Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro - The appeal and evaluation of this classic anime

"Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro": Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece and its appeal

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

December 15, 1979 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toho

■ Eirin Number

19908

■Frequencies

100 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Monkey Punch

■ Director

Hayao Miyazaki

■Works

Original work: Monkey Punch ©TMS

■ Story

Lupin and Jigen steal 5 billion yen from a state-run casino, but find out they've been given counterfeit bills called goat bills. So they head to the Principality of Cagliostro, where the goat bills were issued. On the way, they witness a girl in a wedding dress being chased by armed men, and after a fierce car chase, they succeed in rescuing the girl, Clarice, but she is snatched away in a brief moment of distraction... With the ring left behind by Clarice in hand, Lupin and his friends infiltrate the fortress-like castle of Count Cagliostro.

■Cast

Lupin III: Yasuo Yamada / Fujiko Mine: Eiko Masuyama / Daisuke Jigen: Kiyoshi Kobayashi / Goemon Ishikawa: Makio Inoue / Inspector Zenigata: Goro Naya / Clarice: Sumi Shimamoto / Count Cagliostro: Taro Ishida / Gardener: Kohei Miyauchi / Jodo: Ichiro Nagai and others

■ Main staff

Produced by: Yutaka Fujioka / Producer: Tetsuo Katayama / Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki, Haruya Yamazaki / Music: Yuji Ohno / Music selection: Seiji Suzuki / Animation director: Yasuo Otsuka / Art: Shichiro Kobayashi / Cinematography: Hiroto Takahashi / Sound: Satoshi Kato / Key animation: Seiko Shinohara, Kazuhide Tomonaga and others / Background: Katsushi Aoki, Koji Ohno, Nizo Yamamoto and others / Assistant director: Shigenori Yoshida / Color design: Hiroko Kondo / Production cooperation: Telecom Animation Film

■ Theme songs and music

[OP] Song title: Honoo no Takaramono / Singer: Bobby / Lyrics: Jun Hashimoto / Composer: Yuji Ohno / Arrangement: Yuji Ohno [Insert song] Song title: Honoo no Takaramono / Singer: Bobby / Lyrics: Jun Hashimoto / Composer: Yuji Ohno / Arrangement: Yuji Ohno

■ Background and production secrets of the work

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is a 1979 anime film directed by Hayao Miyazaki and is one of the most critically acclaimed works in the Lupin III series. The film is based on the manga Lupin III by Monkey Punch and was Miyazaki's first feature film as director.

The background to the production was Miyazaki Hayao's deep attachment to the character of Lupin III. He made this film to fully express his vision, taking advantage of his experience of participating in the Lupin III TV series. In particular, Miyazaki Hayao aimed to portray the character of Lupin III as more human, and constructed a story that combined adventure and romance.

One famous behind-the-scenes story is that Miyazaki Hayao holed himself up in the mountains for several months to write the script. His collaboration with animation director Otsuka Yasuo also contributed greatly to the success of the film. Otsuka Yasuo's meticulous drawings and Miyazaki Hayao's unique direction combined to produce beautiful visuals and dynamic action scenes.

■ Story and Characters

The story of "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro" begins when Lupin III and Daisuke Jigen discover that the 5 billion yen they stole from a state-run casino is counterfeit, and head to the Principality of Cagliostro to find out where the counterfeit bills came from. Along the way, they rescue a young girl in a wedding dress, Clarice, and use her ring as a clue to infiltrate Count Cagliostro's castle, a plot full of adventure and mystery-solving elements.

Lupin III is a charming character who is consistently portrayed throughout the series, but in this film, his humanity is especially emphasized. His humor, courage, and kindness towards Clarice enrich the story. Familiar characters such as Daisuke Jigen, Goemon Ishikawa, Fujiko Mine, and Inspector Zenigata also make full use of their individual personalities to liven up the story.

Clarice is one of the most memorable characters in the Lupin III series, and her purity and strength are at the heart of the story. Count Cagliostro is portrayed as the epitome of evil, and his ruthlessness and cunning further enhance Lupin and his friends' adventures.

■Visual and Production

The visuals of "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro" have been highly praised as a result of the combined talents of Hayao Miyazaki and Yasuo Otsuka. In particular, the car chase scenes and the depiction of the interior of the castle are characterized by meticulous drawing and dynamic camerawork. Hayao Miyazaki's unique perspective and Yasuo Otsuka's technical ability combine to create visual beauty and tension.

The background art is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of this film. The beautiful backgrounds by Shichiro Kobayashi realistically reproduce the European landscape and enrich the setting of the story. In particular, the depiction of the Castle of Cagliostro creates a mysterious and magnificent atmosphere, creating a visual impact.

■Music and Sound

Yuji Ohno's music greatly enhances the atmosphere of "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro". The theme song "Honoo no Takaramono" is a perfect match between Bobby's singing voice and Yuji Ohno's composition, expressing the themes of adventure and romance. It is also used as an insert song to liven up important scenes in the story.

Music selector Seiji Suzuki and sound recordist Satoshi Kato have also perfectly balanced the music and sound to provide an experience that is integrated with the visuals. The sound effects, especially in the car chase and battle scenes, further heighten the visual tension.

■ Evaluation and impact

"Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro" was highly praised when it was released, and is still talked about today as a monumental achievement in anime movies. In particular, the visuals, which combine Hayao Miyazaki's unique direction and Yasuo Otsuka's drawing techniques, continue to be loved by many fans. In addition, the completeness of the story and the charm of the characters are also highly praised, and it occupies a special place in the Lupin III series.

This film is an important work in Hayao Miyazaki's career and had a major influence on his later works. In particular, the storytelling that combines adventure and romance, as well as the detailed drawings and dynamic direction, have been inherited by his later works such as "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" and "My Neighbor Totoro". It also influenced the entire Lupin III series, and elements of this film are often incorporated into his later works.

■ Recommendations and how to watch

"Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro" is highly recommended not only for anime fans, but also for those who like movies and adventure stories. It is especially a must-see for those who are interested in Hayao Miyazaki's works and fans of the Lupin III series. It can also be enjoyed by the whole family, so it will be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from children to adults.

As for viewing methods, DVDs and Blu-rays are available for sale, making them easy to watch. They are also often distributed through streaming services, which are convenient to use. Furthermore, they are sometimes screened in movie theaters, so we recommend experiencing the beautiful visuals on the big screen.

■ Summary

"Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro" is a masterpiece that brings together the talent of Hayao Miyazaki and the charm of the Lupin III series. With a story that combines adventure and romance, meticulous drawings and dynamic direction, and beautiful music and sound, this film provides the ultimate visual and auditory experience. Please watch it at least once and experience its charm for yourself.