LUPIN III: PART 5

DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME ActionLupin III: PART IV
OVA ActionLupin wa Ima mo Moete Iru ka?
ANIME ActionLupin III: PART 6

REVIEWS

• 

  Necokeniii

  89/100
  If you like action, good story telling, amazing music, or want to try out a new franchise, you should watch it!

  I am new to the franchise, lupin the third. I have always heard about it and seen the gifs but it never actually watched an episode. When I saw the art and trailer for part five, I knew I had to watch it.
  Part five focuses on how thieves like lupin could steal not just the traditional way, but now they can steal information, digital currency, etc. Now lupin and the gang have the benefit of technology to aid them in their antics,but so does their opponents. I love how each little arc tells a self contained story but at the same time, they all tie into each other.
  I normally don't gravitate to supporting cast, but lupin makes everyone lovable in their own way. Ami has a great voice and personality, after first I just thought she was just a random hacker who does it because she learned of her talent at an early age, but turns out she is a girl who never experienced love or positive emotions towards her. She seeks out love but literally has no idea how to love someone or tell her crush how much he means to her, which makes a lot of sense she's young and didn't have the brightest backstory.
  I'm a sucker for a good story and characters with great backstories, lupin gives me just that. Lupin isn't a type of story of good versus bad, it's more of a story of playing to your strengths. When I first started watching, I kept thinking why don't they retire from this dangerous life before they get caught or killed,each and every time, the characters explained this is the life they chose and they want to keep the things the way they are. Even if you haven't seen the previous installments of the series, you still will get flashbacks and details letting know how these characters changed over time. Foes old and new return to battle with lupin and his friends, lupin will come out in the end yet it's exciting to see how lupin will win. I normally don't watch anime based on criminals or thieves, something bout lupin makes me watch each and every week. Lupin isn't a good guy but he just takes whatever he can just like a main character should, he's aware how people perceive him. Lupin comes off as an asshole, but to me, he's just one of those guys who does whatever he thinks it's interesting and fun. All in all, lupin the third part five is one of my new favorite shows due to back to back consistently great episodes.

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• 

  Bigbone99

  90/100
  More excellent Lupin adventures with a technological twist

  This review can also be found on my MAL Profile:
  Lupin the 3rd part 5 is another fine addition to the franchise. This part stands out because it feels like a celebration of everything the series is, as well as being a modernized take on the franchise. Technology is at the forefront of this part you see, and it has changed the world greatly. Now Lupin and his crew have to deal with new threats from social media tracking where they are, face recognition technology and bio-metric security among others. But Lupin himself hasn't fallen behind the times, his kit has been updated to keep up. His main tool is his new monocle that is basically just an incredibly advanced computer allowing him to keep up with the constant stream of information. New technologies such as 3D printers and smartphones help round out his kit. The modernization of the series doesn't stop there, contemporary political issues and the impact of technology on them are brought up. They aren't the main focus of this part (Its still Lupin after all, cool heists and fun are the focus), but they are present enough that it can provide some commentary on them while adding texture to the world.

  Character wise one should expect more of the same from the main cast of Lupin the fun loving master thief, Jigen the mellow marksman, Goemon the stoic swordsman, and Fujiko the femme fatale. More of the same from the characters in the Lupin franchise isn't a bad thing, these characters are so enduring because their strong characterization and group dynamic; they are always a delight to watch. There are some "throwback" episodes that tell self contained stories using different styles and tones that just prove how flexible these characters are in terms of writing. But the relationships between them don't remain unexplored. There are moments where the characters express their weariness at the changing world and reflect on what they all mean to each other; a strong feature for long time Lupin fans. There are some stand out new characters too, mainly Ami. She is a young genius hacker who Lupin meets at the beginning of the series. I don't want to reveal too much about her since she is such a delightful recurring character, but what I will say is that watching her grow more confident in her skills and as well as her relationship with the other main characters is endearing. As for villains, a new one is introduced each "episode", with an episode being a three to four episode long arc. They all put Lupin to the test in new and interesting ways thanks to the ever present backdrop of technology.

  TMS entertainment didn't skimp out on the art and animation either. Part 5 is set in France this time around, and all of the background art of buildings, countrysides, scenic roads and interiors (whether they be lavish or homely) are rendered with such love and care. Small details like making all of the signs French, making all of the vehicles European models and even paying attention to cuisine make it all the more authentic. What I'm pointing out is pretty obvious when you look at it, but this sort of consistency and dedication to setting must be applauded. The fact that it would go unnoticed speaks to how effective the immersion is. Character designs are still very appealing. They are a little softer looking than in part 4, giving them more of the classic style to them, but not so soft that they don't look modern. Ami again is a stand out character in this department. The more classic look makes things feel less jarring when we transition to the throwback episodes as well. Animation is also very strong and consistent throughout too, with all of the vehicles being animated without the use of CGI, even in car chases too. The music still consists of groovy big band jazz tracks, some funk, fusion and the use of the accordion in the opening song and main theme of the series to situate it in France even further.

  So the final verdict is go watch Lupin Part 5. You will be treated to an entertaining thrill ride with great characters and visuals, as well as an astounding finale. If you are a newcomer, I would suggest you start with Part 4, but if you watch Part 5 first, you will still be in good hands since each Part is more or less self contained, with minor references to earlier bits of Lupin media. If you're already a fan, DO NOT HESITATE, watch it as soon as you can!

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• 

  Neenan

  100/100
  A Love Letter to Lupin III

  A Love Letter to Lupin III

  Lupin III is a franchise myself, among many others, hold very near and dear to our hearts. It is a story filled with excitement, laughter, and just enough seriousness to feel important and impactful. From classics like the Fuma Conspiracy to modern adaptations like Part 4, Lupin is the eastern counterpart to a series like Scooby-Doo. It's known to most everyone in some capacity, and has been airing in some form or another for the last 50 years. Lupin the 3rd: Part 5 exemplifies that, and makes a number of classic homages to it's past.

  Lupin is, at it's core, a character story. The main five, Goemon, Jigen, Zenigata, Fujiko, and of course, Lupin, are the heart of the story. Their antics are the basis of nearly every action which takes place in the universe. The focus typically has been less on the story across episodes or seasons, and far more on how the characters will react to a given situation. Part 5, on the contrary, doesn't play too much into this in the first few episodes. Opening with an underwater raid on the "twin-towers" they meet Ami, who, as many are quick to predict, would become this seasons "Bond Girl" character. Along with meeting our partner of the season, Part 5 jumps right into a story about drug trafficking and the dark web. It follows a consistent and relatively linear story for a few straight episodes, before finally stating that "Episode 1" has ended near the end of the fourth actual episode.

  This is where I was the most uncomfortable with Part 5. Instead of the typical character comedy/action/drama Lupin fans are used to, especially fans more acquainted with modern Lupin, a la Part 4 or the CGI Movie (Which is really good by the way!), we are kicked off with an actual expansive story. It is by no means bad, but it definitely betrays expectations of the series, while setting up new ones for the greatness that is about to ensue.

  As the series progresses, we are met with a number of random filler-esque episodes (that are actually just plain-old Lupin episodes), and a number of "lost-episodes". These are episodes featuring previous styles of Lupin, such as his more gritty Green Jacket or Pink Jacket selves, with the side characters adapting to their previous incarnations as well. They all felt really fun, and are great homages to the number of different interpretations of Lupin. One of my favorite examples was Episode 17 (Introducing Detective Jim Barnett III), which is a classic murder-mystery style episode, and features the theme music from Castle of Cagliostro, as a nice homage.

  Surrounding these "Lost Episodes" are the actual plot of the story. A thrilling modern adventure, as a massive tech company attempts to take over the world. While I would hate to spoil the plot too much, the final two episodes feature a number of cameos from previous Lupin characters, and even the original Yellow Mercedes that Jigen rides up in to face off against Interpol on the road. This brings us to the main point of this review.

  Lupin III: Part 5 is a wonderful and fun story full of tons of classic Lupin both literally and figuratively. It is filled to the brim with references to classic Lupin, from the Princess of Cagliostro herself, our modern Bond Girl from Part 4 Rebecca. It is a wonderful take on the Lupin franchise that manages to keep a large and relatevly complex overarching plot in place while still feeling like good 'ol Lupin III.

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