Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor: EZY is expanding its new-generation police robot lineup with two more cast members and a first look at its third theatrical chapter. The official website has introduced Kaori Mitarai and Takuya Niino, voiced by Kaori Nazuka and Taku Yashiro, alongside a new File 3 key visual and teaser trailer.
The announcement arrives just days before File 2 is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on August 14, 2026. The third installment, titled “Toy Country” in the official episode information, is planned as a two-part story and will premiere on March 5, 2027.
New faces join Patlabor’s First Unit
Kaori Nazuka, known for roles including Chelsea in Akame ga Kill!, will voice Kaoru Mitarai. The character is assigned to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Vehicle Section’s First Unit and serves as the pilot of the Sentinel No. 1 Labor.
Kaoru is described as serious, strongly justice-minded, and highly skilled behind the controls. Her confidence can also push her ahead of the rest of the team during missions, prompting frequent warnings from her partner, Takuya Niino.
Takuya will be played by Taku Yashiro, whose recent credits include Sakamoto Days. As the Sentinel No. 1’s command officer, he provides the calm direction that balances Kaoru’s more impulsive approach. Although he generally carries himself in a relaxed, easygoing manner, the official character profile emphasizes his precise judgment and trust in Kaoru’s piloting ability.
Their introduction adds another layer to the new Special Vehicle Section, which is led by a younger generation of officers than the teams seen in earlier Patlabor anime. For longtime fans, the return of multiple Labor units suggests that EZY is building out the broader police organization rather than focusing solely on its central Second Unit.
File 3 is set for March 2027
The official File 3 visual and teaser arrive as the project continues its unusual theatrical rollout. Patlabor: EZY is being presented across three movie chapters, with the first installment having opened on May 15, 2026, followed by File 2 on August 14 and File 3 on March 5, 2027.
According to the project’s official episode listings, File 3 will adapt “Toy Country,” a story split into two parts. The currently revealed premise begins with strange incidents around a mystery circle in Setagaya and signal failures in Shibuya. The Second Unit eventually realizes that the events may be connected to a larger warning, leading to a mysterious countdown appearing on electronic billboards throughout the Tokyo metropolitan area.
That setup places the latest chapter firmly in the franchise’s familiar territory: everyday infrastructure, public technology, and bureaucratic police work colliding with increasingly strange Labor-related incidents. The teaser offers a brief preview of the new chapter without revealing the full shape of the mystery, making the March release one to keep an eye on.
A new Patlabor for an automated future
Patlabor: EZY moves the setting into 2030s Japan, where labor shortages and AI-driven automation have changed the role of humanoid working machines. Once considered cutting-edge technology, Labors have become part of the social infrastructure, while piloted standalone models are increasingly viewed as outdated.
That does not make the work of the Metropolitan Police’s Special Vehicle Section obsolete. The Second Unit continues to protect people and the city using upgraded versions of the classic AV-98 Ingram, now known as the AV-98Plus Ingram. The updated machines feature improved tuning and control software, along with augmented-reality head-up displays in their pilot helmets.
The production team brings together several major figures from the original franchise. Yutaka Izubuchi is directing the anime at J.C.STAFF, with Kazunori Itou handling the series composition and script. Takamitsu Satou is designing the characters, while Kenji Kawai is composing the music.
Created by HEADGEAR—Mamoru Oshii, Kazunori Itou, Yutaka Izubuchi, Akemi Takada, and Masami Yuuki—Patlabor began as a mixed-media project in 1988, launching with manga and original video anime. The franchise later expanded into television anime, additional OVA releases, and three theatrical films, including WXIII Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor in 2002. Studio Khara also produced the short film Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor: Reboot in 2016.
With File 2 arriving on August 14 and the File 3 teaser now available, the next major update will likely center on the “Toy Country” storyline and the role of the newly announced First Unit duo. Fans can also expect the official site to reveal more details about the chapter as its March 2027 theatrical opening approaches.
Sources
ezy.patlabor.tokyo
natalie.mu
