Ask John: How Much You’re Under Arrest is There?

Question:
Is You’re Under Arrest available on DVD? And how many series does it have? There’s a a tape that has 4 episodes on it. Is that all, or is there more?

Answer:
The You’re Under Arrest OAV series is not yet available on DVD in the US, although AnimEigo has announced plans for an eventual DVD version. All of the existing Taiho Shichauzo anime is available on DVD in Japan. The animation, based on the seven volume manga series by Kosuke Fujishima, began with the 4 episode OAV series and single, live-action music video collection. The OAV series was later broadcast on Japanese TV as the first four episodes of the 55 episode long TV series, which has now been licensed for US translation and distribution by AnimEigo. The You’re Under Arrest movie is set one year after the conclusion of the TV series. The You’re Under Arrest movie has now been licensed for distribution in the US through AD Vision. In preparation for the 1999 motion picture, TBS broadcast a second You’re Under Arrest TV series called Taiho Shichauzo Special. The first 20 episodes of this second series were only 8 minutes long each, while the final episode, titled “You’re Under Arrest, Forever,” was a full 25 minute standard TV episode.