Update: "Lupin VS Conan" special is coming to Blu-ray in the United States!
Update (June 14th, 2022):
The upcoming Discotek Media release of Lupin III versus Detective Conan is now available to pre-order via RightStufAnime in the United States. Coming in at around $20, the new Blu-ray version of the 2008 television special is due to ship on the 30th of August, 2022.
Original story (May 28th, 2022):
It’s time for a battle of wits in Lupin III versus Detective Conan, coming to Blu-ray in the U.S. with an all-new English language dub!
Announced as part of Discotek Media’s Anime Boston panel, the 2009 television special is due to release on HD video format in the U.S. for the first time.
Set prior to the latter released 2013 film, the original cross over television special is a little more Conan dominated. While there are some fun moments, it mostly just provides some decent set-up for the higher rated, far more entertaining sequel film. If you are a fan of both series, however, it is certainly worth a watch.
As mentioned earlier, a brand-new English language dub will be included alongside the original Japanese language option. The English dub is set to feature the current voice cast from both Lupin and Case Closed. That means, the cast for this release will be consistent with 2021’s English dubbed version of Lupin III versus Detective Conan: The Movie!
Discotek staffer Brady confirmed on Twitter that this upcoming release is set for impressive visuals, with a 1080p true 23.976 progressive image quality. While there are reports of the original version including interlacing issues, Discotek’s usage of upscaling software AstroRes, along with Brady’s keen eye for detail, help make this the best presented version of the special in the business.
Special features are to include liner notes, plus a clean opening and ending. There’s not long to wait before you can pick this one up, either, as it is due to release in August 2022. Stay tuned for pre-order details, and for the time being, check out this trailer showcasing the new English language dub!
