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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pat_03.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:350: '''The [=SVU2=]''' from left to right: Hiromi Yamazaki, Mikiyasu Shinshi, Takeo Kumagami, Kiichi Gotō (the Captain), Asuma Shinohara (floor), Noa Izumi (the protagonist), Isao Ōta, Kanuka Clancy.]]
3
4What would happen if the cops from ''Film/SuperTroopers'' and ''Series/Reno911'' were all given '''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Gundams]]'''?
5
6[[HilarityEnsues Yeah.]] [[PoliceAreUseless Exactly.]]
7
8Patlabor mainly takes place in the headquarters of the Special Vehicles Unit, located on reclaimed land some 45 minutes away from Tokyo. The story deals mostly with the day-to-day of Division 2, comprised of [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits a variety of characters]] from different backgrounds. Because of their highly unorthodox methods, Division 2 is considered a nuisance to the High Command and is a target of media derision and punditry, who label them as a huge waste of taxpayer money. In spite of this, Division 2 is a tremendously effective team with a very high turnover rate.
9
10The series is entirely character-driven for an Anime and Manga genre that mostly deals with action-driven plots, and mostly involves the interactions between team members, their often ''extremely petty'' conflicts, and their difficulties in maintaining a logistic functioning of the unit, who has close to negligible support from the main police force. One of the characteristics that these isolating difficulties bring is the eccentricity of the characters as far as police work entails, making them the subject of mockery and disrespect... but they're too far from everything and everyone to care anyway.
11
12Note: Character descriptions sourced from [[http://www.patlabor.info/chara.htm Schaft Enterprises fansite]] and Website/TheOtherWiki's ''Patlabor 2'' article.
13
14Please head [[Characters/TheNextGenerationPatlabor here for characters]] from the original series who still have involvement in the Next Generation movies.
15
16[[foldercontrol]]
17
18!Special Vehicles Unit, Division 2
19
20[[folder:Officer Noa Izumi]]
21[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/noa_6.jpg]]
22-->Voiced by: Creator/MinaTominaga (JP), Elisa Wain (EN), Briony Glassco (EN Manga dub of the first two films), Creator/JulieAnnTaylor (EN Bandai Visual dub of the first two films), Creator/MonicaManjarrez (Latin American Spanish dub)
23
24Born in Tomakomai, Hokkaido in 1978, she is the pilot of the first Ingram in Unit 2 (first forward of Division 2). She loves Labors (to the point of obsession) and nicknames her Ingram "Alphonse" after her deceased pet dog and cat. A dedicated police officer, very easy going and cheerful, she never loses her cool. That is unless somebody damages her beloved Alphonse. On the field, she is backed up by her fellow teammate Asuma Shinohara.
25----
26* AcePilot: While she's not ''amazingly good'', she's pretty reliable which counts for a lot in the ultimate RealRobot series. She's also pretty skilled in hand to hand labor combat. During the selection tournament, she only lost to Kanuka in the finals because her battery ran out. Later on, her skill becomes well known enough that [[spoiler: Schaft repeatedly singles her and Alphonse out to (illegally) test SuperPrototype combat labors in actual combat]].
27** A large part of why she's not top ranked in the section is because she tends to hesitate, either because she doesn't want to damage Alphonse, Labors in general, or because she's self conscious and thinking she's not really that good. This flies in the face of reality because pretty much everyone around her sees just how good she ''really'' is when not pulling punches. Captain Nagumo chose Ōta for the match between the Ingram and the Peacemaker specifically because she thought Noa would win for example, an observation based off the fact that Noa and Alphose tend to win out against Military grade Labors with the only one not in the win category at the time being the Griffon, and that was a draw.
28* ActionGirl: Noa is less of a badass out of her labor than in, but she's the only one who can last more than 3 seconds against Takeo in Judo. She lasts 8. And Noah also defeated a criminal who was armed with a knife, using only her bare hands.
29* AscendedFangirl: She joined the police force in the hopes of piloting a Labor because she'd spent her childhood watching [[HumongousMecha Mecha]] {{Anime}}, even if she knows a Labor is not ''quite'' like ''[[Anime/MazingerZ a Mazinger]]'', ''[[Manga/GetterRobo a Getter]]'' or ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam a mobile suit]]''. Still she got pretty disappointed when she was told that no, a Labor does not fly.
30* BadassAdorable: One of the nicest girls you'll ever meet, so long as you're not a criminal or make the mistake of [[BerserkButton damaging Alphonse.]] [[NothingIsScarier Seriously, don't.]]
31* BerserkButton: Damaging her Labor, Alphonse.
32** Also in the manga, don't use Labors for criminal/terror acts.
33* BoyishShortHair: She and Kumagami both keep their hair short, while Kanuka wears hers long and Captain Shinobu keeps hers in a ponytail while she's on the job.
34* CharacterDevelopment: Invoked in the second movie, where she tells Asuma that she doesn't want everyone to think of her as just "that girl who loves labors".
35* TheConfidant: By virtue of who she is and how she conducts herself, Noa is the only person that is privy to Asuma's personal life, though it takes him a while to open up
36* DoesNotLikeGuns: In the anime continuity, at least, it's explicitly called out that she really doesn't like shooting things, and she's very slow to use her revolver, always keeping it as a last resort when her martial arts moves or shock baton prove they aren't up to it. This may seem odd for a police officer, but Japanese police in general are ''rarely'' expected to actually use their guns, in contrast to Western ones.
37* EveryoneCanSeeIt: She forms a close bond with Asuma and they often hang out, when they're off duty. Plus, they have [[ShipTease chemistry]], so it isn't long before their squadmates start to think that their relationship goes deeper than [[JustFriends "just friends".]]
38* {{Expy}}: Noa is essentially a level-headed version of ''Anime/DominionTankPolice's'' Leona Ozaki. They look similar, both fawn over their respective mecha, and they have relatively short fuses. The key difference being, Noa eventually [[CharacterDevelopment outgrows her attachment]] to Alphonse, whereas Leona's obsession with her tank (Bonaparte) is increasingly {{Flanderiz|ation}}ed
39* FirstNameBasis: Especially with Asuma, but she makes a point to call her closest friends by their first name.
40* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: She doesn't drink often, but when she does, she goes all the way. Comes from being a liquor store owner's daughter.
41* TheHero: Except in the second and third films, where she's OutOfFocus.
42* ICallItVera: Her beloved Alphonse. Notably, it is the name of her deceased dog.
43%%* IdiotHair: On occasion.
44* IdiotHero: She starts out being somewhat naïve, but matures over the course of the series.
45* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Zigzagged, in the anime continuity. When she finally breaks the revolver out in combat, she's typically a crack-shot marksman, certainly far better than Ōta. However, on the firing range, she's pretty bad at actually hitting something. It's noted in one anime episode that she doesn't really like to use her gun, hence the difference; in live combat she's working on pure instinct, auto-piloting her shots, but on a shooting range, her subconscious dislike of having to pull the trigger throws her off.
46* ImpliedLoveInterest: To Asuma, for most of the series' run. Even their captain, Gotō, couldn't resist commenting on it in the manga.
47-->''[while watching Noa and Asuma arrange a dinner date after work]''
48-->'''Gotō:''' Ah, to be young again.
49%%* InnocentBlueEyes
50* MaybeEverAfter: The final episodes of ''The Mobile Police/New Files'' continuity vaguely imply that she and Asuma may be on their way to becoming more than friends.
51** Confirmed in ''[[DistantFinale the Next Generation]]''.
52%%* NeverGetsDrunk: Or at least never gets hangovers.
53* NotSoAboveItAll:
54** She's not very good at having Asuma being ''actually'' mad at her; while he berates her all the time, it's when he stops talking to her that really gets to her. In a way, Noa basically expresses that she cannot bear the idea of him being mad.
55** At first, she expresses annoyance at the fact that her first duty assigned is to harvest tomatoes with Hiromi. Later, it's repeatedly shown that she came to enjoy it as one of the few private, calming things that she shares with him.
56** Much unlike what one might think, bubbly, optimistic Noa is not above fearing for her life and safety, as she comes to realize in her first fight against the Griffin. When the dust settles, Asuma finds her crouched into a ball inside her labor and crying due to the shock.
57%%* OtakuSurrogate: For anyone who's into mecha.
58* PlatonicLifePartners: With Asuma, though their relationship starts to lean a little more toward being romantic, near the end of the series.
59** Subverted in ''The Next Generation'', which serves as a DistantFinale for the OVA continuity, where it's confirmed that Noa and Asuma finally got together.
60* PluckyGirl: No matter what the task, Noa gives it her all.
61* PrecisionFStrike: The first time someone damages Alphonse, she loudly screams, "THE SON OF A BITCH!"
62%%* RedOniBlueOni: She's red, Kanuka's blue.
63* RelationshipUpgrade: ''[[Film/TheNextGenerationPatlabor The Next Generation]]'' is set 15 years after the OVA continuity's conclusuion, during which, it's revealed that she eventually married Asuma.
64* ReplacementGoldfish: As noted above, her Labor is actually "Alphonse the Third".
65* SheCleansUpNicely: She wears makeup and brushes her hair to appear in Sakurayama's TV spot. Her teammates are floored by how different she looks.
66* SlowMotionPassby: Invoked in the first episode of ''The Mobile Police'' continuity, when she and Asuma walk past each other at the Shinohara plant (seen [[https://youtu.be/OFTs97NpnUo?t=526 at 8:46-9:08]]). It serves as Noa's first look at her soon-to-be partner and [[spoiler: her future husband]].
67** GWS[[note]][=GuttedWrenStudios=][[/note]] spoofed the scene in their April Fool's parody, by adding bloom effects accompanied by Gary Wright's ''"Dream Weaver"'' [[https://youtu.be/6f1scFG4Rq0?t=341 (at 5:41-6:00).]]
68%%* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: She's the tomboy, Kanuka is the girly girl.
69* UnkemptBeauty: Noa is ''very'' pretty, as she's shown to be an item for the crew of the [=SVU=], but she's not one for brushing her hair or putting makeup on. When she does so for the TV cameras, she raises everyone's eyebrows.
70* VitriolicBestFriends: With Asuma. She's the only person in the series he allows to get close to him in that manner. [[spoiler:It later translates into a more serious relationship]].
71* WillTheyOrWontThey: She and Asuma are occasionally the talk of the division, due to their fellow officers being convinced that there's something going on between them. In one of the final episodes of ''The New Files'', when it appears that [[SilentTreatment she isn't speaking to Asuma]][[note]]Noa wasn't speaking because she had a toothache and because [[TheGadfly Gotoh had pranked her in her sleep]], but set Asuma up to take the blame[[/note]], the rest of the division assumes they're having a spat. So Ota confronts Asuma and tells him that keeping Noa happy is ''his'' responsibility!
72[[/folder]]
73
74[[folder:Captain Kiichi Gotō]]
75[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gotoh_4.jpg]]
76-->Voiced by: Ryunosuke Ohbayashi (JP), Michael Schwartz (EN), Creator/PeterMarinker (EN Manga dub of the first two films), Creator/RogerCraigSmith (EN Bandai Visual dub of the first two films), Rafael Rivera (Latin American Spanish dub)
77
78Gotō is the Captain of Unit 2 and was born in the Taito Ward in Tokyo. Although he may seem very laidback and even apathetic, but is quite a strategist, and knows how to get the best out of his team even if it means tricking them. He has gained the reputation of being very sharp and rumour has it he was purposely sent out to the SVU so he wouldn't cause any trouble. He still manages to do so anyway. Gotō has a crush on Shinobu, which is completely unrequited (poor man...). Gotō is a heavy smoker, has athlete's foot and can often be seen wearing traditional Japanese wooden sandals around the office.
79----
80%%* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Towards Shinobu. He knows it, she knows it, and it's very likely that the rest of Division 2 know it too.
81%%* AuthorAvatar: For director Creator/MamoruOshii in the second movie.
82* BatmanGambit: He is a master of getting people do to what he wants by making them think it's what ''they'' want.
83** From the first movie:
84--->''[Goto has just [[ReversePsychology manipulated]] Shinohara into putting his career on the line to find something out for him and then stepped in to get him off with 'just' a suspension.]''\
85'''Shinohara:''' The only thing I don't get is how the commander found out about it all?\
86'''Gotō:''' ''[deadpan]'' Oh, that? I ratted you out, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking even the not wearing a helmet part.]]\
87'''Shinohara:''' Commander!?\
88'''Gotō:''' Look at it this way, now you have enough free time to snoop around for me some more.
89* BigGood: The top brass may not care for him, but they still defer to him during an impending crisis. So does the JGSDF, Detective Matsui, and his fellow captain, Shinobu, all of whom have learned to rely on Gotō's decision making ability, and with good reason. He's a genius level tactician, having studied military strategy at the academy. He's also keenly observant and tends to pick up on things before others do, and notices details others might overlook. [[MegaCorp Schaft Enterprises]] and his old mentor, [[spoiler: Kai]], know this better than anyone.
90* TheCon: In the first movie, he suspected Hoba may have tampered with SHI's new HOS system, so he cons Asuma into investigating it, to make certain. Except [[spoiler: Gotō had already confirmed it, through Shige. The point of conning Asuma was to get him suspended, so he'd be free to look into the Babylon Project and determine whether it factored into Hoba's plans]]. It works, though Asuma is justifiably upset over being used.
91* ColonelBadass: Never underestimate Gotō. He was too observant for his superiors' liking and they didn't want him underfoot, [[ReassignedToAntarctica so they reassigned him to a command position with Special Vehicles.]] Which, as Detective Matsui observed, [[BatmanGambit "is right where he wants to be."]]
92%%* DeadpanSnarker: Usually directed toward his superiors and, occasionally, Asuma.
93* DidNotGetTheGirl: [[spoiler:At the end of the Movie continuity, Shinobu reluctantly arrests Tsuge but it is clear [[MayDecemberRomance she still had feelings for him.]] Much to Gotō's disappointment.]]
94* AFatherToHisMen: He can be manipulative, at times, and his methods are unorthodox, but he always has his division's best interest at heart.
95* HopelessSuitor: To Shinobu, who strictly maintains [[StrictlyProfessionalRelationship a professional relationship]] between them.
96* InconsistentSpelling: The Central Park Media release prefers to use "Gotoh", for instance, instead of "Gotou" or "Gotō". (The reason likely being that that third syllable, the "u", is typically meshed with the second when pronounced correctly in Japanese.) Maiden Japan, however, uses "Goto".
97* ItsPersonal: In the second movie, he's more offended than relieved when he found out that [[spoiler:Agent Arakawa is a crook, especially considering that they were becoming friends]].
98* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: To say he an Shinobu have a [[StrictlyProfessionalRelationship strictly professional relationship]], you'd swear these two were actually married. See the related entry in Shinobu's section, further down.
99%%* {{Mentor}}: To his division, mainly to Asuma.
100* NotSoAboveItAll:
101** Shinobu is the only person that can make Gotō do stuff he doesn't want to do. He won't even bend down to his bosses... but Shinobu, he better not get ''her'' angry!
102** As Gotō tells Agent Arakawa in the second film, [[spoiler:he's has '''always''' been in the side of the law even when he has to bypass the red tape to achieve it; Arakawa in comparison was trying to double-cross both Gotō and Tsuge, and reap the benefits from the aftermath]].
103* ObfuscatingStupidity: Don't ever fool yourself and think you're getting anything by him, without him noticing. Asuma and the others get a not so subtle reminder, when they return from an undercover rescue operation and find he followed them. Gotō even brought fries!
104%%* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: More so than his superiors would like.
105* ReassignedToAntarctica: [=SVU's=] headquarters is located on reclaimed land that's practically in the middle of nowhere, which why the higher ups have Gotō stationed there, where he can't ruffle any feathers. So they think....
106%%* SupportingLeader: Along with Shinobu.
107%%* TeamDad: A...trickier one than most.
108* ThemeNaming: He and Nagumo are both named after WWII admirals.
109* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler:The [[Series/{{Ultraman}} Ingram-man episode]] of ''The Mobile Police'' continuity, ends with Gotō and Shinobu becoming an OfficialCouple. Except it was AllJustADream.]]
110* {{Troll}}: Some of the stunts he pulls to discipline his squad can be described as such. Kanuka calls him out on it on more than one occasion. So does Shinobu.
111-->'''Shinobu:''' ''[impressed]'' That was brave of you to face that Labor the way you did. Weren't you scared?\
112'''Gotō:''' ''[deadpan]'' No. Sakaki told me it was harmless.\
113'''Shinobi:''' ''[disillusioned]'' Wha- So THAT'S why you were acting so bravely?\
114'''Gotō:''' ''[deadpan]'' Pretty much.\
115'''Shinobu:''' ''[annoyed]'' I give up. [[SarcasmMode So what'll your adoring public say, when they find out?]]\
116'''Gotō:''' ''[[[BeingWatched smirks at door]]]'' I wonder....?\
117'''Asuma, Noa, Kanuka, Ōta, Shinshi, and Hiromi:''' ''[eavesdropping outside door]'' [[TricksterMentor THAT CHEAT!]]
118* UndyingLoyalty:
119** As it's shown in the second movie, he will ''not'' abide to Shinobu coming into harm's way if he is able to do something about it. He even scampers Arakawa as soon as he is alerted by Shinobu's mother.
120** Earlier in the same movie, he disobeys her order to participate in the government mandated Martial Law... for like five minutes. He'd much rather not have her angry at him.
121** Much to Arakawa's dismay, Gotō [[spoiler:is a loyal policeman through and through, even when he has to do stuff under the table to get his bosses to work. That much he will never compromise]].
122[[/folder]]
123
124[[folder:Officer Asuma Shinohara]]
125[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/asuma.jpg]]
126-->Voiced by: Creator/ToshioFurukawa (JP), Creator/DanGreen (EN), David Jarvis (EN Manga dub of the first two films), Creator/DougErholtz (EN Bandai Visual dub of the first two films), Creator/BenjaminRivera (Latin American Spanish dub)
127
128Asuma was born in Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture and is 21 years old at the start of the series. Asuma is the son of the owner of Shinohara Heavy Industries, the makers of the Ingram. So why is he a public servant? Apparently his father forced him into being one. A member of Unit 2, he provides backup[[note]]really more like field command, issuing directions from the ground[[/note]] for Noa's Ingram and is her partner. He can be quite short tempered and sometimes gives the impression he would rather be somewhere else. Still he is quite a competent police officer.
129----
130* AgentMulder: If it involves anything supernatural, or paranormal, he's all for it.
131* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Asuma is familiar with most Labor models, both civilian those used by the police/military alike, since he's the son of the founder of [=SHI=] and has been exposed to the labor industry from a young age.
132* BrutalHonesty: In his manga portrayal, where he sometimes comes across as unintentionally rude, though he means well. Particularly during [[Funny/{{Patlabor}} his initial interactions]] with Noa.
133%%* DeadpanSnarker: Particularly in regard to Ōta and, sometimes, Noa.
134* {{Deuteragonist}}: Asuma is the second most pivotal character after Noa, since the series focuses largely on both their partnership as fellow officers and their friendship off-duty.
135* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Except him and Noa, for the reasons covered in her example entry. The last two or three episodes imply they may be headed toward a RelationshipUpgrade.
136* FirstNameBasis: Mutually with Noa, whereas everyone else calls him by his last name.
137* {{Foil}}: To Ōta, due to their conflicting personalities. Asuma alternates between trying to talk sense into him and either griping, or snarking, whenever Ōta's trigger-happy tendencies creates problems for their division.
138* HandBehindHead: Asuma's typical posture while chatting with Noa, usually with both hands clasped behind his head.
139* HonestAdvisor: Which is the reason Noa trusts him and doesn't mind it much when he snarks on her. It's when ''[[OOCIsSeriousBusiness he doesn't]]'' that she starts to get worried.
140* HotBlooded: Though not as off-the-rails as Ōta, Shinohara can be extremely careless when he's pissed. This gets him in hot water in the first movie, as he goes ballistic against the [=SVU=]'s commander when he's suspended for going [=AWOL=].
141* ImpliedLoveInterest: An in-universe example, given his fellow officers ''[[EveryoneCanSeeIt are convinced]]'' that he and Noa are well on their way to becoming an item. [[spoiler: They were right]].
142%%* TheLancer: To Gotō.
143* MaybeEverAfter: With Noa at the end of ''The Mobile Police/New Files'' continuity, though ''The Next Generation'' live action continuity ultimately subverts it by confirming [[RelationshipUpgrade they eventually did.]]
144* MissionControl: Though his position is "backup" for unit 01, his actual job is to cover Noa's blindspots[[note]]the Labors have a limited field of vision, even with the on-board monitors[[/note]] and provide intel on enemy units. Asuma is also a capable strategist and always has Noa's safety in mind, so she trusts his judgement implicitly.
145* MrExposition: As previously noted, Asuma's extensive knowledge of Labors makes him a natural for providing his teammates and the audience with intel on enemy units. Which was highlighted by the tunnel scene near the climax of ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKFtPdCysR4 Patlabor: The Movie 2]]'', where provides intel on the Ixtls and devised a strategy to systematically disable them.
146* NonActionGuy / NonActionSnarker: As Noa's "backup", his expected role is to sit in the command car behind Noa and instruct her on how to do her job. He fulfils a vital role all the same, though, and is honestly happier about it; he's not particularly thrilled at the idea of piloting Labors, and he knows that Noa is just crazy about it.
147* NiceGuy: He can be blunt at times and he [[KnightInSourArmor often complains about being stuck as a public servant]], but he means well and always has Noa's best interest at heart.
148* NotSoAboveItAll: As per the AgentMulder entry, and he's not above eavesdropping on the women, while they're in the bath, either.
149* OnlySaneMan: Asuma shares this spot with Kanuka and, later, Kumagami, as they're the most sensible, levelheaded members of the team. Which often makes him a foil for [[CowboyCop Ōta.]]
150* PlatonicLifePartners: With Noa, though their teammates [[EveryoneCanSeeIt think there's something more]] between them.
151* RelationshipUpgrade: He and Noa are married by the time of ''[[Film/TheNextGenerationPatlabor The Next Generation]]'', which serves as the OVA continuity's DistantFinale.
152%%* {{Sidekick}}: Effectively this, for Noa.
153* SlowMotionPassby: See the related entry in Noa's section.
154* YouDontWantToKnow: Asuma is ''very serious'' when it comes to his personal life and his relationship with his father, almost creating a rift between him and Noa when she pries on him. [[spoiler:It's revealed in the final episode of the OVA that his quarrel with his father stems from [[HarsherInHindsight his brother's suicide]], considering that the fault lied in his father's relentless hounding; small wonder Asuma doesn't want to touch the subject when it's something that brings him so much pain]].
155[[/folder]]
156
157[[folder:Officer Isao Ōta]]
158[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/oota.jpg]]
159-->Voiced by: Michihiro Ikemizu (JP), James Wolfe (EN), Martin [=McDougal=] (EN, Manga dub of the first two films), Creator/SamRiegel (EN, Bandai dub of the first two films), Creator/RichardEpcar (EN, ''Anime/WXIIIPatlaborTheMovie3''), Marcos Patiño (Latin American Spanish dub)
160
161Ōta is the 2nd forward of Division 2. He was born in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture and is 26 at the beginning of the series. He is a complete gun maniac and will almost always try to use force over all other options when solving a dispute. Though he is reckless and violent, he is an integral part of the team, and actually manages to end situations quicker than Noa. On the field, he is backed up by his fellow teammate Kanuka Clancy at first, and later by Takeo Kumagami.
162----
163* TheBigGuy: He may be short, but he's got a pretty solid build and the power that comes with it.
164%%* BigOlEyebrows: Thick bushy ones.
165%%* BoisterousBruiser: Whether in his Labor, or with Judo.
166%%* ButtMonkey: Though to be fair, he usually brings it on himself...
167* ChekhovsGunman: A literal one in the manga. [[spoiler:He was one of the anti-riot mobile unit officers who tried to break ranks in order to board one of the new Ingram Labors. He's later seen with Asuma when a police van drops them off at [=SVU2=] Headquarters.]]
168%%* CowboyCop: Which gets him in hot water nine times out of ten.
169* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Usually shown as a LeeroyJenkins kinda guy, but he's actually a good shot and can be pretty effective if he just think things through a little.
170%%* CrossPoppingVeins: Damn near constantly, due to having a hair trigger temper.
171* DestructiveSavior: Ōta is responsible for something like ''90%'' of the collateral damage that Division 2 inflicts, meaning he's pretty much singlehandedly the major cause behind their negative public reception.
172* {{Determinator}}: When his labor's arm gets dismembered in the last episode, he shugs it off, saying he's used to it, and resumes chasing after the culprit.
173* DisqualificationInducedVictory: How Ohta got the job of piloting Unit 2 in the anime despite constantly causing problems by being a blindly aggressive trigger-happy dumbass. Kanuka beat him during the mini-tournament used to select the pilots, but since she's only on loan from the NYPD for six months to train with the Special Vehicles squad, it would be cost-prohibitive to train a Labor on her movement patterns and then have to reset it for a new pilot when she returns to the United States.
174* GunNut: Picture [[Film/PoliceAcademy Tackleberry]] with a HumongousMecha and a severe case of TestosteronePoisoning, and you've got this guy.
175** In fact, given that Japanese society has incredibly strict gun control laws, it's a very viable possibility that he actually only ''joined'' the police to be able to use a gun, choosing the Special Vehicles unit because it'd give him (hopefully) plenty of opportunities to shoot off the biggest guns in the police's arsenal.
176* HiddenDepths:
177** He deeply respects Kanuka and Kumagami for their professionalism; when asked in the second episode of the show why he was picked as a Labor pilot over Kanuka, Ōta replies without a hint of resentment that it must be because he can't give her orders.
178** He will not hesitate coming into the line of fire and his behavior towards his teammates reflects that this is the standard he expects of them too.
179** Though he's usually chided for provoking the most material damage, Ōta's main concern is to protect the civilian population, demonstrating this to their insurance inspector as an expected risk he has to take to perform optimally in the first place.
180* HotBlooded: OH YES. Deconstructed in the second movie's climax, where he endangers the plan by acting like a cartoon character instead of a rational human being. And Film/TheNextGenerationPatlabor implies the violent incident that ultimately ended with his arrest and imprisonment was the result of this.
181* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Zigzagged. Usually, Ōta is an ''awful'' shot, which combined with his willingness to pull out a gun and start blasting, and to then keep firing until he blows through his ammo reserves, means he causes the bulk of the collateral damage that Division 2 gets blamed for. However, on the firing range, he's a pretty good shot -- much better than Noa. It's explained that the difference is that, in combat, he's trying to hit a moving target (itself a challenge) whilst hyped up on adrenaline and so unable to focus; when he can calm down and pick his shot, he's much better. Also, in his favor, as wild as his shots fly, he's never actually hurt a ''person''.
182* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He's really not that bad, once you get to know him. Just don't expect him to admit it, [[TestosteronePoisoning 'cuz it's not manly.]]
183** He gets to shine in the episode where he goes into an ''omiai'' ([[ArrangedMarriage very formal arranged date]]) and ends up helping his prospective girlfriend, who he ''did'' like, ''save the man she loves''.
184*** In one episode, Noa discovers that Ohta, known for causing massive property damage, especially with his trigger-happy use of his labor's revolver, is actually a perfect shot. When she asks Gotoh about this, he points out that none of Ohta's shots have ever injured anyone.
185* LargeHam: He has two settings: indoors (which he uses at about 10% of the time), and air-raid siren (which is about 90%)
186* MoreDakka: His tactic of choice. Ōta runs through ammo like water through fire hoses.
187* SpellMyNameWithAnS: No two localizations spell his family name the same way.
188* TestosteronePoisoning:
189** He strives for conveying an air of manly, manly manliness on his everyday. It has the opposite effect on people, who find him considerably obnoxious as a result.
190** One aspect more harmful to him more than to anyone else is that Ōta just can't admit that he himself, like every other man around him, ''does'' like women. Whenever a woman makes him feel positive, he gets confounded and tries to focus on police duty to dispel the LuminescentBlush.
191[[/folder]]
192
193[[folder:Lieutenant Kanuka Clancy]]
194[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/281648.jpg]]
195-->Voiced by: Creator/YouInoue (JP), Debora Rabbai [[note]] credited as Angora Deb [[/note]] (EN), Tamsin Hollo (EN, Manga dub of the first film), Lisa Enochs (EN, Bandai Visual dub of the first film), Tamara Guzmán (Latin American Spanish dub)
196
197Kanuka is a Police Officer on loan from the New York Police Department and was born in Oahu, Hawaii. She is 21 at the beginning of the series. She is half Japanese, half Irish-American. She is a competent officer who does everything by the book and is often disgusted by the tactics used by the SVU. In Division 2 she acts as Ōta's backup. Though among the SVU there is a rumour that the NYPD sent her to them because she was a problem officer.
198----
199* TheAce: Blackbelt in Judo, expert Labor pilot, and in disarming bombs, graduated with honors from MIT, you get the idea.
200%%* ActionGirl: As much as Noa.
201* AllThereInTheManual: According to a booklet in a DVD box set, her father was a millionaire.
202%%* TheBusCameBack: ...and comes back for one episode in the second OVA. And for Movie 1.
203* ButNotTooForeign: Her grandmother was a Japanese immigrant, who married an American pilot stationed in Japan during the Korean War.
204* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: She disappears without comment in the second and third movies. Some fans assume she died at the climax of the first film[[note]]which is weird, since you can see her being helped up to her feet at the end[[/note]], but she probably just returned to the NYPD. (Given the tensions flaring up during the second movie, she may simply not have been able to get to Tokyo in time.)
205* CloudcuckoolandersMinder: Her main task in the unit is to keep Ōta in reins. As a matter of fact, Ōta will protest at everyone that comes his way except Kanuka.
206* CoolCar: In the series, she drives a Porsche 911 in episodes 18 and 23 and a blue one in episode 44.
207* DemotedToExtra: In the manga, she appears much later and is never a part of [=SVU2=].
208* FairCop: All of the SVU's members are at least not ugly, but Kanuka is downright beautiful.
209* IdenticalGranddaughter: She looks exactly like her grandmother did.
210* LadyOfWar: Both in and out of her mecha. She's a crack shot and master of both judo and kendo.
211** Kanuka's combat skills, in and out of her labor are awe inspiring. The woman took down a courtyard of Yakuza, with a wooden sword while clad in a kimono. And, in the first film, Gotō specifically called her in to assist [=SVU2=] with the raid on the Ark.
212---> '''Customs Agent''': Are you here to see the sights?\
213'''Kanuka''': No. Combat.
214* {{Mukokuseki}}: Notably averted. It's ironic that the show's only American also looks the most stereotypically Asian (though she ''is'' at least half-Japanese).
215* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Tell me that her surname doesn't remind you of an American thriller novelist...
216* NotSoAboveItAll: Kanuka's disciplined and takes pride in herself as an officer, but she can be just as juvenile as the rest of the squad, depending on the circumstances.
217* OfficerOHara: ...well, she's a cop with an Irish surname who can drink heavily when the situation warrants, but that's about as far as it goes.
218* PutOnABus: She returns to New York about halfway through the TV series.
219%%* RedOniBlueOni: She's blue, Noa's red.
220* TheRival: She develops an intense but friendly rivalry with Kumagami when she comes back to visit the SVU, being fellow [[TheAce aces]] and all.
221** The TV series also seems to set her up as this to Noa at the start.
222%%* TheSixthRanger
223%%* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: She's the girly girl, Noa's the tomboy.
224
225[[/folder]]
226
227[[folder:Officer Mikiyasu Shinshi]]
228[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shinshi.jpg]]
229-->Voiced by: Creator/IsseiFutamata (JP), Jonny Asch (EN), Ron Lepaz (EN, Manga dub of the first two films), Joey Lotsko (EN, Bandai Visual dub of the first two films), Enrique Mederos (Latin American Spanish dub)
230
231Shinshi is the driver for the second carrier, the transporter for Ōta's Labor. He was born in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture and is 29 at the start of the series. Originally Ōta's backup until Kanuka replaced him, he is a quite introverted man, but can become surprisingly violent if provoked enough. He is also the rather henpecked husband of Tamiko, who is rather possessive of him. Shinshi is the only married member of the team, which occasionally bites him in the ass.
232----
233* AffectionateNickname: His wife calls him "Miki-chan"; no one else does.
234%%* BerserkButton: DO NOT insult his wife. Or the institution of Marriage.
235* BewareTheNiceOnes: Shinshi seems to have... "issues".
236-->'''Shinshi: (with [[ScaryShinyGlasses shining glasses]] and SlasherSmile)''' ''[whispering]'' Cut, and cut, and cut, and cut...
237* BrilliantButLazy: Shinshi is a very intelligent man who is very content at his job, but his wife certainly isn't.
238* ADayInTheLimelight: He really only gets one episode where he's the focus, when a business takes note of his computer skills and tries to lure him away from the SVU.
239* {{Dismotivation}}: Shinshi is a largely unambitious guy, which is one of the most frequent reason he gets flak from his wife, who considers that he isn't pursuing his full potential. The thing is that Shinshi is true police.
240* HappilyMarried: His wife Tamiko gives him a really hard time, but at the end of the day, they truly love each other.
241* HenpeckedHusband: He is well and truly whipped. But he's deeply in love with Tamiko all the same.
242%%* NerdGlasses: It sort of defines his character.
243* ScaryShinyGlasses: When his glasses start to shine, ''run''.
244* TheSmartGuy: He's a wiz with computers, he was even offered a management position at a high profile computer company.
245* ThoseTwoGuys: Since their job is to just drive the Patlabors to crime scenes, he and Hiromi are often relegated to the sidelines. Additionally, they were introduced as a pair in the manga continuity.
246[[/folder]]
247
248[[folder:Officer Hiromi Yamazaki]]
249[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hiromi.jpg]]
250-->Voiced by: Creator/DaisukeGori (JP), Gregory Wolfe (EN, first OVA & TV series), Creator/SeanSchemmel (EN, New Files), Michael Fitzpatrick (EN, Manga dub of the first two films), C.J. Mills (EN, Bandai Visual dub of the first two films), Enrique Cervantes (Latin American Spanish dub)
251
252Hiromi is the quiet giant amongst the members of the SVU, in fact the tallest member of the team, at two metres tall. He was born on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, and is 23 at the start of the series. Even though he looks rather intimidating, he is quite gentle in action and words. He tends the tomatoes in the greenhouse and looks after the henhouse at the SVU in his spare time. These duties actually provide a substantial amount food for the officers and crew. His main duty in Division 2 is driving the first Labor carrier for Noa.
253----
254
255* TheBigGuy: Clocks in at around 2 meters tall, and has the physique to fire a [[{{BFG}} 20mm anti-labor rifle]] ''standing''.
256%%* {{Expy}}: He is the Japanese [[Film/PoliceAcademy Moses Hightower]].
257* FirstNameBasis: All of his teammates except Ōta call him Hiromi-chan.
258* FlatCharacter: He's a nice guy and... well, that's pretty much it. In the anime, this is used for a gag; when Division 2 snoops on Kanuka's drafted report of her time in Division 2, Hiromi's entry amounts to several lines of ellipses and a simple "no data available" comment.
259* FriendlySniper: Played with in both movies when [=SVU2=] is deployed on the scene to provide anti-Labor support via anti-material sniper rifles.
260* FriendToAllLivingThings: He is the one that show most the concern about plants and animals, inluding a sea monster.
261* GentleGiant: There are two reasons why Hiromi wasn't selected to pilot a labor - he's too gentle to actually attack the enemy, and he doesn't fit in the cockpit.
262* LastOfHisKind: He is the only member of SVU Division 2 that remains under the command of Captain Gotō in the second movie.
263* OnlySaneMan: He is by far the most grounded person in Division 2.
264* RealMenWearPink: He loves gardening and cooking.
265[[/folder]]
266
267[[folder:Lieutenant Takeo Kumagami]]
268[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kumagami_2.jpg]]
269-->Voiced by: Creator/KeikoYokozawa (JP), Tara Sands (EN), Claudia Motta (Latin American Spanish dub)
270
271Kumagami is Ōta's backup. She is Kanuka's replacement after she returns to New York. She was top of her class, and is an exceptional police officer. She was courted by several police agencies, but eventually chose the SVU because of the challenge. Kumagami seems to be very level headed and nothing seems to faze her, though the antics of her workmates sometimes annoys her. She has an irrational fear of the supernatural, especially ghosts as her father was interested in the topic and she heard many ghost stories when she was a child.
272
273In the manga, she joins Division 2 in the second volume and effectively takes over Kanuka's role in the story. She makes no appearance at all in the OVA continuity.
274
275As a Lieutenant, Kumagami is the highest-ranked field member of Division 2, reporting directly to the captains Gotō and Nagumo. Several episodes deal with her account of the day's events as she files it to the official reports. Though initially a stickler to the rules, Kumagami usually vouches for the general wellness of the unit as a whole and acts as a focal voice for their needs.
276----
277* AgentScully: She'll adamantly denounce the existence of anything supernatural, until it's staring her in the face; especially [[spoiler: ghosts]], because she was left traumatized by [[spoiler: her father's ghost stories]], when she was a child.
278* {{Bifauxnen}}: Kumagami is short, has a boyish haircut, and looks rather tomboyish (but still feminine). She's also an expert at judo.
279* ConsummateProfessional: She is Gotō's second-in-command and a model policewoman. She came to SVU 2 for a challenge and is offended at the fact that Noa is aware of the unit's lingering reputation as if she weren't proud of her own work; she does come to understand that the unit performs excellently in spite of said infamy and that the "off" elements do work out as they should, making Kumagami more welcome into the unit.
280* {{Fainting}}: She's calm and composed in most cases, but her fear of ghosts and especially [[spoiler: rats]] will [[PlayedForLaughs make her check out on you.]]
281* NonIndicativeName: When they first hear of "Takeo Kumagami", the crew of [=SVU2=] are understandably expecting a guy to show up.
282* NotSoStoic: When she's frightened, which thankfully isn't often. But when it comes to ghosts [[spoiler: or rats]], [[{{Fainting}} yeah.]]
283* OldFlameFizzle: Would you believe she once had a thing with [[spoiler: Richard Wong]]?
284* OnlySaneMan: She shares this spot with Asuma, as they're the two most levelheaded and sensible members of the division; excluding their captains.
285* TheRival: To Kanuka when they briefly meet. They are very professional about it initially and express their admiration for each other. Later in ''The New Files'', they compete fiercely to measure each other... while on a supposedly relaxing getaway.
286* SixthRanger: In her debut episode, she has trouble fitting in because her teammates couldn't believe anyone with her credentials would willingly sign up for duty with the SVU.
287* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: To Kanuka. They'd have to be, considering that they have to keep Ohta on a leash.
288* TomboyWithAGirlyStreak: She keeps her hair [[BoyishShortHair cut short]] and excels in Judo. In fact, no one in division 2 has been able to beat her (including Ohta). But she dresses femininely whenever she's off-duty and is afraid of dark places, ghosts, and especially [[spoiler: rats]]. She's even prone to fainting when sufficiently frightened.
289* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: One of the few things she's afraid of is ghosts. When Gotō jokes that there's a ghost behind her, she has a fullblown panic attack that makes her seem [[TheWoobie so vunerable]], that it's [[{{Moe}} actually cute.]] Noa even lampshades it.
290-->'''Asuma:''' ''[dull surprise]'' Hn. Who knew?\
291'''Noa:''' ''[blinks stunned]'' Cute.
292[[/folder]]
293
294[[folder:Alphonse]]
295The first among the three AV-98 "Ingram" pattern Patlabors of Division 2, piloted by Noa Izumi.
296----
297* DeadGuyJunior: It is actually the third Alphonse that Noa has named. The first was a dog she grew up with as a child, and the second was a cat.
298* GoodOldFisticuffs: Because Noa isn't as good of a marksman as Ohta, she and Alphonse usually end up brawling with the enemy Labor of the week, only rarely using her revolver.
299%%* {{Handcannon}}: What its revolver actually is.
300%%* HumongousMecha
301* ICallItVera: It's the only Labor that has "personal" name.
302* JackOfAllStats: The Ingram is noted as being able to theoretically match any human movement. It's noted that while Ohta has custom-tuned Machine 2 for raw strength, Alphonse is more agile and flexible.
303* LawmanBaton: Ingrams are equipped with electromagnetic batons sheathed in their left forearms, capable of instantly disabling the machinery that drives Labors.
304* LightningBruiser: As a police Labor, it is by necessity designed to be stronger, tougher and faster than ordinary construction Labors.
305* MundaneUtility: Episode 6 of the anime opens with Noa and Alphonse doing cat's cradles using the feedback gloves.
306* NoseArt: Minor, but it's there - it has "Alphonse" painted right next to its cockpit's upper hatch (where Noa can poke her head out).
307* SeriesMascot: Whenever there is official art of an AV-98, there is a very high chance of it being Alphonse.
308* WeakButSkilled: Particularly in the Griffin fight in the anime. Alphonse is technically outclassed by the Griffin in almost all areas, but still manages to hold its own and emerge victorious.
309[[/folder]]
310
311!Special Vehicles Unit, Division 1
312
313[[folder:Captain Shinobu Nagumo]]
314[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shinobu_nagumo.jpg]]
315-->Voiced by: Creator/YoshikoSakakibara (JP), Creator/MeganHollingshead (EN), Sharon Holm (EN, Manga dub of the first two films), Karen Thompson (EN, Bandai Visual dub of the first two films), Alma Moreno (Latin American Spanish dub)
316
317Shinobu is the Captain of Division 1 and was born in in Setagaya Ward in Tokyo. She is a professional, competent police officer. Basically the exact opposite of Captain Gotō. She always keeps her mind on the job and never loses her cool. Often she talks back to her superiors when she disagrees with an order, and this is probably why she remains at the SVU rather being promoted to another job more worthy of her skills. She is often slightly jealous of Division 2's successes and the equipment they get, but she never really lets on.
318----
319* AdaptationalDyeJob: Has [[HairColorDissonance blue-black hair]] in the OVA continuity, whereas the TV continuity gives her brown hair. In fact, checking her hair color is one reliable way to identify the timeline you're watching.
320* ADayInTheLimelight: She's really the hero of the second movie.
321* ByTheBookCop: Unless given reason not to.
322* ColonelBadass: She may be by-the-book, but don't think for a second she'll allow herself to be [[BlindObedience railroaded]], or that she won't question an order she finds suspect. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdncqUJ_fjQ As seen here.]]
323* DeadpanSnarker: Usually in regard to Gotō's more questionable tactics (i.e. {{troll}}ing), and his squad's reckless behavior.
324* DefectorFromDecadence: In the OVA continuity, she refuses to comply to her superior's orders twice. Both time happen during [[TheSiege a military lockdown]] and end up with her being named an outlaw.
325* FairCop: Though she usually dresses very conservatively (she ''is'' a police captain, after all), when dressed casually she's very pretty.
326* LegFocus: The 12th episode of ''The New Files'' features two lingering pan shots of her legs. Not to mention, Gotō having to be told twice to [[DistractedByTheSexy keep his eyes on the road, instead.]]
327* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: The way she and Gotō relate to each other, they could easily be mistaken for a married couple. She knows him like a book, especially when he's trying to charm her. Likewise, he knows when to tease, and when not to push his luck. This is best seen in both ''"The SVU's Longest Day"'' and the final episode of the {{OVA}} continuity.
328** In ''The New Files'' continuity, this is best seen in the ''Two in Karuizawa'' episode which focuses exclusively on them (covered extensively on the [[Heartwarming/{{Patlabor}} heartwarming moments page]]).
329* MayDecemberRomance: In the second film, [[spoiler:it's revealed that Shinobu once had an affair with her instructor while she was a cadet at the Tsuge Institute. She was 19 at that time, while Tsuge was said to be in his early 30's]].
330** It's implied that this is one of the reasons she was sent to command SVU Division 1 (which is practically a punishment), in spite of being one of the most competent police members in Tokyo.
331* TheMistress: [[spoiler:She fell for Tsuge, despite knowing he was married, which was both a breach of police protocol and ethics, which created a scandal. Though it isn't said whether his wife ever got wind of the fact he was cheating on her with one of his students]].
332* NewOldFlame: It isn't until the second film that we find out about [[TeacherStudentRomance her past relationship]] with [[spoiler: Tsuge]]. Their history together becomes a subplot, as it reveals the reason she settled for a position with the SVU and creates part of the film's tension, since he leads the terrorist group that's laying siege to Tokyo.
333* NotSoAboveItAll: Though she is not an active participant, Shinobu does find amusement in Gotō's hijinks and nest-shaking.
334* OldMaid: Shinobu's in her mid-late 20's and is a police captain, so her mother worries about her chances of marriage. While Shinobu appreciates her concern, she's dedicated to her career and appears to be in no hurry to settle down. Though given the way she and her fellow captain, Gotō, [[LikeAnOldMarriedCouple relate to each other]], you'd think she ''already was''.
335* OnceDoneNeverForgotten: Shinobu's [[spoiler: affair [[TeacherStudentRomance with her instructor]], [[TheMistress who was a married man]]]], would forever be a blemish on her service record. This effectively ruined what would've been an otherwise promising career. Though she climbed out of the ditch, her colleagues argue that the setback she was put into would have been insurmountable for any other person
336* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Alongside Gotō in the [=SVU2=]. She's a stickler for proper procedure and carries out her duties without fail, but if she has reason to question an order, or find your motives suspect, she won't hesitate to say so.
337%%* ReassignedToAntarctica: For reasons covered in the OnceDoneNeverForgotten related entries.
338* ReassignmentBackfire: She was sent to command SVU Division 1 [[spoiler:due to her affair with Tsuge]], as this was meant to be a punishment and to simmer the waters; by the second film, she is one of the leading proponents of labor use in police work with nationwide and international fame, earning the SVU a significant rise in status. By the events of Next Generation, her superiors and some of her peers continue to ostracize her that she has no choice, but to work in Geneva under the UN Relief Agency for Refugees.
339* ResolvedNoodleIncident: Just what exactly Shinobu did do to get herself assigned to SVU Division 1 as a punishment is only revealed in ''Anime/Patlabor2TheMovie.''
340* SingleTargetSexuality: [[spoiler:The ending of the second movie makes clear that Shinobu still loves Tsuge deeply despite the fact she has to arrest him and she always will. After being with a man whose passion and charisma nearly brought an entire nation to its knees, it's unlikely any other man will ever measure up for her.]]
341%%* SupportingLeader: With Gotō.
342%%* TeacherStudentRomance: Covered in the [[spoiler: MayDecemberRomance]] related entries.
343
344[[/folder]]
345
346[[folder:Lieutenant Tsutomu Gomioka]]
347[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gomioka.jpg]]
348-->Voiced by: Creator/AkioOtsuka (JP), Héctor Moreno (Latin American Spanish dub)
349
350Tsutomu Gomioka is the first forward in Division 1 of the SVU. He is a highly competent officer and Labor pilot. At the end of the series he becomes captain of the newly-formed Division 3.
351----
352* BitCharacter[=/=]FlatCharacter: Gomioka is mainly used in the story to illustrate how obsolete [=SVU1=]'s equipment is compared to division 2. Most of his interactions deal with his annoyance at these shortcomings and how he wants Nagumo to push for better Labors. Other than that, he doesn't have a mayor development.
353* HeroOfAnotherStory: Gomioka's activities in labor policing after he heads Division 3.
354* InformedAbility: He is friendly towards the members of Division 2 and they have expressed their admiration for his professionalism and work ethic. They also commend him as an excellent pilot.
355* TheReliableOne: One of the reasons the [=SVU1=] is not scrapped for good is due to his efforts. As a matter of fact, he spends most of the series being groomed for command, which he finally gets after a couple of false starts.
356* RespectedByTheRespected: In a joint mission, Gomioka recognizes why Division 2 is better garrisoned than 1, as they are willing to keep fighting even when their Labors are falling to pieces (as Ōta shows him).
357* TookALevelInBadass: When Division 1 finally is provided with brand-new Labors, he thoroughly shows his chops by neutralizing a rogue Labor in a matter of seconds.
358[[/folder]]
359
360!Special Vehicles Unit mechanics and maintenance crew
361%%[[folder:As a whole]]
362%%[[/folder]]
363
364[[folder:Chief Seitarō Sakaki]]
365[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sakaki.jpg]]
366-->Voiced by: Osamu Saka (JP), Frankie Rome (EN), Blair Fairman (EN, Manga dub of the first two films), Taylor Henry (EN, Bandai Visual dub of the first two films), Armando Réndiz (Latin American Spanish dub)
367
368Sakaki is the head mechanic of the SVU. His training was in mechanics, and he doesn't really understand the electronics and computers in the Labors[[note]]he struggles with software in the animated continuities, but has apparently gotten used to them in the manga[[/note]]. Though he's supposedly only the head mechanic, most of his job is to order the other staff around, primarily the maintenance crew but sometimes the members of Division 2. ''Easily'' the most respected member of Special Vehicles 2, he commands fear, respect, admiration, and loyalty from all who know him.
369----
370%%* CoolCar: A green Shelby Cobra AC.
371%%* CoolShades: He's never seen without 'em... even at night or at home! (Except once, close to the end of the TV series.)
372* TheDreaded: Even the labor pilots fear Sakaki. Considering he's in charge of the mechanics that maintain their machines, their fear is somewhat justified.
373%%* GrumpyOldMan: It's ''usually'' subdued, but it's there.
374* TheLancer: To Gotō in the second movie. As a matter of fact, he is the one that reassembles [=SVU2=] for Gotō in order to retake control of Tokyo.
375* {{Mentor}}: To a lot of people, from the Special Vehicles 2 maintenance crew to the higher-ups at the MPD, Sakaki is the ''God of Maintenance''. On a day-to-day basis, though, he's grooming Shige to take his place.
376* MentorArchetype: He is one in particular to Shige, and he shows a fondness for lending sage advice to Noa.
377* MrFixit: He's 62 - been doing his job since machines were ''invented''. If he can't fix it, it ain't broke! (...Or Hoba did something to the software.)
378* NiceJobBreakingItHero: He once prohibited pornographic material to be smuggled or kept in the headquarters and left Shige and his crew to fend off for themselves; the situation devolved into an ideological and political clusterfuck within the crew, with rampant betrayals and backstabbing. The fighting gets so out of control that he has to intervene and turn a blind eye to the pornography so that the unit can at least function.
379* TheReliableOne: All of the unit heeds to his advice and expertise.
380* RetiredBadass: In the second movie, as Shige took the helm.
381* RobotMaster: Of the repair and maintenance variety.
382[[/folder]]
383
384[[folder:Chief Shigeo "Shige" Shiba]]
385[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/259241.jpg]]
386-->Voiced by: Creator/ShigeruChiba (JP), Curt Gebhart (EN) Edward Glen (EN, Manga dub of the first two films), Peter Doyle (EN, Bandai Visual dub of the first two films), Ernesto Lezama (Latin American Spanish dub)
387
388Shigeo, or just plain Shige, is second in command of the maintenance crew at Special Vehicles 2. He is a man truly dedicated to his work, though sometimes he can go overboard. He is a proud member of the SVU, and makes sure the Labors work perfectly. He takes over from Sakaki when he retires (though is more than happy to defer to him if a serious need arises).
389----
390* GadgeteerGenius: Understands Labors from the ground up as well as or better than anyone - oh, and he built the ''[[{{BFG}} Riot Gun]]'' Division 2 occasionally uses.
391* HackerCave: His room at home as shown in the first movie.
392* HotBlooded: To a point that it interferes with his job. Hot blood seems to be a trait common to the whole mechanic team, in fact.
393* InkSuitActor: As you can probably guess, Shige was of course, modeled after his voice actor, Creator/ShigeruChiba.
394* LargeHam: Unlike Ōta, he's not "on" all the time, but when he is, he doesn't go halfway. (Creator/ShigeruChiba is actually ''really good'' at this kind of role - it's especially clear during Shige's Mini-Pato episode.)
395* MirthlessLaughter: Aside from being a LargeHam, one of Shige's character traits is his rather loud nervous laughter.
396* OlderAndWiser: Is this to the new [=SVU2=] recruits in the mid 2000s by the time ''Film/TheNextGenerationPatlabor'' movies roll in.
397* TheSmartGuy: It's not too obvious, given how he normally acts, but Shige [[spoiler:not upgrading the AV-98s to the Hyper OS due to mistrusting it and, more impressively, creating a working computer model of vibration effects of the entire Tokyo Bay area]] drives the third act of the first movie. (He apparently also understands English pretty well, translating Kanuka's notes on Division 2 more quickly than Shinshi.)
398* YouAreInCommandNow: By 2002, he's the man in charge of the maintenance teams with the retiring of Sakaki.
399%%* ZanyScheme: He's usually in on them.
400[[/folder]]
401
402!Supporting Characters
403
404[[folder:Detective Takahiro Matsui]]
405[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/293711.jpg]]
406-->Voiced by: Creator/TomomichiNishimura (JP), Allan Wegner & Creator/PaulStPeter (EN), Alejandro Illescas (Latin American Spanish dub)
407
408A detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Matsui once asked Gotō for his help in strange case, but now is often called upon by Captain Gotō for help on crimes which involve specialist investigation.
409----
410* {{Foil}}: To Shinobu. He is Gotō's enabler in snooping around and ruffling feathers where Shinobu keeps Gotō in reins.
411* FriendOnTheForce: Though they're both police, Matsui is Gotō's insider on police investigations.
412* NotSoAboveItAll: He is a very dignified man who is very effective at following paper trails and manhunting, but when it comes to infiltration in the second movie he becomes a CluelessDetective.
413* UndyingLoyalty: He is quick to defend the SVU and Captain Gotō as a force to be reckoned with.
414[[/folder]]
415
416[[folder:Tamiko Shinshi]]
417[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tami.jpg]]
418-->Voiced by: Creator/{{TARAKO}} (JP, OVA & TV Series), Creator/ShinobuAdachi (JP, movie 2), Creator/VeronicaTaylor (EN, OVA & TV Series), Mónica Villaseñor and Rebeca Gómez (Latin American Spanish dub)
419
420Tamiko is the overbearing but loving wife of Mikiyasu Shinshi. She seems like the perfect housewife, but under her sweetness and light persona she can be a she-demon. Somewhat possessive of her husband, she can turn frighteningly mean if she thinks he has been hard done by. Strangely Tamiko and Mikiyasu seem made for each other.
421----
422* AffectionateNickname: Tamiko is the only person in the series that calls her husband "Miki", where everyone else calls him Shinshi.
423* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: She's incredibly proud of her husband and will defend him from anything anyone throws at him, no matter what he does (and as long as he keeps her on the loop); he will not tolerate anyone badmouthing Tamiko or showing even the tiniest bit of aggression towards her.
424* BerserkButton: She will not stand anyone belittling her husband; she also does ''not'' like when he makes decisions without talking with her.
425* ClingyJealousGirl: She hates it when her husband spends more time with his friends than with her.
426* HappilyMarried: Beneath all their differences, yes, they are.
427* HotBlooded: She is ''very'' belligerent.
428%%* {{Housewife}}
429* GenderFlip: Played for laughs; she's pretty much a girl version of Ōta.
430* LargeHam: Where her husband is very reserved and quiet, Tamiko is unbearably loud.
431* PitbullDatesPuppy: She's the pitbull of the relationship, her husband's the puppy.
432* SurprisePregnancy[=/=]HandOnWomb: When her husband goes off to [[spoiler:quell the unrest in Patlabor Movie 2]], she begs him not to go, because of her carrying his second child.
433[[/folder]]
434
435%%[[folder:Tsuyoshi Jitsuyama]]
436%%-->Voiced by: Mahito Tsujimura (JP), Milton Lawrence (EN), Don Fellows (EN), José Luis [=McConnell=] and Jaime Vega (Latin American Spanish dub)
437
438%%Jitsuyama is head of the Shinohara Labor factory. His career in mechanics began when he started a business up with Asuma's father. To Asuma he is kind of like a substitute father and he often comes to him when he needs advice concerning Labors.
439%%----
440%%[[/folder]]
441
442[[folder:Momoko Sakurayama]]
443[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/momo_9.jpg]]
444-->Voiced by: Music/MegumiHayashibara (JP), Sonny Dey (EN), Irma Carmona (Latin American Spanish dub)
445
446Momoko Sakurayama is a tabloid television journalist who always seems to be there at the right time to get that scoop. After following the SVU to get several scoops, she later helps them in their Griffin Labor case.
447----
448* DeadlineNews: Momoko Sakurayama won't let a little thing like danger get in the way of a good story--or being made into unknowing hostages by a criminal labor pilot. Her antagonistic relationship with Section 2 just makes all the more fun to see Otah stuff them back in their news van by hand.
449%%* IntrepidReporter: She makes [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles April O'Neil]] look timid.
450* LargeHam: Seen during her farewell speech to her devoted fans when she thought she was going to be crushed to death by a Labor. [[spoiler: The pilot was a disgruntled patient who thought he was terminally ill.]]
451* NotSoAboveItAll: She might like to hammer on the [=SVU2=], but she's more than willing to help them if they ask her. She even prioritizes fishing out the arms dealers over getting footage from the Labor battle going on in front of them.
452* TooDumbToLive: Her need to get a scoop has on multiple occasions caused her to start reporting a story about labor crime while standing ''in the line of fire'' between the police and the criminal, placing herself in mortal peril and hindering the police's ability to subdue the criminal.
453[[/folder]]
454
455[[folder:Shigeki Arakawa]]
456[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vlcsnap_2013_02_09_02h58m42s244_zpse1b097e0.png]]
457-->Voiced by: Naoto Takenaka (JP), Blain Fairman & Kim Strauss (EN), Gabriel Pingarrón (Latin American Spanish dub)
458
459An intelligence officer assigned with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force chief of staff's office assisting Gotō and Shinobu in locating and apprehending the terrorist Yukihito Tsuge into custody. Arakawa assists the SVU by providing pictures of Tsuge's assets via American military spy satellites and secretly meeting up with Gotō to pass on him intelligence obtained on Tsuge, earning Shinobu's ire due to her suspicions about him and his intentions.
460----
461%%* AuthorTract: His "Illusion of Peace" speech in the second movie.
462* BewareTheSillyOnes: Much to Arakawa's dismay, [[spoiler:Gotō didn't turn out nearly as roguish towards the police as he thought he would be]].
463* DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent: [[spoiler:He's supposedly working for the government, while supposedly working with Tsuge, while supposedly collaborating with Gotō, while actually trying to play everyone for a fool to remain scot-free]].
464* FishEyes: One of his eyes doesn't move presumably because of a marked exotropic strabismus (the eye points outwards). It's not known whether he can indeed see through that eye.
465* FriendlyEnemy: [[spoiler:He and Gotō really enjoy talking to each other, only that Gotō at the very least knew where he himself was standing; that is, on the side of the law]].
466* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:He turned against Tsuge, although the motive was because of differences between the two men.]]
467* HiddenAgendaVillain: [[spoiler:He tried to play Tsuge and Gotō at the same time. He deliberately allowed Tsuge to commit his terrorist acts when he was already in contact with Gotō so that he could wash his hands off his own involvement. Gotō finds him out when Arakawa reaches too far and makes it too obvious that he is implicated.]]
468* ImminentDangerClue:
469** [[spoiler:Gotō finds him out because he is a little too prompt and too well informed of all the stuff that happens in the movie. He makes a point of contacting Gotō every time something happens, as to disassociate himself from his involvement; he was also markedly eager to share information he's not supposed to be sharing, thinking that Gotō is rogue against the police as he is "rogue" towards the [=JGSDF=]]].
470** As discussed in ImpostorForgotOneDetail, [[spoiler:he didn't chase after Tsuge when he should have, meaning that he has a vested interest in not having Tsuge in shackles]].
471* ImpostorForgotOneDetail:
472** He points out to Gotō and Shinobu that the jet plane's outline shown in the TV broadcast does not match the outline obtained from a karaoke video that was being filmed at the time of the attack. This, according to him, was done with the intention of [[spoiler:creating tension between the [=JGSDF=] and the American Air Force by throwing them into a blame game and possibly escalating the whole situation into an armed conflict]].
473** When Shinobu rendezvous with [[spoiler:Tsuge]] at the canals, Gotō immediately realizes that [[spoiler:Arakawa scares off Tsuge ''and doesn't chase him'' when the agent supposedly had both the means and the motive]]. This makes Gotō suspect that [[spoiler:Arakawa is in coattails with Tsuge]]
474* ManipulativeBastard: [[spoiler:He basically lured in Gotō in order to make himself look innocent from his involvement with Tsuge, while still feeding Tsuge with the police's movements. The problem is that he overplayed his hand with Gotō, making too obvious that he was dirty]].
475%%* TheMole: [[spoiler:Is one to Tsuge in the [=JGSDF=].]]
476* MouthOfSauron: [[spoiler:Arakawa's ideological talks with Gotō show a glimpse of Tsuge's intentions regarding the terrorist attacks, defining that Tsuge wants to show how phony is the sense of security the Japanese have and how precarious it actually is. Arakawa's eagerness to express his pessimistic point of view regarding law enforcement and protection of the public is one of the things that tips off Gotō about his involvement in Tsuge's terrorist plots.]]
477* RogueSoldier: [[spoiler:Arakawa's secretly in league with Tsuge's terror activities in the second movie.]]
478%%* ScaryShinyGlasses: His defining feature.
479* TheUnSmile: He is always grinning; it's not intentional, as that is the shape of his face.
480[[/folder]]
481
482[[folder:Captain Fuwa]]
483[[quoteright:179:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shinobunow.jpg]]
484-->Voiced by: Creator/MasakoKatsuki (JP), Vibe Jones (EN)
485
486Fuwa is an old friend of Captain Nagumo, and is her contact within the JGSDF. She's occasionally done favors for Nagumo and Gotō, and has worked with [=SVU2=] on several occasions. She pilots the ARL-99 Helldiver, a military paratrooper labor derived from the AV-98 Ingram.
487----
488%%* ItsRainingMen: There's a reason they call her ride a [[MeaningfulName Helldiver]].
489* NotSoAboveItAll: When a friend in the military tells you that you're being uptight and apprehensive, she means it, as Nagumo realizes.
490* OneDegreeOfSeparation: She became acquainted with the [=SVU2=] team because of her unit's mutual connection with Shinohara Industries. Later, it's revealed that she's a close friend of Captain Nagumo of [=SVU1=]
491* RespectedByTheRespected:
492** She is not shy in telling Noa just how good a pilot she considers her, and that Noa would be an asset to the military if she chose to join.
493** She is one of the few people that are completely aware of how valuable the [=SVU=] is and how crucial a mutual collaboration and rapport can be should it be instituted.
494* TomboyWithAGirlyStreak: A military woman through-and-through, though not neglecting on her feminine side.
495[[/folder]]
496
497[[folder:Chief Fukushima]]
498-->Voiced by: Shinji Ogawa
499Fukushima is the chief of [=SVU2=] and boss of Goto and Shinobu. More often than not, he speaks for [[ObstructiveBureaucrat the top brass in the police bureaucratic structure]]. By the time of the second movie, he has been replaced by Shinobu as Acting Chief.
500----
501* AttentionWhore: His attempt to get some screentime in the TV program "'''Ladies''' at work" isn't exactly subtle.
502* BadBoss: He will try to shift the blame to his underlings whenever something bad happens.
503* FirstNameBasis: The man's only ever known as "Chief Fukushima".
504* SlaveToPR: One of his higher priorities is to score high points with the media, to the dismay of the rest of [=SVU2=].
505[[/folder]]
506
507!Antagonists
508
509[[folder:Utsumi / Richard Wong]]
510[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wong_0.jpg]]
511-->Voiced by: Creator/HirotakaSuzuoki (JP), Creator/MichaelSinterniklaas (EN), Carlos Enrique Bonilla (Latin American Spanish dub)
512
513A very mysterious man working at Schaft Japan, in charge of the Griffin project. He seems to smile all the time and gives off the impression he's happy-go-lucky, but in fact he is very calculating, eccentric and cunning, and will stop at nothing to get the desired result. Utsumi is an alias; his real name is Richard Wong and he is from the Hong Kong division of Schaft.
514----
515%%* AffablyEvil: Well... he's certainly affable. As for the "evil" part...
516* ApologeticAttacker: Right as he lays out a guard with a flying roundhouse kick!
517-->'''Wong:''' ''[apologetic]'' Sumi-ma- ''[punctuates last syllable with kick]'' SEN!!
518%%* BenevolentBoss: A stark contrast to his partner, Kurosaki.
519* TheChessmaster: He even manages to get one over on Gotō. [[spoiler:Who then meets him at the airport as he's trying to leave...]]
520* EvenEvilHasStandards: Richard Wong isn't exactly ''evil'' per se, but he otherwise adheres to this. (If he'd been a bit more ruthless, for example, there would have been no need to throw so many Schaft Labors at the Ingrams, given that security at Special Vehicles 2 is practically nil. [[spoiler:And in the manga, they take advantage of this.]]) Of course, his objective isn't to destroy the Ingrams, it's to be seen defeating them, and sabotage or attacking them while they were down for maintenance would not have provided proof of the superiority of his own designs.
521%%* EyesAlwaysShut: Except for when it's important.
522* FriendlyEnemy: He acts this way at least. If nothing else, he's very polite and considerate for a villain. He even took offense when one of his associates [[spoiler: shot Kumagami.]]
523* KarmaHoudini: After all the trouble he causes for [=SVU2=] and his company, Schaft gives him his old job back 'cuz they need him.
524** Slightly subverted at the end of ''The New Files'' when he loses his job. But then, it wasn't like he cared. Not only do he and Kurosaki escape, they all but literally ride off into the sunset!
525** [[spoiler:Not the case in the manga. In the final volume, he is stabbed and would most likely die.]]
526%%* LaughablyEvil: It's really hard to believe this guy's a villain sometimes, given his antics.
527%%* ManChild: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivp0bC-ait4 A mild mannered version]], but it shows in some of the stunts he pulls.
528* TheMole: He is one in Schaft Japan for Schaft Hong Kong. It's heavily implied that he is working for even bigger bosses than the ones running the Japanese section.
529* OldFlameFizzle: In ''The New Files'', it's revealed that he and [[spoiler: Kumagami]] were an item. It doesn't work out.
530%%* ScaryShinyGlasses: It doesn't have the usual effect, in his case. It's just there to remind you that he's the bad guy.
531* {{Troll}}: Toward his boss at Schaft and his ex: [[spoiler: Kumagami!]] When she confronts him in The New Case Files, he tells her he intends to turn himself in, allegedly because of his feelings for her. It was a lie, naturally. The moment she drops her guard, he [[BridalCarry scoops her up]] and literally dumps her... [[PlayedForLaughs in a laundry basket]], then makes his escape!
532* UndyingLoyalty: Wong absolutely refused to abandon [[TheDragon Bado]], even at the insistence of his partner, Kurosaki; despite jeopardising his own chances at escape.
533** Finally subverted in the second OVA, where after repeated attempts to reason with Bado, he cuts his losses and bails on him.
534[[/folder]]
535
536[[folder:Kurosaki]]
537[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kurosaki.jpg]]
538->Voiced by: Creator/TakayaHashi (JP), Creator/WayneGrayson (EN), Antonio Gálvez (Latin American Spanish dub)
539
540Kurosaki is head of the Phantom labor project, and later second in command of the Griffin project. He seems to be a rather cold man and like Wong will do what ever it takes to get the result he wants.
541----
542%%* TheDragon: To Wong, human-scale.
543%%* EvilSoundsDeep: Which contrasts him with the typically soft-spoken Wong.
544%%* JerkAss: A stark contrast to his partner, Richard Wong.
545* KarmaHoudini: He's considerably more violent than Wong, yet never pays for it.
546* NotSoAboveItAll: He finds Wong very amusing and follows him through whatever zany trouble he causes.
547* ObviouslyEvil: Seriously, with all the evil smirks, smugness, and the light always glinting off his glasses just so, he might as well wear a tag that says: "Evil Bastard".
548%%* SmugSnake: See the preceding entry directly above.
549[[/folder]]
550
551[[folder:Badrinath Harchand / Bado (Bud) Renard Harchand]]
552[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bado.jpg]]
553-->Voiced by: Takuma Gouno (JP), Jamie [=McGonnigal=] (EN), Mayra Arellano (Latin American Spanish dub)
554
555Bado is a very young Indian boy (about 12 years old) who is the pilot of the experimental Griffin Labor. A very competitive young man, his main aim seems to be beating Noa and her Patlabor rather than actually testing the Griffin. He can be very short tempered, and thinks his work for Schaft is just a game rather than actual work.
556----
557* BrattyHalfPint: He behaves this way when he's bored or doesn't get what he wants. Otherwise, he's really not that bad.
558%%* TheDragon: To Richard Wong, Labor-scale.
559* DudeLooksLikeALady: Exactly what it says. Bado can easily pass for a girl even without a disguise. Wong even uses this to their advantage when he and Bado make their escape at the end of the Griffon Arc.
560* EnfanteTerrible: He is not even of legal age and he is the opposing force in some of the greatest battles that Noa and Division 2 have fought.
561* {{Expy}}: He looks like [[Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater Nadia]] with longer hair.
562* ImprobableAge: The kid's an ace Labor pilot at age 12. More importantly, he can also survive the physical effects merely operating the Griffin would have on most anyone else.
563* InconsistentSpelling: Bado/Bud. The manga initially referred to him as "Baddo" with two d's, rather than one, but eventually settled on calling him "Bud".
564* PrideBeforeAFall: Bado refused to back down or listen to reason, despite being out-numbered and low on power, all because he didn't want to give Noa the satisfaction of making him withdraw a second time. [[spoiler: She invokes her 'Big Sister' rights and put's him in his place, by body slamming him and his Humongous Mecha on the tarmac!]]
565* TheRival: He has a rivalry with Noa that is deeply rooted in his respect and admiration for her.
566* UndyingLoyalty: Bado may complain about a lot of things, but he knows that, when it comes down to it, Wong's got his back. So he gives him the same in return.
567** Finally subverted in ''The New Files'', where Wong cuts his losses and ditches Bado, who refused to withdraw from his [[ItsPersonal rematch with Noa.]]
568%%* WorthyOpponent: Bado eventually comes think of Noa this way.
569[[/folder]]
570
571[[folder:Eichi Hoba]]
572[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vlcsnap_787710.jpg]]
573[[caption-width-right:225:A glimpse of Hoba, as shown in the movie]]
574
575A software programmer who worked for Shinohara Heavy Industries, Hoba designed a revolutionary new operating system that was quickly implemented in almost every labor in the Tokyo area. After completing his work, Hoba commits suicide, and shortly later it becomes apparent that his new OS contains a virus that causes labors to go berserk--which due to their ubiquity, threatens the entire Tokyo metropolitan area.
576----
577* AsTheGoodBookSays: He leaves numerous biblical quotes for the investigators to find, and his name ("E. Hoba") is the Japanese pronunciation of "Jehova" (which, being a corruption of the original pronunciation ''Yahweh'', delights him).
578* EvilGenius: So much so, that it took three other geniuses combined (Gotō, Asuma, and Shige) to stop his plans from succeeding.
579* EvilLuddite: He infects the Labors of Japan with a virus that will make them all go on a destructive rampage if [[{{Arcology}} the Ark]] is not destroyed. His reason for destroying the Ark? By building it, Japan is losing sight of its true values (a modern Tower of Babel).
580* TheFaceless: The only part of Hoba's face the audience sees is the huge evil grin on his face as he commits suicide. A couple latter scenes have the cast checking out photos of him, which are blurred to the audience.
581* FarEastAsianTerrorists: Of the nutty religious variety. He compares the Ark project with the construction of the Tower of Babel.
582* GoOutWithASmile: The audience's only glimpse of him when he's still alive is the huge evil grin on his face as he jumps to his death.
583* MeaningfulName: Invoked by Gotō. ''E. Hoba'' is a close homonym of ''Jehova'', fitting for a man that uses the holy scripture in his plot.
584* MyDeathIsOnlyTheBeginning[=/=]ThanatosGambit: Kills himself after setting things up, but before the chaos begins. A slight variation in that the plan (itself not really clear, as Hoba left very little evidence of it besides the virus and biblical quotes) would have advanced with or without him, but him being dead means that the police can't easily piece things together, and ''certainly'' can't whip up an anti-virus in time. Gotō suspects he killed himself in complete confidence that it would succeed.
585%%* NeverFoundTheBody: [[spoiler:But guess what? He really is dead. ...As far as we know.]]
586* NumberOfTheBeast: His ID badge number is "666," a reference that was likely intentional on his part.
587* PosthumousCharacter: The only time we see him alive is as he's getting ready to jump.
588* SecretTestOfCharacter: [[EpilepticTrees Speculated by some fans.]] [[spoiler:He attached his employee badge to his pet raven to set off a NeverFoundTheBody-paranoia, and give his pursuers a SecretTestOfCharacter. Division 2 is only able to prevent the destruction of Tokyo because they decide to try and save Hoba when they think he's alive. They wouldn't have made it to the backup-system in time if they had decided to collapse the Ark with him still in it.]]
589* XanatosGambit: If the police don't stop his plan, then labors (including those in nuclear plants and underground construction sites) run amok and kill thousands. If they ''do'' stop it, then the Babylon Project is crippled[[note]]...until the next movie[[/note]]. Either way, he wins.
590[[/folder]]
591
592[[folder:Yukihito Tsuge]]
593[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/228640.jpg]]
594[[caption-width-right:225:'''Top:''' Tsuge during his UN mission; '''Bottom:''' Tsuge at the siege of Tokyo]]
595--> Voiced by: Jinpachi Nezu (JP), Robert Clotworthy (EN), Miguel Ángel Sanromán (Latin American Spanish dub)
596
597An ex-JGSDF lieutenant colonel who went missing after his UN Labor platoon was attacked by armed guerrillas in the Southeast Asian forests, Tsuge plotted terrorist activities in the Greater Tokyo Area under the assumption of a revolt from the ranks of the Self-Defense Forces. His main motive was for the people to see the reality that he had gone through during his UN peacekeeping tour. He has a history with [[spoiler: Shinobu.]]
598
599----
600* AuthorAvatar: According to interviews with Mamoru Oshii, some of Tsuge's views in the movie are based on his experience and views on learning that the JGSDF will be deployed to Cambodia as peacekeepers.
601%%* BigBad: Of the second movie.
602%%* TheChessmaster: He turns Tokyo upside down.
603* TheDreaded: [[spoiler:In the Next Generation movie, he's locked up in secret and any attempts to look him up are blocked after Nagumo turned him in. As such, he's been housed in a BlackSite controlled by the TMPD.]]
604* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler:Yes, Shinobu still bears him affection, though it's rather unlikely that they'll ever be an item after he almost starts World War III]].
605* FaceHeelTurn: He went to Cambodia as a ''peacekeeper''. His unit finds itself showered with bullets and he repeatedly asks permission to shoot back, but [[ObstructiveBureaucrat he's given the OK too late]] and his unit gets slaughtered. So no, peace didn't work out for him. He then dedicates himself to lift his country's ideological blindfold with terrorism by showing them just how foolish they've become and unsafe they actually are.
606* FarEastAsianTerrorists: Becomes one after the failed Cambodia mission. He faked his death outside Japan and turned into a RogueSoldier.
607* MayDecemberRomance: He had an affair with [[spoiler: Shinobu]] (who was 19 at that time), whereas he was in his early 30's.
608%%* NewOldFlame: Revealed during the events of the second film.
609%%* NonActionBigBad: Oversees the plot from somewhere else.
610* RogueSoldier: Of the FarEastAsianTerrorists variety. With the disastrous Cambodian peacekeeping op gone down the drain, Tsuge went underground in order to hide himself from the outside world. In public, he's known to be [=MIA=].
611* TheSiege: His actions put the city under martial law and [[spoiler:he destroys the communication infrastructure, effectively crippling all law-enforcing organisms. He also destroys the headquarters of the Special Vehicles Unit, making them resort to their old Ingram-98 Labors; this presumably costs the lives of dozens of people]].
612* StartOfDarkness: In the prologue of movie 2, a JGSDF labor patrol in Southeast Asia under his command came under attack by anti-[=UN=] guerrillas, and is almost completely wiped out, while they're ordered to hold their fire.
613* SuicideMission: He was a great proponent of using labors for peacekeeping; this blew up in his face when he led a UN Labor patrol through a humid ''jungle'' battlefield, which is pretty much the Labor equivalent of swimming through molasses. As a peacekeeping military commander, he had to ask his superiors for permission to shoot, which he did way too late. He was the only survivor and the loss of his men broke him mentally.
614* TeacherStudentRomance: Tsuge was [[spoiler: Shinobu's]] instructor, at the time they were together. [[spoiler: At the end of the second film, she reluctantly arrests him but it is clear she still had feelings for him]]. The affair created a scandal, because it was a clear breach of police protocol, made worse since he was married at the time. Though it isn't said whether his wife ever learned he was cheating on her with one of his students.
615* VillainousLegacy: In the final Next Generation Patlabor movie, his views/coup attempt infuenced more radical factions in the JGSDF to try another one.
616%%* WellIntentionedExtremist: From his point of view, though some fans disagreed... including Creator/{{Hayao|Miyazaki}} [[http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/m_oshii_patlabor2.html Miyazaki!]]
617[[/folder]]

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