Fans of classic mecha franchises are in for a treat as a new crossover manga, “Zoids x Patlabor -Code Name B.U.D.D.Y.-“, officially launched on IMAGICA Infos’ Hero Comics website on Saturday. The highly anticipated series brings together the mechanical beasts of Zoids with the piloted labors of Patlabor in a unique narrative penned by manga artist Naoto Tsushima.
A Zoid Hunter in Tokyo: Plot Details Emerge
The central premise of “Zoids x Patlabor -Code Name B.U.D.D.Y.-” sees the Zoid Hunter Wolf transported from his familiar world into the Patlabor universe. There, he finds himself in Tokyo, where he partners with the new Ingram Mark III Labor to protect the city. This “isekai summoning story” promises an intriguing blend of action and world-bending adventure.
The crossover was initially revealed by Takara Tomy in 2023 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Zoids and the 35th anniversary of Patlabor. This celebration also included the release of a special Metropolitan Police Force version of the Hunter Wolf model kit in June 2024.
Key Creative Team and Franchise Legacy
Naoto Tsushima, known for his work on various Transformers manga titles, takes the helm as the manga artist for this project, marking his first involvement with both the Zoids and Patlabor franchises. While Tsushima is new to these specific series, other key staff members involved in the crossover have prior experience with Patlabor, including character designer Akemi Takada and scenario writer Kazunori Ito, who worked on the original Patlabor anime. Mechanical designer Hidetaka Tenjin, who created the box art for the AV-98 Ingram Moderoid model kit, is also contributing.
The Zoids franchise, which first saw its Chaotic Century anime premiere in 1999, most recently teased a 25th-anniversary project for the anime in July 2024. Takara Tomy also launched the Zoids Wild project in 2018, encompassing anime, manga, model kits, and Nintendo Switch games.
The Patlabor franchise originated from HEADGEAR, a creative group featuring director Mamoru Oshii, scriptwriter Kazunori Itō, mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi, character designer Akemi Takada, and manga creator Masami Yuuki. This iconic series, known for its concept of police officers piloting robotic mecha (Patrol Labors), has spawned multiple original video animations, a television anime series, and three anime films, with the last film, Patlabor WXIII, released in 2002. A Patlabor EZY anime project was also revealed in 2017, with a pilot airing in August 2022 and the full project set to begin in 2026.
The new “Zoids x Patlabor -Code Name B.U.D.D.Y.-” manga is set to explore the compelling interaction between these two distinct mecha worlds, offering a fresh story for long-time fans and newcomers alike.
