December 6, 2019 (Japan) / October 18, 2020 (International WEB-DL) Director: Takashi Yamazaki
While the plot follows a traditional "heist-to-save-the-world" formula, it excels in its character dynamics. The core gang is all here: As sharp-shooting and cynical as ever. Providing the stoic, sword-swinging action fans crave. Fujiko Mine: Playing both sides with her trademark wit. Inspector Zenigata: Lupin.III.The.First.2020.1080p.WEB-DL.DD2.0.H.2...
The mixed commercial performance indicates that legacy anime franchises may need to calibrate the ratio of nostalgia to innovation. A possible strategy includes (CGI theatrical version + 2‑D TV special) to cater to distinct audience segments. December 6, 2019 (Japan) / October 18, 2020
, it transitions the classic hand-drawn style into a high-fidelity CG experience that was widely praised for its visual finesse. Plot & Setting Fujiko Mine: Playing both sides with her trademark wit
Since its debut in 1967, Monkey Punch’s Lupin III has existed as a transmedia phenomenon, spanning manga, television, theatrical animation, video games, and merchandise. The franchise’s core premise—a charismatic master thief, Arsène Lupin III, and his eclectic crew (Jigen, Goemon, and Fujiko) pulling off audacious capers—has proved remarkably adaptable across decades. Luping III The First (hereafter The First ) represents a pivotal moment: the first feature-length film rendered entirely in computer‑generated imagery (CGI) rather than traditional hand‑drawn cel animation.
Director Takashi Yamazaki (famous for Dragon Quest: Your Story and the live-action Parasyte ) used motion capture to animate the characters with a level of expressiveness unseen in traditional 2D Lupin outings. The CGI retains the caricature-like proportions of Monkey Punch’s original art—Lupin’s monkey-like face, Jigen’s sharp features, and Zenigata’s blocky jaw—while rendering them with photorealistic textures.