If you’ve never met the epitome of the gentleman thief, Lupin III, allow us to make an introduction. Arsène Lupin III has long been a beloved character in Japan. Fans took to his sly humor, smooth moves, and ability to always stay one step ahead of the hapless authorities. And if you guessed he has a heart of gold, then you’re absolutely correct. This December, Lupin III is hitting the theaters in Japan, starring in a 3-D animated film for the first time. It. Is. Breathtaking.
Lupin III is a beloved character, the creation of acclaimed author and illustrator nicknamed Monkey Punch in 1967. (His real name is Kazuhiko Kato, and sadly, he passed away in April.) Lupin captures the spirit of the cool 1960s spy perfectly. But unlike certain other well-dressed spies, he never works alone. Lupin always travels with his friends Daisuke Jigen, an expert marksman, Goemon, a skilled samurai, and Fujiko, a stealthy thief who always has a plan. Each of them appear in the latest trailer for the new film. This time, though, there’s also Leticia, a new character with a mystery to solve.
Lupin learns of the Bresson Diary, an artifact tied to his famous grandfather’s legacy, and he embarks on yet another heart-pounding adventure to unlock its secrets. Lupin III: The First opens in Japan this December.
It’s been forty years since the release of another landmark Lupin adventure, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. Co-written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki (yes, that Miyazaki), Castle of Cagliostro is an anime hidden gem that you can watch right now on Netflix. If you’ve never seen Arsène Lupin in action, then stop what you’re doing and meet the smooth-talking thief who will absolutely win you over.
While no plans have been announced to release Lupin III: The First internationally, it’s a safe bet that we’ll get a chance to see it on a streaming platform at the very least in the near future. And we can’t wait.
All Images: Toho Animation