Lupin III

On the off chance that you haven't seen any previous Lupin III films/series... this series is centred on 'The World's Greatest Thief', the gentleman thief Arsene Lupin III. Lupin works with colleagues Daisuke Jigen, a master swordsman and crack shot Goemon Ishikawa XIII. He also occasionally works with the beautiful Fujiko Mine, his former lover who is now a rival. Always after them is Inspector Kouichi Zenigata of the ICPO. Over the course of the series Lupin and his associates get caught up in a number of escapades; some lasting several episodes others that last just one.

Before watching this my experience with Lupin III was restricted to 'The Castle of Cagliostro' and one other film. That didn't matter though. The various stories were a lot of fun to watch; providing both excitement and laughs. The animation was of a high quality; thankfully the character designs remain faithful to the classic look without 'modernising' them to make them look more like characters in new series. This doesn't make the series seem dated; in fact two of the main stories revolve around the difficulties of staying anonymous in a social media age if everybody is looking for you. Overall I'd definitely recommend this series whether you've seen Lupin III before or not.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Lupin III: Part V is a prime example of an anime "masterpiece". Words cannot even begin to describe how well-crafted this iteration of Lupin III is. Now in France, Lupin III looks to the internet to perform his next heist. After releasing Ami, a girl who is adept at hacking, he steals bit-currency from other hackers. Now targeted by them, Lupin III must evade them, police, politicians, terrorists, and social media itself. Whereas Lupin III: Part IV dabbled in the idea of having an overarching plot, Part V looks to embrace this. The series has four core stories with only a few self-contained episodes, usually referencing previous seasons or providing a backstory for our characters. Even more so, the characters see significant development throughout the series, notably Lupin III, Fujiko Mine, and newcomer Ami. It creates a refreshing take on these beloved characters that we have yet to see. As for animation, every scene is intricately crafted. Action scenes flow flawlessly while slower scenes look like a moving portrait. The soundtrack is fantastic, as expected of the Lupin III series. This time around, the series takes on a France flair to it's established jazz soundtrack. It is absolutely a delight to listen to. All in all, Lupin III: Part V is the culmination that is 50 years of gentlemen thief adventures. Even if you haven't seen any previous season, Part V is great regardless.

It still never ceases to amaze me, even after all these years - the whole thing maintains a coherent composition from the beginning, the characters are simple yet incredibly charismatic, and the events surrounding them remain strikingly relevant. I also appreciate the numerous references to previous incarnations, experiences, or encountered characters. What sets it apart from other Japanese productions is its refusal to limit itself in terms of message - here, if we want to show a half-undressed woman in a given moment, so be it, only to shift a moment later to deep reflections on life. And the music? It's probably a masterpiece, with melodies that stick in your head.

Why doesn't it deserve 10 stars from me? Well, despite the prettier animation, to some extent it doesn't quite measure up to Part IV, which was full of drawn-out intrigue. Here, we get a slightly more relaxed take on the adventures of Lupin and his gang.

There are a number of Lupin titles available on Amazon Prime - including this one.

It's not well known, so I thought I would put it out there (the others are older titles where the animation is not HD). The animation is top notch on this one.

In this series, Lupin meets and teams up with Ami - a girl who is a tech wiz, though she is pretty young. She is much more conversant with the internet, hacking, searching for information, tapping into cameras etc. whereas Lupin is an old school cat burlgar.

Episodes can be watched independently, but it does help if you follow them in order. The animation is well done and the stories are fresh.

There is no common theme other than the fact that Goemon, Jigen, Fujiko and Ami help Lupin at various times.

I binged though the series and re-watched a few episodes in a leisurely manner - it gave me a buzz and stayed with me long after the series was over.

Not suitable for young kids because the title sequence shows Fujiko scantily clad. The episodes themselves do not show much nudity/sex. Moderate violence but not excessive.

Fifth television series starring our Lupin III.

This series was created to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the character. It takes place shortly after the events of the fourth series and is set mainly in France.

The series follows the drawing style of the previous one, Lupin shows off his blue jacket again and initially everything may seem very similar to the fourth series, but a few episodes are enough to understand that we are faced with something different.

The series follows a main plot divided into three parts, consisting of various episodes. All completed by filler episodes that reference the old Lupin series, his jackets and enemies from the past.

The series is extremely compelling, the characters are presented at their best. Lupin is definitely more similar to the original, a gentleman when needed and ruthless with his enemies. There is no shortage of violence and that's okay. The series is adult, sincere and direct. The characters act as expected and the comedy side is put aside. A total evolution from the previous series.

The episodes are intriguing and full of action and emotion, they keep you glued to the television and you could finish the series in just one day.

Being a series that celebrates fifty years of Lupin, there is no shortage of references to previous series and films, which make the most die-hard fans jump for joy and cry for happiness.

In fact, in addition to the three parts into which the main plot is divided, there are several self-contained episodes that pay homage to the previous series, showing Lupin with the green, red and pink jacket. The antagonists of the past and the style of the previous series.

To conclude, I personally rate this series as the best Lupin series made so far.

Beautiful, powerful, compelling, complete... capable of exciting, making people laugh and cry.

Lupin returns to being the character he should be and the adventures he faces are worthy of him.

If you are a big fan, then you will find it even more spectacular.

If I have to find a flaw in it, I'd say it's the filler episodes. They are appreciated by long-time fans and taken individually they are enjoyable, but I would have preferred to see these quotes inserted appropriately into the main plot. The idea is nice, but the episodes seem to be put there without a purpose, other than to lengthen the series.

But despite this it is absolutely valid and well made.

Worthy of Lupin III's fiftieth anniversary.

Good vision.