Though the subgenre has been in a drought for several seasons, mecha anime is as prevalent as buddy cop films in the U.S. But very VERY few can walk up to Gundam and pull a Captain America. Patlabor is not just among the few, they lead the pack. A real robot series that puts Tokyo police into the titular Patrol LABORs, this first of three film adaptations of the Patlabor series retains the signature humor despite a more serious plotline. Very crisp and detailed for an early 90s anime, it's one of the rare Oshii projects that isn't a meta philosophical drag.Plenty of Labor on Labor combat, a boots on the ground police investigation, and more destruction than the average kaiju.

Definitely worth a marathon.