Lupin III: The Fuma Conspiracy (1987) Poster

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7/10
Not enough Lupin sensei
freakus26 October 1999
Some good action chase sequences in this one yet there is not enough Lupin "style" in it. The action centers mostly around Goemon who is a likeable character but a bit too stoic to carry the audience's interest. Lupin himself is sort of a side character in this film and it suffers because of it. His smart alec attitude is half the fun of watching a Lupin film!
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7/10
Beautifully drawn, wonderfully animated.
dave13-115 April 2012
First note that Rupan III and Lupin the 3rd are the same character and this is the same movie series. There was some legal trouble back in the 90s over the use of the 'Lupin' name, then still copyrighted in France, and so a couple of the movies were translated as 'Rupan'. So there.

Anyway, this time around the Lupin gang are in rural Japan because Goemon is getting married! But the bride's family are caught up in a feud with the mysterious and deadly Fuman clan, who are searching for a vast treasure in gold. Lupin promises to get to the gold and steal it first, but discovers that it is hidden in a tricky labyrinth - obviously inspired by the Indiana Jones movies, which came out just a few years earlier. The traps and dangers are very cool and imaginative, as is a breakneck car chase scene through a hotel that occurs near the beginning of the picture. I saw this movie in 1992 as a fansub version and it immediately became one of my favorite anime features. The action animation, comedy timing, and suspense are top notch and even though the run time seems a bit short at 73 minutes, that is simply due to the breakneck pacing of the thing and not a scarcity of plot. A lot happens and the whole thing hangs together better and entertains a heck of a lot more than Indy IV did.
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6/10
Decent, but flawed.
psychogoatee13 October 2009
The Fuma Conspiracy a somewhat decent tale brought down by it's flaws.

Goemon is getting married when ninjas swoop in! The Lupin gang has to stop these evil ninjas, save Goemon's bride, and try for some treasure, for good measure.

This 80's OVA has the unfortunate distinction of being the only Lupin anime without the usual Japanese voice cast. This is especially bad, because the voices used don't fit the characters at all, and are distractingly out of place. The English dub is not good either.

On top of the unfortunate voice choices, the characterization is pretty weak here in general. The dialogue is not as clever as usual, and the characters don't gel together as well as they usually do. Inspector Zenigata is very bland in this one too.

Another problem with this OVA is the poor soundtrack. They don't use Yuji Ohno or any classic Lupin themes, and they don't even attempt a jazzy style.

There are some good things though, the animation for example is very fluid, and the art style is nice. There are some fun car chases, and a couple enjoyable action sequences. Any time Lupin and Jigen are in a car, it's decent Lupin fun. Plus Fujiko has some cool motorcycle action.

Overall, this Lupin OVA is really off it's game. It lacks the usual Lupin stylishness and is pretty generic all around. Definitely on the lower end of the Lupin spectrum, but it's a passable if generic action adventure on it's own.
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Delightful and Goemon-centric fun!
angelynx-227 July 2004
If, like me, you think Lupin III's gang are just as engaging characters as the master thief himself, this is definitely one of the movies for you. Like 2002's "Episode Zero: First Contact", which tells the story of the gang's first meeting from the viewpoint of Jigen Daisuke, this story is focused on another member of the crew, the enigmatic samurai Ishikawa Goemon. About to marry, Goemon finds his bride and her dowry both abducted by the Fuma ninja clan, and must--with the help of wedding guests Lupin and Co.--battle through all obstacles to get her back. I'm biased here, as deadpan Goemon has long been my favorite member of Lupin's crew, but I honestly think there's enough Lupin hijinks here to keep his fans happy as well. Car chases galore and the dogged but humane determination of Inspector Zenigata keep the energy high throughout. If you like animated martial arts action, though, this is the primo Lupin movie for your collection, as Goemon is the star and fights several terrific sword battles. Extra-cute character designs and fluid animation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha add to its charm. A real treat.
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7/10
Lupin and the fuma clan
TheLittleSongbird6 September 2017
The fourth Lupin film, 'The Yuma Conspiracy' (or 'The Plot of the Yuma Clan') is most notable for being the first original voice animation based on the manga, also for the original Japanese voice actor for Lupin being replaced and having a different composer.

While no 'The Castle of Cagliostro', my first Lupin film and my personal favourite (also a favourite animated film of mine), and lacking the impressive boldness of 'The Secret of Mamo' (aka 'The Mystery of Mamo'),'The Yuma Conspiracy' is vastly improved over the watchable but disappointing 'Gold of Babylon'. It isn't brilliant, with it suffering from the changes made behind the scenes, but it is good fun with the production values being some of the best of any Lupin film.

It's a little too short, which makes some of the pacing a little too rushed. The music score is neither sumptuous, atmospheric or fitting, lacking the high quality of the rest of the production values and at odds with the action. Yugi Ohno is missed here.

Sadly, the voice acting also disappoints. The changes to Lupin and Jigen's voice actors in the Japanese version were serviceable enough but inferior, but here the English dub is poor with some sounding like they were voicing different characters entirely, they just didn't gel. Jigen in particular is poorly voiced and like the voice actors was not interested.

On the other hand, 'The Yuma Conspiracy' has the best and most polished animation of all the Lupin films. It's great here, with the attention to detail in the chase sequences and backgrounds being particularly impressive. The action is truly exciting with a healthy dose of both suspense and humour. The climax is one of the better ones in a Lupin film (it's actually tense and doesn't descend into weirdness like the ones in 'The Secret of Mamo' and 'Gold of Babylon') and the car chase is terrific.

Writing is humorous, thought-provoking and taut, with a little pathos in the mix. The story has pacing issues every now and again but is very gripping, with the tone always focused and the humour and tension rarely slipping.

Characterisation-wise, 'The Yuma Conspiracy' is largely successful. Would have liked to have seen more of Lupin but he's still fun and it was wonderful to see more development to Goemen. His bride-to-me is more than a damsel-in-distress figure, the villains are a genuine threat and while underused Zenigata hasn't lost his mojo.

All in all, entertaining and well done if lacking in a few areas. 7/10 Bethany Cox
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6/10
It was ok but not the Lupin movie that should be remembered by...
Irishchatter7 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
It was ok when we get to see the car chase scenes and the fightning scene with Goemon & the Fuma boss. Other than those scenes, I really am a bit dissaponted that it turned out not that brillant for a short Lupin movie. The actual problems I found with this movie was the fact it was too short for one hour 4min, some of the English dub cast weren't at all great and the fact its really all about Goemans loverboy life. Yeah he deserves love but for the love of god, he picked a too cutesy and annoying one. Like if they were planning to have Goeman not single, at least give him a girl/boy who is like him -focused, no nonsense, passionate, etc.

I've nothing much to say about this movie, it was one of the let downs of the Lupin series to be honest and a waste of time really........
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7/10
Too derivative of Cagliostro
MissSimonetta1 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Though the animation is beautiful and the car chase with Lupin and Zenigata is fantastic, The Plot of the Fuma Clan (1987) is not one of the more inspired Lupin ventures.

The action scenes are good and the venture through the cavern at the end is memorable, but the story itself is predictable and not that great. In fact, the plot is quite derivative of an earlier Lupin III film, The Castle of Cagliostro (1979). A spirited damsel in distress, an ancient treasure, and several little moments are taken straight from the older movie.

It makes me sad really, because I love the character of Goemon and was so glad he got a movie mostly centered around him. It's just a shame that it couldn't have been more than just okay.
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8/10
Entertaining Enough for a Stand-Alone OVA in the Lupin Canon.
The Fuma Conspiracy is a good time filled with action, reality-bending physics and characters, but it's what fans of the Lupin the Third franchise have come to expect, know and love about it.

This is a very watchable OVA and a good Lupin story, though it's probably not for people unfamiliar with the characters of the franchise. You need prior knowledge to fully appreciate this film. While that may seem like it degrades from the experience, it really doesn't degrade the quality of the film itself. Maybe someone out there's seen this without having known any Lupin III media and became a fan from Fuma. Well I'm one of those fans whose love grew from The Castle of Cagliostro.

Fuma has all the good stuff from the anime icon, and it's exactly that. There's action, humour, and the cat and mouse chase between Zenigata and Lupin. A routine that's entertaining when done well.
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7/10
The Type of Fun Adventure Movie I Wish I Could Make
JayWolfgramm13 April 2023
This movie is so much fun. There is never a dull moment, the movie either has an action sequence or funny character moment to throw out there. The movie has terrific momentum, and it all leads it to an excellent finale. Approaching the third act, there are all these different characters converging to the main treasure. In that group there are 6 different motives leading them there. To add to these conflicting forces, it is all taking place inside an ancient booby-trapped ninja cave. It is a very creative and visually interesting setting. To add yet another complication, any second the whole cave might explode trapping them all inside.

On the negative side, this is a rough English dub. It isn't Sonny Strait, nor is it the original Lupin, it is Robin Robertson. He does fine, as does all the English cast, but they refer to "Lupin" as "Rupan", it gets a little distracting. Murasaki also isn't that interesting of a character. I didn't buy Goemon and Murasaki as a couple and her inclusion felt very tacked on. And the villain isn't all that memorable. It plays a lot off of the ninja/ samurai rivalry for Goemon, but outside that there isn't much to them.

Outside of those small points, I really enjoyed this movie. It is one of Lupin's finest adventures. It is the type of movie that I would have loved as a child and watching it as an adult, brought out my inner child.
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8/10
One of the best and fewest of the Lupin OVAs
emasterslake25 August 2005
This is one of the fewer Lupin OVAs. Oppoximately 3 in total.

This is one of the 2 Lupin anime owned by Animage who have it translated under the name "Rupan".

Besides that it's a great Lupin anime to view. Those who like Castle of Cagliostro or Goemon the trusty Samuri will like this one.

Has some good stuff including Ninjas, Car chases, & secret treasure hold with numerous tunnels, passages, and traps.

Please note that since this is done by a different team of Translators than Genenon or Funimation. The voice acting is different than their debuts.

Pretty much Jigen has a more Gravier voice than his other appearance. But the English voice talents are just fine.

The animation is very well made for an OVA from 1987.

It's worth buying for those who like Lupin the 3rd.
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7/10
Good
enricoshapka5 October 2022
Lupin iii film 5

The drawing style is very different from the usual but it's not bad. Music is good as always and the story is ok. This time Goemon is the one with most screen time. Honestly there's nothing special about this film but it's an alright adventure, Zenigata and Fujiko are on the good side and both are cool. The ending tho, it's pretty sad, from the fact that a wedding was supposed to happen. The drawing style is very different from the usual but it's not bad. Music is good as always and the story is ok. This time Goemon is the one with most screen time. Honestly there's nothing special about this film but it's an alright adventure, Zenigata and Fujiko are on the good side and both are cool. The ending tho, it's pretty sad, from the fact that a wedding was supposed to happen.
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9/10
A short, but sweet Lupin film.
musukogoji14 October 2016
The Fuma Conspiracy is the fourth film in the Lupin the 3rd series and turns out to be a fresh and exciting adventure after the disappointment of Legend of the Gold of Babylon. Even though it's one of the shortest films in the series, at only 73 minutes, it manages to pack enough thrills to make it worthwhile.

The film begins at the wedding of one of Lupin's long time partners, Goemon Ishikawa XIII, being married to Murasaki Suminawa. The guest list includes Jigen, Fujiko, and of course Lupin, who has recently faked his death. However, some uninvited guests arrive: Ninjas of the Fuma Clan. During their raid they attempt to steal an urn belonging to the Suminawa Clan. When, their attempted robbery fails, they instead take Murasaki hostage and decide to trade her for the urn. The leader of the Suminawa Clan reveals to Lupin and the gang that the urn contains the secret location of the Suminawa family treasure, which the Fuma Clan has been after for centuries. After saving Murasaki, Lupin steals the urn for himself to search for the treasure with the Fuma Clan in hot pursuit. But that's not all. Recently out of retirement, Inspector Zenigata joins the chase and is determined to have Lupin's gang as well as the Fuma Clan arrested.

So, after summarizing the basic plot, there's not really much else to say about this movie. The action was great, the humor was great, the villain, simply known as The Boss, was great. Really, all I can say to describe this film is that it was great. The only thing not so great about this was the English dub. Hopefully they'll make a better one in the future. Murasaki, Goemon's bride-to-be, is a pretty enjoyable character. She' smart and joyful and the film does a great job of showing her positive influence on Goemon's life. It allows us to see a happier, more human, side of Goemon that we don't usually see often.

There really isn't anything else to say. The movie is great. It just makes me really happy whenever I watch it. If you're a Lupin fan, then go see it. If not, well go see it anyway. It's just great :)
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9/10
Lupin and a Ninja clan, what else could you want?
epyon-26 August 2002
This Lupin film ranks up there with "Castle of Cagliostro" in terms of fun, but it's still doesn't have as much charm as Cagliostro. This Lupin movie did have one of the best car chases I've seen, including a drive through, not around or near, but through an onsen (Japanese bath house/hot spring).

I thought it was nice to see a Lupin movie that focused on one of the other characters. Not to be left out of course, is the action with the Fuma clan was rather entertaining (especially inside the cave).

I'll rank this as number 2 out of the 8 Lupin movies I've seen.
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8/10
the castle of Cagliostro is not up to par
erminahotmail22 April 2024
Then this is another film based on the first series of Lupine III, the one with the green jacket, so if you want to know the plot, read somewhere because in this plot we don't understand something, some things aren't explained to us like who is the villain of this film since he never comespresented But that doesn't mean that this is a bad movie I liked all the things in this movie and I also liked the character of Viola who was supposed to be Ghemon's bride the thing about them is that they hide a treasure that the clubs of the ninjas who want to possess itthe animation is very beautiful But I tell you one thing this is another film based on the green jacket series however it is not up to the level of the film the castle of cagliostro because that film still remains one of the best Lupine III films which is very better than this to conclude the vote 8-
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8/10
Up there with the best of Lupin the 3rd.
lost-in-limbo10 April 2020
The unflappable samurai Goemon from Rupin's motley crew takes centre stage for this fourth animated Rupin III outing. The story begins with a traditional Japanese wedding of Goeman finally tying the knot. But that is shattered when his soon-to-be wife Murasaki is kidnapped by the Fuma Clan's ninjas and ransomed for a sacred family key to a hidden treasure. The deal is secretly made, despite the bride's father's objections. But with Rupin tagging along, he doesn't plan to let this treasure of his hands. He's going to help get the girl back and the gold.

I think it's an improvement over the previous "Legend of the Gold of Babylon". Animation looks smoother, bold and fleshed-out. The storytelling is straightforward, almost similar in style to "The Castle of Cagliostro", but high-octane. Everything moves fast, even for its small running time (74mins), but it neatly comes together. I've seen some complaints about the English dub, but I wasn't bothered. Rupin is back to wearing his green jacket, but he and co mainly plays secondary to Goemon's story. That's why the humor seems to take a back step and when it crops up never does it feel forced, but nonetheless you can always count on the tenacious Interpol inspector Zenigata. So the Rupin flair is there, just not as frequent.

With the story focusing on Goemon, it shows there's lot more to his enigmatic character and the inclusion of the strong-willed Murasaki illustrated his benevolent side with their touching interactions. Even with this drama going on, the hijinks remain plentiful and there are a couple of fun car chase scenes. The bad guys aren't to be taken lightly either. Their encounters are always excitingly fruitful, especially that in the underground cavern with its labyrinth of tunnels and traps. The use of hallucinations in one of those traps was a creative touch and then there's the arresting final fight between Goemon and the imposing "Boss".

"The Fuma Conspiracy" is a lively, satisfying and charming adventure that doesn't outstay its welcome.
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