Special Review
This review is a special request from Patreon supporter BodaciousCNO. If you'd like to support me on Patreon, click the button below. Visit PatreonIn 1967, Kazuhiko Katō, using the pseudonym Monkey Punch, created the manga series Lupin III for Weekly Manga Action magazine. The manga proved so popular that the famed studio Tokyo Movie created a two-part anime series in 1971 and 1977. During the second series’ run, Tokyo Movie produced the character’s first feature film, The Mystery of Mamo, in 1978. On a budget of ¥500 million, the movie grossed ¥915 million, making it the 9th highest-grossing Japanese film that year. After the film’s success, the studio wanted to move ahead with another installment to be released the following year. Hayao Miyazaki, who co-directed episodes of the series with Isao Takahata, would make his directorial debut with this film. With a shortened production schedule and the largest budget for an anime film, much was riding on its success. Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro hit Japanese cinemas in December 1979.
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Synopsis
Lupin III (Bob Bergen) and his cohort Daisuke Jigen (Steve Bulen) steal millions from the Monte Carlo Casino. Unfortunately, it turns out that the money they stole is counterfeit, so they decide to track down the source. Along the way, they run into a young bride-to-be named Clarisse (Joan-Carol O’Connell), who’s to marry Count Lazare (Michael McConnohie). They soon discover that The Count is only marrying Clarisse so he can uncover Cagliostro’s lost treasure. Lupin enlists his friend Goemon Ishikawa XIII (Steve Kramer) for help and tips off his nemesis, Inspector Zenigata (David Povall). In addition, Lupin’s former lover, Fujiko Mine (Edie Mirman), is posing as Clarisse’s assistant to uncover The Count’s counterfeiting operations. While Lupin and his friends try to save Clarisse from The Count, Fujiko and Zenigata search for evidence. It’s an adventure of a lifetime, and it all takes place in The Castle of Cagliostro!
Review
Of the many films in Miyazaki’s legendary career, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro is among his least well-known. Everyone sings the praises of Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro, but not many acknowledge this one. While this may not be as groundbreaking as those movies, I think this one deserves more credit than it gets. If not for this film, Miyazaki may not have started one of the most iconic animation studios ever. You can see early traces of Miyazaki’s style, such as the character designs, beautiful landscapes, and fast-paced action. It’s a visual feast, from the opening chase scene between Clarisse and The Count’s henchmen to Lupin outrunning Zenigata’s goons. Also, with its slapstick humor, funny dialogue, and nonstop chaos, there’s never a dull moment. The fast-paced tone may put some off, but you’ll have a good time if you go along for the ride.
Despite having previously reviewed Lupin III: The First, I’m not as familiar with the franchise as others. From what I gathered, this version of Lupin is very different from how the character is usually depicted. Usually, he’s portrayed as a cocky, smarmy, womanizing thief who only cares about the next big score. Here, he’s still a thief but more heroic and happy-go-lucky, wanting to do good but constantly getting into trouble. Purists might be disappointed by this version, but I think making him a thief with a heart of gold works. Making him and his colleagues more friendly and humorous allows the audience to sympathize and root for the characters. Thankfully, the movie maintains their core personalities – Lupin is affable, Jigen is sarcastic, and Goemon is stoic. This may not be the definitive version of what Lupin III is, but for this movie, it works.
Considering all the dubs made over the years, it’s hard to judge the performances since none is the same. For this review, I’ll cover the Streamline dub produced in 1992 since it’s currently on Amazon Prime. That said, the dub actors do a great job bringing these characters to life and fit the personalities well. Bob Bergen gives Lupin a unique charm that makes him instantly likable, and David Povall brings much energy to Zenigata. Steve Bulen and Steve Kramer are great as Jigen and Goemon, and Edie Mirman brings plenty of sass to Fujiko. I’m not sure how this dub compares to the Manga Entertainment dub from 2000, but I’m sure it’s also good. Whichever dub you pick, this is still an incredible animated adventure worth checking out, especially for Miyazaki fans. Overall, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro may not be 100% faithful, but it’s nonetheless enjoyable.
Buy Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LK7hS9.
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