Discotek Media releasing Italian Game on Blu-ray!
Saturday was a big day for our beloved Discotek Media.
Not only did the team hold a huge panel over at this year’s Otakon convention in Washington, DC - during which they announced around twenty-five new physical releases - but they also confirmed that one of their final “retro” Lupin releases is coming to the United States during September 2024… the 2016 released television special, Italian Game.
Italian Game features three classic episodes from Lupin III: Part 4, linked together with around 24~ minutes of additional footage. The new footage is excellently animated, and ties together the standalone episodes in an interesting way.
The special also features a stunning opening sequence that pays tribute to the original manga, and is directed by Kōji Morimoto of Studio 4°C fame.
At time of release, the special received some criticism from fans due to the reuse of footage from Part 4. This was a large departure from the usual uniquely animated 90-minute TV special format, and people became concerned regarding the future of the regular Lupin TV specials.
In my opinion, the new content fits the story well and helps brings things together, creating consistency between the regular TV episodes. If you don’t fancy watching the whole of Part 4, and simply want a quick Lupin fix, then this special may be perfect for you!
Pre-orders are due to open for the physical release in the next week or two, and an early look at the Blu-ray packaging can be seen below.
And that’s it - the final yet to be released Lupin animated work is to be released in the United States, and with that, the country is all caught up on releases.
I have been covering Lupin news online since 2012, and Discotek Media has been a huge part of the franchises success in the U.S. I remember the announcement of their DVD version of Green VS. Red, and the excitement that drummed up. It, alongside their release of many of the early TV specials and the original Part 1, helped introduce me to the wider breadth of the Lupin series. Even as a fan living outside of the United States, their work has always been much appreciated - the care and attention they give every release is unmatched.
I want to take this opportunity to say - thank you, Discotek! For all of the consistent releases, and the love you have given the Lupin franchise. I can confidently say, if it wasn’t for all of the hard work you guys have put in, the Lupin franchise would not have the rich fan base it currently does outside of Japan. Take a bow!
… but, wait. There’s… more?!
