Takeo Kumamimi and Kankanuka Clancy enjoy a dream performance in "Mobile Police Patlabor NEW OVA! Nostalgic Anime Retrospective No. 75

In the previous issue, we focused on the interesting storytelling of "Mobile Police PATLABOR ON TELEVISION. This time, we will focus on episode 9, "VS (Versus)," from the "Mobile Police PATLABOR NEW OVA" series released between 1990 and 1992, which also features the excellent storytelling of the voice actors.
The "NEW OVA" series is directly connected to the "ON TELEVISION" series, and the first four episodes of the 16-episode series are devoted to the confrontation with the mysterious Griffon Reaver. Since Takeo Kumagami plays an important role in the manga version of Griffon, Kumagami was replaced by Kanuka Clancy from the middle of "ON TELEVISION. The ninth episode of the "NEW OVA" series, "VS (Versus)," is an episode in which Kumamimi and Kanuka engage in a verbal battle at a banquet.
The main robot, Patlabor, does not appear at all, and the setting is a room at a Japanese inn where members of the 2nd Platoon, 2nd Special Vehicle Section stayed for a comfort trip. What will Kumamimi and Kanuka argue about?

The flow from argument by knowledge to a quick confrontation

Phase 1.
When Kumamimi gets out of the bath at the ryokan, she kindly puts away the underwear that Kanuka left behind. When Kumamimi tells her about it, Kanuka is indignant, claiming that it is an "invasion of privacy" and "none of her business.

[Phase 2
Back at the banquet table, Kumamimi attempts to pour sake into Kanuka's sake cup, but Kanuka says, "No, thank you. I don't like to drink or be drunk.
Kumamimi warns Ota against drinking too much sake, saying, "Don't overdo it," to which Kanuka interrupts, "You don't have to be in charge at a party like this," and they have a bit of an argument, "How can I be in charge by warning you against drinking too much? They argued a bit.
Ota tries to offer Kumamimi a drink, but Kanuka shouts out, "She doesn't want to drink, so don't make her drink! She shouts loudly, "You don't want to drink! Kumamimi, however, says, "I'll have it," and accepts the drink.

Phase 3.
Kankanuka asks Kumamimi about the "Tensho mission to Europe.
Kankanuka: "Don't tell me I have to explain to you what the Tensho mission is?"
Kumamimi "It was during the Tensho period, so in the latter half of the 16th century. The Jesuits sent a delegation of boys to Portugal and Italy on behalf of the Christian feudal lords of Kyushu, right?"
Kankanuka: "Can you tell me the names of those boys?"
Kumamimi: "Of course. (After drinking sake) I can.
Kumamimi, however, is the only one who cannot recall the name, and their argument turns into a full-blown work argument.

Phase 4.
Kumamimi sighs when she sees that Ota has fallen asleep after getting drunk, and says, "It's so sad. Are you the one who's okay?" Kumamimi, teased by Kankanuka, says, "Raw barley, raw rice, and raw eggs!　It goes so well with sake. It's too good to be true," she says, showing off her fluency in Japanese. From then on, a rapid-fire exchange of words ensued.
Kankan-hana: "The guest next door is a frequent kaki-eater.
Kumamimi: "Kyo no nama cod, nara nama mana bonito.
Kankan-hana: "Jazz singer, chanson singer.
Kumamimi: "Tokyo Patent License Office
Kankan-hana: "Frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs, three frogs
Kumamimi: "Armor harness harness harness harness harness three armor harness harness, together with armor harness harness six armor harness harness
Kankanbana "red pajamas, yellow pajamas, brown pajamas"
Kumamimi, "red scroll paper, blue scroll paper, yellow scroll paper"
Kankanka "......, you'll do it."
Kumamimi, "You do it."

[Phase 5
Drunk Kumamimi throws Ota out of the window of the ryokan. When she returns, she also throws Ota out of the window, and is satisfied that they are even.

The final scene is a slapstick affair, but the highlight is the fast-talking battle in [Phase 4]. Both Inoue Yao as Kanuka and Yokozawa Keiko as Kumamimi (at the time) were mid-career voice actors in their late 30s and 40s who boasted steady popularity and ability. The fast-talking competition between the two female voice actresses in a quarrelsome manner is full of power and shows the leeway of the two female voice actresses.
Although it could be said that the characters of Kanuka and Kumamimi are similar in the sense that they are "headstrong, proud, and capable women who can get the job done," listening to Inoue and Yokozawa's expressive verbal battle in episode 9, "VS (Versus)," one can appreciate the luxury and opulence of having two voice actresses competing with each other.

The Fate of a Crab, Tossed Behind the Argument

Now, in this episode, Kanika and Kumamimi are sitting side by side, not facing each other. The majority of the composition is a bust shot of the two sitting side by side. The reason why such a calm composition can liven up an exciting debate is because of the casual insert cuts that create a flow.
First, right after the first clash between the two in "Phase 1," there is an insert shot of a crab rising on the seashore near the inn.
Then, in "Phase 2," after Kanuka refuses Kumamimi's offer of a drink, the other members are discussing how to follow up on the difficult relationship between the two, when the crab that has just come ashore is inserted. In the same [phase 2], just after Kumamimi is served sake by Ota and smiles and says, "It's so delicious, I can't stand it," a large wave crashes against a rock and the crab is snatched up by the wave.
Then, in "Phase 3," when Kumamimi says firmly, "I can tell you the names of the boys in the Tensho mission," the crab falls with the bubbles into the abyss of the ocean floor.

In other words, while capturing the two in a stable composition, the insert of the crab's fate as it is pulled back to the seafloor by a large wave after having made it to land suggests that the situation is heading in an unsettling direction. In particular, the calm voice of the bear's ear saying, "It's a problem because it tastes so good, isn't it? is particularly effective from both a visual and an acoustic point of view.
The restrained direction of the film supports the brilliant performances of the voice actors. In "Mobile Police Patlabor: New OVA," you can also enjoy the voice actors' performances in episode 12, "Futari no Karuizawa" (Two Karuizawa).


(Text by Keisuke Hirota)