Lupin III

I'm watching the Red Jacket episode where Lupin disguises himself as a woman and a rich man falls for "her". I love how said disguise isn't one of his perfect face masks but rather his normal face with lipstick and a wig.

While this clip isn't Lupin III, it is related to Monkey Punch. In 1980, a Jackie Chan film called The Fearless Hyena was released in Japan under the title Crazy Monkey. Before the actual film started, there was an animated segment that was made by Monkey Punch under Toei Animation.

Bumping this thread because I've been currently watching quite a few Lupin the Third media including Cagliostro, the entirety of The Woman called Fujiko Mine, and a couple episodes of Red Jacket.

Of the stuff I've been watching, Fujiko Mine was probably the best objectively, but I honestly had way more fun with Castle of Cagliostro and I see myself watching that one more frequently than Fujiko Mine. True, "Being fun" most likely wasn't the top priority when they made Fujiko Mine and I do think it's objectively better but I feel Cagliostro is more...accessible is the word I think I'm looking for.

IMO, the true villain of Castle of Cagliostro was not the Count but Context! X) Yeah, I'm aware that the franchise runs on Negative Continuity but it still feels off to see Lupin act like a noble Gentleman Thief and a knight in shining armor toward Clarice because, from what I've heard (and seen with Fujiko Mine and a few Red Jacket eps), even in his more lighthearted incarnations Lupin is at best a Chivalrous Pervert.

Like I said, I've only seen a couple of Red Jacket eps so I don't think I can comment on that just yet.

I'm not sure if I should continue with Red Jacket or watch other Lupin stories. It's not that I don't like it, there's just a lot of Lupin III content to watch.

The first time I saw this series it was the "Red Jacket" version, and I was annoyed at the show centering around this clearly perverted villain. Cagliostro was partially what rescued the franchise for me.

Continuity-wise, you might benefit from watching Fujiko, then "Blue" (and the Jigen then Goemon movies), then "Green" and Fuma Conspiracy, and then rewatching Cagliostro again. There's commentary by Reed Nelson about how Mr Miyazaki envisioned the final film as "retiring" the character.

Of course, I like to imagine that when we see the Flash Back to "when Lupin was younger", where he's smoking, gambling, and lascivious, Jigen is thinking "so... last week, boss?"

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

Remember "Gravestone of Daisuke Jigen"? Well, Takeshi Koike has recently done a similar movie called "Goemon Ishikawa's Spray of Blood".

edited 16th Apr '17 7:38:02 AM by DS9guy

Which, I've just been informed, has fan translations available now. No information yet on Official English Release.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

While we wait for an official sub, I've got a hold of a fansub and got to watch it (warning: spoilers ahead, please read those bits after you've watched it). It's not a great sub (some weird grammar/syle of phrasing and typos here and there), but it was decent enough that allowed me to understand the story quite clearly.

Animation/style-wise, it's not far off from Gravestone of Jigen Daisuke. However, story-wise, unlike in Gravestone, Lupin's role is less prominent here. In fact, Lupin and Jigen are, for the most part, either spectators or on the run to escape Hawk. Fujiko almost has a cameo-level role, to boot. Which was probably intentional, since it allows us to give more focus to Goemon and the Big Bad (who is more of a Dragon who was sent by someone with a mission).

The best thing here is that it provides a possible explanation for Goemon's lightning-quick reflexes and swordsman mastery to (almost?) superhuman levels. It also shows him in a moment of massive physical and emotional weakness after his first defeat against Hawk, which makes him focus on training his five senses in order to achieve the sixth sense, which allows him to accurately predict the opponents' attacks in advance.

The mobsters are the first victims of his sixth sense, which allows him to easily kill them - yes, there's a fuckload of blood and cut hands in here - they were more intimidating in the beginning, and even knock out Goemon a few times during their third encounter after the old boss dies, but Goemon was merely tuning out his senses so that he could acquire the temporary sixth sense in order to kill pretty much everyone except the son of the old boss.

As for the Big Bad, Hawk is one of the most intimidating and strong enemies this franchise has ever seen. Think Jaws, but with blond hair and beard, a massive appetite and two short axes/axe-thingies that can deflect bullets (which is why Lupin and Jigen can't do much except run away). He also manages to hurt both Jigen and Zenigata thanks to these deflections, and, while he hurt Goemon a lot (to the point of cutting thin slices from his arms), Goemon manages to reveal his weaknesses, namely a fear of death and an unfocused wrath/killing passion, with a sort-of-psychological blow that made him give up on his job of killing Lupin, Jigen and Fujiko. He also cut off one of Hawk's arms.

All in all, this is an interesting exploration of Goemon's techniques and what his role might mean in a Japanese society that has long since shunned the Samurai era (it's even referenced by one of the mobsters in the beginning of the movie). Very worth taking a look, especially for the Big Bad. The ending theme song is not as memorable as the one at the end of Gravestone, but that's more a nitpick of mine.

edited 13th May '17 6:57:51 AM by Quag15

We've got about six weeks left until the English dub of Blue Jacket gets released!

I wanted to propose something; I've been seeing that Discotek tends to label the "Green", "Red", "Pink", and "Blue" jacket series as Part I, II, III, and 4. Do we want to migrate the pages to those names as the most recent official titles?

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

Me, I'd prefer the titles to remain the way they are, since they're often easier for a newcomer to distinguish. Though the Part titles are also ok. It's up to you.

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One thing I liked about the Japanese original (I'm a Subs guy, not a Dubs one, with very rare exceptions) of Blue Jacket is how Fujiko's voice actor has finally solidified/established herself. Which makes me think she's gonna have a solid run on the role, and will probably become a worthy successor to Eiko Masuyama (even if their styles are a bit different).

edited 1st Jun '17 8:18:22 PM by Quag15

I grew up in a Deaf household; I get mildly annoyed whenever I'm missing either one. Everything should have both, especially in movie theatres.

This website has a rule that the most recent translation trumps all previous translations. Otherwise we might have to call this the "Rupan" franchise. Older translations are always kept for the searchability factor.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

Rupin, The Wolf. Those just remind that the best thing that happened to American Lupin III fans was that the Arsene Lupin character went into the public domain in the early 2000s.

edited 2nd Jun '17 10:28:19 AM by DS9guy

Well, technically, the name Lupin would still be kept, since the product is from Japan and that's the name it got (LeBlanc estate copyrights aside). I guess I tend to defer more to the original name of whatever movies, music or other stuff that was given in their original country.

Thankfully, I've never been exposed to the 'Wolf' moniker or whatever (though the 'Rupan' at least has some cross-cultural bonus).

edited 2nd Jun '17 12:28:40 PM by Quag15

No, the Japanese name isn't Lupin; it's ルパン三世.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

Update: Just found the Live-action Zenigata drama!

So far I've only found a pirated source, but it's a GREAT 95 minutes of Zenigata kicking ass.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

Looking forward to the fourth show airing on Toonami next week, with the premiere of the dub. They gathered as much of the cast from the old dub as possible.

I, uh, have been informed that the first 95 minutes that I found represent two episodes out of TWELVE!

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

How many episodes does Blue Jacket have!?!?

-looks it up-

26.

The Italian Game special uses 3 of those episodes and adds some more extra minutes, btw.

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So... has anyone seen this series beside myself (since I go for the original/sub, not the dubs)?

I've only seen the Red Jacket series, plus The Castle of Cagliostro and that one movie with the Mad Scientist that was seeking immortality. ^_^;;

edited 12th Jun '17 2:47:55 PM by Demetrios

I like to keep my audience riveted.

Of course I've seen it. I have a bad habit of watching the raw footage if I go too long without a translation. XD

@ Demetrios; If you're not too squeemish, Fujiko Mine is available for free/legal streaming by Funimation.

edited 12th Jun '17 6:57:06 PM by crazysamaritan

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

Why, what happens in that one?

I like to keep my audience riveted.

Fujiko Mine is.......... a lot more erotic. Let's put it that way.

edited 12th Jun '17 9:04:16 PM by kyun

Or to be more blunt it's a Lupin series meant for adults. It has a lot of nudity, violence and mind-trippy stuff compared to the usual Lupin fare.

Exactly. If you're comfortable with that, it's a halfway decent Origin Story. Otherwise, I suggest Lupin III Episode Zero; another halfway decent Origin Story which is more kid-friendly.

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

You mean Lupin III: Episode 0: First Contact, right?

Though I've generally understood that Origin Story to be slightly fabricated or embellished, in order for Lupin to grab the attention of that female journalist.

edited 13th Jun '17 7:14:23 AM by Quag15