the project went quiet for years before resurfacing with a multi-part release plan. The series consists of eight episodes split into three chapters. File 1 hits theaters this week, File 2 follows on August 14, and File 3 arrives in March 2027. Episodes 1 through 6 are standalone anthology entries, while episodes 7 and 8 form a continuous story. The sequel is set a few decades after the original Patlabor and follows a new cast of characters in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Special Vehicle Unit Section 2 Division 2. They pilot an upgraded version of the classic Ingram mecha, the AV98Plus Ingram Plus, and deal with problems caused by AI and autonomous robots. Yutaka Izubuchi, who directed Rahxephon and worked as mechanical designer on the original Patlabor, directs the series at J.C.Staff. Writer Kazunori Ito and composer Kenji Kawai return from the original staff. The opening theme is performed by VTuber Mori Calliope. A life-sized Ingram mecha was spotted on a truck in Tokyo ahead of the premiere.