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In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the “Lupin III” anime series, congratulatory comments and illustrations have arrived from celebrities from various fields, including “Detective Conan” manga artist Aoyama Gosho, “City Hunter” manga artist Hojo Tsukasa, actor Asano Tadanobu, and others.

Based on Monkey Punch’s manga of the same name, “Lupin III” is an action anime featuring Lupin III, the grandson of the world’s greatest thief Arsène Lupin, and his friends including Jigen Daisuke, Ishikawa Goemon, and Mine Fujiko, as well as his traditional rival Inspector Zenigata and other unique characters.

“Lupin III Part6”, the latest series currently being broadcast, has a “mystery” theme for its first season, with series composition by Okura Takahiro, a mystery novelist whose works have been made into many films, and who also writes scripts for anime and special effects. In addition, this is a gorgeous work that is truly worthy of an anniversary where special guests from the world of fiction and animation, such as Tsuji Masaki, Ashibe Taku, Higuchi Akio, Minato Kanae, and Oshii Mamoru, will participate in the screenplay for the omnibus episodes.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the anime adaptation, congratulatory comments have arrived from celebrities from various fields.
In addition, “Lupin III 50th Anniversary Special Drawing Video” by Tomonaga Kazuhide, an animator who has created many famous scenes in the series since “Lupin III Part2”, including the famous car chase scenes in the movie “Lupin III: Castle Of Cagliostro”, will be available on YouTube “TMS Official Anime channel” from 12:00 pm on October 22, 2021.
In addition, a Twitter present campaign for the “50th Anniversary Celebration Illustration” drawn in the video will be held. For more information, please visit the official website.

Aoyama Gosho / Manga Artist (“Detective Conan”, “YAIBA”)

Congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the anime♪
My first encounter with Lupin III was when I was in the lower grades of elementary school. I had already read Maurice Leblanc’s “Arsène Lupin, the Phantom Thief” books, so I thought, “There’s going to be an anime about Lupin’s grandson… I wonder if Holmes’ grandson will be in it?” When I started watching the show, I was surprised to see the Inspector, who is a descendant of Zenigata Heiji, his partner Jigen Daisuke, Ishikawa Goemon the 13th, and a mysterious woman named Mine Fujiko!
The tickling stick in the first episode grabbed an idiot elementary school student’s heart lol
I never imagined that later on, I would collaborate with my own character (Conan) to make a movie♪

Fifty years later? That must be “Lupin VIII vs Conan III”! lol

Hojo Tsukasa: Encounter with “Lupin III” / Manga Artist (“Cat’s Eye”, “City Hunter”)

That was when I was in junior high school. It was a beautiful Sunday lunch time with my family. Suddenly, a cool image appeared on the TV.
A searchlight illuminates a person by the wall. As if to mock the searchlight, the person smiles fearlessly and runs at full speed. It was a scene that any Lupin fan would know, and it was an announcement for the new TV program Lupin III.
I didn’t know about Lupin III at the time. I didn’t know anything about Lupin III at the time, but I remembered seeing a shonen magazine in a barbershop that had another of Monkey’s works in it. I didn’t remember the name of the work, but I had a strong impression of his quirky pen name, Monkey Punch, and his unique style of drawing.
When I saw the advertisement, I thought that the manga was going to be made into an anime, and I said to my family, “Oh, I know this manga.” Right after that, the character (Lupin) put his hand on Fujiko’s chest and stripped off her clothes even though I thought he was galloping to rescue the bound woman (Fujiko). Then the title “Lupin III” appeared and the show ended. The Sunday happy family time froze at that image and my comment. After that…can you imagine how heavy the silence was at lunch… this was my shocking encounter with Lupin lol

The title of the film will be “Lupin IV: Full of ___”. Lupin III spread his offsprings all over the world. “I am the heir to Lupin III.” say dozens of his sons and daughters and compete in a thief race for the name of Lupin IV. The protagonist is a teenager, the daughter of Fujiko. The old Lupin III is a judge…is that too much?

Kosawa Ryota / Screenwriter (“Confidence Man JP” series, “GREAT PRETENDER”)

Aono Kenichi: “Europe as Atmosphere” / Writer, Music Selector, DJ

My parents divorced when I was just about to enter junior high school, but even before that, I don’t remember my father being at home much. My father, who worked in the computer industry, was always on business trips overseas, which was rare in those days, and I saw him only a few times a year.
Most of his business trips were to Europe, and of course he bought some souvenirs for my mother, who worked in the fashion industry, and me from those countries. This is how I was able to experience European culture as an object from my childhood, in the mid to late 1970s.
At the same time, I was looking forward to watching reruns of “Lupin III”. At the time, my understanding of the show was that it was a thrilling, cool, and funny animation, but now that I think about it, I must have sensed the atmosphere of mature —- and decadent —- Europe from the cityscape, interior furnishings, and the appearance of the characters. And also the aesthetics of defeat.
While the entrance to Europe as an object was a souvenir from my father, my interest in Europe as an atmosphere was definitely triggered by “Lupin III”. So, no matter how old you are, there is always something to enjoy and discover. I think it’s hard to find such an animation work.

I hope that Lupin will never forget the coolness and sadness of sticking to his own aesthetic.

Tomonaga Kazuhide / Animator (“Lupin III: Castle Of Cagliostro”, “Lupin III: Part2 – Part5”)

Times are changing rapidly, aren’t they? I’m looking forward to the future, wondering how Lupin will be active.
If possible, I’ll be very happy if people love Lupin III and his buddies for another 50 years as much as I do.

Fujitsu Ryota / Animation Critic

“Lupin III” was created by Monkey Punch and has gained national popularity through anime. Throughout its long history, “Lupin III” has become a kind of “mirror” work. It is a work that has lived with the times, changing its reflection from time to time. And even if what is reflected changes, the “frame” of the smart character, Lupin III remains unmoved. It is such a “mirror”. Hard-boiled story, romantic story, mystery, action, nonsense story, etc., no matter what the subject, no matter what the angle of the story, it becomes the entertainment that is “Lupin III”, if it is reflected in that mirror. However, facing such a “mirror” is not an easy task for creators because you are constantly asked, “What are you trying to show here?” The accumulation of ingenuity and struggle to confront such a “mirror” has made “Lupin III” a work that has been loved throughout the ages. Over half a century has passed since the first animated film was made, and I wonder how the future creators will face this “mirror”. It’s a battle of ideas between the creators and “Lupin III” that is the source of this work’s appeal.

I wonder if it will be produced as a thief story set in the 1960s-1980s like “Sherlock Holmes” (100 years ago)……

Asano Tadanobu / Actor

Original Story: Monkey Punch (C) TMS, NTV