Lupin the Third (Rupan sansei)
Lupin III (Rupan Sansei), also written as Lupin the Third or Lupin the 3rd, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Monkey Punch. It follows the escapades of master thief Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of novels.
The Lupin III manga, which first appeared in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967, spawned a media franchise that includes numerous manga, four anime television series, five animated feature films, two live-action films, three OVAs, yearly television specials since 1989, music CDs, video games, and a musical.
Many different companies have owned the English-language distribution rights to various Lupin III properties at various times, with just the first two movies having been released by over 10 companies alone. Tokyopop acquired the license to the original manga in 2002, and later the second series in 2004. Funimation Entertainment purchased the rights to several of the television specials and films in 2002, and the fourth television series in 2012. Geneon licensed and dubbed 79 episodes of the second television series, 26 of which were broadcast on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim during 2003. Discotek Media licensed the entire first television series and the live-action film, they also own the rights to several other Lupin titles, including some previously released by other companies.
Over forty years after its creation, Lupin III remains popular, with several different manga series currently being published, yearly television specials and a fourth anime series which aired in 2012. For several years, issues relating to the copyright of Maurice Leblanc's intellectual property meant that the Lupin name was removed from its releases outside of Japan, usually changed to "Rupan" or "Wolf". However, the copyright has since expired, allowing foreign releases to use the Lupin name.
The Lupin III manga, which first appeared in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967, spawned a media franchise that includes numerous manga, four anime television series, five animated feature films, two live-action films, three OVAs, yearly television specials since 1989, music CDs, video games, and a musical.
Many different companies have owned the English-language distribution rights to various Lupin III properties at various times, with just the first two movies having been released by over 10 companies alone. Tokyopop acquired the license to the original manga in 2002, and later the second series in 2004. Funimation Entertainment purchased the rights to several of the television specials and films in 2002, and the fourth television series in 2012. Geneon licensed and dubbed 79 episodes of the second television series, 26 of which were broadcast on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim during 2003. Discotek Media licensed the entire first television series and the live-action film, they also own the rights to several other Lupin titles, including some previously released by other companies.
Over forty years after its creation, Lupin III remains popular, with several different manga series currently being published, yearly television specials and a fourth anime series which aired in 2012. For several years, issues relating to the copyright of Maurice Leblanc's intellectual property meant that the Lupin name was removed from its releases outside of Japan, usually changed to "Rupan" or "Wolf". However, the copyright has since expired, allowing foreign releases to use the Lupin name.
List activity
6.1K views
• 2 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
42 titles
- CreatorMonkey PunchStarsYasuo YamadaRichard EpcarMichelle RuffThe adventures of the master thief Lupin III and his cohorts as they dive into various escapades, all the while in pursuit by the tenacious Inspector Zenigata.On October 24, 1971, ytv began airing the first Lupin III television series. The series, was broadcast for 23 episodes, with the last one airing on March 26, 1972. The first seven episodes of the series, along with episodes nine and twelve, were directed by Masaaki Ōsumi, while the remaining episodes were directed jointly by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Key animation direction was provided by Yasuo Ōtsuka. The music was composed by Takeo Yamashita with many songs performed by Charlie Kosei. The series received a record amount of orders from the broadcast industry and had a 9% viewing share during its original broadcast. Discotek Media licensed and released the first series on DVD in North America on June 26, 2012
- CreatorMonkey PunchStarsYasuo YamadaKiyoshi KobayashiGorô NayaThe master thief Lupin III and his cronies continue their globe-trotting exploits, with the stubborn Inspector Zenigata ever at their trail.The second Lupin III television series began airing on NTV on October 3, 1977. This series, was broadcast for 155 episodes, with the last one airing on October 6, 1980. Episodes 145 and 155 were written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki under the pseudonym Terekomu, and they marked his final involvement with the Lupin franchise. The music for the series was composed by Yuji Ohno. On September 3, 1979, Episode 99 was the first ever anime television episode to be broadcast in stereo. Streamline released episodes 145 and 155 of the second television series to VHS as "Lupin III's Greatest Capers". Geneon Entertainment, which was at the time was called Pioneer Entertainment, began distributing the second television series in North America in 2003. Geneon hired Phuuz Entertainment Inc. to adapt and translate the series. The first 79 episodes were released on 15 DVDs and the first 26 episodes aired numerous times on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
- StarsYasuo YamadaGorô NayaKiyoshi KobayashiThe continuing adventures of the master thief Lupin III.The third Lupin III television series, called Lupin III Part III, began airing on ytv on March 3, 1984. This series was broadcast for 50 episodes and ended on November 6, 1985. In 2009, the Southern California based United Television Broadcasting network began airing subtitled episodes from all three series on their UTBHollywood channel.
- StarsMichelle RuffMiyuki SawashiroSonny StraitThe story of how the fashionable femme fatale Fujiko Mine first met Lupin III, her sometimes-lover and sometimes-rival, and the rest of his gang.The fourth series, titled Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, aired on NTV between April 4, 2012 and June 27, 2012. The 13 episode series depicts Fujiko meeting the rest of the Lupin III cast for the first time, and was created to capture the "sensuality" present in Monkey Punch's original manga. Funimation Entertainment simulcast the series on their website and Nico Nico, with English subtitles. It was then released in Blu-ray and Blu-ray/DVD sets on August 20, 2013, including an English-language dub. Manga Entertainment released a similar set in the United Kingdom on September 16, while Hanabee will release a two-part combo set in Australasia, the first on October 16 and the second on November 20.
- DirectorOsamu KobayashiMasaaki ÔsumiThe grandmaster thief Lupin III and his associates devise a plan to escape from the stubborn Inspector Zenigata and the mercenary samurai Goemon Ishikawa.Following the success of the manga series, TMS Entertainment and Toho produced a 12-minute Lupin III anime film adaptation featuring Lupin wearing a red jacket outfit. Masaaki Ōsumi directed the movie, which was made in two different versions: a CinemaScope version intended for theatrical release and a 4:3 television version. The animation for the two versions was mainly the same, but the voice cast was different, with only Kiyoshi Kobayashi and Eiko Masuyama, voicing Daisuke Jigen and Fujiko Mine respectively, in both versions. By the time the pilot was completed in 1969, because of budget concerns and a disagreement between Toho and TMS, the film was never released. Masaaki Ōsumi then moved on to direct several episodes of the first Lupin III television series. The two versions of this pilot film were later released in 1989 as a part of the Lupin III Secret Files collection.
- DirectorSôji YoshikawaYasuo ÔtsukaStarsYasuo YamadaEiko MasuyamaKiyoshi KobayashiWhile attempting to win the affections of a beautiful rival, a master thief risks death to learn the secret intentions of a wealthy and seemingly immortal, but certainly ruthless, recluse.During the broadcast run of the second television series, an animated feature film was also produced titled simply Lupin III (later known as Lupin III: Lupin vs. the Clone), which was released in Japanese theaters on December 16, 1978. The movie received four different English language dubs. The first dub, created in 1978, received experimental screenings in the United States by TMS, while the next two dubs were created for home releases and were retitled The Mystery of Mamo and Secret of Mamo. The fourth was released on DVD by Geneon in North America on July 29, 2003, under the title The Secret of Mamo. Manga Entertainment released the movie in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2008. Discotek Media released the film on DVD on February 26, 2013 and includes all four English dubs.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsYasuo YamadaEiko MasuyamaKiyoshi KobayashiA dashing thief, his gang of desperadoes and an intrepid cop struggle to free a princess from an evil count, and learn the secret of a treasure that she holds part of the key to.Hayao Miyazaki directed the next feature film, The Castle of Cagliostro, which was released in Japanese theaters on December 15, 1979. This movie was loosely based on Maurice Leblanc's Arsène Lupin novel La Comtesse de Cagliostro ("The Countess of Cagliostro").
- DirectorSeijun SuzukiShigetsugu YoshidaStarsYasuo YamadaEiko MasuyamaKiyoshi KobayashiLupin squares off with two criminal families and Inspector Zenigata's new female patrol to track down a hoard of biblical-era treasure.The third film, Legend of the Gold of Babylon, was released in Japanese theaters on July 13, 1985. AnimEigo released the film in North America in 1994 under the "Rupan III" name. In 2005, Discotek Media acquired it for a DVD release, however, it was later cancelled due to NA's declining anime industry.
- DirectorTakeshi ShiratoNobuo TomizawaShun'ya ItôStarsKan'ichi KuritaKiyoshi KobayashiMakio InoueLupin must rescue a young girl from a doomsday cult seeking a book of prophecies hidden by the girl's father, a wealthy US Presidential candidate.Ten years after Babylon was released, Die! Nostradamus entered Japanese theaters on April 22, 1995.
- DirectorMonkey PunchJun KawagoeStarsKan'ichi KuritaKiyoshi KobayashiMakio InoueWhen Lupin heads to the kingdom of Zufu to pilfer its treasure, he incurs the wrath of its psychotic ruler General Headhunter, who places a dead-or-alive bounty on his head.The fifth anime feature film, Dead or Alive, was directed by the creator of the series, Monkey Punch, and released in Japanese theaters on April 20, 1996. Although he was credited as chief director for the production, Monkey Punch said that he left most of the work to his assistant directors and only directed the opening and ending sequences while acting as consultant for everything else. Following the production of the movie, he stated that the process was so exhausting he would not like to direct another anime again.
- DirectorHajime KamegakiStarsKan'ichi KuritaMinami TakayamaAmaLeeIt is a cross over between the series Lupin III and Case Closed and takes place after the television special Lupin the 3rd vs Detective Conan, additionally incorporating various elements from its predecessor in its plot. The plot follows Conan Edogawa who sets out to apprehend Arsene Lupin III, the suspect of stealing a jewel called Cherry Sapphire.In April 2013, an announcement in Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine revealed that a Lupin the 3rd vs. Detective Conan: The Movie was in production, four years after the two series had a crossover TV special together. It was released on December 7, 2013, making it the first Lupin III theatrical feature in 17 years.
- DirectorMasayuki ÔzekiStarsToshio FurukawaBanjô GingaMami KoyamaLupin and his gang are called to action when Goemon's fiancé is held hostage by a mysterious ninja clan.The first Lupin III original video animation (OVA) was The Plot of the Fuma Clan, was shown in theatres in Japan on December 26, 1987 before being released to video on April 5, 1998. Because of budget problems, TMS decided not to employ the regular voice cast from the television series and theatrical movies; instead, they hired a different cast to save money. Yasuo Yamada, the voice actor for Lupin, had always taken pride in his role as the title character and after the voice cast replacement, he mistakenly thought that Monkey Punch had lobbied the producers for a new voice actor.
- DirectorMamoru HamatsuStarsTakeshi AonoDaisuke EgawaMakio InoueLupin steals a gem from a Mediterranean party, only to be interrupted by Pycal, the trickster "magician" who had apparently died fighting Lupin years earlier. Pycal, now armed with real magical abilities, is determined to take revenge.The second OVA, Return of the Magician, was released on April 3, 2002, created as a part of the 30-year anniversary of the first television series and features the return of one of the original villains of the series, the magician Pycal.
- DirectorShigeyuki MiyaStarsKan'ichi KuritaKiyoshi KobayashiMakio InoueWearing his signature red jacket, Lupin aims to steal the "Ice Cube" treasure from the military organization "Nighthawks". However, another Lupin shows up dressed in the older signature green jacket aiming for the same prize. How can there be two Lupins?A third OVA, Green Vs. Red, was released on April 2, 2008 as part of the 40th anniversary of the manga. Discotek released Green VS. Red on May 21, 2013 in North America
- DirectorKenji KodamaStarsKan'ichi KuritaKiyoshi KobayashiMakio InoueLupin has invited all of his friends to a villa on a private island and is planning a big surprise. Fujiko, Goemon and Jigen find Lupin's behavior to be unusual. They are also curious about who the man in the iron mask is, who is chained up to a wall for the reasons they are about to find out.The Lupin III Master File box set released in 2012 included a new short animation titled "Lupin Family Lineup" where the veteran cast of Kanichi Kurita as Lupin, Kiyoshi Kobayashi as Jigen, Makio Inoue as Goemon, Eiko Masuyama as Fujiko, and Goro Naya as Zenigata reunited for the last time, after the later three were replaced for the previous year's TV special.
- DirectorOsamu DezakiStarsYasuo YamadaEiko MasuyamaKiyoshi KobayashiTo erase his criminal records, Lupin must steal the Ultravirus file.Lupin III television special. #1
- DirectorOsamu DezakiStarsYôsuke AkimotoJun HazumiMitsuaki HoshinoLupin is off to find the document papers of Ernest Hemingway while 2 individual armies are after the same thing.Lupin III television special. #2
- DirectorOsamu DezakiStarsYôsuke AkimotoShow HayamiMitsuaki HoshinoLupin attends an old school car race from Madrid to Paris, and the grand prize is Napoleon's Dictionary.Lupin III television special. #3
- DirectorOsamu DezakiStarsMasao ImanishiMakio InoueUnshô IshizukaLupin III along with his gang want to steal the lost treasure of the Romanov Royal family, this treasure is an immense quantity of gold hide underground in the United States behind the placement of a corrupt bank. But to have the gold, Lupin and his friends will have to fight for it with the mysterious and powerful monk Rasputin. Also Lupin again will have to elude the inspector Zenigata who will follow Lupin's trail and try to put him in jail.Lupin III television special. #4
- DirectorMasaaki ÔsumiStarsBrice ArmstrongDameon ClarkeDerek GarrisonLupin takes on a gang of arms dealers, but must deal with a new complication: Inspector Zenigata is taken off the Lupin case and replaced with a new officer who wants Lupin dead.Lupin III television special. #5
- DirectorMasaharu OkuwakiStarsYasuo YamadaKiyoshi KobayashiMakio InoueChinese Kingpin Chin Chin Chu is after a dragon figurine that's a key to creating an alloy said to be greater than Goemon's Zantatsu Sword. The dragon figurine is located in the depths of the Titanic. Lupin, Jigen, and Fujiko were offered by Chin to steal it for him, but Lupin refuses the offer, and gets it himself, as his grandfather, Arsene Lupin the 1st tried to steal it before the Titanic sunk. Goemon accompanied by his childhood friend Kikyo, team up to maintain the Iga Clan honor that the dragon won't fall into the use of evil.Lupin III television special. #6
- DirectorOsamu DezakiStarsKan'ichi KuritaEiko MasuyamaGorô NayaLupin scrambles to uncover a master thief's eight-billion-dollar treasure. But also on the chase is a band of German soldiers and a retired British agent.Lupin III television special. #7
- DirectorGisaburô SugiiStarsKan'ichi KuritaKiyoshi KobayashiEiko MasuyamaLupin comes into the possession of half a diamond containing half a map, and goes in search of the other half so that he can obtain the map's treasure.Lupin III television special. #8
- DirectorSeiji MizushimaHiroyuki YanoStarsKan'ichi KuritaKiyoshi KobayashiMakio InoueLupin infiltrates the Tarantulas, an elite gang of assassins from a secret island base, over an incident from his past.Lupin III television special. #9
- DirectorToshiya ShinoharaStarsMegumi HayashibaraKan'ichi KuritaKiyoshi KobayashiLupin attempts to get his hands on a treasure map, but finds himself in a crisis where the future of Tokyo hangs in the balance.Lupin III television special. #10