Coming into this film unaware, one might be confused as to why the seventh “regular” Lupin III feature film is called Lupin III: The First. Contrary to its title, it is neither an origin story for the acclaimed grandson of gentleman thief Arsène Lupin nor is it even set particularly far back in his continuity. It doesn’t even have a second Lupin III to make the one we know and love the “first.” Instead, it is referring to what the film is i.e. the first of its kind: a fully computer-animated Lupin III film.
Unlike in the US, where 3D-Computer Animated (CG from here on) films are the norm, 2D, hand-drawn animation still reigns supreme in Japanese cinemas. This is because CG anime has a…well let’s just call it a troubled history. While there is plenty of innovation in the space, far more than in the US, there is always a ton of trepidation when a classic show like Lupin III makes the jump. Thankfully I’m happy to report – nearly 2 years since it originally released overseas and over a year since its US debut – that Lupin III: The First not only succeeded in making the jump, but it did so with flying colors.
There is something truly majestic in getting to see the cartoony antics of Lupin, Fujiko, Goemon, Jigen, and Zenigata in three dimensions without the stiffness of live-action. Lupin in particular gets to glide through every scene he’s in, bouncing from wall to wall, always moving with purpose and verve. The animators knew that what works in 2D doesn’t always work in 3D but it’s possible to capture the same energy and create new spins on a classic set-up. They do this a number of times but none work better than the intro car chase.
It’s classic Lupin, establishing the characters, their personalities, and the main theme all in an action-packed, goofy chase yet it doesn’t feel like a rehash of past scenes nor is it pure fan-service in getting to see everyone do their schtick. The direction of Takashi Yamazaki brings it all together, making sure the frames remain clear even as the action ramps up and that the camera doesn’t get too wild even as the characters are allowed to.
It’s truly a wonderful looking film top to bottom, oozing with charm and jaw-dropping set pieces. The colors pop and the world feels vibrant without feeling tonally at odds with the more serious scenes. The night scenes are also so pretty. The darkness is vibrant but not overwhelming. It’s great. The story, on the other hand…
Yeah, there’s no two ways about it, the story is a bit weak. It’s still wildly entertaining and, if you’ve never seen anything Lupin III before, a fantastic intro to the characters. However, it’s mostly focused on Lupin himself and the new character, Laetitia, so we don’t get a lot of good scenes with the rest of the cast. Moreover, the film’s plot is a slightly skewed portrait of the kinds of heists Lupin gets up to as we go full Indiana Jones to fight Nazis in the 1960s who are hunting for a weapon left behind by aliens in order to provide a vehicle for Hitler to return from hiding in Argentina. No. I’m not joking.
You’ll notice that I say slightly skewed. While Lupin does traditional gentleman thief stuff in many of his adventures, he also does stuff like fighting a resurrected megalomaniacal Da Vinci to prevent him from destroying the world. Lupin III, as you can see, leans harder into the Da Vinci side. This is, I think, its biggest failing. The grandness and the immensity of the story ends up overwhelming the quiet moments of connection between Lupin and Laetitia, making her growth across the film less impactful as we have to spend more and more time fighting with the Nazis over one macguffin or another. It’s all a bit overstuffed. Rather than developing Lupin’s own thoughts on his relationship with his grandfather & his legacy in full, we get glimpses and a bit of surface-level lip-service. It’s good but it’s not great, which sums up most of the story actually.
There are moments of brilliance throughout for sure but the arc of the film was pretty apparent from the get go. And, honestly? That’s fine. I loved the scene where Lupin was dodging lasers thanks to a hat. I loved when Fujiko just showed up with a plane. I loved listening to the banter between Laetitia and Lupin, even when it dipped into cliches. It’s pure pulp and it’s not afraid to be it. It helps that Lupin III: The First is just so damn charming. It’s aesthetic, yes, but the characters too.
Continued belowI should also mention that I watched this dubbed and while the lip-flaps didn’t match up all the time thanks to CG lip-flaps being more fluid, the acting from the veteran Lupin cast, and newcomers, was a delight and a breeze to listen to.
Lupin III: The First is a fun, exciting, and wonderful film, perfect for fans new and old. It’s really, really weird for sure but that’s what I love about the franchise. It’s not afraid to try new things and put its characters in out there predicaments. I hope the success of this film paves the way for more featuring Laetitia, Lupin and the gang, and 3DCG. Just maybe cut back on the alien artifacts and ramp up the heist tensions next time?
Oh, and one fun fact before we go. Marza Animation Planet, who worked with TMS on this, is primarily known for video game cutscenes in the “Sonic” franchise and were brought in to help animate the two live-action Sonic films. Wild, innit?
