UPDATE: Sentai Filmworks announce Part I dub and cinema screenings!
Update (Sept 27th)
English voice actor for Goemon Ishikawa XIII Lex Lang has confirmed via live stream that more Lupin III dubs are on the way.
The new dubs will include full English audio for the original show, Part I (detailed below), a new film and an extended series from later on in the timeline (the remainder of Part II, perhaps)?
Lang also confirms that the original English voice cast are all on board, which will include Tony Oliver, Richard Epcar, Michelle Ruff and Doug Erholtz.
It’s worth noting that while Lang does not specifically state that the entirety of Part I will be dubbed, we can assume that if he is involved, this will be the case. Previously, we were only aware of the first episode receiving a dub, however, Goemon Ishikawa XIII does not make an appearance until episode five. As such, Lang’s involved from that point onwards — thus confirming more episodes are to be dubbed., and likely the entire series.
Regarding the film, it is likely this will not be a brand-new Lupin III film, and instead a new English dub for an existing one. Lang’s expression “new film” is likely in reference to it not receiving a dub in the past. This could also be in reference to Lupin III VS Detective Conan: The Movie, which is slated for release in the United States later this year.
More details on each new dub are to come in due course. Watch the clip in full below (thanks, Abbey)!
Original post (Sept 24th)
Sentai Filmworks have announced that Lupin III: Part I is to receive a new English audio dub, and it will debut in cinemas across the United States this October.
This marks the first time the original 1971 series has been dubbed into English, and is likely a part of its 50th anniversary celebration. Airing October 25th, one day after the first episode broadcast in Japan fifty years ago, the English version of Is Lupin Burning?! will feature as part of a limited cinema showing.
While not officially confirmed, a full release of the dubbed series, which is expected to feature Tony Oliver, Richard Epcar and the rest of the usual Lupin voice actor crew, is likely to come at a later date.
The Sentai Filmworks press release has rather careful wording, and only mentions that episode one of the original show is to receive dubbed audio at this time. We think it would be amiss for Sentai not to complete the entire twenty-three episode long show, and expect that we will hear more soon.
Alongside Part I, two episodes from the upcoming Lupin III: Part 6 TV series will also air in cinemas across the United States. Episodes zero and one will feature in their original Japanese language audio, complete with English language subtitles. Both episodes will already have aired on streaming service HiDive by the time they reach cinemas, however the event presents a nice opportunity for fans to check out the latest series on the big screen.
After recently announcing his retirement, Japanese voice actor for Jigen Daisuke Kiyoshi Kobayashi is due to voice the character one final fine in episode zero of Part 6. From episode one, the second episode of the new show, Akio Ōtsuka will take over the role for the first time.
Tickets for the event go on sale today, September 24th, 2021. More information on show dates and times can be found over at the Sentai Filmworks website here. Be sure to check if a showing is happening near you, and don’t forget to book yourself a seat in advance!
We will be sure to post any further news on the full dubbed version of Part I in the weeks ahead — stay tuned!
