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| Episode Details | |
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| 1, 2, 3, 4, 145, 155 | |
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| Overall | Art | Animation | Character Design | Music | Series Story | Episode Story | Reviewer | |
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| Buy | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | Kari | # | |
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I usually don't like to watch stuff older than me, but for a show like Lupin, I don't mind doing so. Even though Lupin's old, I gave the art and animation a rating of 8, simply because it befits the era of which Lupin was released. In the dub, Michelle Ruff does a great job voicing. She makes the character sound exactly as she's supposed to, which is attractive and manipulative. Don't let the fact that it's old prevent you from giving it a chance. Last updated Friday, August 13 2004. Created Saturday, July 26 2003. | ||||||||
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| Watch | 7 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | Anonymous #731 | # | |
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Note: My scores may or may not be biased.... I've been watching Shin Lupin III on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, dubbed by Pioneer Entertainment. The dub is pretty good, but I've seen better. At first I didn't even like this show. I saw the first episode and I was turned off by the stupidity and especially by the age. But I never got around to re-setting my VCR, so I just let it record so I could have something to watch when I'm bored. Turns out this show is fantastic. I eventually started checking into the newer Lupin titles and now Lupin III rivals Cowboy Bebop on my Top #2 List. The idea behind Lupin III is that he is the grandson of Arsene Lupin, a gentleman theif created by a French writer. Monkey Punch, the creator of Lupin III, took this idea and mixed it with the MADTV drawing style. It's easier to see this in the original series and in the manga; this MADTV style of art has completely vanished by now. Unlike other animes (at the time), Lupin III took place on Earth, on this Earth, and not some imaginary place, and was steered towards adults. Every episode, Lupin and his gang travels to a new place to steal priceless things, like King Tut's mask for example. Lupin travel's with Jigen, an expert gunman with a revolver, Goemon, a master samurai with a sword that can cut through steel, and Fujiko, a beautiful woman who sometimes betrays Lupin. Lupin always flirts with her anyway, though. And they're always being chased around by Interpol Inspector Zenigata, who has devoted his life to trying to catch Lupin, which he either never catches Lupin or loses him once he's caught. Shin Lupin III is based more on comedy than the first series. It does have it's share of action and seriousness, but the comedic elements always keep me watching. It's always fun to watch Lupin think of an elaborate plan to steal something and slip out of Zenigata's cuffs. HAYAO MIYAZAKI!! PLEASE READ WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HIM!!! Before his ever-popular "Spirited Away," and his other titles like "Princess Mononoke" and "Castle in the Sky," he directed quite a few Lupin III episodes, and he directed what is said to be the greatest Lupin III title, "Castle of Cagliostro." I DISAGREE!! Although I enjoyed Cagliostro, IT DOES NOT COMPARE TO OTHER LUPIN TITLES BECAUSE: Lupin is portrayed as some "save-the-princess do-gooder" in a basic "save-the-princess" movie. This is not what Lupin III is. Although he has a heart, the magic of Lupin comes from his cleverness in theivery. The reason I do not often compare Cagliostro to other Lupin titles is because it's just a save-the-princess movie; no stealing (except the first 5 min), just Miyazaki-like adventuring. This is why some episodes of Shin Lupin III are dull and boring to me; they were most likely directed by Miyazaki. I have nothing against the guy, but I say KEEP LUPIN AS LUPIN. Anyway, if you like an anime like Cowboy Bebop, you can at least give this a chance (I wouldn't recommend watching the first episode, though). I've found that it has the same style that a lot of animes nowadays are developing. Lupin III is one of the most popular animes in Japan, even after 30 years, and Shin Lupin III is why a lot of Americans (and others) are getting into the craze. I recommend you watch it on TV, though. Even though I'm a crazed fan, I wouldn't buy a DVD except to hear the Japanese track. If you're still complaining about it's age, stop bitching and pick up a copy of "First Contact," last year's (2002) TV Special. TV Specials have been made every year since 1989, y'know. Last updated Wednesday, May 28 2003. Created Wednesday, May 28 2003. | ||||||||
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| Rent | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | AstroNerdBoy | # | |
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Lupin brings the gang together five years after the end of the first Lupin III series. Together again, they are again pursued by the ever-present Inspector Zenigata as they hunt various treasures and adventures all over the world. Basically, each episode is some sort of adventure with Fujiko either working with them or against them (or a combination of both). The fun is in seeing them at work. OK, it can get predictable, but it is still fun, especially if you see this in the original Japanese (Pioneer screwed the English dub script for the first 24 episodes). As of this review, I've seen 26 episodes from this Lupin III series. Two were done by Miyazaki-sama and so both were really good (epidodes 145 & 155). Since both of these episodes are toward the end of this series, Lupin is more like the Lupin of Castle of Cagliostro. Bottom line: A fun series and worth checking out, especially in the Japanese. We'll see what Pioneer does after episode 24 on the English dub. For a really good Lupin title besides Castle of Cagliostro, try Lupin III Episode 0: First Contact (currently fansubbed). 7/2003Last updated Sunday, August 03 2003. Created Sunday, January 12 2003. | ||||||||
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Other Sites
| Name | URL |
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| Official U.S. Lupin III Site | http://www.lupinofficial.com |
| The official (Pioneer Entertainment) Lupin III website. | |
| Lupin III Encyclopedia | http://www.lupinencyclopedia.com |
| Excellent Lupin III resource! | |
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