Phantom thieves might be making a comeback in anime, if the recent announcement of Lupin the Third's first 2D movie in decades is any indication. For the uninitiated, Lupin the Third is a story about a master thief by the same name, grandson of fictional French gentleman thief Arsène Lupin (who, as an aside, is broadly credited with the later widespread popularity of gentleman thieves in fiction). Lupin has a singular voice, bridging comedy and adventure with action, heart, and sex appeal. It's an essential formula in entertainment—because it works.
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Debuting in 1967, the series would go on to become one of the most renowned and timeless anime franchises, with Lupin developing an iconic status in Japan and Italy and a devoted cult following elsewhere in the world. Lupin the Third has spawned countless movies, TV releases, and countless manga. Fans have even gotten in on the action, since Lupin's episodic format lends itself well to one-off stories that aren't "canon", per se. However, despite its prolific catalog of adventures, Lupin hasn't actually received a 2D feature-length film in over thirty years. Now, that's going to change.
Lupin the Third Goes Back to 2D Animation With Lupin the IIIrd the Movie
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In the early hours of November 29, it was announced that Lupin the Third would receive a new 2D film entitled Lupin the IIIrd the Movie. Manga Mogure RE posted on X that the film would receive a 2025 release and would be directed by Takeshi Koike, the animation director of Lupin the IIIrd: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. Meanwhile, the film will be produced by TMS Entertainment and animated by Telecom Animation Film, which has been working with the Lupin franchise since 1977's anime Lupin III Part 2 and is also known for recent productions like Tower of God. A trailer was provided by TMS Entertainment's YouTube channel, shown above.
The film is a major move for the franchise, whose last 2D feature-length film was Lupin III: Dead or Alive in 1996. Technically speaking, it's the first 2D film since then with only Lupin IP and a purpose-written story: other films would include a Detective Conan crossover and the spin-off films for The Woman Called Fujiko Mine (coincidentally also directed by Koike). Afterward came 2019's Lupin III: The First, a 3D CGI adventure renowned for its beautiful animation. Lupin the IIIrd the Movie is an exciting fresh start for the franchise.
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Lupin III And The Return Of Thieves
It's silly on the surface to say that phantom thieves have died out in fiction. 2016's blockbuster JRPG Persona 5 was centered around the concept and drew countless eyes of fans who were otherwise anime and JRPG fans, seamlessly blending superhero-inspired design with the fatal allure of a meticulously planned psychedelic burglary. The output of sleek and sexy morally ambiguous thieves has been steady—though likely less prolific than in its heyday decades ago.
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Until recently, that is. The Lupin the IIIrd the First announcement comes only days after Disney announced the revival of fellow traveler CAT'S EYE, a series whose last anime adaptation was almost 40 years ago. The connection between the pair isn't insignificant: just last year in 2023, a crossover considered decades overdue arrived as an ONA called LUPIN THE 3rd VS CAT'S EYE. It's too early to identify a broader trend, but there seems to be something more than simple nostalgia at work as a generation without a Lupin, James Bond, or Goku to call their own starts looking to the giants of their respective genres for inspiration.
For gentleman thieves and phantom thieves, one can hardly do better than Lupin's titular character, speeding toward them in his little yellow Fiat in Lupin the IIIrd the Movie, expected to debut in 2025.
Source: Manga Mogura RE/X, TMS Official YouTube
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Lupin the 3rd Part 1
TV-PG
Action
Adventure
Animation
Lupin the 3rd Part 1 is the inaugural series based on Monkey Punch’s manga, featuring the master thief Arsène Lupin III. Released in 1971, the series follows Lupin and his associates—sharpshooter Daisuke Jigen, samurai Goemon Ishikawa XIII, and femme fatale Fujiko Mine—as they undertake daring heists and evade the relentless Inspector Zenigata. Bridging action with humor, the show set the stage for the long-running Lupin the 3rd franchise.
- Cast
- Tony Oliver , Richard Epcar , Michelle Ruff , Doug Erholtz , Lex Lang , Derek Stephen Prince
- Release Date
- October 24, 1971
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Amazon Freevee , Crackle , Crunchyroll , Plex , Prime Video
- Franchise(s)
- Lupin the 3rd
- Writers
- Tadaaki Yamazaki , Atsushi Yamatoya , Kiyoshi Miyata , Tōru Sawaki , Seiji Matsuoka , Kazuichi Tsurumi , Mon Shichijō , Shunichirō Koyama , Tatsuo Tamura
- Directors
- Masaaki Ōsumi , Hayao Miyazaki , Isao Takahata
- Main Genre
- Action
- Creator(s)
- Monkey Punch
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