Lupin the Third (1971–1977) User Reviews

The one that started it all.

[psychogoatee · 9/10 · 10 October 2009]

This is a legendary anime series about some instant classic characters, the Lupin gang. This is amazingly ahead of it's time, being the first anime starring criminals, the first gritty comparatively more realistic anime with guns and such. Not just for anime, it's ahead of it's time in general.

Most importantly, it's still a joy to watch nearly 40 years later. Lupin is the cool, laid back antihero. This laid back style, helped by the very cool soundtrack, is still influential today in titles like Cowboy Bebop. Lupin has other sides to him too of course, he has an ego, and he'll laugh like a maniac and take on any challenge. And of course, he gets pretty excited when there are ladies around, especially Fujiko.

The supporting characters are great here. You have Jigen, Lupin's partner and best friend. He's very cool himself, a smooth criminal, but he's also the voice of reason, a more mature criminal. Then you have Fujiko, the classic femme fatale cat burglar, she is Lupin's love interest, and often his rival. Then there's Goemon, the renegade samurai with a strong moral code, who can cut anything. And of course, Inspector Zenigata, who tirelessly dedicates his life to capturing Lupin.

Lupin is episodic, featuring 23 self contained stories. Although there is one plot that takes two episodes early on, with Goemon out to defeat Lupin. One episode Lupin is in prison, another time him and the gang have explosive watches put on that they can't take off. These are all great stories.

An interesting thing about this series is that it has two different feels to it, depending on who is directing. Masaaki Osumi directs episodes 1-7, 9, and 12. These are the more dark and gritty episodes, and sometimes have a melancholy feel. These episodes are amazing, giving us the depth that the Lupin characters are built on.

The founders of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, direct episodes 8, 10-11, and 13-23. These episodes are also superb, with a more fun and upbeat feel, closer to what Lupin is known for today. You can tell Miyazaki is involved when Lupin starts saving cute damsels in a gentlemanly heroic way.

All in all, Lupin III is a classic series, which is still going strong today with movie specials. I recommend checking this out, it's must see anime.

Historically important as well as entertaining

[MissSimonetta · 9/10 · 5 March 2014]

While this show does suffer from a terrible pilot episode and occasional bad writing, this first Lupin the Third series is a landmark in the history of animation. One of the first animated TV shows intended for adults, it was a failure upon its initial airing, and took years of reruns for it to get a boost in popularity.

The show is of course dated in some ways. The animation is of the limited 60s/70s variety and the music is psychedelic. But as someone who watches movies much older than this, it's not that distracting. The show is full of action, comedy, and great characters.

It's less kooky and formulaic than the later 1977 Lupin series, and the first half of the show is especially dark. Lupin was rarely ever as borderline villainous as he is in the first half of this series, save for his manga incarnation.

Many modern anime fans won't give it a second look, but if you appreciate anime history or just plain animation history, then Lupin III is not to be missed.

Lupin's first TV series.

[emasterslake · 8/10 · 19 January 2006]

This was the first Lupin the 3rd TV series aka The Green Jacket series, cause Lupin wears a green jacket.

After the making of the pilot film of 1969, this TV program was promoted to air with the help of TMS Entertainment(which has been producing Lupin anime for more than 30 years now).

Unlike the second TV series, that everyone's familiar with, this one has a more serious tone to it. Due to that, it received low ratings, so the later ones had a little more humor to it, which almost equals to the humor from the Red Jacket series.

It aired from 1971-1972. With a total of 23 episodes. Meant to end with 26 episodes, but it was canceled before any other episodes were put in production.

The animation is decent since it was made 34 years ago. The episodes done by Takahata and Miyazaki are the best ones. But too bad it only lasted for 1 season. Luckily over the years of reruns it received a fan base, and demands for more Lupin were made. It came back as the Red Jacket series which lasted longer than this one.

What's cool about the Green Jacket series was it was the first anime aimed for Mature Audiences.

Due to it having nudity, violence, and some drug use. i recommend it for teens and older.

Those who like Lupin the 3rd can check this series out. There's no word on this series being dubbed yet, but my advice is to search this series on Bittorrent or a Fansub shop if you're lucky enough.

Anime's James Bond.

[Johnny-the-Film-Sentinel-2187 · 9/10 · 28 September 2017]

Lupin III is many things to Japanese people and otakus alike: he's an icon that's been around for generations and for some is a cultural susbstitute for the likes of characters like Batman and Sherlock Holmes, or even James Bond. Lupin III is a fun but underrated franchise outside of good ol' Nippon (Japan) and that's odd considering Lupin has more western appeal than other animes which have garnered wider followings even if they follow their Japanese roots more closely. Without Lupin, we'd still have an anime industry but it probably wouldn't have matured in the way millions have known the anime industry as it has become.

Lupin III was very much a pioneering series for the medium of anime, and even taking away the historical value it's still an entertaining show to watch, and the crime caper film feeling to the stories really helps boost the series' engagement with the viewer. The criminals in Lupin are the ones we love to see doing what they do best: p!ss off the authorities and making it count.

What else is there to say about Lupin? Just give the show a watch asap. If you're a self- proclaimed anime buff like I am, watch this piece of Japanese visual history before your eyes and see for yourself if the series helped make anime what it is today. I can honestly see where a lot of the industry gained the confidence to tell more adult stories; and it's all thanks to this classic show.

Lupin III: probably my favourite anime franchise outside Cosboy Bebop.

Quite Possibly, the best animated series ever

[comedicactor2840 · 16 January 2004]

May contain mild spoilers to those who haven't heard of it.

Okay, basic plot? We'll go back to the late 1800s/early 1900s for this. Arsene Lupin is the greatest thief in France, and quite possibly the world. His trademark? He warns the person he is going to rob (usually a corrupt royal) and offers them to give him one object he desires, otherwise Lupin will rob the royal of everything they own.

Cut to, the nineteen sixties. Lupin's grandson, Arsene Lupin the Third, has become the greatest thief in the WORLD. With the help of a former mafia enforcer, Jigen, a samurai who owes Lupin a life debt, Goemon, and occasionally (Though she usually works AGAINST Lupin to steal the same prize) Fujiko Mine, a beautiful thief who uses her good looks and sex to get what she wants. All the while the gang is being chased by bumbling interpol detective, Inspector Zenigata. Zenigata has vowed that he will not rest, until he has Lupin and his gang in custody, and has become obsessed with arresting the thief.

All in all, this is a wonderful show. It brings to mind the original Pink Panther, and The Return of the Pink Panther (Both of which involved "the world's greatest thief" The Phantom.) Zenigata is a great take on the bumbling detective, and in the American Dub, Lupin (who's main weakness is the opposite sex (especially Fujiko) and his own ego) sounds almost identical to Don Adams.

All in all, my rating of this series is 5/5. Can't wait to see the American big budget film that's in the works.

An anime landmark

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 1 September 2017]

Love anime and animation in general. There are many anime treasures, film and television, and this series is one of them.

An anime, and animation, landmark that is very much underrated by today's standards. It deserved to last much longer than just 23 episodes, when vastly inferior (and actually not good) shows last for over two or more seasons and still air on a regular basis while 'Rupan Sansei' is nearly forgotten apart from being remembered with fondness by fans of the series, the manga and the films (the films are similarly well worth checking out). Thank goodness that 'Rupan Sansei' is available to watch on a DVD box-set, albeit not at a cheap price, enough to make anybody trying to save up and budget gulp.

The show isn't quite perfect. Its weakest asset is the music, which is rather cheap-sounding and has too much of an early 70s surreal quality that doesn't really gel. Also wasn't completely sold on the pilot, though there are certainly far worse pilot/first episodes of other shows around, which didn't feel particularly settled in terms of quality and tone. Both got significantly better incredibly quickly however, so to anybody not encouraged by the pilot don't give up on the show.

In terms of animation, anime certainly became much more refined and eye-catching later on when resources advanced, budgets became bigger and animators became more experienced. With that being said, things considering, the animation isn't bad here, not always smooth in the drawing but there are some lovely details in the backgrounds and the colours are vibrant and atmospheric.

'Rupan Sansei's' writing also makes it a gem. People are more familiar with the lighter, more humorous touch, adopted in the later episodes and better received (this tone carried over in 'Lupin' films like 'The Castle of Cagliostro'). One can see why, the humour is hilarious, making one cry with laughter or clutch their sides, there is a real sense of exciting adventure and it's just fun.

The darker, grittier tone of the earlier episodes is deserving of much more credit however, there is a lot of suspense in these episodes and there is a dark, melancholic air that gives the show some emotional layering. These episodes still don't forget to be fun though, despite a more serious tone it doesn't take itself so seriously that it alienates. Which makes it a shame that the darker, grittier nature didn't seem to connect as much with audiences.

Pretty much all the stories are compelling, with a beautiful balance of comedy, suspense and adventure. While there is a light-hearted edge that makes the show entertaining, 'Rupan Sansei' also has a heart and a maturity that avoids making the storytelling and writing too silly.

Great characters too, with a likable and interesting titular character who has both a fun and gritty side that stops him from being a one-dimensional stereotype. Of the supporting characters, Zenigata is my favourite, the conflict engrosses between the two and the character is just very well-written in his own right. The voice acting is very dynamic and fitting.

In conclusion, an anime landmark that isn't appreciated enough and deserving of more exposure accessible to a wider audience. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A Great Start To The Lupin Franchise

[codedatalink · 8/10 · 10 August 2016]

My first encounter with the Lupin The Third name was The Castle of Cagliostro (a fantastic film on its own), which made me interested in watching the franchise. So where else to start then the series that started it all? (insert pointless plot synopsis here) Since this a episodic series, the early episodes are hit or miss sometimes, and I do prefer the Miyazaki-directed episodes in the ladder half of the series, but it's still fun throughout. The characters are extremely fun to watch interact and play off of each other (my personal favorite was Zenigata) The animation is quite dated, it grows on you after awhile. The music is pure cheese, but I loved it nonetheless. Overall, this series was what I expected for the most part, but in a good way. It really makes me want to watch the rest of the Lupin installments. I would strongly recommend this show. 8.5/10

The beginning of a timeless saga.

[pfsombrero · 8/10 · 2 July 2023]

Lupin in the Green Jacket is probably one of the most famous versions, although it is the shortest series of the gentleman thief. In this first series we see a Lupin with certainly more noir tones than in the following series.

Less kind-hearted and more determined to achieve his goals.

The merits of this series are many: first of all it was one of the first cartoons intended for a mainly adult audience, which made the character immediately loved, even outside Japan, there is a great attention to detail, both in terms of weapons and equipment, and for the plans put in place by Lupin and his gang. The characters are multifaceted and each episode has been crafted with care.

However, being the first television transposition of the Monkey Punch comic, some flaws are inevitable. One of the most relevant is the alternation of several people to direct the episodes (including Hayao Miyazaki). The episodes are all more than enjoyable, but sometimes there is a bit of inconsistency in the style and some are slower and less exciting.

In conclusion I add that: certainly compared to the most recent Lupin films and series, the first series can be slower and more particular, as we see a darker and less light-hearted protagonist, but if you love Lupin (or excellent animated series) , I advise you to retrieve this series and also watch it for what it represented.

Enjoy your vision.

Good first iteration of the Lupin Franchise

[TooKakkoiiforYou_321 · 8/10 · 8 May 2022]

The animation is, as expected, a but janky, but the series in itself has generally stood well the test of time. It's fun, it's entertaining, it has an excellent music score reminescent of movies of this era like the Female Prisoner Scorpio series or Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (on a side note, it's incredible how Fujiko Mine reminds me of Tura Satana from that cult classic), with episodes more verging on proper noir and others with more absurd premises. Great Seiyuu performances and an easy to digest runtime (I rewatched this series in a couple of days) complete the package.

A nice way to start of the Lupin III Franchise.

[q-95645 · 8/10 · 15 July 2023]

Many would put this part into a medium ranking from all the 6 series, but I would personally put this in the top 3 sections.

I must admit I am not a huge fan of the first few episodes, but later - They changed Lupin for the sake of action comedy, which I started to enjoy. Hell, this is mature and serious - Yet there is a charm to it about their characters. Lupin is that thief who's willing to steal everything, while Jigen is his trustworthy companion.

The only thing they can fix on is to give Goemon and Fujiko some more frequent appearances. Goemon was pretty much ignored during the whole season, while Fujiko didn't have her feminine charm during the whole season. Overall a good start, however.

The greatest anime serie ever made!

[Roberto Ruccolo · 29 August 2000]

The best animated serie ever made! That wonderful japan anime was the first (and maybe since today the only) that describes the life of a gang in the crime world. Lupin The Third, the greater thief of the 20th century, his friend Jigen, a great gunman, his girlfriend Fujiko, the most sexy character in the japanese anime, and the samurai Goemon, enemy and friend at the same time, fight against the inspector Zenigata of the japanese police and against a lot of super villains, gangsters and criminal associations. The action, the violence, the sex, the adult target, weapons and cars made this cartoon a unique experience, with some humor, a lot of suspense and a wonderful soundtrack.