Differences

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--- lb:patlabor [2025-09-03 14:08:24] – [On Television (1989-1990)] ninjasr
+++ lb:patlabor [2025-09-19 18:39:33] (current) – ↷ Links adapted because of a move operation 20.171.207.44
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 Ever since I read the manga, Patlabor proudly stands as one of my personal favorites.
 <WRAP centeralign>
+[[lb:patlabor:gotou]] • [[lb:patlabor:kanuka]] • [[lb:patlabor:kumagami]]\\
 [[lb:patlabor:vocal]]
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   * The building the SV2 is located in is claimed to be a former factory. The company that initially used it went bankrupt, and the building was sold to the police for the SV2. This is only mentioned in the manga and no other continuity. However, no other continuity mentions anything about the building. Because no other continuities contradict this information, it can be assumed to be canon in all continuities.
 The result of this approach is that what I write about characters/worldbuilding will be different from what fan wikis online write, since they have a (dare I say, inferior?) approach to canon.\\
-For more about this, I recommend reading [[playground:canon|this article]]. If it exists.
+For more about this, I recommend reading [[playground:story:canon|this article]]. If it exists.
 ==== Terminology ====
 This explains a number of terms that are unique to the Patlabor series.
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 The series is mostly episodic, but does have a major arc in the form of the aforementioned Griffon arc. There is a break in the middle of the arc, where they go back to individual episodes. The arc is left unfinished though, which is annoying...but it is continued in the New OVA, so fear not!\\
 Note that it is in a separate continuity from the film continuity, so Division 2 is assembled differently. Notably: Shinohara, Ota, Shinshi and Yamazaki already work for the SV2. Izumi joins in episode 1 and Kanuka joins in episode 2. About halfway through the series Kanuka is replaced with Kumagami((:fn:>More specifically, Kanuka leaves in Episode 24 and Kumagami appears in Episode 26.)). Although Shinshi briefly (a single episode) takes Kanuka's position as Ota's backup. The reason for this eludes me, since they (presumably) knew that Kumagami would be appearing, it's a bit strange to dedicate an entire episode to Shinshi acclimating to his new role...when, just an episode later, he'll be going back to his original role.\\
+{{ :img:zone.png?160|In the Zone.}}
 Of (random) things I noticed:
   * I took note of, and was impressed by, the amount of movement in Episode 20 for whatever reason.
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 Division 1 has different labors depending on the medium. This is probably because they're more of a background element in general - they feature most prominently in the TV anime, but are otherwise barely present...if at all.\\
 In the manga, they have AV-95 ‘Gorilla’s. In the TV anime they use MPL-97S ‘Python’s.
-=== Division 2 - Captain Gotō ===
+=== Division 2 ===
-Gotō is a perfect representation of the overall tone of Patlabor. He's generally laid-back, plays the occasional prank, but he gets serious when he knows he has to.\\
+<WRAP centeralign>
-He's known to be cunning, despite his generally lazy attitude.
+[[lb:patlabor:gotou]] • [[lb:patlabor:kanuka]] • [[lb:patlabor:kumagami]]
-=== Division 2 - Sergeant Kumagami Takeo ===
+</WRAP>
-Kumagami is at times sarcastic, as is evident from the ‘reports’ she writes in a few of the episodes. This is different from Kanuka's report, which is more matter-of-fact or angry in tone.\\
-There is some ambiguity regarding her relationship with Utsumi((:fn:>Who is, spoiler, the main villain of the manga and, to a certain extent, the TV anime.)). I wouldn't be able to say anything definitively regarding it but, honestly, she probably wouldn't be able to either. That said, something was made somewhat clear...although she's a bit confused about her feelings, she definitely doesn't like him. One piece of indirect evidence in favor of this is what she said to Izumi: ‘I haven't found the right man.’((:fn:>Not an exact quote, but she states this in the manga. I'll find what chapter/volume specifically later.))\\
-This at least indicates that she doesn't think of Utsumi as being the right man. I'm probably just pointing out the obvious here.\\
-Another point of interest regarding her: she starts as Unit 2's backup (in the manga), but eventually replaces Shinohara as Unit 1's. This is particularly odd as they never switch back...even after the manga ends, it's implied (partially) that she remains Unit 1's backup. I find this odd and interesting because I've never seen a change like this remain permanent in anime/manga. Even in the Patlabor TV anime, Shinshi is Ota's backup for a single episode.
-=== Kanuka Clancy ===
-I read somewhere - I'll have to find it again, damn - that one of the creators felt that Kanuka was ‘too perfect’ as a character. At the time, I had only seen the original OVA...but I did agree with this. Now that I've gone through a majority of the franchise, I've come to agree with this even more.\\
-I'll note that there isn't anything really wrong with having a character with few flaws, it's just hard to make it interesting. Kanuka seems to be an example of such a poorly-handled character.\\
-The manga comes in as the superior version again, presenting her in the best possible way. There she's presented as a cool character from abroad. Kanuka's minimal presence in the manga also helps.
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-I realized recently that I did not really elaborate on what I meant by her being poorly-handled. Depending on my mood, I may or may not do that soon.
 ==== Shinohara Heavy Industries ====
 A newcomer to the labor production field, but one that has managed to dominate a chunk of the marketplace. Particularly notable for exclusively supplying the police with labors((:fn:>As far as I know. While other companies have attempted to supply labors to the police, only Shinohara has gotten the contracts. Although the TV continuity has a different company providing labors for Division 1, they're eventually replaced by Shinohara.)). They also supply labors to civilians and the military, although other companies obviously fill-in as well.