Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie review: A masterpiece of profound themes and detailed storytelling

"Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie" - Mamoru Oshii's masterpiece and its profound worldview

■Overview of the work

Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie is an anime film released on August 7, 1993, directed by Mamoru Oshii. The film is based on an original anime media, produced by IG Tatsunoko, and produced by Bandai Visual, Tohokushinsha, and ING. It was distributed by Shochiku, has an Eirin number of 113998, and has a total running time of 113 minutes. The story begins with a mysterious missile being dropped on Yokohama Bay Bridge in the winter of 2002, and depicts the conflict between the police and the Self-Defense Forces, as well as the exploits of the 2nd Platoon as they pursue terrorists.

■ Story

In the winter of 2002, a mysterious missile was dropped on Yokohama Bay Bridge. The news reported that it was a Self-Defense Force aircraft, but no such aircraft existed. This incident triggered a series of disturbing incidents, deepening the conflict between the police and the Self-Defense Forces. The government took the situation seriously and mobilized combat forces to maintain security. The Second Platoon's final sortie begins, pursuing the terrifying terrorists who have recreated the "war" in Tokyo.

■Cast

• Izumi Akira - Tominaga Mina
• Yuma Shinohara - Toshio Furukawa
• Kiichi Goto - Ryusuke Obayashi
• Shinobu Nagumo - Ryoko Sakakibara
• Isao Ota - Michihiro Ikenaga
• Shinji Mikiyasu - Futamata Kazunari
• Hiromi Yamazaki - Daisuke Gori
• Shigeo Shiba
• Seitaro Sakaki - Osamu Saka
• Detective Matsui - Tomomichi Nishimura
• Sakuma - Ryuji Nakagi
• Buchiyama - Fumihiko Tachiki
• Shigeki Arakawa - Naoto Takenaka
• Tsuge Yukito - Nezu Jinpachi

■ Main staff

• Planning and original work - Headgear
• Director: Mamoru Oshii
• Screenplay - Kazunori Ito
• Character design: Akemi Takada, Masami Yuuki
• Mechanical design: Yutaka Izubuchi, Shoji Kawamori, Hajime Katoki
• Directed by Toshihiko Nishikubo
• Illustrations - Kazuya Kise
• Photography - Akihiko Takahashi
• Art - Hiromasa Ogura
• Color design - Kumiko Yusa
• Layout - Takashi Watanabe, Satoshi Kon, Atsushi Takeuchi, Yoshio Mizumura, Shinji Arakawa
• Music: Kenji Kawai
• Recording - Naoko Asari
• Edited by Shuichi Kakesu (JSE)

■ Related works

• "Mobile Police Patlabor: The Movie"
• "Mini Patrol"
• "WXIII Mobile Police Patlabor"

■ Evaluation and analysis of the work

"Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie" is one of director Mamoru Oshii's masterpieces, and is highly praised for its profound themes and detailed depictions. Below, we will evaluate and analyze the film.

1. Theme and Message

The themes of this film are "war" and "terrorism." Set in Tokyo in 2002, director Mamoru Oshii portrays the concept of "war" in modern society through the conflict between the police and the Self-Defense Forces. In particular, the setting of terrorists reenacting a "war" reflects real social issues and gives the audience deep insight. It also depicts information manipulation and the role of the media, providing a multifaceted look at the complex issues of modern society.

2. Visuals and Production

Director Oshii Mamoru's visual beauty is fully displayed in this film. In particular, the scenes of Yokohama Bay Bridge and the Tokyo cityscape are impressive for their realistic depiction and beautiful colors. In terms of direction, the camera work with varying speed and the contrast between silence and explosions are effectively used, drawing the audience in. Furthermore, the Patlabor designs by mechanical designers Izubuchi Yutaka, Kawamori Shoji, and Katoki Hajime are both realistic and beautiful.

3. Music

Kenji Kawai's music further enhances the atmosphere of the film. In particular, the background music that heightens the sense of tension and the melodies that liven up the moving scenes stir the emotions of the audience. In addition, the music and images are highly synchronized, enhancing the sense of unity of the entire film.

4. Characters and Acting

The characters in this film are unique yet realistically portrayed. In particular, the performances of Tominaga Mina as Izumino Akari and Furukawa Toshio as Shinohara Yuuma express the characters' feelings deeply, evoking sympathy from the audience. In addition, the performances of Obayashi Ryusuke as Goto Kiichi and Sakakibara Yoshiko as Nagumo Shinobu also bring out the charm of the characters.

■Recommendations and viewing methods

"Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie" is a masterpiece by director Mamoru Oshii, and you can enjoy its profound themes and beautiful images. It is especially recommended for those who want an opportunity to think about war and terrorism, and for those who want to enjoy the visual beauty of anime. You can also gain a deeper understanding of the world of the work by watching the related works "Mobile Police Patlabor: The Movie," "Mini Pat," and "WXIII Mobile Police Patlabor."

You can watch it by purchasing the DVD or Blu-ray, or by streaming services. The Blu-ray version is especially recommended because you can enjoy the video in high quality. It also includes bonus footage and an interview with the director, so you can learn about the background of the work and the behind-the-scenes stories.

Conclusion

"Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie" is a work that brings together the talents of director Mamoru Oshii, and its profound themes and beautiful images leave a strong impression on the audience. We highly recommend this film to anyone looking for an opportunity to think about war and terrorism, or to those who want to enjoy the visual beauty of anime. You can also gain a deeper understanding of the world of the film by watching related works as well.