"Lupin the Third: The First" review: What is the new appeal of CG animation?

"Lupin the Third: The First" - A new adventure in search of a legendary treasure

■Overview of the work

Lupin the Third: The First is an anime film based on the original story by Monkey Punch that was released on December 6, 2019. Distributed by Toho and produced by TMS Entertainment and Marza Animation Planet, the film is 93 minutes long and has a self-contained story in one episode. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film depicts the world of the original story from a new perspective.

■ Story

The story of "Lupin the Third: The First" begins with an epic adventure in which the original Lupin, Arsene Lupin, challenges himself to achieve the dream he was unable to achieve. The story is set 40 years after "The Castle of Cagliostro," and Lupin embarks on a new adventure with the new heroine, Laetitia. Lupin's goal is the Bresson Diary, the only treasure that Arsene Lupin failed to steal. It is said that by solving the mystery of this treasure, one can obtain a huge amount of treasure.

Lupin meets Laetitia, a girl who loves archaeology, and together they try to solve the mystery of the Bresson Diary. However, they are confronted by Lambert, a researcher from a secret organization that is after the Bresson Diary, and Geralt, the mysterious man who controls the organization. A grand treasure hunt unfolds across the world, from Paris to Mexico to Brazil, and the shocking truth hidden in the Bresson Diary is revealed.

■Cast

The cast of "Lupin the Third: The First" is a star-studded lineup that includes Kanichi Kurita as Lupin the Third, Kiyoshi Kobayashi as Daisuke Jigen, Daisuke Namikawa as Goemon Ishikawa, Miyuki Sawashiro as Fujiko Mine, and Koichi Yamadera as Inspector Zenigata. In addition, new characters Suzu Hirose as Leticia, Kotaro Yoshida as Lambert, and Tatsuya Fujiwara as Geralt are added to the excitement of the story, in which new and old characters intertwine.

■ Main staff

The main staff of this work are professionals from various fields, including planning and producing Kato Shuhei and Kato Ryota, producer Nozaki Koji, assistant directors Hata Takuya and Nakajima Takashi, art director Umeda Toshiya, CG supervisor Arakawa Takahiro, editor Takahashi Tomokazu, line producer Tachikawa Mayumi, sound director Shimizu Hiroshi, sound effects by Okase Akihiko, music by Ohno Yuji, production by TMS Entertainment and Marza Animation Planet, and scriptwriter Yamazaki Takashi.

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song is "THEME FROM LUPIN III 2019", composed and arranged by Yuji Ohno and performed by You & Explosion Band. This song is a modern arrangement of the iconic theme song of the Lupin III series, enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Lupin the Third: The First" offers new appeal to fans of the series. In particular, the beautiful visuals of the CG animation are a departure from the traditional Lupin the Third series, making a visual impact. In addition, the presence of the new character Leticia adds freshness to the story by building a new relationship with Lupin.

The story depicts an adventure surrounding the Bresson Diary, a hidden treasure, and the traditional theme of the Lupin III series, "treasure battle," has been updated to a modern style. The grand scale of the story, set in various parts of the world, including Paris, Mexico, and Brazil, is also one of the highlights. In addition, the appearance of new villains such as Lambert and Geralt further highlights the exploits of Lupin and his friends.

The acting of the cast is also superb, especially Kanichi Kurita as Lupin III, who plays the iconic character of the series. Suzu Hirose as the new character Leticia also does a great job in her first anime voice acting role, and her acting adds depth to the story.

The main staff's skills are outstanding, especially Director Takashi Yamazaki's direction, which maximizes the potential of CG animation. Yuji Ohno's music also adds a new charm while firmly retaining the atmosphere of the Lupin III series.

■ Recommendation points

"Lupin the Third: The First" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the Lupin the Third series, but also to those who like anime and action movies. In particular, the beauty of the CG animation and the grand adventure set in various parts of the world provide visual enjoyment. In addition, the appearance of new characters and the exploits of Lupin and his friends add freshness to the story.

In addition, the traditional theme of the Lupin III series, the "treasure battle," has been updated to a modern style. The adventure in search of the Bresson Diary treasure will provide new appeal to fans of the series. In addition, the appearance of new villains such as Lambert and Geralt further highlights the exploits of Lupin and his friends.

The acting of the cast is also superb, especially the performances of Kanichi Kurita as Lupin III and Suzu Hirose as the new character Leticia, which add depth to the story. The main staff's skills are also outstanding, with director Takashi Yamazaki's direction and Yuji Ohno's music bringing out the best in the work.

Related information

Lupin the Third: The First is an anime film based on the original story by Monkey Punch that was released on December 6, 2019. Distributed by Toho and produced by TMS Entertainment and Marza Animation Planet, the film is 93 minutes long and has a self-contained story in one episode. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film depicts the world of the original story from a new perspective.

The story of this film begins with an epic adventure in which the original Lupin, Arsène Lupin, attempts to achieve a dream that he was unable to achieve. The story is set 40 years after "The Castle of Cagliostro," and Lupin embarks on a new adventure with the new heroine, Laetitia. Lupin's goal is the "Bresson Diary," the only treasure that Arsène Lupin failed to steal. It is said that by solving the mystery of this treasure, one can obtain a huge amount of treasure.

Lupin meets Laetitia, a girl who loves archaeology, and together they try to solve the mystery of the Bresson Diary. However, they are confronted by Lambert, a researcher from a secret organization that is after the Bresson Diary, and Geralt, the mysterious man who controls the organization. A grand treasure hunt unfolds across the world, from Paris to Mexico to Brazil, and the shocking truth hidden in the Bresson Diary is revealed.

The cast of "Lupin the Third: The First" is a star-studded lineup that includes Kanichi Kurita as Lupin the Third, Kiyoshi Kobayashi as Daisuke Jigen, Daisuke Namikawa as Goemon Ishikawa, Miyuki Sawashiro as Fujiko Mine, and Koichi Yamadera as Inspector Zenigata. In addition, new characters Suzu Hirose as Leticia, Kotaro Yoshida as Lambert, and Tatsuya Fujiwara as Geralt are added to the excitement of the story, in which new and old characters intertwine.

The main staff of this work are professionals from various fields, including planning and producing Kato Shuhei and Kato Ryota, producer Nozaki Koji, assistant directors Hata Takuya and Nakajima Takashi, art director Umeda Toshiya, CG supervisor Arakawa Takahiro, editor Takahashi Tomokazu, line producer Tachikawa Mayumi, sound director Shimizu Hiroshi, sound effects by Okase Akihiko, music by Ohno Yuji, production by TMS Entertainment and Marza Animation Planet, and scriptwriter Yamazaki Takashi.

The theme song is "THEME FROM LUPIN III 2019", composed and arranged by Yuji Ohno and performed by You & Explosion Band. This song is a modern arrangement of the iconic theme song of the Lupin III series, enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

Conclusion

"Lupin the Third: The First" is a work that offers new appeal to the Lupin the Third series, and has many highlights, such as the beauty of the CG animation, a grand adventure set in various parts of the world, and the appearance of new characters. This is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the Lupin the Third series, but also to those who like anime movies and action movies. Please experience its charm at the theater.