The Lupin
III universe is about to expand with the release of a new 2D animated film
titled Lupin the Third: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku (Immortal Bloodline), hitting
Japanese theaters on June 27. This will be the first full-length 2D animated
film in the franchise in nearly 30 years, since Lupin III: Dead or Alive
(1996).
As a
prequel, a digital prequel titled Lupin the Third: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin
(Zenigata and the Two Lupins) will be released, available on streaming services
in Japan such as Amazon Prime Video starting June 20.
Zenigata
Takes Center Stage in an Intense Action Story
The digital
prequel puts us in the shoes of Inspector Zenigata, who must solve a mysterious
terrorist attack at an airport in the cold-blooded "Roviet Union" (a
pun on the Soviet Union). There, Lupin is accused as the prime suspect.
However, when Zenigata captures him, he claims to be innocent... sparking an
enigmatic plot with more than one Lupin at stake.
The prequel
trailer has revealed the addition of veteran Kenyū Horiuchi, who will voice one
of the "fake Lupins."
High-Caliber
Cast and Production
The main
film will feature new additions to the cast, including:
Ainosuke
Kataoka as Muomu, an immortal man.
Aoi
Morikawa as Sarifa, a mysterious young woman in Muomu's service.
The film
marks the return of director Takeshi Koike, who helmed previous installments
such as Jigen's Gravestone, Goemon's Blood Spray, and Fujiko Mine's Lie. The
script will once again be written by Yūya Takahashi, while James Shimoji will
return as composer. Katsuhito Ishii returns as creative advisor.
Production
is being handled by TMS Entertainment, and distribution will be handled by TOHO
NEXT. The film's main theme song will be performed by the legendary rock band
B'z, with the title track "The IIIRD Eye."
A milestone
in Lupin history
Although
several films have been released in recent years, such as Jigen's Gravestone,
Goemon's Blood Spray, and Fujiko Mine's Lie, none have achieved the 2D animated
feature format. The most recent, Lupin III THE FIRST (2019), was made entirely
in CG animation, while others, such as Lupin III vs. Detective Conan (2013) and
Lupin the Third vs. Cat's Eye (2023) were crossovers.
With this
new installment, Lupin the Third not only pays homage to its roots but also
promises an intense story full of action, mystery, and nostalgia for fans of
all generations.
