Finally, Police In A Pod, an anime adaptation of Maiko Yasu’s manga by studio MADHOUSE, is here. Episode 1 gives the viewers a faithful adaptation of the original manga, (and also the live-action series). The episode manages to establish the series as an ideal slice of life anime, sprinkled with satire about the police profession.
We are greeted first with the show’s main protagonist Mai Kawai, who contemplates resigning from her position as a policewoman. Just as she is about to submit the letter to her deputy chief, she meets her new instructor: former detective Seiko Fuji. As the episode progresses by we get to see more of how Fuji deals with criminals, and maybe how to get frustrated she is with it.
Police in a Pod‘s episode 1 also gives us a brief introduction to some of the side characters, including Fuji’s former detective colleagues: Seiji Minamoto and Takeshi Yamada.
Public Servants Are Human After All
The first episode gives us an insight into Kawai’s conflicting desires: accepting her fate as a policewoman for a stable income or quitting her position due to the perception of the public to her profession. Presenting the dilemma straightforwardly at the very first episode of a series is a strong point for a story deep-rooted in real-life inspirations, and Police in a Pod delivers it.
The series also offers a breath of fresh air and a new take on portraying police in anime. The “bad-ass” or “formal” stereotype (in this case, the typical police recruitment poster) is gone, and a new kind of vulnerability is introduced, highlighting that police are human after all. In one scene, when Kawai and Fuji stop an overspeeding car and write them up, we see Fuji muttering under her breath, and cursing at the driver afterward for breaking the rules. While seemingly hilarious, it gives us a candid viewpoint on the human nature of police officers. As with any profession, many of us aren’t able to execute the “ideal persona”, and most of the time we mutter under our breath about how hard our job is and how much we struggle.
In summary, the first episode is off to a good start, and it’ll be interesting to see the various assignments–and candid moments–the duo Kawai and Fuji will be sharing for the upcoming episodes.
Police In A Pod is available for streaming on Funimation and on Muse Asia. The series is directed by Yuzo Sato, with Ryunosuke Kingetsu working on the script. The opening for the series is titled “Shiranakya (I Gotta Know)” by Riko Azuna, while Nonoc performed the ending theme “Change“.
Fun fact: the original creator of Police in a Pod used to be a police officer before becoming a mangaka, so hopefully that helps make this adaptation even more worthwhile.
All images via Muse Asia.
©泰三子・講談社／ハコヅメ製作委員会
