Anime Reviews (2020s): Lupin the Third Part 6 - Complete Collection

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Classic characters return for the 50th anniversary of the animated series. Cool animation and character design, anyone who is familiar and not familiar can jump into this anime series and enjoy it!

Click here to purchase “Lupin III: Part 6 – Complete Series Collection” on Blu-ray

TITLE: Lupin the Third: Part Six – Complete Series Collection

DURATION: Episodes 0-24 (625 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, English Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (movies are 5.1) and Japanese Dolby True HD 2.0 (movies are 5.1), Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: January 24, 2023

Original Concept by Maurice Leblanc

Originally Created by Monkey Punch

Director: Suganuma Eiji, Tomizawa Nobuo (ep. 0)

Series Composition: Okura Takahiro, Murakoshi Shigeru

Music by Ohno Yuji

Character Design: Marufuji Hirotaka, Yokobori Hisao

Art Director: Kashimura Asuka, Beom Seon lee, Ogura Hiromasa, Bizan Koichiro, Shimizu Tetsuhiro, Tram Anh Nguyen, Nishizawa Wataru, Matsumiya Yumi, Takeda Yusuke

Anime Production: TMS Entertainment, Actas, Digital Network Animation, l-a-unch BOX, Magic bus, Maruga Factory

Featuring the following voice talent:

Kurita Kanichi/Tony Oliver as Lupin III

Namikawa Daisuke/Lex Lang as Goemon Ishikawa

Sawashiro Miyuki/Michelle Ruff as Fujiko Mine

Ohtsuka Akio/Richard Epcar as Daisuke Jigen

Yamadera Koichi/Doug Erholtz as Inspector Zenigata

Morohoshi Sumire/Emi Lo as Lily

Shimazaki Nobunaga/Kaiji Tang as Goro Yatagarasu

Tsuda Kenjiro/Kaiser Johnson as Albert d’Andrésy

Shimura Tomoyuki/Luis Bermudez as Inspector Lestrade

Fukami Rica/Minae Noji as Tomoe (Young; 6 episodes)

Shimizu Risa/Suzie Yeung as Mathia

Obara Masato/YongYea as Sherlock Holmes

Master thief Arsène Lupin the Third and his usual entourage of peculiar but insanely talented criminal cronies are back, but this time they may have finally met their match! That’s because instead of Inspector Zenigata, who has never been quite able to beat Lupin in a game of wits, Lupin is now up against no less than the legendary Sherlock Holmes! And to make it personal, Lupin is wanted on the suspicion of having murdered Holmes’ longtime associate Watson! With an antagonist like that, it will take everything Lupin has to clear his name while also trying to steal a treasure from a shadowy organization that’s been manipulating the British government! Still not enough? Then let’s add tracking down the mystery of who Lupin’s own mother really was as the capper for the sixth thrilling part of LUPIN THE 3RD!

Since 1967, “Lupin III” has entertained audiences.

Written and illustrated by Monkey Punch, 94 chapters were serialized from August 10, 1967 through 1971 and a second from 1977 through 1981. With the passing of Monkey Punch, there have been several artists who have featured the popular characters and the animated series, TV specials and animated films have been released in the past five decades.

Part 1 was released back in 1971-1972, part II was released from 19777-1980, Part III was released from 1984-1985, Part IV: The Italian Adventure from 2015-2016, Part V: Misadventures in France in 2018 and now part 6 in 2021, to celebrate the 50th anniversary celebration of the anime series.

For those not familiar with the series, the series is about a thief named Arsene Lupin III.

He is the world’s most wanted thief and a genius. He is also the grandson of the great thief, Arsene Lupin. He can perform thefts that are deemed impossible, possible. He may seem very naive and goofy but he is an expert when it comes to thievery and quite brilliant. His only main flaw is his weakness…women.

He is joined by super fast marksman, Jigen Daisuke. He is a genius when it comes to weaponry and proficient in them all.

Also, joining the group is Ishikawa Goemon XIII, the descendant of the renegade samurai Ishikawa Goemon and uses the Zantetsuken, a blade that can cut inanimate objects.

And there is Lupin’s weakness, the intelligent femme fatale, Mine Fujiko. Expert in firearms, disguises and similar to Lupin, a top notch thief.

Trying to catch them is Inspector Zenigata, who works with the ICPO and his mission is to arrest Lupin.

For part 6, the anime series is broken down into two parts.

The first part features Lupin III accused of killing Sherlock Holmes partner, Dr. Watson. While the top suspect, he is also after a treasure hidden by the mysterious organization, The Raven.

The second half features a search for a woman named Tomoe, Lupin III believes the woman to be his long lost mother.

It’s important to note that the series is structured earlier on for people not familiar with the manga or anime series to watch it and be entertained.

For those interested in the earlier previous series, the good news is that within the past few years, access to the early series is now possible via streaming (on Amazon) or on DVD, the series was also featured on television in various countries.

As for Part 6 is concerned, I think that a storyline featuring Sherlock Holmes and thief Arsene Lupin III was fascinating and the storyline looking into Lupin III searching for his mother was also just as entertaining to watch.

But for me, I think if anything, it’s great that a new generation of viewers get to watch “Lupin III”.

When I became an anime fan, the first Japanese person I met in the anime industry was Monkey Punch, who was a common face to see at anime conventions in the US back in the early ’90s. In fact, anyone could have kicked back and hung out with him at the time and he would draw everyone a sketch of Arsene Lupin.

And back then, before we would know the name as “Lupin III”, on LD or VHS, we would see the name as “Rupan III” as back then, there were worries of copyright due to Maurice LeBlanc’s original “Arsene Lupin” and “The Castle of Cagliostro” being the big must-watch title thanks to Miyazaki Hayao writing and directing the film (he also co-directed the first series and a few episodes of Part 2 before Studio Ghibli was founded).

But I have watched “Lupin III” for the longest time now and I think it’s absolutely awesome that we have a classic series that anyone can enjoy for a new generation of viewers to come.

Watching this anime series and seeing Lupin III in HD and also a new style of animation thanks to TMS Animation, you can’t help but be amazed of how far things have come along in terms of animation and character design.

But for each Part released, I know that people will have their favorites. Those who relish in the style and storytelling of the ’70s, especially with the Miyazaki years.

For me, while I love the animation and character designs, the storytelling could have been better with part 1, part 2, I did enjoy the most. But again, “Lupin III” is a topic that would be subjective to the viewer and because I grew up watching the ’70s through the ’90s, I may be a bit biased towards those decades.

But nevertheless, I do recommend people to check it out and if possible, try to check out the previous “parts” as well.

Click here to purchase “Lupin III: Part 6 – Complete Series Collection” on Blu-ray