SeattleOtaku

Lupin the Third, a master thief, has enjoyed more than 40 years of action and gadgets galore, spanning a long series of books by Kazuhiko Kato writing under the pen-name Monkey Punch, TV appearances, videos, movies, and games. Most of the movies and feature-length specials also feature opening sequences similar to the James Bond franchise, some with more obvious references. The names Lupin the 3rd and Lupin III are also common variations even in the Japanese originals.

Story Intro

Always out to snag the latest mystery treasure, Lupin and his allies (or enemies, depending on the take) are tracked by the ever-vigilant Interpol detective Zenigata. Along the way they inevitably find true villains to defeat and innocents to defend, relying on their charm, weapons and gadget skills, or just sheer blind luck.

Other Notes

A parody of the French “Arsene Lupin” novels by Maurice LeBlanc (this Lupin is portrayed as his grandson) copyright problems surrounding the name prompted many of the versions outside Japan to be renamed as “Rupin”, “The Wolf”, or even (in France) “Edgard de la Cambriole”.

Manga

Lupin III (1967)
Lupin III S (1997)
Lupin III Y (1998-2004)
Shin (New) Lupin III as Lupin III: World’s Most Wanted

Anime

TV Series

Lupin III (1971-72)
Lupin III: Part II (1977-80)
Lupin III: Part III (1984-85)

TV Movie-Length Specials

Lupin III: Bye Bye Liberty Crisis (1989)
Lupin III: Hemingway Papers (1990)
Lupin III: Napoleon (1991)
Lupin III: From Russia With Love (1992)
Lupin III: Dragon of Doom (1994)
Lupin III: The Pursuit of Harimao’s Treasure (1995)
Lupin III: Island of Assassins (1997)
Lupin III: Crisis in Tokyo (1998)
Lupin III: The Columbus Files (1999)
Lupin III: Missed by a Dollar (2000)
Lupin III: Alcatraz Connection (2001)
Lupin III: Episode:0 ‘First Contact’ (2002)
Lupin III: Operation Return the Treasure (2003)
Lupin III: Stolen Lupin (2004)
Lupin III: Angel Tactics (2005)
Lupin III: Seven Days Rhapsody (2006)
Lupin III: Elusiveness of the Fog (2007)
Lupin III vs. Detective Conan (2009)

Theatrical Movies

Lupin III: The Secret of Mamo (1978)
Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
Lupin III: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon (1985)
Lupin III: The Fuma Conspiracy (1987)
Lupin III: Farewell to Nostradamus (1995)
Lupin III: Dead or Alive (1996)
Lupin III: The Secret of Twilight Gemini (1996)

OAVs (Video/DVD Releases)

Lupin III: Secret Files (1989, previously unreleased early pilots)
Lupin III: Voyage to Danger (1993)
Lupin III: Return of Pycal (2002)
Lupin III: Green vs Red (2008, 40th Anniversary)