Top picks: must see episodes for series newcomers!
Viewing the Lupin III franchise for the first time can be daunting.
Jumping into any series so vast in terms of content can feel like a challenge. This is especially the case for Lupin, a show that has now seen consistent releases for over fifty years.
There has been much variation injected into the series in terms of its art style, theme and tone - one season (or even one episode) can feel mighty different when compared to the next. This is sometimes due to a change of director, production studio or simply the writers trying out new things, as the main characters are so versatile.
If new viewers are unfamiliar with who these characters are and how things work, this can be off-putting. Looking at their options, it can confuse people to the point where they end defeated - never to watch it at all.
Rather than it feel jarring, some fans consider this to be part of the appeal. The changes help keep things fresh even hundreds of hours in, with a fair few shakeups happening even thirty of forty years of content down the line. There are many surprises in store for the viewer, which helps to keep everyone delighted, entertained and interested in Lupin and his gang.
This article aims to give you ten episodes we think you should watch to experience some of the vast extremes of the franchise. They may not be what we would consider the “essential” or “best”, but instead must-see episodes that will give viewers an idea of the breadth of content available. Each one is a good watch and absolutely worth your time.
If you are not concerned about consistency, we hope this is an ideal way of checking out what the franchise has to offer! If you have any suggestions of your own, please let us know by leaving a comment below the article.
Spoiler Warning
Before we get started, it is worth noting that the below text may contain spoilers for each mentioned episode.
If you are concerned about any plot points becoming revealed prior to checking out each - we would recommend you watch the episode prior to reading the text.
It is also worth mentioning that each episode can be viewed as a standalone one-off with the exception for the final episode on the list, which is taken from Lupin III: Part 5. As the recommendation here is of the finale from the first story arc, we would suggest checking out the prior four episodes to fully understand the context.
Part I: Episode 4: One Chance for a Prison Break (1971)
Lupin is finally under arrest, and the given sentence is death…!?
This episode is based upon an early chapter of Monkey Punch’s original manga. It is likely a darker start to the Lupin you may have been expecting, however it is a perfect example of an early Masaaki Ōsumi manga to television adaptation.
The first nine or so episodes of Part I are relatively well known for being a little more downbeat when compared to the latter portions of the show. This is as the original director, Masaaki Ōsumi, had set out to create an animated show for an older audience. His efforts were done all while sticking as close as possible to the source material - which makes a lot of sense looking back on it, as aside from the pilot film, in 1971 there was not much else to go on.
While it is still slightly less dark than its manga counterpart, One Chance for a Prison Break still has a strange and twisted feeling about it. There is a definite sense of unease / tension as Lupin seemingly waits things out until the day he is to depart. He is oddly calm about his fate - is he confident in his ability to escape? Has he given up and is paying the price for his crimes? Even Jigen and Fujiko are not sure…
One Chance for a Prison Break serves as a great character piece - especially for Inspector Zenigata, who after dedicating his entire career to catching the thief, cannot come to terms with his fate - and as a result, deal with the consequence of his actions.
While the episode does involve a more serious take on the characters, their core series traits still shine through. Inspector Zenigata questions his relationship and feelings towards to the thief, while a calm and cocky Lupin is confident of his plan and escape. These are just a couple of many reoccurring tropes that are to show up throughout the multiple series to come.
You can check out Lupin III: Part I by streaming via Amazon Prime Video in the U.S, however we would recommend picking up the superior DVD release from Discotek Media.
Part I: Episode 19: Which Third-Generation Will Win?! (1972)
The grandson of Lupin I’s greatest rival, Inspector Ganimard III is here to challenge Lupin! Will he capture the thief and steal the limelight from Inspector Zenigata?
Which Third-Generation Will Win?! is a far more light-hearted, comedic take on the green jacket formula and as a few episodes do, features references to Maurice LeBlanc’s original stories. These not only take the form of Inspector Ganimard himself, a direct reference to a character from the original books, but also his plan to bait Lupin out by putting on a show of prized Lupin I treasures at a local museum.
Lupin takes the bait of course - he never turns down a challenge, but it is Inspector Zenigata that gets in the way of Ganimard’s plans. To him, having someone else in charge of the Lupin case is unbearable - he knows best, after all!
Unlike One Chance for a Prison Break, this episode is not directed by Masaaki Ōsumi. Instead, in his place were Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. These two young animators come directors were brought in to help change up the style of the Part I series, and instead give it a more family friendly look and feel in hope for it to appeal to a wider audience.
As such, there are many great comedy moments throughout with a sense of humour almost everyone can appreciate. This episode also features reference to the original books in perhaps my personal favourite way possible - as an ingenious plot device. As always, Lupin’s solution of winning the day is very clever, and some of the later scenes really help to show the struggles Inspector Zenigata (and now Ganimard) go through in attempting at cornering the thief.
Inspector Zenigata himself is a rather different to his representation in early episodes, with his hot-headedness and incredible self-confidence getting the better of him. This is a version of the character that Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata helped shape, and is perhaps a take most people will recognise from the early parts of Part II (with special thanks to Dan Martin’s superb performance in Geneon / Pioneers original English language dub).
You can check out Lupin III: Part I by streaming via Amazon Prime Video in the U.S, however we would recommend picking up the superior DVD release from Discotek Media.
Part II: Episode 99: The Combat Magnum Scattered in the Wasteland (1979)
The Combat Magnum Scattered in the Wasteland is a fun Lupin tale, that revolves around a revenge plot between Jigen Daisuke and an old rival. It was also the very first episode from any anime to broadcast on Japanese TV in stereo sound!
The show kicks off with the familiar opening titles to that of the other episodes before it, only with one added twist. Sound effects are now scattered throughout the opening - from engine noises of Lupin’s bright yellow Mercedes-Benz SSK zooming along, to the deadly sword slashes of Goemon Ishikawa’s Zantetsuken.
The episode is not only a great showcase of early stereo sound in anime, but it is also an ideal Part II package.
All members of the main cast get a decent amount of screen time, with a story that features throwbacks to Jigen’s past and introduces a cool new villain. There are chases and antics between the gang and Inspector Zenigata, all of which feel like some of the most memorable from the series.
The climax of the episode features a rattled Jigen, scrambling around to reassemble his trusty .357 magnum to eventually take a single shot - more than enough to take down his opponent. He narrowly makes it out of the dig site and across the border before the final gate closes and rides off into the sunset as the absolute stoic hero he (thinks he) is. These are the incredibly likable versions of the main cast members that Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata both helped shape in the latter episodes of Part I.
It is also worth noting that animation for this episode is handled by Studio Telecom, a familiar name to Lupin fans, as they are still involved with the production of the series even to this day. Telecom, at the time, was made up of various animators that went on to work at the revered Studio Ghibli, and their talent certainly shows. This was their fifth episode to feature in the Part II series, and certainly not the last. Their work always shines, and their unique style and strong animation work always makes their episodes feel as if they have high production values.
There is an amazing balance of comedy, adventure, action and suspense in this episode. It features all the staples of what makes Part II so great and is an essential watch if you are looking into checking out the show. Japanese fans also met the episode with positive reception, and it came in at number six in the “Lupin III Best Selection” episode ranking.
You can check out Lupin III: Part II over on Crunchyroll in the U.S, and it is also available to purchase on DVD courtesy of Discotek Media.
Part II: Episode 145: Albatross: Wings of Death (1980)
Albatross: Wings of Death is the first of two episodes featuring in Part II to be directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is fun, grand in scope, involves aviation (a Miyazaki staple) and feels as if it has a far bigger production value than any twenty-odd-minute episode has any right to have.
After the completion of his successful feature film in 1979, The Castle of Cagliostro, the celebrated director returned to Lupin one last time. Miyazaki admitted that he was running out of stories to tell involving the famous thief and opted to give him a two episode send-off before calling it quits (which was a promise he stuck to).
Although episode 155 (Farewell, my Beloved Lupin) is often the favoured episode out of both of Miyazaki’s contributions to Part II (perhaps since it features early designs for both Nausicaä and the robots from Laputa: Castle in the Sky), Albatross: Wings of Death is subjectively a far better episode of Lupin.
A quiet camp-out involving Lupin, Jigen and Goemon quickly comes to an end as an incredibly aggressive Fujiko shows up. The heroine is mid-firefight, chased by a gang of mysterious attackers. During her fleeting visit, she plants an object of interest on an unsuspecting Lupin - the detonator plug to a pint-sized A-bomb.
The remainder of the episode sees Lupin and the gang attempting to rescue a captured Fujiko from the evil Professor Lonebach (who has the typical “mechanic” or “inventor” style of appearance, akin to Kamajī from Spirited Away or Dr. Ivo Robotnik from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series).
The episode has plenty of action, ending in a huge airborne firefight and rescue operation as the gang attempt to swipe Fujiko from Lonebach's flying fortress.
It is Fujiko’s screen time, however, that is the highlight here. Despite her capture and the fact Lupin is coming to her aid, she is still able to escape on her own accord and kick plenty of bad guy butt in the process. Fujiko is strong and more than capable; two things Miyazaki loves to tell us through his episodes and film.
In the “Lupin III Best Selection” episode ranking, Albatross: Wings of Death came in at number two, marking it as a popular favourite amongst Japanese fans.
You can check out Lupin III: Part II over on Crunchyroll in the U.S, and it is also available to purchase on DVD courtesy of Discotek Media.
Part III: Episode 49: Pops Was Adopted into the Family (1985)
Part III is perhaps the most divisive series out of the original three, particularly the latter half. As with Part I, the style of the series changed around halfway through. All of the main cast members received an updated look, and the episode story lines typically got a little goofier.
It is clear the production team and animators were having fun - Lupin bounces around like he is made of elastic at times, with an artistic flair to the animation that compares to the likes of Looney Tunes. This was not the case in the opening half of the show, which saw the cast remaining consistently on model, and moving around in a more grounded manner. Despite still having a delightfully 80’s look and feel about it, it did play things safer.
Even to this day, the style of the latter half does not fit to everyone’s tastes - especially those that may have been introduced to the series through the original manga, or by watching the first half of Part I. There is something wildly 80’s about it, though. Everything from Lupin’s bright pink jacket colour, to the synthesizer heavy Jazz infused soundtrack from series veteran Yuji Ohno. It is colourful, unpredictable, wacky and unafraid to take risks.
Pops Was Adopted Into the Family contains a couple of gorgeously animated sequences done in this same spirit by key animator Hiroshi Shimizu, of Studio Ghibli fame. Shimizu helps prove that it is impossible to write-off the animation of the pink jacket show. The cartoon-like style of the series’ latter half allowed for more flexibility and fun in relation to the animation, and it is at times like this the third TV series really shines. One particular sequence involving Lupin dive-bombing a terrified Jigen with his latest jet pack contraption gone wrong is an absolute joy to watch.
Part III is underrepresented and a lot of fun, and anyone interested in the series should give it a shot!
If you are living in the U.S, you could previously check out Lupin III: Part III over on Crunchyroll and Hulu, however it appears to now be missing from these services. Fans are holding out hope for a DVD release from Discotek Media in the future, and have been for some time.
The Woman Called Fujiko Mine: Episode 02: .357 Magnum (2012)
In 2012, the release of The Woman Called Fujiko Mine was met with a rather lukewarm, confused reception from fans. This was the first televised Lupin series since Part III, which ended back in the December of 1985. It was hyped up a relatively large amount by marketing and the Japanese media.
This is not the Lupin everyone knew and loved. The tone is far darker. Characters do not feel like themselves. It is a prequel after all - and although debatable, it also feels like it takes place in its own reality and timeline.
The cheerful jazz ditties from Yuji Ohno are not present. Instead, Naruyoshi Kikuchi and Shin’ichiro Watanabe create something dark and twisted sounding. This was done to create something radically different from what the audience was already familiar with, no doubt a deciding factor for most of the shows production decisions.
While all of this may sound daunting, it is not to say that the show is not a good watch. Fujiko Mine oozes with style - it is a female power fantasy set in the 1960’s, with the edge level turned up to eleven.
It is also the first Lupin series to be headed up by a female director, Sayo Yamamoto of Yuri on Ice fame. This was a welcome change, and Yamamoto worked hard to help create something new and interesting.
This second episode does not feel the need to focus on Lupin himself, and instead explores the relationship between the protagonist Fujiko Mine and Lupin’s soon to be right-hand-man, Jigen Daisuke. The narrative has a sharper edge to it than the usual Lupin content, with some surprising twists and turns along the way. Jigen’s relationship with Fujiko is complicated and has far more layers to it than it did previously.
It may be easier to digest for new viewers unfamiliar with the show, but if existing fans are able to accept that this is indeed a different take on the show and characters, there is a lot to take away from this spin-off.
It is currently possible to stream The Woman Called Fujiko Mine via Amazon Prime Video in the U.S, and a physical set complete with English language dub is available from FUNimation.
The Woman Called Fujiko Mine: Episode 04: Vissi d'arte, Vissi d'amore (2012)
As with .357 Magnum, the fourth episode continues the darker themes of the Fujiko Mine show.
The episode opens with Fujiko having sexual intercourse with Inspector Zenigata in his office - an event that will no doubt baffle existing fans of the series. Zenigata of all people, bunking up with Fujiko?
It is quickly revealed that this is done to receive early release from prison, and also to gain valuable information regarding a treasure - the location of a jewel studded mask worn by opera singer Ayan Maya. Fujiko is in control here, and despite being put under arrest, she uses her confidence and body to her advantage to do whatever she pleases.
Zenigata breaks established character in this opening scene, and he does so once again later in the episode. As Fujiko and Lupin both make attempts at stealing the jewel studded mask, Zenigata and his second in command, lieutenant Oscar, open fire. This is a sure-fire attempt to kill Lupin.
Even in the early episodes of Part I, Zenigata is sent into a state of turmoil when the thief is sentenced to death and cannot come to terms with it. In the Fujiko Mine spin-off however, the Inspector is deadly serious and out for blood. This is no doubt a hard pill to swallow for long-time fans, but it gives us a cool, serious take on the character that becomes fun to watch.
This episode is a good one to watch to get an idea of a radically different take on three of the franchises well known characters. Lupin is definitely the truest to his original self, but both Fujiko and Inspector Zenigata shine here in a light that feels different from the norm.
It is currently possible to stream The Woman Called Fujiko Mine via Amazon Prime Video in the U.S, and a physical set complete with English language dub is available from FUNimation.
Part IV: Episode 01: The Wedding of Lupin III (2015)
The gang returns to television in the first “traditional” format TV series since Part III - and Lupin is getting married!
The first episode of Part IV was hailed as a return to form for the long-running show. It is drastically different in terms of style and tone to the far darker Fujiko Mine spin-off that came before it and is far more comparable to the Part II series.
The show stood out from the crowd at time of airing, with series veterans Studio Telecom causing anime fans heads to turn with their stellar animation work. Telecom certainly pull out all of the stops to update the characters in a way that both appeals to a modern audience, but still retains the classic feel of the original series. Their sparse inclusion of 3D animation is done in a way that compliments the 2D animation, with the team making use of the heavily stylised look to their advantage.
The story of this first episode involves everything that many would consider classic Lupin (a common phrase which often means, is most like Part II). This includes disguises, double-crosses, chases and of course - thievery. Yuji Ohno’s soundtrack is back with a bang (and for the first time in a while, featured many newly composed tracks), and all the main five cast members feature prominently.
It also serves as a good example of how new characters can be mixed into the fold quickly and effortlessly. It is often the case that Lupin films, specials and episodes feature one-shot protagonists working alongside or against the main characters, however Part IV was the first in some time to introduce a couple of new faces on a longer-term basis. Rebecca is interesting from the get-go - with viewers likely asking questions such as: what is her relationship with Lupin and the gang, what are her motives?
The writers do a nice job at integrating these new faces into the cast along with the existing members, and they help tell a new and interesting stories. It has often not been the case that newly introduced one-shot characters have complimented the plot in an enjoyable way, especially in some of the films and TV specials, however that is certainly not the case in Part IV.
It is currently possible to stream Lupin III: Part IV via Crunchyroll in the U.S, and a physical set is available on Blu-ray from Discotek Media. Two sets are available to purchase, one with an English language dub and the Italian soundtrack, and another with the Japanese dub, English subtitles and original music.
Part IV: Episode 09: Requiem for the Assassins (2015)
Assassins in the desert join Goemon Ishikawa in this one-off side story!
Requiem for the Assassins is one of the best single plot episodes from the Part IV series. Studio Telecom and TMS manage to hit an ideal balance of the lighter and darker sides of Lupin, and this episode is certainly more of the latter. This balancing is never implemented in a way that feels jarring or inconsistent as it did in Part I, and even if an episode does include some gore - as seen in this one - it never oversteps boundaries and could still be considered a family orientated show.
The plot here is executed perfectly considering the run-time and serves as a fantastic side story centered around our samurai friend, Goemon Ishikawa.
The new introduction of the assassin characters is a welcome one, and the pay off at the end is superb. Goemon’s feelings are often explored in content throughout the franchise, with him even getting a spouse in one of the better (if not best) Lupin films, The Fuma Conspiracy. It never gets old, and his emotional struggles are as dramatic as ever here.
It is ironic to think back to the original manga and the reasons for Goemon’s initial inclusion. Readers felt the comic was simply not Japanese enough and felt too Westernized, so Kazuhiko Katō / Monkey Punch simply added a token samurai to help alleviate the issue. Since then, the character has come incredible lengths and is now many a fans favourite - a popular preference backed up by great character pieces such as this one.
It is currently possible to stream Lupin III: Part IV via Crunchyroll in the U.S, and a physical set is available on Blu-ray from Discotek Media. Two sets are available to purchase, one with an English language dub and the Italian soundtrack, and another with the Japanese dub, English subtitles and original music.
Part 5: Episode 05: A Crook's Resolve (2018)
Part 5 is the first series to truly adapt Lupin to a modern-day setting, where technology and social media help drive society.
Over the years, the majority of TV specials and films have been set in either the 70’s, 80’s or have a “timeless” feel to them. This means that for the most part, the characters tend to rely on more traditional methods of thievery - more akin to the original TV shows. Part 5 on the other hand, fully embraces technology. It is Lupin in the current day done right.
The way technology is integrated into the show is, at times, genious. It never feels out of place and the way the main cast interact with it can be both clever and funny. One scene, for example, has Goemon attempting to use a smart phone. Lupin gives him a call, which interrupts his training, and he fails to answer as his fingers are wet after standing underneath a waterfall (a staple part of his samurai training). His puzzled look quickly turns into a scowl, as he throws the phone in a fit of anger.
Part 5 is also the first mainline series to feature a more prominent overarching storyline. In the opening five episodes, a social media like website named The Lupin Game goes viral, which sees users tracking the thief and posting sightings of him as he travels across France. Reluctant to do so, Inspector Zenigata signs up to the service and is able to track him easier than even - although he still makes a point about preferring the old-fashioned methods over anything else. Lupin soon fights back, with a social media account of his own.
Things quickly turn sour, after a band of cyber criminals take their own spin on the idea and create a new app - named Deathday. Many have tried and failed to wipe out Lupin and his gang over the years - but why go through the efforts of doing it yourself when you can use the horrors of social media to your advantage? The pitchforks quickly come out and the hunt is on.
This final episode in the initial story arc has Lupin and series newcomer Ami going toe-to-toe with the cyber criminals behind the Deathday app. Again, there is a fantastic use of current day technology here that helps add to that surprise “reveal” many of the Lupin episodes have become well known for in a new and interesting way. The twist is great, and we would recommend ideally checking out all five of the initial episodes in Part 5, as the pay-off at the end is worth waiting for!
Lupin III: Part 5 is currently available for streaming in the U.S via Crunchyroll, with no news on a physical media release at time of writing. An English language dub has already aired on television in the U.S via Toonami, and as such a Blu-ray release is expected later this year.
That’s a wrap!
Only including ten episodes, taken from multiple different series, was a difficult task. There are so many episodes worth watching - what is listed here is only a very small snippet of what is on offer. On the contrary, the quality levels can fluctuate - especially during Part II, where episodes would air weekly for around three to four years in total. Regardless, there is a lot of entertainment to be had with the Lupin franchise and we can only hope we have done it some amount of justice with this article.
If you do decide to check out any of the episodes above, or have any suggestions of your own, please leave a comment using the form below or get in touch via social media. We would be happy to hear your thoughts!
