To commemorate 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 Gosho Aoyama, "City Hunter" manga artist Tsukasa Hojo, and actor Tadanobu Asano.
Based on Monkey Punch's comic of the same name, "Lupin III" is an action anime featuring Lupin III, the grandson of the world's greatest thief Arsene Lupin, and his friends including Daisuke D dimension, Goemon Ishikawa, and Fujiko Mine, as well as his nemesis Inspector Zenigata and other unique characters.
Lupin III Part 6", the latest series currently being broadcast, has a "mystery" theme for its first season, with series composition by Takahiro Okura, a mystery novelist whose works have been made into many films, and who also writes scripts for anime and special effects. In addition, special guests from the world of fiction and animation, such as Shinju Tsuji, Taku Ashibe, Akio Higuchi, Kanae Minato, and Mamoru Oshii, will participate in the screenplay for the omnibus episodes.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the anime, congratulatory comments have arrived from celebrities from various fields.
＜Below are the comments in full.
Gosho Aoyama / 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 Captain, who is a descendant of Heiji Zenigata, his partner Daisuke Jigen, Ishikawa Goemon the 13th, and a mysterious woman named Fujiko Mine!
The first episode, "Kocho Kocho," grabbed my heart as an idiot elementary school student (laughs).
(laughs) I never imagined that later on, I would collaborate with my own character (Conan) to make a movie.
＜50 Years After "Lupin the Third
Fifty years later? That would be "Lupin VIII vs Conan III"! (laughs)
Tsukasa Hojo: 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 at a family reunion. Suddenly, a cool image appeared on the TV.
A searchlight illuminates a person by the wall. As if to mock the searchlight, the figure 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. I thought the character (Lupin) was galloping to rescue a bound woman (Fujiko), when suddenly he put his hand on Fujiko's chest and stripped off her clothes. Then the title "Lupin III" appeared and the show ended. The Sunday family reunion froze at that image and my comment. After that... the silence at lunch was heavy... this was my shocking encounter with Lupin.
＜50 years later, "Lupin the Third".
The title of the film is "Lupin IV: Full of Life". I am Lupin III. Dozens of sons and daughters compete to steal the name of Lupin III, saying "I am the heir to Lupin III. The protagonist is the daughter of a teenager named Fujiko. The old Lupin III is a judge...is that too much to ask?
Ryota Furusawa / Screenwriter ("Confidence Man JP" series, "GREAT PRETENDER")
Kenichi Aono "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 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 the Third". 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, the cityscape, the interior furnishings, and the appearance of the characters in the show had a mature ---- 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 atomosphere was definitely triggered by "Lupin the Third". 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.
＜50 years later, "Lupin the Third".
I hope that Lupin will never forget the coolness and sadness of sticking to his own aesthetic.
Kazuhide Tomonaga / Animator ("Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro", "Lupin the Third: Part 2 - Part 5")
Times are changing rapidly, aren't they? I'm looking forward to the future, wondering what kind of activities I'll be involved in.
If possible, I'll be very happy if people love Lupin III and his friends for another 50 years as much as I do.
Ryota Fujitsu / Animation Critic
Lupin III" was created by Monkey Punch and has gained national popularity through anime. Throughout its long history, "Lupin the Third" 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 stylish character of Lupin III remains unmoved. Such a "mirror". Hard-boiled, love story, mystery, action, nonsense, etc., no matter what the subject matter, no matter what the angle of the story, if it is reflected in that mirror, it becomes the entertainment that is "Lupin the Third". However, facing such a "mirror" is not an easy task for the creator. 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 the Third" 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 wits between the creators and "Lupin the Third" that is the source of this work's appeal.
＜50 years later, Lupin III
I wonder if it will be produced as a thief story set in the 1960s-1980s like "Sherlock Holmes" (100 years ago). ......
Tadanobu Asano / Actor
Original story: Monkey Punch (C) TMS/NTV
Reference: https://animeanime.jp/article/2021/10/22/64829.html
【Background】
・Graduated from Kyoto University with a major in Japanese Culture Studies, Faculty of Letters
・After graduation, worked 4 years as editor and proofreader for a print magazine specializing in traditional performing arts and culture
・Became a freelance journalist in 2021 and launched japanculturean.com in 2022
【Expertise】
・Pop-Culture Fusion Analysis
Analytical commentary on how modern pop-culture media (anime, film, fashion) incorporates and reinterprets traditional Japanese motifs.
