MiniPato is as hilarious as it is original. Consisting
of 3 10-minute shorts, it parodies the Patlabor franchise using a unique
animation style. Resembling a puppet theater, the movements were captured using
cardboard cutouts on chopsticks, and the rest was processed using 3DCG while still
retaining the cardboard-on-stick look.
Written by
Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Avalon, Patlabor 1,
Patlabor 2, Angel's Egg, Jin-Roh) the humor is dry, silly and
witty. In the first episode we have Captain Goto explain why the weapons used
in Patlabor were designed/chosen like they were. The second episode has
chief engineer Shigeo Chiba explain the design decisions of the patlabors. Both
of these episodes are also self-referential as they also explain the viewpoints
of the creators. And finally in the third episode, Shinobu Nagumo reveals SVU2's
dark secret. The dry humor in the last part works well and scenes from the Patlabor
movies are recreated in MiniPato's style. Excellent fun, and recommended
to all Patlabor fans. Oshii himself is parodied in the form of a
dog who looks like him.
(4.5)
