The AV-98 Ingram Unit 1 "Alphonse" is back!
Patlabor’s second OAV series started in November 1990 and ran for 16 half hour episodes. Really, the second OAV series is a continuation of the TV series. It makes Patlabor 63 episodes instead of 47. I really enjoyed the second OAV series and highly recommend it but only to those who have already seen the TV series.
The Griffin is back!
The first four episodes bring the Griffin back for another action-packed story. After that, the episodes are comedy and character drama. I liked them but Patlabor ended at the right time. If it had gone any further it would have dissolved into a soap opera and lost its edge. Action, espionage and mecha are a part of Patlabor and removing them is a mistake.
The members of Special Vehicles Section 2
It was really nice seeing more of the AV-0 Peacemaker and the Griffin. We also learn where why Izumi Noa named her Ingram Alphonse. It was the name of a pet dog and then a pet cat when she was little! As if to remind the audience, one of the new opening credits animation sequences resurrects the dead dog to let it run around with Noa and Asuma. Kind of creepy but it was probably meant in good fun. Some of the new opening credits sequences made for the second OAV series were the best I’ve seen and it’s a shame they could be used in the TV series.
The Griffin plays the part of an alien monster in the hillarious spoof of the last episode of the original Ultraman series.
I certainly enjoyed this expansion of the TV series and am glad it was produced. If you’ve seen the TV episodes then you shouldn’t miss this. Now, on to the Patlabor movies!
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