THE NEXT GENERATION: PATLABOR - TOKYO WAR Gets A Director's Cut And A New Trailer!

Fanfare remains ongoing for the long standing Patlabor franchise in its currently-rebooted iteration, The Next Generation: Patlabor. A seven part episodic series of twelve 48-minute shows leading up to its feature film back in May did the trick in revitalizing Headgear's popular manga/anime franchise as per the brainchild of acclaimed co-creator Oshii Mamoru spearheading the project along with a handful of directors, and it's been no easy feat.

The post-production process ultimately took its toll and the film proceeding the series, The Next Generation: Patlabor - Tokyo War, written and directed by Oshii, ultimately led to the decision of leaving room for two versions. As such, following an announcement a week after its theatrical release back in May, the latest trailer for the film's "Director's Cut" version is now up and running with 27 minutes of new footage to add more to the intense drama and resolve surrounding our newfound story of the underdogs at the Section 2 patrol division of the Metro Police.

SYNOPSIS:

At the end of the 20th century, there was a rise in crime due to the illegal use of Labors, humanoid robots specifically designed for heavy industrial work. To combat these new Labor crimes, the Metropolitan Police Department created the Special Vehicle Section 2 Patrol Labor unit.  

But by the early 21st century, the decline in Labor crimes has many thinking the so-called “Patlabor” program is no longer necessary and should be discontinued due to its high cost and maintenance. As Special Vehicle Section 2 faces demobilization, a state-of-the-art combat helicopter is stolen from the Self-Defense Forces by terrorists who now threatens Tokyo and the city’s 10 million inhabitants!  

Lurking 500 meters above the city and fully armed with cannons, air-to-surface rockets, missiles and the latest thermo-optical camouflage, the “Invisible Helicopter” Gray Ghost launches an attack on the Rainbow Bridge. Special Vehicle Section 2 becomes the police’s last line of defense, but will they be able to stop the violence or discover the true goal of the terrorists?  

The battle between the old-fashioned police Robos and the most advanced combat helicopter begins!

Actress Mano Erina returns along with Fukushi Seiji, Oota Rina, Chiba Shigeru and Kakei Toshio. Watch the new trailer below ahead of the film's October 10 release!

H/T: ANN