🎬 Lupin III: The First (2019)
Part of Lupin the Third
Lupin III: The First represents a landmark moment for the franchise, not just as another caper but as its bold leap into full 3D computer animation. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film deliberately sets itself apart from the long lineage of 2D anime by rendering Monkey Punch’s iconic, exaggerated character designs with a tangible, sculpted physicality. The transition could have easily misfired, but the film was widely praised for preserving the snappy, elastic spirit of the source material. The animation allows for a fluid, dynamic camera that swoops through action set-pieces—from the streets of Paris to the jungles of Brazil—in ways traditional animation could not, giving the heist a grand, cinematic scope that feels both fresh and faithful to the globetrotting essence of the original manga.
The story itself is a classic Lupin treasure hunt, centered on the mysterious Bresson Diary, a MacGuffin that ties directly into the legacy of Lupin’s grandfather, Arsène Lupin. While the original 1967 manga was known for its darker, more adult-oriented cynicism and fourth-wall-breaking gags, Yamazaki’s film follows the path of the more beloved anime adaptations by softening the edge. It leans heavily into the adventurous, jazzy camaraderie that defines the core quintet, pitting them against a clear-cut villainous group of Nazi treasure hunters. This shift from the manga’s often morally ambiguous tone to a more straightforward, swashbuckling adventure makes the film accessible while still winking at the series’ long history, including a dedication to the late Monkey Punch.
Critically, the film was celebrated for proving that the Lupin gang could thrive in a CGI environment without losing their soul. The voice cast, largely composed of the veteran actors who have embodied these roles for decades, grounds the high-tech visuals in familiar, beloved performances. For many, the film’s greatest achievement was capturing the intricate, tactile details of the heists—the clicking of mechanical traps and the weight of physical objects—which added a new layer of immersion to the franchise’s signature style. It stands as a successful experiment that bridges the gap between the manga’s 1960s origins and the modern era of animation.
Lupin III is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Monkey Punch. It was serialized in Futabasha's Weekly Manga Action magazine from August 10, 1967, to May 22, 1969, with additional chapters appearing sporadically until 1972. The series follows the adventures of Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Maurice Leblanc's gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, as he travels the globe pulling off elaborate heists alongside his partners: the crack-shot Daisuke Jigen and the stoic swordsman Goemon Ishikawa XIII. They are frequently pursued by the dogged Inspector Koichi Zenigata of Interpol, and Lupin's schemes are often complicated by his love-hate relationship with the alluring femme fatale Fujiko Mine.
The manga is known for its blend of action, comedy, and noir-inspired storytelling, with a distinctly adult tone that set it apart from many of its contemporaries. Monkey Punch's dynamic, cartoonish art style and the series' irreverent humor helped establish Lupin III as a cornerstone of Japanese pop culture. The 129 original chapters were collected into 14 tankōbon volumes, and the series has since spawned numerous sequel manga, spin-offs, and one-shots by various creators.
Lupin III's cultural significance is immense, having launched one of the most enduring and beloved media franchises in Japan. Its influence extends across generations, inspiring a long-running anime series, annual television specials, theatrical films, video games, and even a musical. The character of Lupin III has become an iconic figure, representing a rakish, anti-hero archetype that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Lupin the Third is a long-running Japanese media collection centered on the exploits of Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Maurice Leblanc's gentleman thief. Created by the artist Monkey Punch in 1967 as a manga series, the property quickly evolved into a genre-defying institution spanning television anime, theatrical films, television specials, OVAs, and video games. The core appeal lies in the chemistry of its central ensemble: the irrepressible and endlessly inventive Lupin, the sharp-shooting Daisuke Jigen, the stoic swordsman Goemon Ishikawa XIII, the alluring and treacherous Fujiko Mine, and the dogged Inspector Zenigata, whose pursuit of Lupin is as much a personal obsession as a professional duty. Together, they form a dynamic that has allowed the series to explore a vast spectrum of tones, from slapstick comedy and lighthearted caper to hard-boiled noir and psychological drama.
The collection's remarkable adaptability is a key to its longevity. Hayao Miyazaki's 1979 film *The Castle of Cagliostro* presented a softer, more chivalrous version of the character, influencing animated adventure storytelling worldwide. In contrast, the 1978 film *The Mystery of Mamo* delved into psychedelic paranoia and existential themes. This narrative flexibility has been sustained across decades of annual television specials, which began in 1989 and continue to this day, offering self-contained adventures that place the characters in a variety of global settings and high-stakes scenarios. The television series itself has undergone several reinventions, with each new part—from the iconic red jacket of the second series to the more recent adventures set in Italy and France—reintroducing the gentleman thief to a new generation while maintaining the core spirit of the original manga.
The cultural significance of Lupin the Third extends beyond its home country, establishing it as a globally recognized ambassador for stylish, jazz-scored escapism. The collection has consistently balanced a sense of timeless cool with creative reinvention, allowing it to remain relevant for over half a century. In the 21st century, the property has expanded into darker, more adult-oriented territory with the *Lupin the IIIrd* film series, which pushes its animation and psychological depth to new extremes, while simultaneously delighting audiences with lighter, self-contained television specials. Across its many iterations, the collection remains a testament to the enduring appeal of a perfect character dynamic and the thrill of the chase, proving that the greatest treasure is often the adventure itself.
