Get ready, Patlabor fans! The iconic anime and manga series, originally created by the five-member collective HEADGEAR, is making a massive comeback. Not only is a new anime, "Mobile Police Patlabor EZY," set to hit Japanese theaters in three chapters (eight episodes total), with File 1 premiering on May 15, 2026, but there's even more exciting news for manga enthusiasts!
Masami Yuuki, the original artist behind the "Mobile Police Patlabor" manga, is dropping a brand-new one-shot! This fresh story is slated to appear in Shogakukan's "Weekly Spirits" magazine, hitting shelves on May 18. What makes this extra special? It's the first new manga content in a whopping 32 years!
That's right, since the manga concluded its run in 1994, fans have been waiting over three decades for new material. The official website's next issue preview teased the announcement with an intriguing message:
"When the series was serialized (1988-1994), the story was set in a near-future Tokyo (1998-2002). Now, we've crossed that 'near-future' era, and reality has finally caught up to the 'year 2026' within the story. So, what are 'they' up to now?" The tagline "32 years since then, finally 're-activated' once more" officially unveiled the new project.
The new one-shot is officially titled "Mobile Police Patlabor 2026" and will even come with a special manga panel sticker as a bonus!
For many, the manga version holds a special place in their hearts, so this unexpected short story is sure to be a huge surprise for long-time fans. With the new "Mobile Police Patlabor EZY" anime also hitting theaters, who knows what other surprises the creators might have in store for us?