For the anime fan, few series have had the life that Lupin the Third has had. For over forty years, The King of Thieves and his crew have stolen their way around the world. He is a thief but he, usually, does the right thing. With the fifth series starting on April 3rd, it’s time to get re-acquainted with the grandson of Arsene Lupin.
0.2% Chance of Survival
You would be forgiven for thinking of Lupin as a sort of knockoff of a certain British secret agent. He uses the same gun and loves the ladies. But Lupin is squarely on the wrong side of the law. Just ask Inspector Koichi Zenigata, who has made it his mission to capture Lupin, but always seems to be one step behind. Joining Lupin is Daisuke JIgen, the best marksman in the world, Goemon Ishikawa, a samurai who can cut through any problem and Fujiko Mine, a dangerous woman who sometimes is on Lupin’s side.
One of the main problems with Lupin is that he has been inconsistently portrayed. The first series was very dark and very serious while later series went almost completely screwball. The last series produced, Lupin: Italian Adventure seemed to strike the right balance between seriousness and comedic. Since the main writer from this series is coming back, the series can continue to give fans the Lupin they deserve.
Until the Full Moon Passes
The creators of the fifth series have decided to bring Lupin and his crew to France. This is the birth place of where Augustus Lupin was created. This series promises to explore how Lupin III became the King of Thieves. This is a risk move since any backstory may not be in line with what fans have already created. With Lupin being around for the last four decades in anime, the time does seem right to finally reveal how he became who he is.
The animation of the Lupin series has always been closer to cartoony than reality. This is part of its charm. As story lines deal with drugs and robbery, the cartoon style reminds us that we don’t have to take it that seriously. The biggest question is will this series finally show us Arsene Lupin who was one of the best gentleman thieves of all time?
From Japan with Love
I for one am excited that Lupin has returned, and I’m glad that CrunchyRoll is broadcasting the series at the time it is appearing in Japan. Some countries didn’t get to see the fourth series so joining the old gang for a new adventure is just what the doctor ordered. If you haven’t watched any of the old series, you can jump right in as we explore what made Lupin…well Lupin.
