Well, Akira it's not.

Although much of anime owes its popularity to the surreal futurism of Akira, robots and cyborgs have pretty much become commonplace in the subject matter at large. Patlabor 1: the Movie falls squarely into this category. Although the unique style of features such Perfect Blue and Devil Man have added a refreshing "shot in the arm" to a genre that could be viewed as getting a little "tired", Patlabor 1, does little to add spice to the mix. This is the first installment of the Patlabor series, (Patlabor 2 due out soon), directed by Mamoru Oshii, director of Akira (1983) and Ghost in The Shell (1995). Chronologically, this is actually his follow-up to Akira, coming a good ten years before Ghost, and represents a valley between two peak efforts.

The storyline is straightforward robot anime. Giant robots, called Labors, proliferate, not only in Japan but worldwide, acting as tools for every form of heavy industry. These Labors are needed to build, and demolish large structures, and move heavy equipment. Their forms range from glorified exoskeletons to massive robots controlled by drivers in a cockpit. Their movements are controlled by computers that sense and mimic the actions of the driver. And, of course, the computers need an operating system to run the various servos and achieve the desired tasks.

The major plot centers around the sabotage of this new operating system -- "H.O.S." -- the connection to the death of its creator, its connection to the Type-Zero Police Labors, and the ensuing coverup by Shinohara Industries, makers of H.O.S. H.O.S's creator, Hoba, designs a self-replicating virus that causes the Labors to act autonomously, thus wreaking havoc over Tokyo. There is an interesting subplot involving the exiled son of the owner of Shinohara Industries who is used by the captain of the Labor police force to find the cause of the malfunctions, and the ensuing series of events that could destroy the entire city.

But the long and short of it is the story is rather dated and shallow. Comparing it to Akira is almost unfair except that the Oshii directed both films, as well as Ghost In The Shell. At times Patlabor 1's dialogue tends towards long-winded plot expositions and diatribes in which the character animation fails to match the emotion of the moment. The main plot -- despite the strong subplot -- is presented in a dry, uninteresting manner, failing to draw the viewer in at any point during the film. Considering what Oshii's done before and since, this is one that should be skipped.

Notes

Patlabor 1: The Movie is digitally remastered and features language choices of English, Japanese, or Japanese with English subtitles, scene index, Manga 2000 previews, Manga Video Fan Club information, and Manga Web Link. Available now.