{"site":"Yomimono","license":"CC BY 4.0 (citation required)","generated_at":"2026-05-22T20:52:44.123Z","story":{"id":"r_e8c6d730d1b64ad0817a2e76","slug":"patlabor-ezy-brings-back-isao-ota-with-original-voice-actor","url":"https://yomimono.id/patlabor-ezy-brings-back-isao-ota-with-original-voice-actor","headline":"Patlabor EZY Brings Back Isao Ota, Director Izubuchi Explains Decision","summary":"The new anime project \"Mobile Police Patlabor EZY\" has brought back the popular character Isao Ota, voiced by Chikao Ohtsuka, who made a surprise appearance at a stage greeting in Tokyo on May 16. Director Yutaka Izubuchi explained the decision, saying he wanted to bring the character out \"in a delicious way.\" Ota is a veteran member of the former Special Vehicles Section 2 from the original OVA series. The stage greeting also featured cast members Sumire Uesaka, Kikunosuke Toya, and Chikahiro Kobayashi. Separately, a new one-shot manga by original creator Masami Yuki, titled \"Patlabor 2026,\" was published in Weekly Spirits on May 18, marking the first new manga in the franchise in 32 years. The anime project consists of eight episodes split into three theatrical chapters. \"File 1\" opened on May 15, \"File 2\" is scheduled for August 14, and \"File 3\" for March 2027. The project has also received recommendation comments from 14 figures including Hideaki Anno, Sumito Owara, and Kenji Kawai.","why_it_matters":"The return of Isao Ota, a fan-favorite character from the original series, signals that Patlabor EZY is deliberately bridging the old and new casts to satisfy long-time viewers while introducing the franchise to a new audience.","published_at":"2026-05-18T02:30:49.000Z","source_count":4,"sources":["Comic Natalie","Cinema Today","Denfaminicogamer","Yahoo! News Japan (Entertainment)"],"citations":[{"source":"Comic Natalie","title":"Hideaki Anno, Sumito Ōwara and others recommend \"Patlabor EZY\"; second-week bonus is logo stickers (with comments)","url":"https://natalie.mu/comic/news/672553"},{"source":"Cinema Today","title":"Behind the Return of Popular Character Isao Ota in 'Patlabor EZY': Director Yutaka Izubuchi Says 'Let's Bring Him Out in a Delicious Way'","url":"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0154858"},{"source":"Cinema Today","title":"New Patlabor Work 'EZY' Features Popular Character Isao Ota; Chikao Ohtsuka Makes Surprise Appearance at Stage Greeting","url":"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0154759"},{"source":"Cinema Today","title":"'Mobile Police Patlabor EZY' a treasure trove of Masami Yuuki's characters? Even the creator can't keep track: 'It might be fun to count them'","url":"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0154853"},{"source":"Cinema Today","title":"'Mobile Police Patlabor EZY File 2' Main Trailer Released, Details on 5 Characters Including Shibashigeo Also Revealed","url":"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0154828"},{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","title":"Manga 'Patlabor' Gets First New One-Shot in 32 Years Since Series Ended, Published in Today's Weekly Spirits; Also Includes Article Introducing New Anime 'Patlabor EZY' Now in Theaters","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260518g"},{"source":"Cinema Today","title":"Hideaki Anno, Erina Mano and Others Send Support for 'Patlabor EZY' - Comments from 14 Celebrities Released","url":"https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0154895"},{"source":"Yahoo! News Japan (Entertainment)","title":"[Latest May Edition of Admission Gift List] Focus on 'Mobile Police Patlabor EZY' - 'Conan' Film Distributing Two Digital Gifts (eiga.com)","url":"https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/3ccdd6d50ac33fc3e9180a871afd2327227979a0?source=rss"}],"license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","entities":{"anime_titles":["機動警察パトレイバー EZY","機動警察パトレイバー EZY File 1","機動警察パトレイバー EZY File 2","攻殻機動隊 THE GHOST IN THE SHELL","とんがり帽子のアトリエ"],"manga_titles":[],"studios":["サイエンスSARU"],"people":["出渕裕","上坂すみれ","戸谷菊之介","小林親弘","池水通洋","ゆうきまさみ","伊藤和典","永井真理子","諏訪部順一","笠間淳","安元洋貴","石川由依"],"type":"news","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false}}}