Patlabor, or Mobile Police Patlabor, is an unusual mecha anime with a more grounded and realistic view on the theme of giant robots. After the release of Patlabor EZY, interest in the franchise has grown again, so Crunchyroll has compiled a handy guide for those who want to start watching.

The series has two separate continuities: Movie Continuity and TV Continuity. If you are primarily interested in Patlabor EZY, you should watch the works from TV Continuity, as the new title continues this line. At the same time, Movie Continuity is also recommended not to be ignored — it is darker, more serious, and has its own mood.

This includes Patlabor: The Early Days, Patlabor: The Movie, Patlabor 2: The Movie, and WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3. Also in this branch are The Next Generation: Patlabor and the film The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War, which serve as a continuation and reimagining of familiar ideas from the franchise.

Patlabor: The Early Days is a seven-episode OVA that introduces the main characters and sets the format for stories about the work of Division 2. Next is Patlabor: The Movie, followed by Patlabor 2: The Movie, which shifts more towards a darker, philosophical tone. WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 is positioned between the second and third films and tells the story of new police officers investigating a series of disasters.

The TV branch begins with Patlabor: The TV Series, where the story is presented in a more expanded format and with a greater emphasis on mecha battles. Next is Patlabor: The New Files — a 16-episode continuation, part of which concludes an important arc from the television series, while the rest consists of standalone stories.

This is where you should watch Patlabor EZY. According to the description, the series will show how in the 2030s, against the backdrop of increasing automation and robotization, Division 2 and the updated AV-98Plus Ingram once again face technological crimes. The first six episodes are divided into File 1 and File 2 and are presented as an anthology, while the seventh and eighth episodes from File 3 will tell a cohesive story.