Set in a near-future Tokyo where humanoid work machines called Labors have become widespread, Mobile Police Patlabor follows the “robot police officers” of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Special Vehicle Section 2 as they tackle the emerging societal threat of Labor crimes. This series captures both the daily lives and heroic exploits of the unit.

Created by HEADGEAR, a team of five talented creators—Masami Yuuki, Yutaka Izubuchi, Kazunori Ito, Akemi Takada, and Mamoru Oshii—the project began with a six-episode OVA (Original Video Animation) series, later referred to as the Early Days.

The Early Days OVAs gained widespread acclaim for their innovative approach to portraying robots as systems, their detailed depiction of Tokyo, and their character-driven narratives focusing on the quirky daily lives of the cast. This unique blend of elements led to massive success.

At the same time, a manga adaptation by HEADGEAR member Masami Yuuki began serialization in Weekly Shonen Sunday, receiving equally high praise.

Following its initial success, Patlabor continued to expand with theatrical films, TV anime series, novels, audio dramas, and games. This groundbreaking project pioneered the use of the "media mix" strategy, becoming a landmark in the world of cross-media storytelling.