Anime
The Taiho Shichauzo! animated series began in 1994, when the first episode of the four-part OVA series was sold as a direct to video release by TBS Home Videos. While the manga had skipped Miyuki and Natsumi’s humble beginnings, the OVA tried to explain how they met and how they became partners. The OVA series astounded many viewers by its stunning attention to detail, and the simple yet enlightening stories made people clamor for more. This resulted to the 1996 television broadcast of the series, which ended the following year.
But it doesn’t stop there. Two years later, in 1999 the Taiho Shichauzo! specials were broadcasted prior to the release of the movie at that same year. Following the popularity of the movie, a Second Season of the television series began and ended in 2001, and in 2002, the “No Mercy!!” special was shown on TBS. Five years later, on 2007, a third season named “Full Throttle” was announced and subsequently appeared on TBS.
Clearly, the anime has made a very huge success in Japan. Part of its success is attributed to the devotion of the animation cast, staff, and crew, who together with the original manga artist Fujishima Kosuke made up the You’re Under Arrest Partnership. In what other directions will this partnership take the series and its fans? I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see!
Note: Since I had relied on subtitles to help guide me with my translation, some or all of the conversations in the following synopses may not have been translated properly. However, I do believe it is safe to say that I have got the plot of each story correct.
1994-1995 Original Video Animation
1996-1997 Television Animation [First Season]
1999 Taiho Shichauzo! Specials
1999 Taiho Shichauzo The Movie
2001 Television Animation [Second Season]
2002 “NO MERCY!!” Special
2007-2008 Television Animation “Full Throttle” [Third Season]