I love this Anime because for once there are robots which aren't made
from indestructable gundanium but are rather realistic. Just machines
which operate rather like a crane, with pedals and levers. It is a far
more plusable future than say gundam. In this anime the police have
robots to combat the missuse of other robots whether they be used for
construction or whatever. These 8-9 metre tall machines are refered
to as labors hence the term Patlabor which is the culmination of the
words 'Patrol' and 'Labor'.
Noa Izumi: She loves labors and pilots Ingram unit
1, which she has names her labor alphonse. She is righteous and believes
in always doing the right thing.
Azuma Shinohara: The son of the founder of Shinihara
industries and the heir to his fathers company. He joined the Special
Vehicles Division to escape his overbearing father.
Kiichi Goto: He's the leader of the special vehicles
division. Under the dull and ordinary looking exterior lurks a cunning
and intellegent mind.
Shinobu Nagumo: The commander of the Special Vehicles
Division 1, a woman who always chooses to do the right thing and obey
orders. She's not as wild and unpredictable as Goto and prefers things
done by the book.
Isao Ota: He's the loose cannon in the special vehicles
Division. Wild and over enthusiasm usually lead him into trouble to
the embarrassment of the team. He pilots Ingram unit 2, which has had
the head customised to his specifications.
AV-98 Ingram: The labor piloted by Noa Azumi who takes
to naming this 8-foot machine Alponse. The name Alphonse which has been
the prefered name for, well I'm pretty sure, for most of her pets.
AV-XO Type Zero: This test labor appears in the Patlabor
motion picture where it has a showdown with Noa Azumi's Ingram Alphonse.
JS-9 Griffon: The clue is in the name. A black gothic
like Labor made by Shaft Enterprises. A labor production company much
like Shinohara Heavy Industries who are there rivals. This labor is
piloted by a young kid and appears in many of the TV series episodes.
This is one of the best cosplay costumes I have ever seen. Cosplay
for those of you who don't know is a popular japanese past time where
people get together and dress up as their favourite comic and tv characters.
It has become more popular in the UK in recent years.