Lupin Steals the Show!

Lupin III: The First is a 2019 3D animated film based off the iconic 70s anime character, Lupin the Third, created by Kazuhiko Katō, or as he’s better known as, Monkey Punch (and no, I did not make that up).

The story follows infamous, globe-trotting thief Lupin the Third as he attempts to unlock the secrets of the Bresson Diary which is said to lead the way to a great treasure. To do this, he has to team up with an aspiring archeologist named Laetitia. As they learn more and more about the diary, they discover that the treasure it speaks of is much more that they anticipated. Can this unlikely duo successfully find the treasure before it falls into the hands of the remnants of the Nazi Party?

This was a fun movie to watch. I’ve been wanting to watch it for a while because I recently became a fan of Lupin the Third. The animation from the trailers also looked as if it could rival the likes of Disney. Even though the story starts off really good, it takes a weird turn near the end (I’m talking Kingdom of the Crystal Skull levels). Nevertheless, I believe the fun and enjoyable characters make up for the craziness of the plot. There is a reason Lupin and his crew have survived for as long as they have, and the way they are interpreted in this film is the way the late Monkey Punch would have intended. What he’d have to say about the story however is, I guess, something we’ll never know.

I don’t want to give too much away, so I would suggest you watch the film yourself and form your own opinion on it.

(Seriously tho look at the animation in this opening sequence it is gorgeous!)