Ah yes, good old Lupin III, the series that still continues to this day, and is the gift that keeps on giving. Whether it’s the exciting action sequences, the slapstick comedy, or the fun characters, this is a franchise that only seems to capture the hearts of more and more people as it grows older, like fine wine. It’s been about a year since its 50th anniversary, and in honour of Part 5 airing, I’ll be taking a look back one of Japan’s most iconic anime series, and (hopefully) be of use for anyone who wants to start watching Lupin III.
But not so fast! Although every Lupin III adaptation has a different plot and setting, the story is always going to revolve around the adventures of the five members of the main cast, which consists of:
Arsène Lupin III: the grandson of the infamous Arsène Lupin; Lupin is the main character, for all intents and purposes. He is known around the world as a famed ‘gentleman thief’, and once he’s set his eyes on something to steal, he’ll stop at nothing to get his hands on it, whether it be through clever disguises or the use of fancy gadgets. Even though he acts like quite the goofball and gets stuck in undesirable situations on the reg, he’s a lot smarter than one would imagine.
Jigen Daisuke: an always reliable and deadly marksman who never shoots to miss; Jigen is Lupin’s right-hand man, partner-in-crime, and closest friend. Thanks to his past as a hitman, he is proficient in using all kinds of firearms, including revolvers, pistols, and even anti-tank rifles. Despite his dry, sarcastic remarks and general annoyance with having to act as the straight man to Lupin’s antics, he is incredibly loyal and would follow him to the ends of the earth if necessary.
Goemon Ishikawa XIII: the ‘third man’ of the team, Goemon is the thirteenth generation descendant of the dissident samurai Ishikawa Goemon. In comparison to Jigen’s gun-tooting, Goemon’s weapon of choice is Ryūsei/Zantetsuken, a sword which can cut through almost anything. He is also the most quiet and reserved member of the five, which lands him in the position of the comically serious at times.
Fujiko Mine: resident femme fatale and crafty schemer, Fujiko is more than just her beauty: she’s also an intelligent thief, and has no problem using her feminine charm to get her way. She and Lupin have a rather on-off relationship – sometimes she’s his associate, sometimes his rival. In addition, she’ll often double-cross him or make deals with his current enemy for her own gain. However, Lupin is so infatuated with her that he more often than not forgives her.
Inspector Zenigata: Inspector Koichi Zenigata – often affectionately referred to as “pops” by Lupin – is a policeman working for the ICPO, and has made it his life goal to arrest him, no matter what it takes. Sadly, although he is very clever and competent in his investigations, Lupin is always one step ahead of him somehow, leaving the two stuck in a perpetual cat-and-mouse game! Though he doesn’t want to admit it, he has a bit of a ‘enemy mine’ soft spot for Lupin – he’ll often compromise with him and even save his life on occasion.
Thus ends part 1 of this retrospective, where the core cast of Lupin III have been established. You’re going to be seeing these names a lot (duh..) in this retrospective, so take your time and become acquainted with them, won’t you? More to come in part 2!
The Art Archive 