MiniPato: Mobile Police Patlabor Minimum

Ah, Victorious 98 Model AV (1x2)

Air date: Apr 06, 2002

Shige introduces the audience to the Ingram AV-98 Patlabor, and discusses how the robot came to be. He also explains to the audience how robot shows have evolved over the years, why the Patlabor anime was a revolutionary idea, and suggests the mechanics should have been the stars of the show. There are a ton of cultural and anime references in this episode. AV is a common term meaning 'Adult Video' in Japan (in Patlabor it's an abbreviation for "Advanced Vehicle"). When Shige refers to Mobile Suits and Armoured Troopers, he is referring to "Mobile Suit Gundam" and "Armoured Trooper Votoms". The Ingram combination sequence is a parody of "Combattler V". When Shige discusses the various types of robots, one of them is a parody of the Guntank (from "Mobile Suit Gundam"), one is a powered suit from "Dallos" and another looks like the Evangelion mass production units. The cutaway image of the Ingram includes three electric motors commonly found in Japanese plastic model car kits. In the scene where Shige is posing with a woman in a swim suit, this is a parody of "Space Adventure Cobra". Shige has a 'psycho gun' on his arm in this scene. Matsui and Arakawa Shigeki from the second Patlabor film are inside the Shanghai Restaurant when it is blown over. In the final scene the Babel Virus and Eiichi Hoba and a crow from the first Patlabor film make a cameo appearance. Released 6 April 2002.