Discotek Media detail upcoming Lupin releases!
Discotek Media have taken to streaming service Twitch to unveil their upcoming releases of classic Japanese TV shows and cinema to the masses.
As always, the team at Discotek never disappoint when it comes to their superb Lupin III home video releases—and we saw a total of four show up during the live stream!
Included below is an updated look at three of those upcoming Lupin titles, all of which were announced previously. The updates contain a release date for each, bonus features, information on visual quality and packaging.
Please note that all images included in this post have been taken from the Discotek Media social networking pages, and may not necessarily represent the final product.
The 1978 theatrical Lupin III film is returning to the United States – and this time, in 1080p HD!
Originally released on DVD by Discotek Media on February 26, 2013, The Mystery of Mamo is notable for being the first ever animated feature length Lupin III film.
While the atmosphere / characterization is dark at times and the plot goes rather zany, it is perhaps one of the most Lupin-like films to exist to date. Mamo draws parallels to the original manga series in terms of tone and art style, and it is considered an all-time classic amongst fans.
The HD re-release is set to ship during March 2022, and includes updated liner notes, the Japanese audio dub and all four English dubs. The English dubs included are from Frontier Productions (1978), Streamline Pictures (1994), Manga UK (1995) and Geneon / Phuuz (2005).
Check the gallery below for updated package artwork, and click here to order your copy from RightStufAnime.com!
The 2002 released television special Lupin III: Episode 0 (First Contact) is coming to Blu-ray in North America during April 2022, courtesy of Discotek Media!
Officially announced as part of Discotek’s Holiday 2021 online panel, the film tells an alternative origin story of how the core Lupin gang came to cross paths, completely separate to 2012’s The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. The special is often ranked highly amongst fans, and serves as an excellent jumping in point for those looking to learn about the characters.
The 1080p HD version will include a brand-new English dub and upscaled image quality, making this the most comprehensive release of the film to date. Long-time Lupin series fan Reed Nelson will be assisting with extras, providing extensive liner notes and an audio commentary track.
As it is now frequently the case, the English dub will feature the usual crew of Tony Oliver, Richard Epcar, Lex Lang, Michelle Ruff and Doug Erholtz.
The release date is planned for late April 2022, and those in North America can pre-order your copy via RightStuf now. If you plan on importing, as always, please keep in mind additional postage and custom fees may apply.
The original 1971 TV series that helped start it all is getting a Blu-ray release in North America, coming in May 2022!
Officially announced as part of Discotek’s Holiday 2021 online panel, the show will feature a brand-new, never before seen image restoration. Superior image quality has been achieved by taking the original masters from the Japanese Blu-ray release, with extensive colour correction, dust and scratch removal work completed on top.
All twenty-three episodes have had the above-mentioned treatment, and will be included.
The set will also include around two-hundred pages of in-depth liner notes from long-time Lupin fan Reed Nelson and friends, plus a gallery filled to the brim with rare production artwork.
A newly recorded English dub will also feature alongside the original Japanese language audio. Tony Oliver, Richard Epcar, Lex Lang, Michelle Ruff and Doug Erholtz will all assume their usual roles, featuring as the Lupin gang.
Video quality is promised to be impeccable, with edits made to the Japanese HD masters to remove film grain, fix static frames, and to give this classic show the level of polish it deserves. If you have recently checked out the series on streaming platform HIDIVE, expect to see a few improvements with how it looks on Blu-ray, in comparison.
This is shaping up to be the best quality Lupin III box set we have seen from Discotek Media, and what a fitting way to celebrate the original show’s fiftieth year anniversary!
Check out some updated package design in the gallery below, and note how the lovely cover artwork is taken from the recent French home video release! There are also a couple of new trailers for the set on Twitter here, if you fancy taking a look.
