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WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3
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Wikipedia article
is a 2002 Japanese animated science-fiction/thriller film. It was directed by Fumihiko Takayama and Takuji Endo, written by Miki Tori based on the concept by Headgear, animated by Madhouse and produced by Bandai Visual and Tohokushinsha.
The movie is the third and the final installment of the 'Patlabor' film trilogy and it takes place in between 'Patlabor: The Movie' and 'Patlabor 2: The Movie' and serves as a side story.
Plot
In 2000, a series of unknown attacks on Labors have led to two police detectives, Shinichiro Hata and Takeshi Kusumi, being assigned to investigate these string of events, assisted by members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's SV2 unit.
As they begin to unravel the mystery behind the attacks, the two detectives find reason to suspect that the attacks may have something to do with the American military stationed in Japan, elements of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, and a female scientist involved in a biological weapons program known as Wasted XIII.
Cast
Development
Very similar in premise and plot to episode 3 of the original OVA 'The 450-Million-Year-Old Trap' and the manga arcs in volumes 7 to 10 that greatly extended the plot of that episode.
Release
'WXIII' premiered out of competition during the Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival, which had special screening on December 10, 2001. 'WXIII's Japanese theatrical release took place on March 30, 2002 to coincide with the release of 'Minipato'. Geneon Entertainment licensed 'WXIII' for its North American theatrical release on January 10, 2003 and DVD release on May 2003, which was eventually followed by later DVD releases to Europe and Oceania. It was licensed in Australia by Madman Entertainment. Section23 Films has licensed all three 'Patlabor' films for North America. Section23 Films released the movie on Blu-ray and DVD on September 8, 2015.
Reception
'WXIII' garnered generally mixed reviews, and holds an average of 47/100 on aggregate web site Metacritic.
Animerica gave it a favorable review calling it an "ambitious work which holds its own with both Oshii's justly acclaimed 'Patlabor' movies and with the best works of Japan's live-action horror cinema."
References
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