Loading…
Patlabor Watch Order
8 entries · · community-maintained
Also known as Mobile Police Patlabor, Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor, Patlabor: The Early Days, Patlabor The Movie, Patlabor 2, Patlabor WXIII, Patlabor EZY, Patlabor on Television, Patlabor: The New Files
Where to start Patlabor: begin with the Early Days OVA, episode 1 (1988), then Patlabor: The Movie (1989) and Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993). For the new Patlabor EZY (2026), watch the TV continuity instead: Patlabor on Television and The New Files. This Patlabor watch order lists the two continuities in story order. The movie continuity runs the Early Days OVA (Episodes 1-7), Patlabor: The Movie, WXIII (an optional side story set around the first film) and Patlabor 2: The Movie. The TV continuity restarts with Patlabor on Television (Episodes 1-47), continues in The New Files OVA (Episodes 1-16), and picks up decades later in Patlabor EZY with a new Division 2. EZY File 1 opened in Japan on May 15, 2026 and File 2 on August 14, 2026; File 3, which closes the eight-episode series, is due in March 2027.
Paid links on this page
Recommended first watch
Checked November 2026Movie continuity: the Early Days OVA (7 episodes), Patlabor: The Movie and Patlabor 2: The Movie. WXIII is an optional side story.
TV continuity: Patlabor on Television (47 episodes), The New Files (16), then Patlabor EZY File 1 and File 2.
EZY follows the TV continuity; File 3 is due March 2027.
Start here
- Watch first
- Start with Episodes 1-7 (Patlabor: The Early Days).
- What to skip
- 1 entry is optional: WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3. The story still tracks without them.
- Filler notes
- WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3. Optional film (2002): two detectives chase a creature; set around the first film's time.
Chronological order
Spot a mistake?
Fix this order
Patlabor: The Early Days
#1 · 1 entry
- 1Episodes 1-7
Start here. The Early Days OVA (7 episodes, 1988): Noa and the new Division 2 recruits. Leads into the films.
0/7
Patlabor: The Movie
#2 · 1 entry
- 2Patlabor: The Movie
Patlabor: The Movie (1989, dir. Mamoru Oshii): a computer virus makes Labors run wild across Tokyo.
Movie
WXIII
#3 · 1 entry
- 3WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3Optional
Optional film (2002): two detectives chase a creature; set around the first film's time. Division 2 cameos.
Movie
Patlabor 2: The Movie
#4 · 1 entry
- 4Patlabor 2: The Movie
Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993): a staged coup in Tokyo, years later. Ends the movie continuity.
Movie
Patlabor on Television
#5 · 1 entry
- 5Episodes 1-47
Start here for the TV continuity. Patlabor on Television (47 episodes, 1989-90): a separate retelling.
0/47
Patlabor: The New Files
#6 · 1 entry
- 6Episodes 1-16
The New Files OVA (16 episodes, 1990-92): continues straight on from the TV series.
0/16
Patlabor EZY
#7–8 · 2 entries
- 7Patlabor EZY File 1
EZY File 1 (episodes 1-3, May 2026): a new Division 2 in the 2030s; stand-alone stories in the TV timeline.
OVA - 8Patlabor EZY File 2
EZY File 2 (episodes 4-6, Aug 2026): more stand-alone cases. File 3, a two-parter, is due March 2027.
OVA
Side branches
Part of Patlabor, but outside the chronological order above. Each note says when it fits.
Patlabor EZY File 3
Film · March 2027
Episodes 7-8, one continuous story that closes EZY. Japanese theatrical release is set for March 2027.
Mobile Police Patlabor REBOOT
Short film · 2016
An eight-minute short with a new crew, made as a pilot. Optional; not tied to either continuity.
Minipato
Shorts · 2002
Three comic super-deformed shorts released alongside WXIII. Optional.
The correct order to watch Patlabor, as one listShowHide
Watch Patlabor in this order. 8 entries, chronological.
- Patlabor: The Early Days: Episodes 1-7
- Patlabor: The Movie (movie)
- WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 (movie) — optional
- Patlabor 2: The Movie (movie)
- Patlabor on Television: Episodes 1-47
- Patlabor: The New Files: Episodes 1-16
- Patlabor EZY File 1 (OVA)
- Patlabor EZY File 2 (OVA)
How this order works
AnimeChrono watch orders put every season, movie, OVA, ONA and special for a franchise in chronological story order, the order the events happen. When an OVA or movie takes place partway through a season, the episode range is split so it sits where it belongs. Entries you can skip are marked optional, and each order says where to start. Release order, sorted by air date, is a secondary view once every entry has a date. The orders began as a hand-curated set, and episode counts and air dates come from AniList. Fans maintain the orders from there. Any signed-in user can edit one. Edits from trusted contributors go live right away and the rest are reviewed first. Every change is versioned and can be reverted, and each order shows when it was last updated and last checked.
Something wrong or missing?
This order is maintained by the community. Report a problem, or sign in to fix it yourself.
Patlabor watch order FAQ
What order should I watch Patlabor in?
Movie continuity: the Early Days OVA (7 episodes), Patlabor: The Movie and Patlabor 2: The Movie. WXIII is an optional side story. TV continuity: Patlabor on Television (47 episodes), The New Files (16), then Patlabor EZY File 1 and File 2. EZY follows the TV continuity; File 3 is due March 2027.
Where should I start Patlabor?
Start with the Early Days OVA (1988), then the two Mamoru Oshii films. If you want to watch Patlabor EZY, start with Patlabor on Television instead, since EZY continues that timeline.
Are the Patlabor OVA and TV series the same story?
No. The TV series restarts the story with changes, and The New Files continues it. The Early Days OVA leads into the movies. The characters are the same in both.
Where does Patlabor WXIII fit?
WXIII (2002) is the third film but is set around the time of the first one and follows two detectives; Division 2 only appears briefly. It is optional.
Is Patlabor EZY a sequel?
Yes, to the TV continuity, set in the 2030s with a new Division 2 crew; Shigeo Shiba returns. Files 1 and 2 (2026) are stand-alone episodes; File 3 is due in March 2027.
What is the chronological order of Patlabor?
Start with Episodes 1-7 (Patlabor: The Early Days), then continue with Patlabor: The Movie, WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3, Patlabor 2: The Movie, Episodes 1-47 (Patlabor on Television), and Episodes 1-16 (Patlabor: The New Files), followed by 2 more entries. The full Patlabor watch order on this page has 8 entries across 7 series, listed in chronological viewing order.
What is the release order of Patlabor?
In the order they aired, start with Episodes 1-7 (Patlabor: The Early Days), then Patlabor: The Movie, Episodes 1-47 (Patlabor on Television), Episodes 1-16 (Patlabor: The New Files), Patlabor 2: The Movie, and WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3, followed by 2 more entries. Release order follows air dates and is not the recommended chronological order.
How many episodes is Patlabor?
Patlabor has 70 TV episodes in this order, plus 3 movies and 2 OVAs.
Where do the Patlabor movies fit in the watch order?
Patlabor: The Movie comes right after Episodes 1-7 (Patlabor: The Early Days), WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 comes right after Patlabor: The Movie, and Patlabor 2: The Movie comes right after WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3.
Can I skip anything in Patlabor?
Yes. 1 entry is marked optional: WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3. Everything else is part of the main story.
Is Patlabor finished?
Not yet. More Patlabor is on the way. This order is updated by the community as new seasons, movies, and specials come out. Track it to get notified when the order changes.
Shop
Loading activity...