Lockdown Recommendations: Lupin Edition
If you are anything like me, sticking out these past couple of months locked down at home has been relatively tough.
At first, it sounded great!
Working from home whilst lying in bed, playing endless amounts of video games, watching film after film. Living the dream.
While I personally consider myself very lucky and I would not want to complain, the reality of the situation is - after about five minutes of being told you are to be locked indoors, you cannot help but go a little stir crazy.
Thankfully, the Lupin series has us covered. With over forty, coming on fifty years worth of animated goodies, even if you have seen it all before, there is bound to be a whole bunch of content that is worth a re-watch. Lupin is after all, a bit like comfort food - once you start watching, you just can't stop!
This short article hopes to give you a few recommendations of episodes, films and specials to check out whilst in (or out of) lockdown.
If you have access to any of these, view them as if we are in a little Lupin film club together. Have a watch and let everyone know your thoughts, by either posting a comment below or through your social media account/s.
Keep one thing in mind though - you will have to consume them all quickly, before the crazies of lockdown start kicking in!
Lupin III: Part I - The First Move Wins Computer Operation! (Episode 22, 1972)
The first series of Lupin III is a fun watch from start to end.
This is even despite the rather dramatic shift in tone after after the production staff changed hand mid-way through. I feel that in hindsight, all aspects of the show are interesting and entertaining - whether that be the earlier Masaaki Ōsumi episodes, or those by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
The final portion of the show is undoubtedly when it started to really hit its stride, though. As Miyazaki and Takahata became more comfortable with the characters and the direction it was going, every week their fun, family friendly episodes would be sure to delight viewers.
The First Move Wins Computer Operation! is the very definition of Miyazaki and Takahata’s Part I.
It features an ingenious scenario, in which Inspector Zenigata’s sense of pride is challenged after the chief of police confirms a computer has been commissioned to help catch Lupin and his gang. This computer, which fills the entire room it sits in (remembering this would be how they looked back in 1972) chugs and whirs as it predicts Lupin’s every move.
Zenigata, who is very stressed about the situation at hand, does not trust the digital detective and questions the accuracy of its calculations. Surely nothing is better suited to capture but him - not even the latest in computer technology!
This story of how Lupin rises up to defeat the undefeatable is a good one. Seeing the gang in these difficult situations, but pull through in an entertaining and genius way is what makes the show and its characters so endearing. As the penultimate episode, it is a great send off for the green jacket series and would no doubt be the perfect cure to help cheer any fan of classic Japanese animation up a bit.
The complete first series of Lupin III is available to buy from Discotek Media, and take our word for it - it still holds up coming on fifty years after its original Japanese air date!
Lupin III: Part II - The Miami Bank Raid Anniversary (Episode 143, 1980)
This classic episode of Lupin III: Part II was Studio Telecom’s first trip back into the series after the completion of their work on The Castle of Cagliostro.
The story sees a failing banking company call on Lupin to rob them after the loss of their final customer leaves them hanging high and dry. With nothing in the vault and therefore nothing to lose, the two owners attempt to tempt in Lupin by sending out a calling card for him.
The heist becomes an extravagant public event, with Ferris wheels and merchandise on sale as far as the eye can see. Jigen, Goemon and Fujiko literally jump out of the car windows as they approach the bank, as they want no part in such a farce. It’s now up to Lupin to take on the bank under the close watch of the public eye. If he does succeed, what will he find, and will it be worth all of the commotion?
There are so many amazing episodes in the latter third of Lupin III: Part II, and this is just one of them. It’s fun from the start until end, and the animation holds up extremely well even to this day. If you are an owner of Discotek Media’s fourth Part II box set, you can check this one out today!
The Fuma Conspiracy (OVA, 1987)
If you are a regular follower of my Twitter account, you will likely know that I absolutely adore The Fuma Conspiracy (or Plot of the Fuma Clan, as it is also known).
This is a film that rivals that of Hayao Miyazaki’s classic The Castle of Cagliostro in terms of its visuals, and in my own personal opinion, it is a much better Lupin film.
It opens with a wedding between a younger looking Goemon Ishikawa XIII’s and his fiancée, Murasaki Suminawa.
Lupin, Jigen and Fujiko are also in attendance - although with a different motive. The mischievous thieves are not only passing by the celebrate the wedding of their friend and joining in on the festivities. Instead, the trio are visiting the home of Murasaki after hearing a rather mysterious rumor of a temple made out of gold hidden in the mountains.
As the two lovers approach the alter, an evil clan of deadly ninjas suddenly crash the ceremony and attempt to swipe the Suminawa family heirloom - a valuable antique urn. As the gang help protect it, they instead grab Murasaki and in exchange for her safety, request the urn is left in their possession. The much sought after urn had been entrusted to Goemon, and as the honorable samurai he is, it’s now up to him to rescue his bride-to-be while keeping the treasure away from the deadly grasp of the Fuma clan.
This film is an absolute riot, and I could write about it all day. All members of the Lupin gang get a good amount of screen time, and the hi-jinks between Lupin and Inspector Zenigata is some of the best throughout the entire franchise (the car chase in particular is one of the greatest to come out of Lupin III, so definitely give that a watch if nothing else).
The only notable downside to Fuma is the lack of official voice cast and music composer. This was as the production team blew the budget for the film on its animation, and couldn’t afford Yasuo Yamada, Yuji Ohno and the gangs typical going rates. They sourced alternatives, which caused a huge fallout between the production staff and the talent. Kazuhiko Katō (Monkey Punch) reported that he did not want to get involved, or tread on the toes of the production staff, so things went ahead.
As a result, years later, this remains an imperfect film. Toshio Furukawa and the rest of the voice crew did a stellar job, and the soundtrack sounds delightfully 80’s - but it just does not quite have that Lupin polish and sheen as a result. If it had, it may have even been remembered more fondly than Cagliostro.
Definitely check out Fuma if you can find the time. Discotek Media have released the film in North America on DVD, however it is now out of print. If you can shop online, keep an eye on eBay, as new copies often pop up as Discotek Media themselves clear out their warehouse.
Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid (TV special, 2011)
The 2011 TV special saw not only a huge departure in visual style from The Last Job which came before it, but it also featured a striking change to the Japanese voice cast.
Fujiko Mine, Goemon Ishikawa XIII and Inspector Zenigata all had new voice talent (the same ones that voice the characters to this day), and this was big news in Japan - so much so, it made the news on national television! The current cast fit into their roles like a glove does on a hand, and their initial performances were absolutely superb.
In Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid, Lupin and the gang are on the hunt for an elusive jewel named the Mermaid’s Scale.
The gang swipe it at an underground auction, much to their associates delight, however their success comes with a whole heap of trouble as an arms dealer named Himuro is also after the same treasure. The story unfolds to surprising lengths, with superhuman strength and immortal life coming into play, and even an appearance from Lupin’s grandfather, Lupin I.
This is one of the better more recent Lupin III specials, and if you’re living in North America, you can check it out on Blu-ray and DVD complete with an English language dub. The cast stars familiar favourites Tony Oliver, Richard Epcar, Lex Lang and Michelle Ruff - so it is a must see if you’re a fan of the original Geneon / Pioneer dub. Discotek Media once again handle the release.
Lupin III: Part IV - Lupin’s Day Off (Episode 16, 2015)
The fourth Lupin TV series is filled with a bunch of memorable one-shot story episodes, just like the classic TV shows from the 70’s and 80’s. If it’s some lighthearted fun you are after, Lupin’s Day Off is your one to watch.
During some much needed downtime, the gang set off on a trip to pick up a Japanese cuisine from back home they have all been desiring since visiting Italy, sushi!
After a brief encounter with Inspector Zenigata, Lupin, Goemon and Jigen accidentally run into a lost dog. A request from Fujiko sees them to return the dog to its owner, who is aboard a cruise ship that is about to leave for abroad. Will Lupin and the gang make it to the boat and return the lost dog in time?
This is an entertaining episode that helps inject some lightheartedness in-between the overarching story line of Part IV, which is often at times a little complex and out there. It’s an easy one to check in with, especially if you are new to the show or simply haven’t seen any other episodes from Part IV.
If you’re in North America, you can stream the episode via Crunchyroll or order the set on Blu-ray from Discotek Media. All episodes are available in both Japanese and English, with the Tony Oliver and Richard Epcar dubbing crew.
Lupin III: Part 5 - Lupin vs. the Smart Safe (Episode 6, 2018)
Since Part III is still yet to get an official localisation in English speaking territories, episode six of the latest Lupin TV show is the closest we can get to a pink jacket episode overseas (if you are not counting the feature film, Legend of the Gold of Babylon, of course)!
The Hirameki brothers, self proclaimed geniuses, have created the most advanced safe known to humankind. Their invention analyses the brain power of the one attempting to open it, and in line with the brothers own, it only opens to those with the brain power of zero.
After some brief persuasion by Fujiko, Lupin is adamant he will break into the safe - but how will he do it?
This episode is a tribute to the third Lupin TV show and it is filled with the same style of zany writing and goofy humor. When the episode teaser aired back in Japan, fans could not help but get excited to see Lupin donning his pink jacket again. It is and always has been a hugely underrepresented area of the franchise, and it was about time it made a comeback!
This episode and the rest of Lupin III: Part 5 is available to stream in North America through Crunchyroll. It is also available in both Japanese and English, with the same veteran dubbing crew as Part II and Part IV.
Fujiko Mine’s Lie (Film, 2019)
The Takeshi Koike trilogy of spin-off films are a must-see for fans of a darker toned Lupin.
Out of all three, Fujiko Mine’s Lie is perhaps the most lighthearted of the bunch, with slightly less gory and brutal visuals than the two that came before it.
Gene, a scrawny kid around the age of nine or ten, has been made aware of the location of a large sum of stolen money from his now deceased father. Gene’s father came into possession of the $500 million by stealing it from his place of work, a shady organization named Godfrey Mining.
Fujiko plays an important role in protecting Gene, but is she in it for his safety or for the money? Lupin and Jigen both become entangled in the affair, which eventually leads up to a face off with a deadly superhuman assassin, named Bincam.
The film feels like a top tier Takeshi Koike flick, complete with gorgeous visuals and unique characters. It’s a superb take on a modern, darker version of the Lupin we all know and love - but is careful not to stray too far from what you may expect from the source material.
Fujiko’s Lie is available to watch on demand through Amazon, or can be ordered on Blu-ray from Discotek Media.
Both can be viewed in either the original Japanese language audio, or with the brand new English language dub (which contains a slightly different English dubbing cast than what you may expect, with Cristina Valenzuela, Keith Silverstein and Dan Woren all featuring).
