Lupin III: Dead or Alive - The appeal and evaluation of the deadly battle

"Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive" - ​​The ultimate entertainment where adventure and betrayal intersect

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

April 20, 1996 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toho

■Frequencies

97 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Monkey Punch

■ Director

Monkey Punch

■ Production

Animation Production: Kyokuichi Tokyo Movie

■Works

Original work: Monkey Punch ©Lupin the Third Production Committee

■ Story

In the Zuf Republic, the dictatorship of General Headhunter has continued ever since the former king and prince were purged by the general. However, even after taking power, he has not been able to obtain the treasure on the drifting island that the former king is said to have hidden. Aiming for the treasure, Lupin contacts the general's daughter, Emera, who is said to hold the secrets of the defense system. However, she is a decoy woman named Oriendar. She is shocked to learn that the prince, who was supposed to have been killed by the general, is still alive. The general then puts a bounty of one million dollars on Lupin, and assassins attack Lupin.

■Cast

Lupin III: Kanichi Kurita / Daisuke Jigen: Kiyoshi Kobayashi / Goemon Ishikawa: Makio Inoue / Fujiko Mine: Eiko Masuyama / Inspector Zenigata: Goro Naya / Headhunter Shogun: Banjō Ginga / Oriendar: Minami Takayama / Crisis: Nachi Nozawa / Punisher: Toru Furuya / Emera: Chisa Yokoyama / Spanky: Shigeru Chiba and others

■ Main staff

Executive Director: Yasuharu Urushido / Screenplay: Hiroshi Kashiwabara / Planning: Hidehiko Takei / Animation Director: Hiroyuki Yano / Storyboard, Direction: Hiroyuki Yano, Jun Kawagoe, Toshiya Shinohara, Yuji Himaki / Character Design, Chief Animation Director: Marisuke Eguchi / Animation Directors: Masahiko Murata, Yasuhiro Seo, Takahiko Ayame, Mamoru Sasaki / Editing: Takeshi Seyama / Main Theme: Yuji Ohno / Music: Takayuki Negishi / Sound Director: Satoshi Kato / Music Director: Seiji Suzuki / Music Producer: Shinya Yamada / Producers: Shinichiro Maeda, Masato Matsumoto

■ Theme songs and music

[ED] Song title: Damage no Amai Wana / Singer: media youth / Lyrics: Goro Matsui / Music: KIYOSHI / Arrangement: KAZZ & media youth

■ Background and production secrets of the work

"Lupin III: Dead or Alive" is a part of the Lupin III series based on the original work by Monkey Punch, and was released in theaters in 1996. This work depicts a story where Lupin III's adventures and betrayal intertwine, and is one of the most highly acclaimed works in the series. In producing this work, the entire staff did their best to bring out the charm of the original work to the fullest. In particular, screenwriter Kashiwabara Kanji has a deep understanding of the character of Lupin III and skillfully develops the story. Animation director Yano Hiroyuki also focused on the visual expression and pursued visual impact.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive" centers around the dictatorial government of the Zuf Republic and the adventure surrounding the treasure of the Drifting Island. Starting with a scene where Lupin comes into contact with Emera, the story gradually unfolds as the existence of Oriendar becomes clear, drawing viewers in. The bounty placed on Lupin by the Shogun and the showdown between him and the assassins who are after it also creates tension and thrills. In particular, the scene where Lupin finds himself in a pinch grabs the viewers' hearts. Furthermore, in the second half of the story, it is revealed that the prince is still alive, and the relationship between Lupin and the prince deepens, which is also not to be missed.

■Charm of the characters

Kanichi Kurita's voice as Lupin III perfectly expresses Lupin's wit and charisma. Kiyoshi Kobayashi's voice as Daisuke Jigen also conveys Jigen's coolness and reliability. Makio Inoue's voice as Goemon Ishikawa conveys Goemon's loyalty and bushido spirit. Eiko Masuyama's voice as Fujiko Mine brings out Fujiko's charm and mysterious atmosphere. Goro Naya's voice as Inspector Zenigata conveys Zenigata's sense of justice and obsession with Lupin. Banjo Ginga's voice as the new Headhunter Shogun expresses the Shogun's ruthlessness and dignity as a dictator. Minami Takayama's voice as Auriender conveys Auriender's complex emotions. Nachi Nozawa's voice as Crisis conveys Crisis's calm and calculating personality. Toru Furuya's voice as Panish expresses Panish's madness and cruelty. The voice of Emera, played by Ms. Chisa Yokoyama, conveys Emera's purity and strength, while the voice of Spanky, played by Mr. Shigeru Chiba, conveys Spanky's humor and friendship.

■ The appeal of video and music

The visuals of "Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive" are full of Yano Hiroyuki's attention to detail. In particular, the scenes where Lupin infiltrates the drifting island and the battle scenes with the assassins have a strong visual impact and have the power to draw the viewer in. Furthermore, character design and chief animation director Eguchi Marisuke's work is also superb, bringing the characters of Lupin the Third to life. As for the music, the music by Ohno Yuji, who wrote the main theme, adds to the atmosphere of the film. In particular, the music tightens the viewer's mind during tense scenes. Additionally, the ending theme, "Damage no Amai Wana," is sung by media youth, enhancing the film's lingering impression.

■ Evaluation and awards of works

"Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive" is one of the most highly acclaimed works in the Lupin the Third series. Viewers have praised the story development, the appeal of the characters, and the quality of the visuals and music. The film's theme of adventure and betrayal has deeply moved viewers. It has received awards, including the Best Animation Award at the 1996 Japan Academy Awards. It has also received high praise overseas, winning a special award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France. These reviews and awards show the high quality of "Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive."

■ Recommended points of the work

"Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive" is recommended not only for fans of the Lupin the Third series, but also for those who like action and suspense. In particular, the intertwining of Lupin's adventures and betrayals has the power to draw viewers in. Also, do not miss the appeal of the characters and the quality of the visuals and music. Furthermore, the film's theme of dictatorship and adventures surrounding treasure will deeply move viewers. Please watch this film and enjoy the world of Lupin the Third.

■ Related works and series information

"Lupin III: Dead or Alive" is a part of the Lupin III series based on the original work by Monkey Punch. There are many other works in the series, each with a different story and characters. In particular, the intertwining of Lupin III's adventures and betrayals is what makes the series so appealing. Other works in the series include "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro" and "Lupin III: Part IV." Be sure to watch these works to fully enjoy the world of Lupin III. You can also check the official website and social media for the latest information on the series and events.

■ How to watch and purchase information

Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive can be purchased on DVD and Blu-ray. It can also be viewed on video streaming services. In particular, you can watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, along with other works in the series. When purchasing or viewing, please check the official website and the information on each service. In addition, limited editions and products with bonuses are also on sale, making it an item that fans cannot miss.

■Fan community and event information

The Lupin III: Dead or Alive fan community is very active on social media and fan sites. In particular, Twitter and Instagram are where fan art and reviews are posted, allowing fans to share the appeal of the series. Fan events and screenings are also held, providing a place for fans to interact with each other. Event information can be found on the official website and social media. Be sure to join the fan community and enjoy the world of Lupin III even more.

■ Summary

"Lupin III: Dead or Alive" is one of the most highly acclaimed works in the Lupin III series. The intertwining of adventure and betrayal, the appeal of the characters, and the quality of the visuals and music have the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the theme of the work, an adventure surrounding dictatorship and treasure, deeply moves viewers. Please watch this work and enjoy the world of Lupin III. Also, please enjoy the charm of Lupin III even more by participating in other works in the series and joining the fan community.