The iconic “gentleman thief” Lupin III returns in an action-packed, continent-spanning adventure, as Lupin III and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary, before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. The gang undertakes trap-filled tombs, aerial escapades and daring prison escapes with the trademark wit and visual finesse that have made LUPIN THE 3RD one of the most storied animation franchises in the world, in a thrilling new caper that is sure to delight fans old and new.

Here it is,

Pause the SCIFI.radio stream while you watch this.

This, though, makes the first time Lupin III has ever been 3d animated, and frankly we had our doubts as to how closely on model it was going to be. At this point, we think it’s safe to say that anime fandom breathes an enormous sigh of relief. The lip sync for the English dubbed version isn’t perfect in this trailer, and it’s sometimes distracting, but dubbing in English makes it accessible to a giant swath of viewing audience which it wouldn’t otherwise reach.

Lupin III 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 first appeared in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967, more than 50 years ago. Since then it has spawned a media franchise that includes numerous manga, two versions of an animated pilot film, six animated television series, eleven theatrically-released animated films, two live-action films, five OVA works, twenty-seven animated television specials, two musicals, many music CDs, and several video games.

For many of us in the English-speaking world, this new film by GKids is our first exposure to this enduring character. Exactly how we’re going to go see it under the COVID-19 pandemic situation when major events are being cancelled right and left is something yet to be determined – it makes its theatrical debut on October 18, and goes to digital in December.

The film is dedicated to Monkey Punch, the creator of Lupin III, who died on April 11, 2019.

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SCIFI Radio Staff
SCIFI Radio Staff

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