Can you see the "beautiful flower garden"? Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie 4DX" Experience Report & Interview with Akemi Takada (Character Designer)

The legendary science fiction anime "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie" is now in theaters as "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie 4DX.

The "Mobile Police Patlabor" series began as an OVA (initial OVA) series in 1988. Since then, the series has expanded into a comic series (Weekly Shōnen Sunday), TV series, theater productions, and OVA (new OVA), and continues to be a hit series that continues to excite fans with its innovative promotions.

The "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie," now in 4DX, is the second theatrical film in the series, which was released in 1993 after the broadcast of the TV series and the release of the new OVA. 28 years after its initial release in 1993, the previous film "Mobile Police Patlabor the Movie 4DX," which drew 40,000 viewers in the summer of 2020, is now being shown in 4DX. The film will be shown in a 4DX theater following the previous "Mobile Police Patlabor the Movie 4DX," which drew about 40,000 viewers in the summer of 2020.

The author has also experienced "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie 4DX," and it is already the best! In the flashy scenes unique to this movie, such as a missile crashing into the Yokohama Bay Bridge, Arakawa's car speeding along the Metropolitan Expressway, and a combat helicopter flying over the Tokyo metropolitan area, the seats shake violently from side to side and up and down, while snow actually falls from the ceiling during a snowy scene, giving the audience an outstanding sense of realism. The snow actually falls from the ceiling during the scenes where snow is falling.

Personally, I was very excited to be able to simulate the scene at the end of the film where the Special Vehicle Section 2 is hit by the Gatling gun of a combat helicopter and the battle in the underground tunnel at the end. In the former scene, I thought to myself, "How did Shige-san survive unscathed under such heavy fire?" In the latter scene, I was really reminded of a "very beautiful flower garden.

At the same time, the drama and dialogues that were so realistic in the chaotic era of the 2025s made me think a lot. In many ways, this is a "movie to watch now.

Some movie theaters are going to stop showing "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie 4DX," and this weekend will be the last chance to see it in some areas. If you have not experienced this movie yet, please visit the movie theaters!

We also asked Akemi Takada, the character designer who saw "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie 4DX," to share her impressions of the 4DX version and her thoughts on the film "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie.

─ What are your impressions of "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie 4DX"?

Takada: Even in quiet scenes, there were parts where the movie was swaying and shaking, which I thought was a good effect to stir up anxiety, and I thought it made sense to use 4DX.

─ ─ Personally, I had the impression that the movie had many quiet scenes, but when I saw it again in 4DX, there were many violent scenes, and I felt that it was a very entertaining movie.

Takada: That's right. So I think you can watch it without getting bored. In that sense, while "1" was a movie that had a good balance between completely off-screen scenes and flashy scenes, I thought "2" was structured in such a way that you could feel the good points of 4DX.

I thought it was good that the first scene was the grabber scene, and I felt uneasy! There are also scenes that appeal to the heart, such as scenes that make you feel uneasy and scenes that make you feel fear. I like the use of 4DX in both of these scenes. I think you will have a new impression of these scenes if you see the movie in 4DX.

And since the movie is set in February, the timing was perfect; I'm sure many people wanted to see it on February 26th.

─ ─ By the way, during our chat before this interview, you mentioned that you had a "lead-drinking feeling" about this film, and I'm very curious about that. ...... If you don't mind, could you tell me what you mean by that?

Takada: I really do have that feeling. In the last scene, Tsuge looks happy and Shinobu looks like a sinner. That is partly because Shinobu has had her old wounds gouged out, but I think Tsuge's good mood was also a sense of superiority, as if to say, "This woman is still in love with me. When I think of that, it makes me even angrier (laughs). Every time I see that scene, I think, "What a disgusting man! I think, "What a jerk!

That is why I drew Shinobu and Goto as a set in the cover illustration of the renewed pamphlet, as if Shinobu is not a poor woman. I heard that some female fans had a very hard time with "2," and some of them commented on Twitter that they were saved by my illustration.

(Looking at the illustration) I wanted Shinobu's expression to show that she has put the past behind her. I knew I had the same painful feelings that everyone else felt, so I wanted to clear them away. (As if remembering.) He really is a nasty guy! (laughs)

As Ms. Sakakibara (Yoshiko Sakakibara who played Shinobu Nagumo) said, it must have been very painful for you to play the role. I think it must have been very hard for the actors as well, after doing "Futari no Karuizawa" ("Mobile Police Patlabor: New OVA" episode 12) and all.

Hmmm... ...... I think this was probably Mamoru Oshii's wish. As for who is the character who is most emotionally involved, it is neither Arakawa nor Goto, nor Shinobu because he says he doesn't understand women. Or maybe he felt "I won't give (Shinobu) to Goto. Like a director who makes an actress his personal property (laughs).

─ ─ Hahahaha (laugh). It seems to me that Pato 2 is a movie about people who are at the mercy of Director Oshii.

Takada: That aspect may be true. In commemoration of the release of the 4DX version of "Patlabor 2," I am planning to hold a talk event with Mr. Sakakibara and Mr. Ito (Kazunori Ito, scriptwriter of the "Patlabor" series) on March 19, where we will talk about "I hate it after all! I'm thinking of having a talk like that. If things get too heated, I am sure Mr. Ito will hold it down?

─ ─ I am really looking forward to that talk event (laughs). Thank you very much!

[Event information

Commemorating the release of "Mobile Police Patlabor 2 the Movie 4DX" Paid online talk show
Scheduled date and time: March 19, 2021 (Fri.) 20:00~.

Scheduled performers (* titles omitted):

　Kazunori Ito (Screenwriter: who saw hell for getting away so quickly in the TV series)

　Akemi Takada (Character Designer: who fainted when she saw different pictures from the character list in each movie version)

　Yoshiko Sakakibara (voice actress: who was suddenly confronted with the black history of a character she had nurtured)

Ticket prices:

　Patlabor official fan site members 1,500 yen

　General public 3,000 yen

　*Includes "Shinobu Nagumo goods" exclusive to the talk event

Ticket on sale:

　February 11, 2021 20:00 - March 31, 2021 22:00

　Patlabor official fan site members: #

　General public: #