Police In A Pod - What We Know So Far
Cop shows are all the rage on American television. Numerous networks have their spin on the genre, whether it's Fox's "9-1-1" or "Blue Bloods" over on CBS. And that's not even getting into all of the other series following authority figures who solve crimes like "NCIS" and its various spinoffs.
You tend not to find the same level of police presence in the world of anime. "Psycho-Pass" has law enforcement officers as the main characters, but that series has more of a science-fiction bent to it. It's hard to find an anime that follows regular cops solving ordinary crimes since "KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops" ended its run after going from 1996 to 2004. However, that's all set to change now that we're getting an adaptation of the manga series "Police in a Pod."
The new series comes courtesy of Madhouse, and here's what you need to know about the slice-of-life story so far.
What's the release date for Police in a Pod?
"Police in a Pod" is a relatively recent manga addition, with the first issue getting released in 2017, with a full volume coming out a year later. The series comes from the mind of Miko Yasu, who actually worked as a civil servant for many years before pursuing an entirely different career path. She took what she knew to the pen and page, where she eventually came up with the storyline for "Police in a Pod." The stories are already there, and fans of the manga shouldn't have to wait too long to see the anime pop up on their screens.
While the studio has yet to announce an official release date, the trailer does indicate the show will come out at some point in 2022. The animated footage suggests the show is a decent way along in its production, so with any luck, we'll have it in the first half of the new year.
Which characters will appear in Police in a Pod?
Based on what we know so far, the anime should follow closely to the manga. As such, fans should expect all of their favorite characters from across over a dozen volumes to make their way to the show at some point.
Front and center of the anime will be the main characters Seiko Fuji and Mai Kawai, who will be voiced by Shion Wakayama and Yui Ishikawa, respectively. Seiko graduated at the top of her class and is a seasoned detective, but she gets transferred to another force with a new partner — Mai Kawai. She's a rookie, and while she still has much to learn about solving crimes, she has an honest personality to make her likable. She hasn't worked as a cop for long, but Mai's already thinking of quitting the force. That is until she's paired up with Seiko, and the two form a close friendship over their tenure.
What's the plot of Police in a Pod?
The trailer sums up the main plot of "Police in a Pod" well, and it looks far more easygoing than a lot of American police dramas. It begins with Seiko and Mai meeting each other. Mai is immediately enraptured with Seiko's presence, and while the two get along, it apparently takes some time for Seiko to warm up to her new partner. The two go around assisting their community, and while some more significant crimes are bound to come up, it looks like the series will take a more comedic approach to the genre.
The anime has a lot to live up to. Not only is there extensive manga with the story, but it was also initially adapted into a live-action TV series. The show premiered in July 2021 and took inspiration from the same source material. There isn't going to be any other anime quite like it when it finally debuts in 2022, so you won't want to miss it.